THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 347 
but are sucked up by the clouds in one spot, and deposited 
by them in another, without any apparent reason. There is 
no report, it has been said, so false as not to have in it 
a grain, at least, of truth; and we know that various species 
of insects do migrate at certain times, and especially those 
belonging to the genus Aphis, pre-eminently entitled to the 
definite article in connexion with the name of “ blight.” 
Passing through some of the yet remaining lanes, which 
intersect the market-gardens at Brompton (Middlesex), on 
May 15, at 11 A.M. and again at 1 p.M., I observed a number 
of aphides on the wing, and moving, as far as I could judge, 
nearly in the same direction. There was scarcely any breeze 
stirring, but seemingly the insects were coming with the 
wind, and the sky was dull and cloudy with a bronzy hue, 
nearly corresponding to what is called by the uneducated a 
“blight.” It would seem, therefore, that such states of 
weather are selected, in some instances, by insects, when 
they are journeying in search of fresh quarters; and after or 
during these, having reached their destination, they may be 
found busily engaged in attacking the produce of the flower- 
or kitchen-garden, giving some colour to the popular notion 
that the atmospheric gloom is caused by approaching or 
receding insects.—J. Rh. S. Clifford. 
[Mr. Walker will, perhaps, kindly offer some explanation 
of the phenomenon in question.—Kdward Newman.] 
Ravages of the Larva of the Currant Moth.—The larva of 
this variable and ubiquitous species has been very plentiful 
this season in gardens west of the metropolis, corroborating 
the statement that a cold winter is less unfavourable to 
hybernating larve than those wherein there are frequent 
intervals of mild weather and a considerable rainfall. 
Awaking from their winter torpidity rather later than usual, 
they seemed, in my own garden, to devote themselves parti- 
cularly to the task of stripping the gooseberry bushes, 
neglecting those of the currant; and not only the leaves 
disappeared, but also most of the blossoms. ‘The supply of 
food there being exhausted, after the last ecdysis, the multi- 
tude moved off towards a solitary black-currant bush, which 
stood alone at the edge of the cluster of gooseberry bushes. 
At a short distance there were a number of red-currant 
bushes, yet only a straggler or two reached these ; for this 
