The Natural History of Se I borne 455 



APHIDES. 



ON the ist of August, about half-an-hour after three in the 

 afternoon, the people of Selborne were surprised by a shower 

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

 in 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 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 of 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. 

 All the females at this time are pregnant; the males that 

 escape being eaten, wander away and die. 



October 2. Flying-ants, male and female, usually swarm 

 and migrate on hot sunny days in August and September ; 

 but this day a vast emigration took place in my garden, and 

 myriads came forth, in appearance from the drain which goes 

 under the fruit-wall, filling the air and the adjoining trees 

 and shrubs with their numbers. The females were full of 

 eggs. This late swarming is probably owing to the back- 

 ward, wet season. The day following, not one flying-ant was 

 to b"e seen. 



Horse-ants travel home to their nests laden with flies, which 



