XCVI1.] OF SELBORNE. 261 



which is eaten by ants as well as flies. Though the utmost 

 severity of our winter did not destroy these insects, yet the at- 

 tention of the gardener in a summer or two has entirely relieved 

 iny vine from this filthy annoyance. 



As we have remarked above that insects are often conveyed 

 from one country to another in a very unaccountable manner, I 

 shall here mention an emigration of small aphides, which was 

 observed in the village of Selborne no longer ago than August 

 the 1st, 1785. 



At about three o'clock in the afternoon of that day, which was 

 very hot, the people of this village were surprised by a shower 

 of aphides, or smother-flies, which fell in these parts. Those 

 that were walking in the street at that juncture found them- 

 selves covered with these insects, which settled also on the 

 hedges and gardens, blackening all the vegetables where they 

 alighted. My annuals were discoloured with them, and the 

 stalks of a bed of onions were quite coated over for six clays 

 after. These armies were then, no doubt, in a state of emigra- 

 tion, and shifting their quarters ; and might have come, as far 

 as we know, from the great hop-plantatious of Kent or Sussex 

 the wind being all that day in the easterly quarter. They were 

 observed at the same time in great clouds about Farnham, and 

 all along the vale from Farnham to Alton. 1 



SELBORNE, March 9, 1775. 



1 For various methods by which several insects shift their quarters, see 

 Derhain's " Physico-Tbeology." 



