376 NOISES OF INSECTS. 
name of voice; then I will grant that insects have a 
voice. But, decide this question as we will, we all know 
that by some means or other, at certain seasons and on 
various occasions, these little creatures make a great 
din in the world. I must therefore now bespeak your 
attention to this department of their history. 
In discussing this subject, I shall consider the noises 
insects emit—during their motions—when they are feed- 
ing, or otherwise employed—when they are calling or 
commanding—or when they are under the influence of 
the passions; of fear, of anger, of sorrow, joy, or love. 
The only kind of locomotion during which these ani- 
mals produce sounds, is flying: for though the hill-ants 
(Formica rufa, L.), as I formerly observed?, make a 
rustling noise with their feet when walking over dry 
leaves, I know of no other insect the tread of which is 
accompanied by sound—except indeed the flea, whose 
steps, a lady assures me, she always hears when it paces 
over her night-cap, and that it clicks as if it was walk- 
ing in pattens! That the flight of numbers of insects 
is attended by a humming or booming is known to al- 
most every one ; but that the great majority move through 
the air in silence, has not perhaps been so often observed. 
Generally speaking, those that fly with the most force 
and rapidity, and with wings seemingly motionless, make 
the most noise; while those that fly gently and leisurely, 
and visibly fan the air with their wings, yield little or no 
sound. 
Amongst the beetle tribes (Coleoptera), none is more 
noticed, or more celebrated for “ wheeling its droning 
4 See above, p. 97. 
