MR darling's address. 11 



to a frightful extent by the aphis, which in some places arrived in such 

 quantities as to deserve the name of clouds. At Milfield the harvesters 

 had to hide their heads before the sheaves to protect them from the 

 myriads which were alighting all round, and which so covered the corn as 

 to make it necessary in a day or two to re-open the sheaves and expose 

 them to the sun and air. When opened they had the appearance of being 

 covered with glue, and emitted a strong and disagreeable smell. This pest 

 has in many places destroyed whole fields of turnips, and in a few, the 

 entire crop is gone. For some time after their first attack, I could dis- 

 cover none of the parasites that feed on them ; but, in a few days, they 

 began to appear, both the lady-birds of two varieties, and several of the 

 dipterousflies, whose larvasliveonthe aphides; and,by-and-bye, thousands 

 of a small sort of ichneumon-fly appeared among the little wretches. 

 It is a beautiful provision of an all- wise Creator, that, whenever any de- 

 structive insect makes its appearance, other insects which prey upon 

 it soon shew themselves, checking its increase, and preventing the total 

 destruction which otherwise would inevitably follow, if no such stop were 

 put to the natural increase, which, in the case of the aphis, is all but 

 miraculous. There is no space in this Address to go into the history of 

 the different parasites, but I trust some of our very careful investigators 

 will furnish a paper on the subject. 



I have received another notice from a person in the town of Wooler, 

 who observed a large eagle, seemingly the Sea-eagle, last month, upon 

 the hne of the Till, near Doddington ; jt settled within a few yards of 

 him ; and, when pestered as it was by some smaller birds, crows, &c., took 

 short flights, always again resting on the banks of the river. He did 

 not observe it strike any fish, but had no doubt it was on the watch for 

 some monarch of the brook to satisfy its craving appetite.* 



Having been more lengthy than I fear the patience of the Club will 

 admire, however their kindness may tolerate, I must now say adieu, 

 and resign my post to one who will, I am sure, be more deserving the 

 honour which awaits him ; and, in doing so, express my warm thanks 

 for the indulgent forbearance shewn to me by the members of the 

 Club. 



* This bird has been twice seen by other persons,— once by Mr Cully of 

 Fowberry, and once on the banks of the Till^ near Hetton House. 



