4- IMPERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



associations of males during the season for pairing 

 associations formed for the purpose of travelling or emi- 

 grating together associations for feeding together and 

 associations that undertake some common work. 



The first of these associations consists chiefly of insects 

 in their perfect state. The little beetles called whirlwigs 

 (Gyrinus\ which may be seen clustering in groups 

 under warm banks in every river and every pool, and 

 wheeling round and round with great velocity ; at your 

 approach dispersing and diving under water, but as soon 

 as you retire resuming their accustomed movements, 

 seem to be under the influence of the social principle, 

 and to form their assemblies for no other purpose than 

 to enjoy together, in the sunbeam, the mazy dance. 

 Impelled by the same feeling, in the very depth of win- 

 ter, even when the earth is covered with snow, the tribes 

 of Tipularicc (usually, but improperly, called gnats) as- 

 semble in sheltered situations at midday, when the sun 

 shines, and form themselves into choirs, that alternately 

 rise and fall with rapid evolutions a . To see these little 

 fiery beings apparently so full of joy and life, and feeling 

 the entire force of the social principle in that dreary sea- 

 son, when the whole animal creation appears to suffer, 

 and the rest of the insect tribes are torpid, always con- 

 veys to my mind the most agreeable sensations. These 

 little creatures may always be seen at all seasons amu- 

 sing themselves with these choral dances ; which Mr. 

 Wordsworth, in one of his poems b , has alluded to in 

 the following beautiful lines : 



a See also Markwick in White's Nat, Hist. ii. 256. 

 * The Excursion. 



