HYBERNATION OF INSECTS. 4.39 
banks of the Humber on the 14th of October about noon, 
—the day bright, calm, and deliciously mild, Fahrenheit’s 
thermometer 58° in the shade,—my attention was first 
attracted by the path-ways swarming with numerous 
species of roye-beetles (Staphylinus, Oxytelus, Aleochara, 
&c.), which kept incessantly alighting, and hurrying 
about in every direction. On further examination I 
found a similar assemblage, with the addition of multi- 
tudes of other beetles, Haltica, Nitidule, Curculiones, 
Cryptophagi, &c. on every post and rail in my walk, as 
well as on a wall in the neighbourhood; and on remov- 
ing the decaying mortar and bark, I found that some 
had already taken up their abode in holes, from their 
situation with their antennze folded, evidently meant for 
winter quarters. I am not aware that any author has 
noticed this remarkable congregation of coleopterous in- 
sects previously to hybernating, which it is so difficult 
to explain on any of the received theories of torpidity, ex- 
cept the pious Lesser, who so expressly alludes to it, and 
without quoting any other authority, that he would 
seem to have derived the fact from his own observa- 
tion?, 
The site chosen by different perfect insects for their 
2 Lesser, L. i. 256.—Lyonet inserts a note to explain that Lesser’s 
remark is to be understood only of such insects as live in societies ; 
and adds, that solitary species do not assemble to pass the winter 
together. Lesser, however, says nothing about these insects passing 
the winter together, as his translator erroneously understands him ; 
but merely that they assemble as if preparing to retire for the winter, 
which my own observations, as above, confirm. His expression in 
the original German is, “ gleichsam als wenn sie sich zu ihrer win- 
ter-ruhe fertig machen wolten.” dit. Frankfurt und Leipsig 1738, 
p. 152. 
