SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. ]^Y9 



and the thorax large and oblong-square. They abound in pastures 

 and woods. Their larvae live in the earth. The species of Chrysops, 

 the golden-eyed breeze fly, are very troublesome, as they fly about 

 one's head unceasingly, striving to alight and draw the blood. The 

 following genera represent families of small extent. Anthrax is 

 rather broad and flat bodied, with a round head, gaily colored with 

 yellow and black, the wings often partially black ; it frequents 

 sunny paths, flying with great swiftness. Bombylius has the body 

 covered with long hairs, which gives the genus an oval outline, 

 with slender legs. They are exceedingly swift on the wing, and 

 are found in sunny paths and glades early in the spring, and can 

 only be taken when lighted on the ground. 



Leptis has large palpi, a fleshy proboscis and elongated form. 

 Their bodies are often spotted, and the wings also spotted or banded. 

 They are found resting on flowers and shaded sides of trees. The 

 larvae are footless grubs, which widen gradually towards the termi- 

 nal segment, which has two short appendages. The larva of an 

 European species entraps other insects in holes in the sand, like 

 the ant-lion, and is three years in coming to the perfect state. 



Midas is a genus of large size, M. clavatus being banded with 

 orange, and expanding over two inches. It flies in July and August. 

 The larva, according to Harris, is white, cylindrical, tapering before 

 and almost rounded behind. Two breathing pores are situated in 

 the last ring but one. The pupa is brown, nearly cylindrical, and 

 provided with a forked tail. It lives in decayed logs and stumps. 



Asilus comprises several species, which have long, slender bodies, 

 a rather stout thorax, and are covered with short, stiff" hairs, vari- 

 ously colored. They are rapacious, seizing other insects and flying 

 off" with them like the sand-wasps. Proctacanthus philadelphicus is 

 a very large, dark species, which frequents sunny places. The 

 larva of ^. sericeus lives on the roots of the rhubard plant. It is 

 three-quarters of an inch long, cylindrical nearly, and tapering at 

 either end. Their pupa cases, with forked tails, are found sticking 

 out of the ground and the roots. 



Laphria is one of the same family, though the body is much 

 stouter and more densely covered with yellow and black hairs. 

 Indeed, in their loud buzz, swift flight and appearance they closely 

 resemble bumble bees. They are found in sunny places, preying 

 upon other insects. 



Syrphidce. These gaily colored flies, so useful to agriculture 



