52 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS/ 



were by a general impulse, into the air, and the females 

 accompany them. The whole swarm alternately rises? 

 and falls with a slow movement to the height of about 

 ten feet, the males flying obliquely with a rapid zig- 

 zag motion, and the females, though they follow the 

 general movement of the column, appearing suspended 

 in the air, like balloons, seemingly with no individual 

 motion, and having their heads turned towards the 

 wind. 



Sometimes the swarms of a whole district unite their 

 infinite myriads, and, seen at a distance, produce an 

 effect resembling the flashing of an aurora borealis. 

 Rising with incredible velocity in distinct columns, they 

 soar above the clouds. Each column looks like a kind 

 of slender net-work, and has a tremulous undulating 

 motion, which has been observed to be produced by 

 the regular alternate rising and falling just alluded 

 to. The noise emitted by myriads and myriads of these 

 creatures does not exceed the hum of a single wasp. 

 The slightest zephyr disperses them ; and if in their 

 progress they chance to be over your head, if you 

 walk slowly on, they will accompany you, and regulate 

 their motions by yours. The females continue sailing 

 majestically in the centre of these numberless males, 

 who are all candidates for their favour, each till some 

 fortunate lover darts upon her, and, as the Roman 

 youth did the Sabine virgins, drags his bride from the 

 sportive crowd, and the nuptials are consummated in 

 mid-air; though sometimes the union takes place on 

 the summit of plants, but rarely in the nests'*. After 

 this danse de Vamour is celebrated, the males disap- 



• De Gcer, ii. 1101. 



