84 LETTERS ON ENTOMOLOGY. 
an ox in a flock of sheep, who marched on in the 
same manner. At the distance of a foot or two 
from the columns, many other soldiers were 
to be seen standing still or pacing about, as if 
upon the look out, lest some enemy should sud- 
denly surprise their unwarlike comrades ; other 
soldiers (which was the most extraordinary part 
of the scene) having mounted some plants, and 
placed themselves on the points of their leaves, 
elevated from ten to fifteen inches from the 
ground, hung over the army marching below, 
and by striking their forceps upon the leaf, pro- 
duced at intervals the noise before-mentioned. 
To this signal the whole army returned a hiss, 
and obeyed it by increasing their pace. The 
soldiers at these signal stations sat quite still 
during the intervals of silence, except now and 
then making a slight turn of the head, and seemed 
as solicitous to keep their posts as regular sen- 
tinels. The two columns of this army united, 
after continuing separate for twelve or fifteen 
paces, having in no part been above three yards 
asunder, and then descended into the earth by 
two or three holes. Mr. Smeathman continued 
watching them for above an hour, during which 
time their numbers appeared neither to increase 
nor diminish. The soldiers, however, who quitted 
