NATURAL HISTORY 



of small Aphides, which was observed in the village of 

 Selborne no longer ago than August the 1st, 1785. 



At about three o'clock in the afternoon of that day, 

 which was very hot, the people of this village were sur- 

 prised by a shower of Aphides, or smother-flies, which 

 fell in these parts. Those that were walking in the 

 street at that juncture found themselves covered with 

 these insects, which settled also on the hedges and 

 gardens, blackening all the vegetables where they 

 alighted. My annuals were discoloured with them, 

 and the stalks of a bed of onions were quite coated 

 over for six days after. These armies were then, no 

 doubt, in a state of emigration, and shifting their 

 quarters; and might have come, as far as we know, 

 from the great hop-plantations of Kent or Sussex, the 

 wind being all that day in the easterly quarter. They 

 were observed at the same time in great clouds about 

 Farnham, and all along the vale from Farnham to 

 Alton 2 . 



LETTER LIV. 



TO THE SAME. 



DEAR SIR, 



WHEN I happen to visit a family where gold and silver 

 fishes are kept in a glass bowl, I am always pleased 

 with the occurrence, because it offers me an opportu- 

 nity of observing the actions and propensities of those 

 beings with whom we can be little acquainted in their 

 natural state. Not long since I spent a fortnight at 

 the house of a friend where there was such a vivary, to 

 which I paid no small attention, taking every occasion 



2 For various methods by which several insects shift their quarters, 

 see Derhara's Physico-Theology. 



1 First published in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1786, (vol. Ivi. 

 p. 488,) with the date of June 12, and under the signature of V. E. T. B. 



