OBSEBVATIONS ON INSECTS AND VEEMES. 345 



surprised by a shower of aphides, which fell in these parts. 

 They who were walking the streets at that time, found them- 

 selves covered with these insects, which settled also on the 

 trees and gardens, and blackened all the vegetables where 

 they alighted. These armies, no doubt, were then in a state of 

 emigration, and shifting their quarters ; and might, perhaps, 

 come from the great hop plantations of Kent or Sussex, the 

 wind being that day at north. They were observed at the 

 same time at Earnham, and all along the Yale at Alton. 



WHITE. 



ANTS.* August 23. Every ant-hill, about this time, is 

 in a strange hurry and confusion ; and all the winged ants, 

 agitated by some violent impulse, are leaving their homes, 

 and, bent on emigration, swarm by myriads in the air, to 

 the great emolument of the Jiirudines, which fare luxuriously. 

 Those that escape the swallows, return no more to their 

 nests, but, looking out for fresh settlements, lay a foundation 

 for future colonies. All the females at this time are preg- 

 nant ; the males that escape being eaten, wander away and die. 



October 2. Flying ants, male and female, usually swarm 

 and migrate on hot sunny days in August and September ; 

 but this day a vast emigration took place in my garden, and 

 myriads came forth, in appearance, from the (Irain which 

 goes under the fruit wall ; filling the air and the adjoining 

 trees and shrubs with their numbers. The females were 

 full of eggs. This late swarming is probably owing to the 

 backward wet season. The day following, not one flying ant 

 was to be seen. 



Horse ants travel home to their nests laden with flies, 

 which they have caught, and the aurelice of smaller ants, 

 which they seize by violence. WHITE. 



In my Naturalist's Calendar for the year 1777, on 



* Mr. White in his unpuhlished MSS., states that f{ a colony of black ants 

 conies forth every Midsummer from under my staircase, which stands in the 

 middle of my house ; and as soon as the males and females (which fill all the 

 windows and rooms) are flown away, the workers retire under the stairs, and 

 are seen no more. It does not appear how this nest can have any communica- 

 tion with the garden and yard; and if not, how can these ants subsist iu 

 perpetual darkness and confinement ?" ED. 



