234 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



much more easily procured than the females. While the 

 males occurred lo us almost entirely by day, we found the 

 females in gi'eat numbers at the gas-lamps at night, but 

 hardly a male amongst them. — [Rev.] Hugh A. Stoivell ; 

 Breadsall Rectory, Derby, September 21, 1876. 



Swarm of Ants. — About a fortnight ago a swarm of ants — 

 fourteen yards broad, and which took half an hour to pass 

 — were observed by a neighbouring clergyman, whilst fishing 

 in the Ouse in the next parish : thousands fell into the river, 

 and were eagerly preyed on by the roach and dace. They 

 were passing in a south-east direction. — [Rev.'] J. H. White ; 

 Hemingford Grey, St. Ives, Hunts, September 5, 1876. 



[Swarms of ants commonly take place about the middle of 

 August, — -a little earlier or later, according to the season. I 

 have observed that these swarms take place usually after rain 

 has fallen, and the air is moist and warm. The species that 

 usually compose these large swarms belong to the division of 

 stinging-ants — Myrmicidae ; and I should be inclined to 

 believe that the swarm seen by the clergyman was composed 

 of one of the following species: — Myrmica scabrinodis, 

 M. ruginodis, or M. lEcvinodis. — Frederick Smith.] 



JournalisVs Eiitomology. — Single strength helpless against 

 multitudinous weakness, a nation powerless against a scourge 

 of animalculee, is by this time an old spectacle. " The strong 

 man, Kwasind," was he not pelted to death by " the little 

 people" on the river Taquamenaw? And the Abderites, had 

 they not to desert their fatherland by reason of frogs? A 

 fluffy little fly once devastated the pine forests of the Hartz ; 

 and a moth of a certain kind laying its eggs among the hops 

 will still drive Kent into fits. A fly with a partiality for turnips 

 has set all the farmers of bucolic England swearing ; and very 

 lately indeed a beetle that preferred potatoes convulsed the 

 markets of the country. The "Oidium," I see now, has 

 appeared in strength in South Australia ; and, unless the 

 colony can defeat the insect, the cultivation of the vine 

 will be retarded for many years to come. After all, though, 

 it is an old story. It was "the little foxes" that ravaged the 

 prophet's vineyard. — The ' World.^ 



[The above cutting from the ' World,' of September 6th 

 (p. 13), is too rich to be lost. If we mistake not its author 

 was, until recently, chairman of a Royal Natural History 

 Society "Limited"!— £'</.] 



