0BSEltVAT10>'S 0^^ TNSECTS A^D YERMES. OOO 



the slirubberj, and frisking about as if tlic business of gene- 

 ration was still going on. Hence it appears that these 

 diptera (which by their sizes appear to be of different species) 

 are not subject to a torpid state in the winter, as most 

 winged insects are. At night, and in frosty weather, and 

 when it rains and blows, they seem to retire into those trees. 

 They often are out in a fog. "White. 



This I have also seen, and have frequently observed swarms 

 of little winged insects playing up and down in the air in 

 the middle of tbe winter, even when the ground has been 

 covered with snow. Maekwick. 



HuiTAriya rs" the Aie. — There is a natural occurrence 

 to be met with upon the highest part of our down in 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. This soimd is to be heard distinctly 

 the whole common through, from the Money-dells, to Mr. 

 "White's avenue gate. Any person would suppose that a 

 large swarm of bees was in motion, and playing about over 

 his head. This noise was heard last week, on June 28th. 



"Eesounds the living surface of the ground, 

 Nor undehghtful is the ceaseless Itum 



To him ivho muses at noon. 



Thick in yon stream of light, a thousand ways, 

 Upwai'd and downwai'd, thwarting and convolv'd, 

 The quivering nations sport." — Thomson's Secffons. 



"W^HITE. 



Chaeeers. — Cockchaffers* seldom abound oftener than 

 once in three or four years ; when they swarm, they deface 

 the trees and hedges. AVhole woods of oaks are stripped 

 bare by them. 



Chaffers are eaten by the turkey, the rook, and the house- 



BpaiTOW.f 



* Farmers have told me tliat when chaffers abound, they fall from trees and 

 Ledges on the backs of the slicop, where, becoming entangled in the wool, they 

 die, and being blown by flics, fill the sheep with maggots. — Ed, 



f Rooks deBtroy an immense number of chaffers, not only in the grub 



