324 :na'1ural history 



musing in my mind on the oddness of the 

 occurrence. 



As the morning advanced the sun be- 

 came bright and warm, and the day turned 

 out one of those most lovely ones which 

 no season but the Autumn produces ; cloud- 

 less, calm, serene, and worthy of the South 

 of France itself. 



About nine an appearance very unusual 

 began to demand our attention, a shower 

 of cobwebs falling from very elevated 

 regions, and continuing, without any in- 

 terruption till the close of the day. These 

 webs were not single filmy threads, floating 

 in the air in all directions, but perfect 

 flakes or rags ; some near an inch broad, 

 and five or six long, which fell with a degree 

 of velocity, that showed they were con- 

 siderably heavier than the atmosphere. 



On every side as the observer turned his 

 eyes he might behold a continual succes- 

 sion of fresh flakes falling into his sight, 

 and twinkling like stars as they turned 

 their sides towards the sun. 



