136 



The Naturalist. 



have likewise furnished specimens. In the emerald isle, indeed, one 

 obligingly attended at Dublin during the meeting of the British 

 Association, and allowed itself to be exhibited to the SLdmirmg savans." 



I quote this, not only because it contains the only account we have 

 of the distribution of this flight — which appears not only to have 

 been a large one, several hundred specimens being spoken of in the 

 extract, but also to have been unusually widely-spread, reaching even 

 into Ireland and Scotland, — but because I wish to express my opinion 

 that to suspend the publication of such records merely because they 

 were numerous was a great mistake. No generalisation with regard to 

 the probable line of migration can be framed in the absence of a basis 

 of materials to work upon ; and by suppressing the records of the 

 visitation of 1857, the But. W. Int. has entirely prevented us from 

 forming trustworthy ideas as to their distribution and ultimate 

 origin. It is not the records themselves that should have been 

 suppressed, but the irrelevant details with which they are apt to be 

 accompanied ; and the records should have been condensed or their 

 salient points arranged in a tabular and systematic form, with the 

 result of economising space and preserving at the same time a satis- 

 factory account of a most interesting occurrence. 



1858. 



Mr. James Young recorded that locusts [Gryllns migratorius) had 

 been plentifully taken near Hull, two being brought to him alive 

 {Ent. W. Int. Sep. 25, 1858, iv. 203). No others appear to have been 

 recorded in any part of the country in 1858. 



1859. 



Again the locusts appeared near Hull ; several specimens of Gryllus 

 migratorius captured in various places near that town — one being in 

 the possession of the son of the Eecorder — being placed on record by 

 by Mr. James Young {Ent. W. Int., October 1, 1859, vii. 5). No 

 other Yorkshire records have come under my notice. 



Specimens were also recorded from Portsmouth about July 14th, 

 rather early for locusts ; Herne Bay, first week of September j ten 

 about Northampton during the first fortnight of September ; and one 

 at Wallingford, in Berkshire. The specific name, when given, is 

 always Gryllus migratorius. 



These records are too few to found any views as to distribution 

 upon, though it may be noted that all are eastern. 



The years 1860, 1, 2, and 3 are a blank with regard to locusts, so 

 far as I am at present aware. 



