NATURAL HISTORY 
LETTER XXIIL 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Seleorne, June 8, 1775. 
On September the 21ft, 1741, being then on a vilit, and intent 011 
field-diverfions, I rofe before daybreak : when I came into the 
enclofures, I found the ftubbles and clover-grounds matted all over 
with a thick coat of cobweb, in the meflies of which a copious 
and heavy dew hung fo plentifully that the whole face of the 
country feemcd, as it were, covered with two or three fetting-nets 
drawn one over another. When the dogs attempted to hunt, 
their eyes were fo blinded and hoodwinked that they could not 
proceed, but were obliged to lie down and fcrape the incum- 
brances from their faces with their fore-feet, fo that, finding my 
fport interrupted, I returned home mufing in my mind on the 
oddnefs of the occurrence. 
As the morning advanced the fun became bright and warm, 
and the day turned out one of thofe moft lovely ones which no 
feafon but the autumn produces ; cloudlefs, calm, ferene, and 
worthy of the South of France itfelf. 
About nine an appearance very unufual began to demand our 
attention, a fliower of cobwebs falling from very elevated regions, 
and continuing, without any interruption, till the clofe of the 
day. Th:fe webs were not fingle filmy threads, floating in the 
air in all diredions, but perfect flakes or rags ; fome near an 
inch 
