37 



be found on the flowers at the skirts of woods, 

 and in marshes. A warm damp air, which often 

 follows rain, is preferred by many species, when 

 they will be found flying near the ground ; and 

 in hot and dry weather, they will occasionally 

 settle on the mud in ditches. It should be re- 

 marked, that cool and windy days are very 

 unfavourable for collecting them. — '' The gar- 

 den white butterfly, (Pontia Brassicce,) is," says 

 Harris, " as good a token for fine weather as 

 may be ; when these flies are out in a inorning, 

 it seldom or ever happens but a fine day ensues." 

 But the best guide to collectors, as to the flight 

 of insects, is that of martens and swalloivs : — 

 for, as they live entirely on insects, and accom- 

 modate their flight accordingly, it follows, 

 therefore, that if they fly high, insects w^Ill be 

 found very strong on the wing, but if the birds 

 fly low, insects may be beaten out of the 

 branches, or caught by the clap net. Insects are 

 usually abundant on the wing on the approach 

 of a tempest or rainy weather, particularlv to- 

 wards evening. 



