426 OBSERVATIONS ON 



HUMMING IN THE AIR 



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 satis- 

 faction 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 sound 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 

 28 th. 



" Resounds the living surface of the ground, 

 Nor undelightfiil is the ceaseless hum 

 To him who muses at noon." 



" Thick in yon stream of light a thousand ways, 

 Upward and downward, thwarting and convolv'd, 

 The quivering nations sport." Thomson's Seasons. 



CHAFFERS 



Cockchaffers seldom abound oftener than once in three 

 or four years ; when they swarm, they deface the trees and 

 hedges. Whole woods of oaks are stripped bare by them. 



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

 house-swarrow. 



The scar abacus solstitialis first appears about June 26 : 

 they are very punctual in their coming out every year. 

 They are a small species, about half the size of the May- 

 chaffer, and are known in some parts by the name of the 

 fern-chaffer. 



PTINUS PECTINICORNIS 



Those maggots that make worm-holes in tables, chairs, 

 bed-posts, etc. and destroy wooden furniture, especially 

 where there is any sap, are the larvae of the ptinus pectini- 

 comis. This insect, it is probable, deposits its eggs on the 

 surface, and the worms eat their way in. 



