200 BERMUDA. 



The classification of this family is exceedingly 

 embarrassing, and our systems are yet but imperfect 

 sketches. The great swift or ghost moth {Hepialus 

 humuli) is a very common insect; the male, with silvery 

 white wings, and the female, buff with reddish marks. 



In the summer season, and more particularly on 

 rainy nights, that section of nocturnal Lepidoptera, 

 Noctualites, the Pyralis, the Phalonites, also that of 

 the Tineites, &c., fly in at the open windows In great 

 numbers, and speckle the ceiling or flutter around the 

 glass shades with which the candles are protected 

 from the draughts. A great number of small beetles 

 and other insects also fly in on such occasions ; 

 and several interesting species may then be met 

 with. But in general beetles and the other orders 

 are extremely scarce, and especially Diptera. During 

 the month of August the shrubs and trees that 

 border the roads are alive with insects of all orders, 

 but particularly Coleoptera. Many species of Longi- 

 cornes, CassidaricB (or tortoise beetles), Chrysomelius, 

 Coccinella (or lady-birds), &c. occur by hundreds on 

 the twigs and leaves ; and the air is alive with butter- 

 flies, Hymenoptera, and Diptera. 



Throughout the summer months, in the hottest part 

 of the day, the " chanteuses," or singers, produce 

 a monotonous and noisy kind of music. These 



