A WOOLLY FLOCK 
233 
tion of his body being covered with the wool, his 
head and legs being usually concealed beneath 
the pluming growth of his neighbors. This feath- 
ery growth seems of the most del- 
icate consistency in truth, more 
suggestive of white " mould " 
than any other natural 
substance, and seems to 
proceed from pores 
in the plump body 
beneath it. The 
slightest breath 
wafts the cob- 
webby tips of 
the fringe, and 
the least rude 
touch easily 
dislodges it, 
exposing the 
round, naked 
body of what is 
now clearly seen to be 
an aphis, or plant-louse, 
which nature, for some 
reason, has seen fit to 
clothe with swan's-down. 
In early June the white down first appears on 
the alders in tiny patches here and there. This 
gradually extends down the stem, at length, per- 
