278 The Zoologist — July, 1866. 



Here, then, we seem to have the reason of the insects settling on the 

 snow ; in full enjoyment of life's most precious gift they drink the cup 

 of death without tasting its bitterness, and, whether agreeing or not 

 with the opinion that insects voluntary settle on the snow to absorb 

 more oxygen, there will, I think, be no dissenting voice as to the singu- 

 larity of this mode of dying. 



The lumps of peat found in several of the holes are no doubt the 

 sediment of the decayed bodies of these insects, perhaps increased in 

 size by dust or fine sand, so often carried by heavy gales, not only over 

 short distances or heights, but, according to the celebrated investiga- 

 tions of Professor Ehrenberg, over oceans and whole continents : in our 

 case the dust was probably brought by the southern wind called 

 " sirrocco" in Italy, and "foehn" in Switzerland, which is known to 

 carry very often a considerable quantity of fine particles of both 

 organic and inorganic matter. 



With regard to the holes in question, I see no sufficient grounds 

 wh}' they should not have been formed by the radiation of heat from 

 the bodies of the insects, as a dark object, however small, will neces- 

 sarily become the momentary receptacle of much warmth when placed 

 on a white surface ; and, to enlarge upon Mr. Pascoe's hint about 

 plants and stones imbedded in the snow, I have only to remind the 

 reader how, on fine afternoons in winter, every individual blade of 

 grass sufficiently near the surface of the snow pierces it and forms, if 

 not a hole, at least a marked, regular depression around itself, and how 

 much larger is the surface of even a middle-sized insect than the tip of 

 a blade of grass. 



However, far from considering this last or any other point of the 

 present case as being quite settled, I would, on the contrary, most 

 urgently request tourists, especially members of the Alpine Club, to 

 chronicle such phenomena as the above whenever they are met with ; 

 though seemingly of no importance when considered as isolated facts, 

 they may hereafter be of much value to the student of Alpine Zoology 

 in connection with other sciences. 



Should occurrences similar to those mentioned in this article be 

 noticed again, I would suggest that a few of the following queries, 

 should, if possible, be answered : — 



At what altitude the observation took place. 



The direction of the wind. 



The state of the sky, whether clouded or bright. 



What aspect. 



