INSECTS AND VKRMES. 475 



another, and disengage their hollow caps from the 

 slippery surface. 



Upon the same principle that flies stick and support 

 themselves, do boys, by way of play, carry heavy 

 weights by only a piece of wet leather at the end of a 

 string clapped close on the surface of a stone. 







TIPUL^E, OR EMPIDES. 



MAY. Millions of Empides, or Tipula, come forth at 

 the close of day, and swarm to such a degree as to fill 

 the air. At this juncture they sport and copulate ; as 

 it grows more dark they retire. All day they hide in 

 the hedges. As they rise in a cloud they appear like 

 smoke. 



I do not ever remember to have seen such swarms, 

 except in the fens of the Isle of Ely. They appear 

 most over grass grounds. 



ANTS. 



AUGUST 23. Every ant hill about this time is in a 

 strange hurry and confusion ; and all the winged ants, 

 agitated by some violent impulse, are leaving their 

 homes, and, bent on emigration, swarm by myriads in 

 the air, to the great emolument of the Hirundines, which 

 fare luxuriously. Those that escape the swallows re- 

 turn no more to their nests, but, looking out for fresh 

 settlements, lay a foundation for future colonies. All 

 the females at this time are pregnant : the males that 

 escape being eaten wander away and die. 



October 2. Flying ants, male and female, usually 

 swarm and migrate on hot sunny days in August and 

 September ; but this day a vast emigration took place 

 in my garden, and myriads came forth, in appearance, 

 from the drain which goes under the fruit wall ; filling 

 the air and the adjoining trees and shrubs with their 

 numbers. The females were full of eggs. This late 

 swarming is probably owing to the backward, wet 



