CH. VIII.] COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 133 



Having now arrived at its perfect state, it begins 

 to congregate in great numbers on the borders of 

 forests or woods, remaining motionless in the day- 

 time, but on the setting of the sun it issues forth to 

 devour the leaves of the various trees, and is not 

 particular whether it be elm or lime. They remain 

 in this state eight or nine days, having performed 

 all the functions intended by nature on their arri- 

 ving at this their last stage. The female, when 

 about to lay her eggs, digs a hole in the earth, with 

 the assistance of her fore-feet, about half a foot in 

 depth, and deposites her eggs, one by the side of the 

 other ; having finished this operation, the insect re- 

 turns to the trees, and perishes, after having lan- 

 guished one or two days. 



It appears, from a paper printed in the Philo- 

 sophical Transactions for 1697, that these insects 

 committed great ravages in particular districts in 

 Ireland. " These insects," says Mr. Molineux, 

 " were first noticed in this kingdom in 1G88. They 

 appeared on the southeast coast of Galway, brought 

 thither by a southwest wind, one of the most com- 

 mon, I might almost say, tradewinds of this coun- 

 try. From hence they penetrated into the inland 

 parts towards Headford, about twelve miles north 

 of the town of Galway. Here and there in the ad- 

 jacent country, multitudes of them appeared among 

 the trees and hedges in the daytime, hanging by 

 the boughs in clusters, like bees when they swarm. 

 In this posture they continued, with little or no mo- 

 tion, during the heat of the sun ; but towards even- 

 ing or sunset they would all disperse and fly about, 

 with a strange humming noise, like the beating of 

 distant drums, and in such vast numbers, that they 

 darkened the air for the space of two or three square 

 miles. Persons travelling on the roads, or abroad 

 in the fields, found it very uneasy to make their 

 way through them, they would so beat and knock 

 themselves against their faces in their flight, and 



VOL. II M 



