37'2 MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 



the sun-beam : if you approach, they are Instantane- 

 ously in motion again. Attempt to entrap them with 

 your net, and they are under the water and dispersed 

 in a moment. When the danger ceases they re-appear 

 and resume their vagaries. Covered with lucid armour, 

 when the sun shines they look like little dancing- masses 

 of silver or brilliant pearls^. 



But the motions of this kind to which I particularly 

 wish to call your attention, are the choral dances of 

 males in the air ; for the dancing sex amongst insects is 

 the masculine, the ladies generally keeping themselves 

 quiet at home. These dances occur at all seasons of 

 the year, both in winter and summer, though in the 

 former season they are confined to the hardy Tipulidae. 

 In the morning before twelve, the HopUcE^ root-beetles 

 before mentioned, have their dances in the air, and 

 the solstitial and common cockchafer appear in the 

 evening — the former generally coming forth at the sum- 

 mer solstice — and fill the air over the trees and hedges 

 with their myriads and their hum. Other dancing in- 

 sects resemble moving columns — each individual rising 

 and falling in a vertical line a certain space, and which 

 will follow the passing traveller — often intent upon 

 other business, and all-unconscious of his aerial com- 

 panions — for a considerable distance. 



Towards sun-set the common Ephemeras ( E. vulgata^ 

 L.), distinguished by their spotted wings and three long 

 tails (Cm/dulce), commence their dances in the meadows 

 near the rivers. They assemble in troops, consisting 

 sometimes of several hundreds, and keep rising and 

 falling continually, usually over some high tree. They 



• Compare Oliv. Entcmol. iii. Cyrinus 4. 



