Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/127

 These Snailes are to be found frequent enough under the loose bark of Trees, as old Willows, and in the ragged clefts of Elmes and Oak &c. and in no other place else, that I could observe.

You tell me, that it is generally concluded by Philosophers, That the reason of the usuall Turn of Snailes from the left to the right, is the like motion of the Sun, and that especially more Nord-ward, there having not been hitherto discovered any in our parts of the contrary Turn to the Sun's motion. But this is not the only case, where they are out, who consult not the stores of Nature, but their own phancy. What I am further about to tell you concerning Spiders, is as evident an Instance against them.

The long Threads in the Air in Summer, and especially towards September, have been a strange puzel to the wiser World. It would divert you, though you know them as well as I, if I here reckoned up the ridiculous opinions concerning them; but I omit them, and proceed to tell you the certain and immediate Authors of them, and how they make them.

I say then, that all Spiders, that spin in a thread, (those, which we call Shepherds or long-legg'd Spiders, never doe;) are the makers of these threads, so much wondred at, and in such infinite quantities every where.

I sent you the last Summer a Catalogue of thirty sorts of Spiders, that I had distinguisht here with us in England; and I must confess, I had well near compleated that number, with many other Experiments concerning them, before I discovered this secret. You must not expect here from me any thing more, than what you demanded of me; for as for other Experiments, I reserve them till our meeting.

I had exactly mark'd all the ways of Weaving, used by any sorts of them, and in those admirable works I had ever noted that they still let down the Thread, they made use or; and drew it after them. Happily at length in neerly attending on one, that wrought a nett, I saw him suddainly in the mid-work to desist, and turning his taile into the wind to dart out a thred with the violence and streame, we see water spout out of a Spring: This thread taken up by the wind, was in a moment