342 OBSERVATIONS ON 



Ivy is the last flower that supports the hymenopterous 

 and dipterous insects. On sunny days, quite on to Novem- 

 ber, they swarm on trees covered with this plant ; and when 

 they disappear, probably retire under the shelter of its 

 leaves, concealing themselves between its fibres and the 

 trees which it entwines. 1 



Spiders, woodlice, Lcpismce in cupboards and among 

 sugar, some Empides, gnats, flies of several species, some 

 PJidlcence in hedges, earthworms, &c., are stirring at all 

 times, when winters are mild ; and are of great service to 

 those soft-billed birds that never leave us. 



On every sunny day the winter through, clouds of iusects, 

 usually called gnats (I suppose Tipulcc and Empides) appear 

 sporting and dancing over the tops of the evergreen trees 

 in the shrubbery, and frisking about as if the business of 

 generation was still going on. Hence it appears that these 

 Diptera (which by their sizes appear to be of different species) 

 are not subject to a torpid state in the winter as most 

 winged insects are. At night, and in frosty weather, and 

 when it rains and blows, they seem to retire into those trees. 

 They often are out in a fog.* 



HUMMING IN THE AIR. 



THERE is a natural occurrence to be met with upon the 

 highest part of our down in hot summer days, which always 

 amuses me much, without giving me any satisfaction with 

 respect to the cause of it ; and that is a loud audible hum- 

 ming of bees in the air, though not one insect is to be seen. 

 This sound is to be heard distinctly the whole common 

 through, from the Money-dells, to Mr. White's avenue gate. 

 Any person would suppose that a large swarm of bees was 



nesting now in many counties where formerly it was chiefly observed as- 

 a winter visitant. Cf. " Handbook of Britinh Birds," p. 29. ED. 



1 This I have often observed, having seen bees and other winged 

 insects swarming about the flowers of the ivy very late in the autumn. 

 MARKWICK. 



2 This I have also seen, and have frequently observed swarms of 

 little winged insects playing up and down in the air in the middle of 

 winter, even when the ground has been covered with snow. MARKWICK. 



