52 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 
though they follow the general movement of the column, 
appearing suspended in the air, like balloons, seemingly 
with no individual motion, and having their heads turned 
towards the wind. 
Sometimes the swarms of a whole district unite their 
infinite myriads, and, seen at a distance, produce an 
effect resembling the flashing of an aurora borealis. 
Rising with incredible velocity in distinct columns, they 
soar above the clouds. Each column looks like a kind 
of slender net-work, and has a tremulous undulating mo- 
tion, which has been observed to be produced by the 
regular alternate rising and falling just alluded to. The 
noise emitted by myriads and myriads of these creatures 
does not exceed the hum of a single wasp. ‘The slightest 
zephyr disperses them; and if in their progress they 
chance to be over your head, if you walk slowly on, they 
will accompany you, and regulate their motions by yours. 
The females continue sailing majestically in the centre of 
these numberless males, who are all candidates for their 
favour, each till some fortunate lover darts upon her, 
and, as the Roman youth did the Sabine virgins, drags 
his bride from the sportive crowd, and the nuptials are 
consummated in mid-air; though sometimes the union 
takes place on the summit of plants, but rarely in the 
nests?. After this danse de [amour is celebrated, the 
males disappear, probably dying, or becoming, with 
many of the females, the prey of birds or fish; for, since 
they do not return to the nest, they cannot be destroyed, 
as some have supposed, like the drone bees, by the neu- 
ters. ‘That many, both males and females, become the 
4 De Geer, ii. 1104. b Gould, 99. 
