372 MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 
wish to call your attention, are the choral dances of males 
in the air; for the dancing sex amongst insects is the 
masculine, the ladies generally keeping themselves quiet 
at home. These dances occur at all seasons of the year, 
both in winter and summer, though in the former season 
they are confined to the hardy ‘Tipulidze. In the morning 
before twelve, the Hoplie, root- beetles before mentioned, 
have their dances in the air, and the solstitial and com- 
mon cockchafer appear in the evening—the former gene- 
rally coming forth at the summer solstice——and fill the 
air over the trees and hedges with their myriads and 
their hum. Other dancing insects resemble moving 
columns—each individual rising and falling in a vertical 
line a certain space, and which will follow the passing 
traveller—often intent upon other business, and _ all- 
unconscious of his aérial companions—for a considerable 
distance. 
Towards sun-set the common Ephemeree (Zi. vulgata, 
L.), distinguished by their spotted wings and three long 
tails (Caudule), commence their dances in the meadows 
near the rivers. ‘They assemble in troops, consisting 
sometimes of several hundreds, and keep rising and 
falling continually, usually over some high tree. ‘They 
vise beating the air rapidly with their wings, till they 
have ascended five or six feet above the tree; then they 
descend to it with their wings extended and motionless, 
sailing like hawks, and having their three tails elevated, 
and the lateral ones so separated as to form nearly a 
right angle with the central one. These tails seem given 
them to balance their bodies when they descend, which 
they do in a horizontal position, This motion continues 
