170 



THE BLOOD-SUCKING OSCINIS. 



to the hive; it has received the very appropriate name of "bee- 

 killer." Their reputation of being tormenters of w^arm- 

 blooded animals is badly founded, however; at least the 

 writer has never observed them sucking blood. If kept be- 

 tween the fingers these flies are not slow to inflict a very 

 severe bite. But other flies, for instance the members of the 

 family Boiiibyllda' , small and very hairy insects with bright 

 colors, do the same thing, and will not permit themselves to 

 be handled with inapunity. 



There are a number of very small flies that sometimes at- 

 tack man and domesticated animals, and which notwith- 

 standing their small size, can cause considerable irritation 

 and inflict no little pain. 



THE BLOOD-SUCKING OSCINIS. 



( Osc'mh jMlllpes Loew). 



This minute fly, illustrated in fig. 141, is a polished black 



insect, with yellow face and legs. It is small, as can be seen 



by the hair-line in the illustration, w^hich gives the natural 



size of the insect with expanded wings. During June, July 



Fig. 141. — Blood-sucking Oscinis. Greatly enlarged. Original. 



and August this fly is exceedingly abundant in some places,, 

 and large numbers of them attack such animals as horses, 

 cattle and dogs. They are very quick in all their actions, 

 and can not be readily driven off, always returning and try- 



