The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-09-04 00:00:00

LADY-BIRDS.

F. R. 5.," writing to The Tintes of Saturday, says
You gave admission in Ve Tones if Wednesday to
a letter from a "Lover of Natural History," which is
likely, as far as it goes, to stifle an intmesting inquiry,
and prevent the record of other observations respecting
the extraordinary multitude of lady-birds which lately
appeared upon the eastern coast, and spread over the
contiguous country. Your correspondent, writing
from \Vales, and imperfectly informed on the facts,
meurnes that the insects (Coe:rind/a) were developed
where they were found, and were natives of this
country. Thin was certainly not the case.
During the 14th, 15th, and 16th of August countless
multitudes of the little red beetles appeared up in the
coasts of Kent and Sussex. The numbers ceinposing
these swarms are utterly inconceivable to those who
did not see them. They were most numerous close to
the shore—tens of thousands perished in the sea near
the land. The beaches, piers, and houses near the
oh .re were covered by the swarms, and in many places
the streets and roads looked as if strewn h 3 dark red
gravel. This extended far inlaid, and on Sunday, the
15th, myriads uuere seen in London and its neighbour-
hood. But, as I have said, the largest assemblages
by far were in the east Coast. especially at the pints
I nearest to the C nitinent. This, be it remembered,
' occurred at a time when there was a continuous east
wind.
On the Sunday in question a scientific friend of
mine, a fellow of the Royal Society, well qualified to
observe and record facts 4 4 natural history, was fortu-
nate to witness the actual arrival of one of these
swarms. When walking on Dover Pier, after morning
service, he observed an enormous multitude of these
insects, like a cloud, coming over the sea as if from
Calais. They were flying from east to west. Large
numbers fell into the water, others covered the pier.
knead as with a red carpet, but the great 111888 flew on
westward, and, as they passed over head, looked to
those who gazed upwards like the interminable flakes
lif a thick snow storm as seen from below. A member
of my frienire family bail seen a similar occurrence the
same morning, when, as she expressed it, the little
beetles flew against the east-looking windows of the
house like a storm of hail. It would be preimsterous
to imagine that these swarms if ladybirds had been
produced in this country and had flown to sea in the
teeth of an east wind, simply to be blown back again!
When we remember the smallness and feebleness of
some of our migratory birds, such as the cliff-chaff and
willow-wren, that cross the seas to this country during
the stormy weather 4 4 early spring, the advent of these
swarms of lady-birds is robbed of much of its wonder.
But the interesting questions are—Whence came they ?
Where did they collect in such prodigious nuniters ?
What was the home that fed the larvm from which the
beetles sprang? Or if, as seems probable, they had
many homes, whet impulse brought together these
millions for a common emigration? If you kindly give
insertion to this letter, some intelligent observers of
nature on the other side of the Channel may, perhaps,
answer some, at least, of my queries.