4% NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



a rope of many fathoms; and 'tis a finger and half, or two fingers 

 broad. Each Worm is not thicker than a bit of coarfe thread, 

 and as long as an oat- corn ; of a watery colour, with a black fpot 

 on the head. Thefe kind of Worms love to be together, and 

 are found by millions, continually crawling upon one another, 

 yet fo that the whole company moves continually forwards, and 

 leaves a path behind them, upon the bare ground, like a drawn 

 line. What this almoft numberlefs quantity of fmall Worms 

 nourifhment or fubfiflence is, is not to be perceived; and it is 

 probable that they prey upon one another, as M. Labat allures us 

 the American ferpents or makes do : otherwife the great encreafe 

 and number would render the place where they come unin- 

 habitable. Concerning the aforefaid Orme-Drag Jonas Ramus 

 fays, p. ^\ 2, that the common people, when they perceive it, 

 look upon it as a fign of fome good luck, and throw their 

 cloaths in the way ; if the Worms go over them the owner is 

 counted fortunate, but if they pafs on one fide, then, by the 

 fame fuperftition, they think that he'll foon die. The fame 

 author is of opinion, that thefe poffibly may be the Worms 

 of which Juvenal fays, Sat. II. 



Non illis prodefl in pyxide condita Lyde. 



Id eft aranei genus, quod millenos vermiculos parere 8c fterilita- 

 tem tollere dicitur. 



Spider.] According to this opinion the Orme-Drag {hould be the 



Maggot, or a fort of young Spider, or fomething of that kind *, 

 which I cannot agree to, fince Spiders, which are called here- 

 alfo Kongro, item Spindel, then would be in the fame places in 

 the greatefl quantities ; which is not obferved, but rather the 

 contrary, in comparifon to other countries. This, perhaps, the 

 damp air, particularly towards the weft fide, may occafion; but 

 it is certain, that of that fort there are but few, neither are they 

 large ; and we are lefs troubled with their webs in the houfes 

 and churches than any where f . 



* The Spider is produced in its own form from the egg. 



-|- The learned Hr. Hermand Rugge, rector at Slidre in Valders, related to me 

 fomething extraordinary concerning a very fmall unknown Infect, hardly bigger than a 

 grain of fand, with legs all round and red : this is fo poifonous, that if any beaft 

 accidentall mould fwallow one, he would inftantly die. 



A little red Spider, common in England, of which the, fame thing is faid here, but 

 fabuloufly. 



SECT. 



