SEASONS OF INSECTS. 509 
pastures, meadows, and marshes with success, and take 
some insects that do not show themselves later. The co- 
prophagous insects are now abundant. Amongst others, 
Aphodius testudinarius, a perfectly vernal species, is now 
only to be taken, and usually flying. A ¢hzrd insect-sea- 
son indicated by Flora, and a very prolific one, com- 
mences with the blossoming of the hawthorn, when you 
must desert the meads for the inclosures. At this time 
all nature begins to put on her gayest attire, and all her 
insect tribes are now on the alert, and fill the air. They 
are almost universally attracted by the sweet and lovely 
blossoms of the plant just named: so that by examining 
them you may entrap some of every Order, and many 
that during the year will appear no more. Even many 
of the saprophagous insects will sip nectar from these 
flowers. The umbelliferous plants proclaim the fourth 
season of insects, particularly the wild carrot and parsnip. 
You will scarcely ever fail to find, if the weather is ge- 
nial, Hymenopterous and Dipterous insects of various ge- 
nera,—especially such as have a short tongue,—engaged 
in collecting the honey from those plants. Here you 
may take some of the rarer Chryside, Crabronide, Cer- 
cerides, &c., and occasionally even Coleoptera. ‘The last 
insect-season may be dated from the general flowering of 
the thistle tribe. When these are in blossom is the best 
time of all to collect the humble-bees (Bombus*), the leaf- 
cutter bees (Megachile>), and many other Apiarze Latr., 
which alone by their long tongues can imbibe the honey 
and collect the pollen of these flowers. ‘The male hum- 
ble-bees frequent them to the last, and often seem as if 
they were intoxicated with their sweets. 
@ Apis. * *. e. 2. K. > Apis. * *. Cc. 2. a. K, 
