fir. Hulfe to Mr. Wray, S J 



times they proje&them in a Line parallel to the Plain 

 of the Horizon, .as you may often fee by their Thread's 

 that run from one Tree to another, and likewife in 

 Chambers from one Wall to another. . I confefs, 

 this Obfervation* at firft, made me think they Could 

 fly, becaufe I could not conceive how a Thread 

 fhould be drawn parallel between Walls* as above- 

 faid, unlefs the Spider flew through the Air in a ftrait 

 Line. The way of forking their Threads may be ex- 

 prefs'd by the following Figure. 

 What Reafon fliould be given of f & — — * 

 this dividing, I know not, except 

 that their Threads, being thus winged, become able 

 to fuftain them in the Air. They will often fatten 

 their Threads in feveral Places to the Things they 

 creep up 3 the Manner is by beating their Bums, or 

 Tails, againft them as they creep along. This Line 

 "Will exprefs the Way. 



By this frequent beating in of their Thread among 

 the Afperities of the Place where they creep, they 

 either fecure it againlt the Wind, that it is not fd 

 eafiiy blown away 5 or elfe whillt they haiig by ify 

 if one Stich break, another holds fail y fo that they 

 do not fall to the Ground. There is another thing 

 I have to deliver about thefe Webs 3 but as yet I am 

 in fome Doubts about it, and therefore at prefent I 

 fhall remain; 



June z8. -—76. 



Note, Notwithftanding this Letter of Dr. tlutft 

 was publifhed by Mr. Oldenburgh from Mr. Wray, in 

 Phil.Tranf. N°. 6f. Yet I think fit to reprint it, 

 that the Reader may have all the original Letters re* 

 lating to the firlt Dilcoverer of that curious Phaeno** 

 menon of the Flight of Spiders*) which I have Ipoken 

 of in my Phyftco-TheoL Book 8. Ch« 4« Note f . 



K The 



