WIEERE DADDIES SWARM.
Walking the other day on the edge of Sussex Downs some of us were astonished at the multitude of crane-ffies : those queer clumsy beasts that have earned almost the best of all nicknames. On a neighbouring golf course—at Seaford— some of the greens were so populated with the grubs that bucket loads of the cases were swept up after the greens had been dressed with iron sulphate. Incidentally, why is it that golf greens are the favourite hunting ground of the grubs? Starlings, rooks and perhaps jackdaws had all taken toll of both the flies and the grubs, but had not perceptibly abated the nuisance. Now at the same time that we noticed this quantity of flies stumbling about in the rough grasses, other observers in other counties were noting the unparalleled rarity of the flies, killed it was said by the foul weather! Such contrasts are common in England. It is never safe to generalize about natural history or the weather ; for the " infinite variety " of our island falsifies or defies every criticism. One can only say : Such is the case in my parish ; never : such is the case from John o'Groats to Land's End or St. David's Head to Southend.
W. BEACIL THOMAS.
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