462 OBSERVATIONS ON 



TIPUL^B, OR EMPEDES. 



May. Millions of empedes, or tipulce, come forth, at the 

 close of day, and swarm to such a degree as to fill the air. At 

 this juncture they sport and copulate ; as it grows more dark 

 they retire. All day they hide in the hedges. As they rise 

 in a cloud they appear like smoke. 



I do not ever remember to have seen such swarms, except 

 in the fens of the Isle of Ely. They appear most over grass 

 grounds. WHITE. 



APHIDES. 



On the 1st of August, about half an hour after three in the 

 afternoon, the people of Selborne were surprized by a shower 

 of Aphides which fell in these parts. They who were walking 

 the streets at that time found themselves 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 Farnham, 

 and all along the vale to 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 emolu- 

 ment of the hirundines, 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. 



