NOISES OF INSECTS. 373 



flight," than the common dung-chafer {Geotrupes ster- 

 corarius) and its affinities. Linne affirms — but the 

 prognostic sometimes fails — that when these insects fly 

 in numbers, it indicates a subsequent fine day^. The 

 truth is, they only fly in fine weather. Mr. White has 

 remarked, that in the dusk of the evening: beetles besin 

 to buz, and that partridges begin to call exactly at the 

 same time''. The common cock chafer, and that which 

 appears at the summer solstice [Meloloiitha vulgaris 

 and Amphimalla solsiltialis), when they hover over the 

 summits of trees in numbers, produce a hum somewhat 

 resembling that of bees swarming. Perhaps some insect 

 of this kind may occasion the humming in the air men- 

 tioned by Mr. White, and which you and I have often 

 heard in other places. " There is," says he, " a natu- 

 ral occurrence to be met with in the highest part of our 

 down on the hot summer days, which always amuses me 

 much, without giving me any satisfaction with respect 

 to the cause of it; — and that is a loud audible humming 

 of bees in the air, though not one insect is to be seen. 



Any person would suppose that a large swarm of 



bees was in motion, and playing about over his head'^." 



"Resounds the living surface of the ground — 

 Nor undeHghtful is the ceaseless hum 

 To him who nuises through the woods at noon, ^ 

 Or drowsy shepherd as he lies reclined." 



The hotter the weather, the higher insects will soar; 

 and it is not improbable that the sound produced by 

 numbers may be heard, when those that produce it 

 are out of sight. — The bury ing-beetle {Necrophurus Ves- 



•^ Syst. Nul. 550. 42. " Nul. Hist. ii. 254. 



■^ White, Nat. Hist. ii. 256. 



