HYBERNATIOxN OF INSECTS. 439 



their movements. I have noticed this assemblage in 

 different years, but more particularly in the last au- 

 tumn (1816). Walking on the banks of the Humber on 

 the 14th of October about noon, — the day bright, calm, 

 and deliciously mild, Fahrenheit's thermometer 58" in 

 the shade, — my attention was first attracted by the path- 

 ways swarming with numerous species of rove-beetles 

 {Staphi/linus, Oxytelus, Aleochara, &c.), which kept 

 incessantly alighting, and hurrying about in every di- 

 rection. On further examination I found a similar as- 

 semblage, with the addition of multitudes of other bee- 

 tles, HalliccBj Nitidulcc^ Cnrculiones^ Cri/ptophagi^ Sec. 

 on every post and rail in my walk, as well as on a wall 

 in the neighbourhood ; and on removing the decaying 

 mortar and bark, I found th'at some had already taken 

 up their abode in holes, from their situation with their 

 antennae folded, evidently meant for winter quarters. 

 I am not aware that any author has noticed this re- 

 markable congregation of coleopterous insects previ- 

 ously to hybernating, which it is so difficult to explain 

 on any of the received theories of torpidity, except the 

 pious Lesser, who so expressly alludes to it, and with- 

 out quoting any other authority, that he would seem to 

 have derived the fact from his own observation*. 



° Lesser, L. i. 256. — Lyonet inserts a note to explain that Lesser's re- 

 mark is to be understood only of such insects as live in societies ; and adds, 

 that solitary species do not assemble to pass the winter together. Les- 

 ser, however, says nothing about these insects passing the winter together, 

 as his translator erroneously understands him ; but merely that they as- 

 semble as 'if preparing to retire for the winter, which my own observa- 

 tions, as above, confirm. His expression in the original German is, 

 " gleichsam als wenn sie sich zu ihrcr wintcr-ruhe fertig machcn wol- 

 ten." Edit. Frankfurt und Lcipsig 1T38, p. 15-2. 



