452 OBSERVATIONS ON 



ration was still going on. Hence it appears that these diptera 

 (which by their sizes appear to be of different species) are not 

 subject to a torpid state in the winter, as most winged insects 

 are. At night, and in frosty weather, and when it rains and 

 blows, they seem to retire into those trees. They often are 

 out in a fog. WHITE. 



This I have also seen, and have frequently observed swarms 

 of little winged insects playing up and down in the air in the 

 middle of winter, even when the ground has been covered 

 with snow. MARKWICK. 



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 satisfaction 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 28th. 



t( Resounds the living surface of the ground, 

 " Nor undelightful 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. 



WHITE. 



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. 



