flies, which fell in these parts. Those that were 

 walking in the streets at that juncture found them- 

 selves covered with these insects, which settled also 

 on the hedges and gardens, blackening all the vege- 

 tables where they alighted. My annuals were dis- 

 coloured 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.* 



Selborne, March 9, 1775. 



LETTER XCVIILf 

 To THE Honourable Daines Barrington. 



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 

 opportunity of observing the actions and propensities 



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

 see Derham's " Physico-Theology." 



f First published in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1786, under the 

 signature V. 



154 



