130 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



Flower Frequenting Flies 

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' number of little Syrphus flies were seen one day 

 gathered about the blossoms of a giant mullein. 

 .J Each dainty striped fly hung about the blossoms 

 as if having a distinct mission to perform. 



For light aerial flight the Syrphus flies are with- 

 out rivals. One starts suddenly ott', perfectly fear- 

 less in the moving currents of air, keeping a little distance 

 from the flower, then poising in mid-air with quiet grace, its 

 large staring eyes seeming to take in the surroundings at a 

 glance. Alighting on the petals, it proceeds to the orange- 

 tipped anthers where it ])artakes of pollen and licks the 

 staminal hairs with evident relish. During the feeding it 

 generally affects a nervous air by flexing the abdomen up 

 and down. These motions resemble similar behavior exhibited 

 by bees possessing stings, which the Syri)hus flies mimic. 

 During these movements the flies keep the wings widely 

 spread. At other times they are found quietly resting on 

 the flower or stalk, with the wings folded together over the 

 back. This is probably the attitude they assume when they 

 go to sleep. The familiarity of these flies is often amusing; 

 they not infrecpiently alighting on one's hand. One is 

 even now poised on the tip of my pencil, keeping his hold 

 through the motions incident to wTiting these lines in the 

 field. At times they seem almost omnipresent. 



To get acquainted with these aesthetic dwellers of yellow 

 blossoms, one should make a visit to the giant mullein. If 

 one has a contempt for this wayside "weed," this opinion will 



