14 



IMPERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



running about like messengers among the reposing swarms, 

 which are lying partly compressed upon the ground, at the 

 side of small eminences, and partly attached to tall plants 

 and shrubs. Shortly after, the whole body begins to move 

 forward in one direction and with little deviation. They re- 

 semble a swarm of ants, all taking the same course, at small 

 distances, but without touching each other : they uniformly 

 travel towards a certain region as fast as a fly can run, and 

 without leaping, unless pursued ; in which case, indeed, they 

 disperse, but soon collect again and follow their former route. 

 In this manner they advance from morning to evening with- 

 out halting, frequently at the rate of a hundred fathoms and 

 upwards in the course of a day. Although they prefer 

 marching along high roads, footpaths, or open tracts, yet 

 when their progress is opposed by bushes, hedges, and ditches, 

 they penetrate through them : their way can only be im- 

 peded by the waters of brooks or canals, as they are apparently 

 terrified at every kind of moisture. Often, however, they 

 endeavour to gain the opposite bank with the aid of over- 

 hanging boughs ; and if the stalks of plants or shrubs be laid 

 across the water, they pass in close columns over these tem- 

 porary bridges, on which they even seem to rest and enjoy 

 the refreshing coolness. Towards sunset the whole swarm 

 gradually collect in parties, and creep up the plants, or encamp 

 on slight eminences. On cold, cloudy, or rainy days they do 

 not travel. As soon as they acquire wings they progressively 

 disperse, but still fly about in large swarms." 1 



" In the month of May, when the ovaries of these insects 

 were ripe and turgid," says Dr. Shaw 2 , " each of these swarms 

 began gradually to disappear, and retired into the Mettijiah, 

 and other adjacent plains, where they deposited their eggs. 

 These were no sooner hatched in June, than each of the broods 

 collected itself into a compact body, of a furlong or more in 

 square, and marching afterwards directly forward stoward the 

 sea, they let nothing escape them — they kept their ranks like 

 men of war ; climbing over, as they advanced, every tree or 

 wall that was in their way ; nay, they entered into our very 



i Pallas, ii. 422—426. 



2 Travels, 187. 



