NOISES OF INSECTS. Sia 7 
flight,” than the common dung-chafer (Geotrupes ster- 
corarius) and its affinities. Linné affirms—but the 
prognostic sometimes fails—that when these insects fly 
in numbers, it indicates a subsequent fine day*. The 
truth is, they only fly in fine weather. Mr. White has 
remarked, that in the dusk of the evening beetles begin 
to buz, and that partrid 
ges begin to call exactly at the 
same time’, ‘lhe common cockchafer, and that which 
appears at the summer solstice (Melolontha vulgaris and 
solstitialis, ¥'.), when they hover over the summits of 
trees in numbers, produce a hum somewhat resembling 
that of bees swarming. Perhaps some insect of this 
kind may occasion the humming in the air mentioned by 
Mr. White, and which you and I have often heard in 
other places. ‘ There is,” says he, ‘ a natural occur- 
rence to be met with in the highest part of our down on 
the hot summer days, which always amuses me much, 
without giving me any satisfaction with respect to the 
cause of it;—and that is a loud audible humming of bees 
in the air, though not one insect is to be seen. 
Any 
person would suppose that a large swarm of bees was in 
motion, and playing about over his head °.” 
“ Resounds the living surface of the ground— 
Nor undelightful is the ceaseless hum 
To him who muses through the woods at noon, 
Or drowsy shepherd as he lies reclined.” 
The hotter the weather, the higher insects will soar ; 
and it is not improbable that the sound produced by 
numbers may be heard, when those that produce it are 
out of sight.—The burying-beetle (Necrophorus Vespillo, 
@ Syst. Nat. 550. 42. b Nai. Hist. ii. 254. 
© White, Nat. Hist. ii. 256. 
