388 
ON THE ASCENT OF THE SPIDER 
I know well that the Aranea geometrica does possess 
the power of propelling threads into the atmosphere, and 
of thus changing its locality or making its escape ; and 
perhaps, too, the young of this insect may possess the 
power of taking an aerial excursion occasionally. Now, if 
so, I am persuaded it is a very rare event. The other is 
distinct and peculiar, and the numbers that occur in the 
atmosphere are such as sufficiently to account for the gos- 
samer, and its beautiful and interesting phsenomena. It 
cannot therefore be doubted, that those threads which glis- 
ten in the sun-beam, and float in the air from the hedges 
and hedge-rows, and the reticular tissue on grass, which, 
when sparkling with dew, refracts so beautifully the tints 
of the rainbow, are the work of the aeronautic spider. 
As a proof that these wingless " birds are more numer- 
ous than may be generally suspected, I may merely men- 
tion, that, in the month of July 1822, on the top of the 
coach from Kidderminster to Stourbridge (a distance of 
only nine miles), there fell on me, or near me, thirteen 
aeronautic spiders, all of which I caught, and imprisoned 
in chip-boxes, which I carried with me for that purpose. 
This species of spider may be frequently met with in coach' 
offices, having alighted on the passengers, or on their lug- 
gage. 
Connected with this question, I may mention a curious 
phsenomenon that I witnessed on the 16th September last 
year, at Bewdley, Worcestershire. Between the hours of 
1 1 A. M. and 2 p. M. the whole atmosphere seemed to be a 
tissue of cobwebs ; they continued to fall in great numbers, 
and in quick succession. The temperature was 72° Fahren- 
heit. Some of these were single, others branched filaments, 
occasionally seen to extend from 40 to 50 feet in length. 
Others were woolly films, or flocculi. Some fell slowly, and 
others more rapidly. This was first noticed in the market- 
place, at Bewdley ; and, on repairing to the adjoining fields. 
