256 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



here mention an emigration of small aphides, which was observed in 

 the village of Selborne no longer ago than August the first, 1785. 

 About three o'clock in the afternoon of that day, which was very 

 hot, the people of this village were surprised 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.* 



* For various methods by which several insects shift their quarters, see Derham's 

 " Physico-Theology. " 



