MOTHS AND COCKCHAFERS. 247 



Donaghadee, clouds (of this species) were observed 

 coming from seaward." * 



Towards the latter end of the same summer, these 

 little flies appeared one evening in immense multi- 

 tudes in this town. Attracted by the light of the 

 gas-lamps, they congregated around them, appearing 

 like clouds, which were gradually lost in the surround- 

 ing darkness, but to which the eye could discern 

 no limit. They were particularly abundant on the 

 northern side of Donegal-square, and along Welling- 

 ton-place, and College-square East. 



The common cockchafer ( Melolontha vulgaris ) 

 never appears here in such numbers as to cause that 

 exhilirating bustle among the feathered tribes, 

 described by Mr. Knapp. f Neither does it produce 

 that hum, heard when swarms are on the wing in the 

 evening, which Kirby and Spence casually mention 

 as an ordinary occurrence in England. + It is, on the 

 contrary, an insect not generally known throughout 

 the country ; and on more than one occasion, a spe- 

 cimen of it has been brought to me as an addition to 

 my cabinet. I was surprised, therefore, when, on 

 the 22nd of May, 1835, I was informed by Mr. 

 Scott, the intelligent head- gardener of the Marquis 



* Catalo^e of Diptera occurring about Holl^Tvood, in Downstire. 

 Entomological Magazine, No. ii. p. 147. 

 t Journal of a Naturalist. 

 % Introduction to Entomology, vol. ii. p. 377. 



