182 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



animal. They consist of a sweet glutinous fluid, and 

 are probably the discharges of the aphis, and the first 

 food of its young'. That it is thus consumed, I con- 

 jecture from its diminution, and its by no means 

 increasing so fast as faecal matter would do, from 

 such perpetually feeding creatures. I have not, in 

 any instance, observed the young to proceed from 

 these globular bodies, though they are found of 

 various ages at all times during the season. This 

 lanuginous vestiture seems to serve likewise as a 

 vehicle for dispersing the animal ; for, though most 

 of our species of aphides are furnished with wings, 

 I have never seen any individual of this American 

 blight so provided ; but the winds, wafting about 

 small tufts of this downy matter, convey the creature 

 with it from tree to tree throughout the whole 

 orchard. In the autumn, when this substance is 

 generally long, the winds and rains of the season 

 effectually disperse these insects, and we observe them 

 endeavouring to secrete themselves in the crannies of 

 any neighbouring substance. Should the savoy cab- 

 bage be near the trees whence they have been dis- 

 lodged, the cavities of the under sides of its leaves 

 are commonly favourite asylums for them. Multi- 

 tudes perish by these rough removals, but numbers 

 yet remain, and we may find them in the nodes and 

 crevices, on the under sides of the branches, at any 

 period of the year, the long cottony vesture being re- 

 moved ; but still they are enveloped in a fine, short, 

 downy clothing, to be seen by a magnifier, proceeding 

 apparently from every suture, or pore, of their bodies, 

 and protecting them in their dormant state from the 

 moisture and frosts of our climate. This aphis, in a 

 natural state, usually awakens and commences its 

 labours very early in the month of March; and the 

 hoariness on its body may be observed increasing 

 daily ; but if an infected branch be cut in winter, and 



