756 



INSECTS ABROAD, 



that tliey are shining jetty black, and the same colour extends 

 upwards in a triangular form, as seen in the illustration. The 

 wings are ashen grey. The specific name, tumens, signifies 

 " swollen," and is one of the characteristics of the family, 

 wliich are sometimes called Vesiculosa, i.e. Bladder Flies. 



We now come to the Asilidas, some of the finest of the insect 

 tribes. They prey upon other insects, as can be seen by watch- 

 ing the proceedings of our English species. A Continental 



k \ il3^k^~ 



Fig. 498.— Dasypogon spectrum. 

 (Yellow and black.) 



species, Asilvs diadnna, has been seen even to capture and kill 

 the hive bee, in spite of its sting. Some of the larger species 

 are said to attack cattle, like the Breeze Flies. We shall exa- 

 mine several species of this group, one of them a yet un- 

 described insect. 



The first species is a native of China, and is a formidable 

 looking insect. It is entirely yellow and black, the latter being 

 the L'round colour, and the former due to a thick coat of bright 



