266 INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. 



be primarily directed, rather than having recourse to 

 fly-waters. 



Another common insect (Bibiohortulanus, Meigen) 

 lives in the larvae state in cesspools, along with rat- 

 tailed larvae, &c. The maggot of the bibio is very 

 peculiar in form. They are hatched from eggs, with 

 shells as hard as Paris plaster, deposited on the adja- 

 cent walls, and frequently upon the pupa case which 

 the mother has previously quitted. Like the larvae of 

 the crane-flies above described, this one moves itself 

 chiefly by means of its mandibles, and therefore it can 

 make no progress on a piece of smooth glass. Its skin, 

 it may be remarked, is so exceedingly hard and tough, 

 that it is no easy matter to kill it.* We have intro- 

 duced this insect here, however, chiefly for the pur- 

 pose of refuting an erroneous popular accusation 

 against it, which is supported by the high authorities 

 of Ray and Reaumur. Our great English naturalist 

 calls it the deadliest enemy of the flowers in spring, 

 and accuses it of despoiling the gardens and fields of 

 every blossom. t Reaumur is less decided in his opi- 

 nion ; for though he perceived that, not being fur- 

 nished with mandibles, they could not, as is supposed, 

 gnaw the buds of fruit trees j yet, from their being 

 found crowded upon flowers and buds, he thinks they 

 may suck the juices of these, and thus cause them to 

 wither. t We are satisfied, by repeated observation, 

 that the fly only uses its sucker (haustellunt) for sip- 

 ping the honey of flowers, or the gum with which the 

 opening bud is usually covered. The damage of 

 which it is accused is more probably done by cater- 

 pillars, snails, or other night-feeding insects, which 

 not being seen by day, the fly is blamed for what it 

 is entirely innocent of.$ 



* Swammerdam, x. 212. f Rail Hist. Insect,, Pref., p. xi, 



X Reaumur, v. 56. ^ J. R. 



