1897.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NKWS. 5I 



In view of these strange facts the question naturally arises as 

 to the significance of the habit, and thus far no explanation has 

 been proposed that will stand critical examination. A common 

 opinion is that the insects seek the rocks for warmth and shelter. 

 If this is correct why do they seek only the rocks near the sum- 

 mits of peaks and not those lower down? Again, why should 

 they seek shelter on a hot July day? Finally, it would seem 

 that the summit of Moscow Mountain furnishes them not a shelter, 

 but a graveyard. It must also be remembered that search for a 

 shelter does not for a moment explain their sembling in such 

 swarms. 



A second theory would explain the phenomenon as the result 

 of air currents carrying the insects up the peak. But if this is 

 true why are not other insects similarly affected ? Even granting 

 this it is does not explain their remaining there in perfectly calm 

 weather. In this connection I may state that many insects are 

 undoubtedly carried up mountains by currents of air. 



On Mt. Rainier I found most excellent collecting on snow- 

 fields and glaciers at altitudes of 7000 to 9000 feet, but it is worthy 

 of remark that Coccinellidae were decidedly scarce in such situa- 

 tions. Two or three other attempts to explain the significance 

 of the habit seem to me unworthy of mention and the writer 

 humbly confesses that he has no -theory to air on the subject. 

 Has anyone else ? 



o 



COLLECTING SEASON IN SOUTH GEORGIA> 



By ( J. R. Pilate, Tifton, Ga. 



A few words in regard to the best collecting season may be of 

 some interest to entomologists. Flowers commence early in the 

 season and there are more or less of them all the year. But about 

 the middle of May the gall-berry bushes come in bloom and last 

 two or three weeks. I do not know the botanical name of this 

 plant. It is an evergreen and grows about four to six feet high, 

 and bears quantities of black berries. It has a very small white 

 flower, but it grows in masses and is very sweet; the bushes gen- 

 erally grow in wet places. Sometimes they cover acres of ground. 

 Insects of all species and families swarm in immense numbers on 

 these flowers. In passing near the plants you are immediately 

 attracted by the loud hum of their wings. Hymenoptera of all 



