Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Foreign News
February 16, 1891
Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
Recent report of winter flies reappearing on Scotland's Benmore mountain, echoing pre-plague swarms, observed during ascent amid snow and ice at 3,800 feet.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE ICE-FLY OF BENMORE
In a recent article in the Pall Mall Gazette a writer hints that the flies, which are mentioned by old writers as having been plentiful on Ben-more during the most rigorous part of the winter preceding the advent of the plague in London, have again appeared in the snow-bound heights of the old mountain. He says:
"A week since, in company with a friend. I made the ascent of Benmore from Crianlarich. We found the cone well filled with snow, which got deeper and firmer as we ascended, and when we reached within. say, 500 or 600 feet of the top, we came upon a solitary fly, quite dead, but which had evidently been very recently in the full enjoyment of life and health. A few feet farther on we found two or six more some alive and some dead, but higher still, and within a very short distance of the top. we were surprised to find hundreds and thousands of them, all alive and apparently enjoying themselves. At this elevation the ground was deeply covered with snow and all the rocks thickly crusted with ice. We noticed that it was particularly where the ice was the thickest that the insects were most numerous. On the south side of the mountain, where we descended, we saw none of our little friends. I am not a naturalist, and Benmore may be the ordinary winter resort of the fly, but it appears curious that an insect which is usually associated with the ideas of warmth should be found in such numbers in winter at the elevation of 3,800 feet above sea level."
In a recent article in the Pall Mall Gazette a writer hints that the flies, which are mentioned by old writers as having been plentiful on Ben-more during the most rigorous part of the winter preceding the advent of the plague in London, have again appeared in the snow-bound heights of the old mountain. He says:
"A week since, in company with a friend. I made the ascent of Benmore from Crianlarich. We found the cone well filled with snow, which got deeper and firmer as we ascended, and when we reached within. say, 500 or 600 feet of the top, we came upon a solitary fly, quite dead, but which had evidently been very recently in the full enjoyment of life and health. A few feet farther on we found two or six more some alive and some dead, but higher still, and within a very short distance of the top. we were surprised to find hundreds and thousands of them, all alive and apparently enjoying themselves. At this elevation the ground was deeply covered with snow and all the rocks thickly crusted with ice. We noticed that it was particularly where the ice was the thickest that the insects were most numerous. On the south side of the mountain, where we descended, we saw none of our little friends. I am not a naturalist, and Benmore may be the ordinary winter resort of the fly, but it appears curious that an insect which is usually associated with the ideas of warmth should be found in such numbers in winter at the elevation of 3,800 feet above sea level."
What sub-type of article is it?
Disease Or Epidemic
What keywords are associated?
Benmore
Ice Fly
Winter Flies
Plague Omen
Mountain Ascent
Where did it happen?
Benmore
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Benmore
Event Details
A writer ascended Benmore from Crianlarich a week ago and observed numerous flies, some alive and some dead, at high elevations covered in snow and ice, particularly where ice was thickest, at 3,800 feet above sea level. These flies are noted as having been plentiful on Benmore during winter before the London plague, and their reappearance is highlighted.