426 The Natural History of Selborne 



dancing over the tops of the evergreen-trees in the shrubbery, and 

 striking about as if the business of generation 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 in 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 convolrfd, 



The quivering nations sport" THOMSON'S Seasons. 



WHITE. 



