The terrors created amongst cattle by the Tabani (called by 

 the Greeks (Estrus, by the Romans Asilus) have been recorded 

 by the ancient poets; modern naturalists have unfortunately 

 applied these terms to insects of very different habits, our 

 CEstri appearing to have been totally unknown to them. 



In this country they are called the Breeze. Their flight is 

 easily detected by the vibration of their wings, which greatly 

 terrifies and agitates cattle, especially horses and horned cattle, 

 the hides of which they are able to pierce, making a w^ound 

 that must be very painful, when we consider the compound 

 apparatus with which it is made. The dissections of these parts 

 are more elaborate than usual, no less for the information of 

 those who may feel interested in the history and curious struc- 

 ture of this well known genus, than for the instruction they 

 afford to the student from the completeness of every part. 

 The lip (g), composed of 2 muscular hollow lobes, enables the 

 insect, I imagine, to attach itself firmly to any object it is 

 desirous of attacking : the parts marked b, c, d, and probably 

 e, are forced into the object in a compact body, the mandi- 

 bles assisting principally in this operation, being most exqui- 

 site lancets, one of which is figured separately at E, if the 

 maxillae (e) be admitted into the wound, from their elasticity, 

 it is probable, for the purpose of dilating it. The palpi (f) are 

 useful in dividing the hair of the animal, and assist in deter- 

 mining the blood to the spot ; and the lip and tongue (b and 

 c, highly magnified at F, at which point is the pharynx) are 

 grooved, and when united form a tube for the blood to pass 

 through : the former appears to have a gland at the apex, which 

 may assist in drawing it up. 



There are 11 or 12 species of this genus in Britain, and 

 we may expect to discover many more, as Meigen has de- 

 scribed 42. We have, 1. T. bovinus L. ; 2. autumnalis L. ; 

 3. signatiis Meig. ? 4. micans F. ; 5. tropicus L. ; 6. solstitialis 

 Meig. ; 7. luridus Fallen ; 8. montanus Meig. ; 9. pagarius F. ; 

 10. r2istic2is L. ; 11. alpinus Schr. The last species being new 

 to Britain has been selected for the drawing. Two females were 

 taken last autumn by Captain Blomer near Bideford, North 

 Devon. Schrank having first given it the name of alpinus, 

 Meigen's name has been here dropped. The Tabani are all to 

 be found from June to September in places inhabited by 

 cattle, viz. marshes, meadows, heaths and forests, frequently 

 settling upon gates and paling, the males upon flowers : those 

 of T. nisticus I have found in gardens. 



The plant is Matricaria Chamomilla (Chamomile Fever- 

 few). 



