98 
honey ; but it is equally certain that leaves of certain 
trees are found coated with honey in the absence of the 
aphis. Therefore, while I concede isolated instances in 
which similar deposits may occur from depositions of 
the aphis, I think we must look further for a solution of 
this singular phenomenon. 
If it is the aphis, how does it happen that only the 
upper surfaces of the leaves show this substance ? The 
inner leaves of the trees upon which these deposits are 
found, seldom show any signs of it on them. Are they 
an insect so anomalous from all other insect life that 
they make their appearance, shower their liquid sweets, 
and perish in about ten hours, and this only a single day 
in the year, and perhaps two or three days at various 
times ? — sometimes appearing one year and then skip- 
ping one, two or three years before making their appear- 
ance again. I know there are species of insects that 
make their appearance, fulfil the office of an existence, 
and pass away in a few hours, but ^uch insects return 
periodically and at stated seasons. Not so with this 
saccharine deposit or honey dew. It makes its appear- 
ance sometimes the fore part of June, sometimes the 
middle or latter part, or in July or August, just as it 
happens, visiting but a single species of tree at a time, 
and this only at evening, or during the night, when 
there are other trees near by ; and those may escape, 
although it is known that at other times, vice versa, the 
game phenomenon is manifest in that species. It pre- 
sents to me a singular anomaly, that if it is the 
production of this insect, it should occur so manifestly 
irregularly, when it is known that this species of aphis 
are numerous, and may be found on the leaves of dif- 
ferent species of trees, at the same time that the chest- 
