OF SELBORNE. 



301 



of Selhorne no longer ago than August the 

 1st, 1785. 



At about three o'clock in the afternoon 

 of that day, which was very hot, the people 

 of this village was surprised by a shower 

 of aphides, or smother -ji'ies, which fell in 

 these parts. Those that were walking in 

 the street at that juncture found themselves 

 covered with these insects, which settled 

 also on the hedges and gardens, blacken- 

 ing all the vegetables wh^re they alighted. 

 My annuals were discoloured with them, 

 and the stalks of a bed of onions were 

 quite coated over for six days after. These 

 armies were then, no doubt, in a state of 

 emigration, and shifting their quarters ; 

 and might have come, as far as we know, 

 from the great hop-plantations of Kent or 

 Sussex, the wind being all that day in the 

 easterly quarter. They were observed at 

 the same time in great clouds about Farn- 

 ham, and all along the lane from Farnham 

 to Alton.^ 



* For various methods by which several insects shift 

 their quarters, see Derkam's Physico-Theology. 



