4'i4 OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS AND VERMES. 



they easily overcome in warm weather, when they are brisk and 

 alert. But in the decline of the year, this resistance becomes too 

 mighty for their diminished strength ; and we see flies labouring 

 along, and lugging their feet in windows as if they stuck to the 

 glass, and it is with the utmost difficulty they can draw one foot 

 after 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. WHITE. 



TIPUL.E, OR EMPEDES. 



May. Millions of empales, or tipulce, 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 remember to have seen such swarms, except in the 

 fens of the Isle of Ely. They appear most over grass grounds. 



WHITE. 



APHIDES. 



On the ist of August, about half an hour after three in the after- 

 noon, the people of Selborne were surprised by a shower of aphides 

 which fell in these parts. They who were walking in the streets at 

 that time found themselves covered with these insects, which settled 

 also on the trees and gardens, and blackened all the vegetables 

 where they alighted. These armies, no doubt, were then in a state 

 of emigration, and shifting their quarters ; and might perhaps come 

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

 that day at north. They were observed at the same time at 

 Farnham, and all along the vale to Alton. WHITE. 



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 



