68 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY 



the younj,' ones being so much smaller, and fasten- 

 ing themselves close by their respective parents, 

 remind one of a flock of sheep, with oxen here 

 and there scattered among them ; if the weather 

 continues warm and moist, they increase so fast 

 as completely to cover the plant, deprive it of 

 life, and frequently perish with it. 



214. It is seldom until September that many 

 of the hop-flies attain the winged state : they 

 then wing their way over the country, floating in 

 the sunbeams, till, tired of the sport, they seek 

 a safe winter habitation beneath the bark of 

 trees, shrivelled leaves, the cracks of hop-poles, 

 and a thousand other secure hiding-places. 



215. Frequently, when the weather in May 

 has been dry, and cold, and windy, the hop-fly 

 has been known to leave the plant, and entirely 

 disappear, even after remaining several days ; yet, 

 whilst it tarried, showing very evident signs of 

 being uneasy, continually crawling about on the 

 upper, as well as the under side of the leaves, 

 and leaving no deposit whatever. 



216. The hop-fly is eagerly sought as food by 

 various other insects ; which, though they con- 

 sume immense numbers, seem to cause no sensible 

 diminution in their countless myriads. 



21Y. The principal enemy of the hop-fly is a 

 queer looking creature, like a fat lizard ; it feeds 

 on them most voraciously, a single individual 

 devouring forty or fifty in the course of a day : 



