Singular Swarms of Flies

Abstract

THE phenomenon so well and exactly described by your correspondent, Mr. R. E. Froude (NATURE, vol. xlviii. p. 103) was seen the same day and hour—that is, between 1 and 1.30, May 27—at Parkstone, near Poole, Dorset. A party which had driven over from my house, and lunched at the Harbour Hotel, saw every tree-top crowned, as it were, with a smoke-like column of flies, every column with the same slant one way, described by Mr. Froude, only it was not noticed that this was towards the sun. The strange sight was described to me by my daughter, by word and pencil, last Saturday, immediately on reaching home, and confirmed by her companions.