P. S.—I would, à propos to the above subject, thank any reader of your miscellany to point out to me a work by a M. Hanhart (I believe is the name), which I think is upon Les Mœurs des Fourmis indigènes, in which are given some particulars of regular conflicts between ants. I am not aware of the exact title of the book, but I have seen an account of it in some Edinburgh periodical, if I am not mistaken.
Footnote 2:[(return)]
At p. 252. of the same article is an account of the battle of the gnats, noticed by Mr. E. W. Jacob.—Ed.
Battle of the Gnats.—In reading Stowe's Chronicles of England, I hit upon the following passage recorded in the reign of King Richard II., p. 509.:
"A fighting among gnats at the King's Maner of Shine, where they were so thicke gathered, that the ayre was darkned with them: they fought and made a great battaile. Two partes of them being slayne, fel downe to the grounde; the thirde parte hauing got the victorie, flew away, no man knew whither. The number of the deade was such that might be swepte uppe with besomes, and bushels filled weyth them."
This is a curious incident, and I have never heard of anything of the sort taking place in modern times. Would some of your readers who study natural history be good enough to give me another instance? I am at present inclined to think that the account is one of the many myths which Stow doubtless believed.
Eustace W. Jacob.
Sandford of Thorpe Salvine, Co. York.—Wanted, the arms and crest of the Sandfords of Thorpe Salvine. Also any particulars of the family, from the commencement of their residence at High Ashes, in the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne, co. Lancashire, until the termination of that residence. Were they of the same family with Sandford, Baron Mount Sandford?
J. B.
"Outlines of the History of Theology," 8vo., London, 1844, said to be privately printed. Any information as to the author, &c. will oblige