63 
Ihis occurred in the Wash, about nine miles from the Norfolk 
and thirteen miles from the Lincolnshire shore ; the wind was 
very light in occasional putts from ott’ the Norfolk shore, and the 
exact locality the entrance to the channel called the “ Bull dogs.” 
iMr. Cresswell accounts for the presence of this vast mass of 
dead Lady-birds as follows : — At low water there are uncovered 
sands, with pools and channels between them, extending from 
the shore to the navigable channel called the “ Bull dogs.” 
lie presumes that the mass of dciul Lady-birds in the “ Bull 
dogs ” were drowned by the rising water covering the crown of 
the sands on which they had rested, and brought by the current 
into the vast accumulation the ** Wild Luck ” passed through. 
There is very little doubt these Lady-birds left the Noiiolk 
shore, and alighting oii the first uncovered spot they came to, 
were saved from dropping exhausted into the sea, only to 
bo drowned by the rising flood which gradually covered their 
island resting place. But had they possessed the strength to 
renew their flight, and chance directed them either to the Norfolk 
or Lincolnshire coast, any person witnessing their return would 
probably have been impressed with the belief that they were a 
fresh arrival from “ the Continent.” 
At the same time and place the “ Wild Duck ” w’as surrounded 
by an immense swarm of what at tlie time were believed to be 
Wasps, but which, from the description, I have no doubt were 
SyrphidiB, of at least two species, one much larger than the other. 
These were so numerous that they were swept from the sails in 
thousands, and whilst one man steered, another had to be employed 
in brushing them oft him ; as it was they did not escape being 
bitten, the bite was attended with considerable pain and swelling. 
Ihese S}Tphidfe had probably accompanied the Lady-birds in 
their flight ; but their superior powers on the wing had saved them 
for a time from the fate which had overtaken the latter — oidy for 
a time however, as they would soon add their numbers to the 
slain. 
The thought suggests itself whether this impulse to leave the 
shore is not a provision of nature to rid us of what, after having 
performed its allotted purpose, would prove a serious nuisance if 
remaining. 
