306 INSECTS. 



been introduced with fruit trees from Europe. It is of 

 recent introduction in England.* 



Yet one more mode of transport has been discussed. 

 Sir James Ross, in his appendix to " Parry's Narrative,"t 

 says that living Aphides were found in floating ice in the 

 Polar Sea 100 miles distant from land, and so far North 

 as 82|. Eesembling a species to be found on the fir, 

 it was conjectured that " the floating trees of fir that are 

 to be found so abundantly on the shores and to the 

 northward of Spitzbergen, might possibly be the means 

 by which this insect has been transported to the 

 Northern regions." It was never seen on the wing. 



When large swarms of winged Aphides have suddenly 

 made their appearance in the air, it seems probable that 

 (as is frequently the case in the migrations of other 

 insects) the wind may have been mainly instrumental in 

 conveying them. 



It certainly has the credit of so doing, and the farmers 

 commonly believe their appearance to be consequent on 

 a north-east or east wind. So Thomson 



** For oft engendered by the hazy north, 

 Myriads on myriads, insect armies warp 

 Keen in the poisoned breeze ; and wasteful eat 

 Through buds and bark, into the blackened core 

 Their eager way." 



Another substance which oozes from the tubercles at 

 the end of the body of the Aphis is the well-known 

 honey-dew, a favourite food of Bees, Ants, and other 

 insects, and of which Pliny says that it is " engendered 



* The best mode of cure is said to be covering every patch of white 

 cotton with warm size. "Whitewash is very commonly used in our 

 orchards, and with some effect. 



t See ''Spitzbergen and Greenland" (Hakluyt Society), p. 165, note. 



