Efls

This is an early sighting of a species, known as efl, that migrates to Oxford every year. The swarms usually arrive between Easter, when the weather starts to warm slightly, and October. Despite the unseasonably mild end-of-February we are experiencing, the early arrival of this swarm is probably not weather-related, but indicates a lower status than that of the swarms arriving later in the year.

This species is easily identifiable by their blue legs and the brightly-coloured protuberances on their backs. Although these can be of any colour, swarms almost always comprise similarly coloured efls. Each swarm has a queen who, although more drably coloured, has the obvious status marker of a clipboard.

The call of this species varies from a low-pitched mumble to a high-pitched shrieking, often by several efls simultaneously. They are characterised by a strong attachment to other members of the swarm and frequently a complete lack of awareness of the native species.

One curious ritual is for each efl to collect a sheet of paper from the queen, who then points outwards from the swarm. Small sub-swarms assemble and mumble communally before one efl scurries out and makes contact with one of the native species. After a momentary exchange, the individual will rush back to the safety of the group, and each member will then write on their piece of paper. This ritual appears to be called 'Inglislern'.

For the most part the native species tolerates the incomers, although there are annual cases of native bicycles riding through the middle of swarms to scatter them. This rarely harms the efls but they usually blink as if suddenly made aware of their environment.