444 ^ ie Natural History of Selborne 



sporting and dancing over the tops of the evergreen-trees in 

 the shrubbery, and striking about as if the business of gener- 

 ation 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 own 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 jn 

 motion, and playing about over his head. This noise was 

 heard last week, on June 28th. 



'"''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 convolved, 



The quivering nations sport." THOMSON'S Seasons. 



WHITE. 



