to the apex, not being lobed as in Eristalis, Helophiliis, &c. 

 Our British species are, 



1. V. bombylans Linn. — Pa7iz. 8. 21. — Don. 5. 151. 4. 

 June and July woods round London, Dover, Dorset, 



Devon, &c. 



2. V. plumata DeG. — mystaceus i^a6. — Panz. 8. 22. — Don. 14. 



471. 1. 

 June, m. July, woods round London, Dover, &c. 



3. V. pellucens Li7in. — Panz. 1. 17. 



Beginning of June and July shady places in woods, New 

 Forest, Glanville's Wootton. 



4. V. inflata Fab. — Curt. Brit. Ent. jpl. 452 mas. — dryophila 



Schr. 

 June, e. July, Darent-wood, New Forest and Glanville's 

 Wootton, Mr. Dale. 



5. V. inanis Liiin. — Pa7iz. 2. 6. — Don. 14. 490. 1. — Sam.pl.9. 



f. 3. — 'Reaumur^ v. 4. ^j/. 33. J\ 15 — 19. — apivora 

 De G. — trifasciata Schr. 



June to end of Aug. skirts of woods, New Forest, J. 

 C. Dale, Esq. Bradley wood Devon, Capt. Blomer. The 

 larvae inhabit the nests of Humble-bees, devouring their larvae 

 and pupae, and in the Introduction to Entomology we find the 

 following interesting observations on the subject. " Some sin- 

 gular larvae, with a radiated anus (Pl.xix. f. 1 1 ), live in the nests 

 of humble-bees, and are the offspring of a particular genus of 

 Hies, many of the species of which strikingly resemble those 

 bees in shape, clothing and colour. Thus has the Author of na- 

 ture provided that they may enter these nests and deposit their 

 eggs undiscovered. Did these intruders venture themselves 

 amongst the humble-bees in a less kindred form, their lives 

 would probably pay the forfeit of their presumption. Mr. 

 Sheppard once found one of these larvae in the nest of Apis 

 Raiella, K. but we could not ascertain what the fly was. Per- 

 haps it might be V. homhylans Meig. which resembles those 

 humble-bees that have a red anus." I may add that Mr. J. 

 Cocks of Hish Bickington Devon showed me a similar larva 

 (wanting the anal rays) that he detected in the cells of a 

 wasp's nest Sept. 25th, 1822. It assisted itself in walking with 

 the head, and could turn itself with great facility when laid 

 upon its back. 



The Plant is Anchusa sempervirens (Evergreen Alkanet). 



