OBSER VA TIONS ON INSECTS. 841 



exuvice, or remains of the chrysalis, from whence I suppose 

 the moths had issued, and whose caterpillar had eaten the 

 leaves. MARKWICK. 



EPHEMERA OATJDA BISETA. MAY-FLY. 



June 10th, 1771. Myriads of May-flies appear for the first 

 time on the Alresford stream. The air was crowded with 

 them, and the surface of the water covered. Large trouts 

 suoked them in as they lay struggling on the surface of the 

 stream, unable to rise till their wings were dried. 



This appearance reconciled me in some measure to the 

 wonderful account that Scopoli gives of the quantities 

 emerging from the rivers of Oarniola. Their motions are 

 very peculiar, up and down for so many yards almost in a 

 perpendicular line. WHITE. 



1 once saw a swarm of these insects playing up and down 

 over the surface of a pond in Denn Park, exactly in the 

 manner described by this accurate naturalist. It was late 

 in the evening of a warm summer's day when I observed 

 them. MARKWICK. 



SPHYNX OCELLATA. 



A vast insect appears after it is dusk, flying with a hum- 

 ming noise, and inserting its tongue into the bloom of the 

 honey-suckle ; it scarcely settles upon the plants, but feeds 

 on the wing in the manner of humming birds. WHITE. 



I have frequently seen the large bee moth, sphinx 

 stellatarum, inserting its long tongue or proboscis into the 

 centre of flowers, and feeding on their nectar, without 

 settling on them, but keeping constantly on the wing. 

 MARKWICK. 



