364 INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS, 



is warm and mild, however, the dancing Tipulidce pre- 

 fer the decHne of day; and we have remarked them 

 keeping it up as long as we could distinguish them 

 between the eye and the waning light of the western 

 horizon: how much longer they continued to dance 

 we cannot tell. 



It is a very singular fact connected with these gnat 

 dances, that the company always consists exclusively 

 of males. This any person who will take the trouble 

 may verify by enclosing a group of them in a butterfly- 

 net. If this be not at hand, he may procure good evi- 

 dence by wetting the hand, and passing it quickly 

 amongst the thickest of the croAvd ; when several will 

 be caught, and will uniformly exhibit the beautifully 

 fringed or plumed antennte, which in the female are 

 without the hairs or the plumelets. What it may be, 

 besides the same delighted and buoyant spirit which 

 causes lambs to group together in their frolics, that in- 

 duces those tiny gnats to sport in this manner on the 

 wing, is, perhaps, inexplicable. 



Wordsworth's opinion, though adopted by Kirby 

 and Spence, is, perhaps, as we shall presently endea- 

 vour to show, more poetical than correct. His words 

 are: — 



* Nor wanting here to entertain the thought. 

 Creatures that in communities exist, 

 Less, as might seem, for general guardianship. 

 Or through dependence upon mutual aid, 

 Than by participation of delight. 

 And a strict love of fellowship combined. 

 What other spirit can it be that prompts 

 The gilded summer flies to mix and weave 

 Their sports together in the solar beam, 

 Or, iu the gloom and twilight, hum their joy.' 



The Excursio7i. 



The evening gamboling of rooks on the wing, 



