THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 347 



but are sucked up by the clouds in one spot, and deposited 

 by them in another, without any apparent reason. There is 

 no report, it has been said, so false as not to have in it 

 a grain, at least, of truth; and we know that various species 

 of insects do migrate at certain times, and especially those 

 belonging to the genus Aphis, pre-eminently entitled to the 

 definite article in connexion with the name of " blight." 

 Passing through some of the yet remaining lanes, which 

 intersect the market-gardens at Brompton (Middlesex), on 

 May 15, at 11 A.M. and again at 1 p.m., I observed a number 

 of aphides on the wing, and moving, as far as 1 could judge, 

 nearly in the same direction. There was scarcely any breeze 

 stirring, but seemingly the insects were coming with the 

 wind, and the sky was dull and cloudy with a bronzy hue, 

 nearly corresponding to what is called by the uneducated a 

 ** blight." It would seem, therefore, that such states of 

 weather are selected, in some instances, by insects, when 

 they are journeying in search of fresh quarters; and after or 

 during these, having reached their destination, they may be 

 found busily engaged in attacking the produce of the flower- 

 or kitchen-garden, giving some colour to the popular notion 

 that the atmospheric gloom is caused by approaching or 

 receding insects. — J. R. S. Clifford, 



[Mr. Walker will, perhaps, kindly offer some explanation 

 of the phenomenon in question. — Edward Newmafi.^ 



Ravages of the Larva of the Currant Moth. — The larva of 

 this variable and ubiquitous species has been very plentiful 

 this season in gardens west of the metropolis, corroborating 

 the statement that a cold winter is less unfavourable to 

 hybernating larvae than those wherein there are frequent 

 intervals of mild weather and a considerable rainfall. 

 Awaking from their winter torpidity rather later than usual, 

 they seemed, in my own garden, to devote themselves parti- 

 cularly to the task of stripping the gooseberry bushes, 

 neglecting those of the currant; and not only the leaves 

 disappeared, but also most of the blossoms. The supply of 

 food there being exhausted, after the last ecdysis, the multi- 

 tude moved off' towards a solitary black-currant bush, which 

 stood alone at the edge of the cluster of gooseberry bushes. 

 At a short distance there were a number of red-currant 

 bushes, yet only a straggler or two reached these ; for this 



