Feathers and Feelers 



147 



Seating ourselves In the shade of a thatch clump, 

 better to observe the industrious folk about us, our 

 inactivity is almost immediately productive of fruitful 

 results, but of a kind not exactly agreeable. With 

 irritating persistency a large green-eyed fly attempts to 

 settle upon some vulnerable part of our body. We 

 make haste, however, to drive it away as soon as we 



A STAPHYLINID, OR SCAVENGER BEETLE. THIS INSECT LIVES ON THE DECAYING 



MATTER AT THE HIGH-TIDE MARK. 



recognize it. For it is Tabaniis costalis, and its painful 

 drill is something to be avoided. Notwithstanding that 

 Tabanus Is a true fly, or Dipteron, and is gifted with a 

 powerful pair of wings that enables it to roam wher- 

 ever It may list, this species Is rarely found elsewhere 

 than In the neighborhood of the sea. Its larval life 

 Is spent In the rich, muddy soil of salt marshes, where 

 It feeds only on decaying plant remains. x\t this period 



