XIV 



THE EMIGRANTS 



I HAVE already told how on the top of Mont 

 Ventoux, some 6000 feet above the sea, I had one 

 of those pieces of entomological good luck, which 

 would be fruitful indeed did they but occur often 

 enough to allow of continuous study. Unhappily 

 mine is a unique observation, and I despair of re- 

 peating it. Future observers must replace my 

 probabilities by certainties. I can only found con- 

 jectures on it. 



Under the shelter of a large flat stone I dis- 

 covered some hundreds of Ammophila hirsuta, heaped 

 in a mass almost as compact as a swarm of bees. 

 As soon as the stone was lifted all the small people 

 began to move about, but without any attempt to 

 take wing. I moved whole handfuls, but not one 

 seemed inclined to leave the heap. Common in- 

 terests appeared to unite them indissolubly. Not 

 one would go unless all went. With all possible 

 care I examined the flat stone which sheltered them, 

 as well as the soil and immediate neighbourhood, 

 but could discover no explanation of this strange 

 assemblage. Finding nothing better to do, I tried 

 O 193 



