124 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
whose acquaintance is but too familiar to me. The former 
is magnificently plumed, and not quite so large an insect 
as the common species ; besides which, the larve are totally 
different ; the one being a small blood-coloured worm, and 
the other the restless wig-wag so often seen in our tumblers. 
“ The larger mosquito, which is found in swarms—dis- 
tinct swarms, I mean—in the marshes, is certainly different 
from the two species I have mentioned, being of a larger 
size, with the body much distended with something very 
like mud; for in killing one on the person it leaves a 
muddy spot. A swarm of these mosquitos may be seen and 
heard at some distance as they dance up and down over the 
low cedars.” 
Three species of Muscidw have been noticed by Mr. 
Hurdis :—A_ house-fly, very common and troublesome in 
some seasons, which is closely allied to (if, indeed, it be not 
identical with) M. domestica of Europe; a grey coloured fly, 
which produces its larvee alive; and the common black one, 
which lays eggs. The two latter are both blow-flies, though 
by no means abundant. A very beautiful blue-bottle fly is 
also frequently met with; as also a light yellow-coloured 
species of cow-dung fly (Scatophaga), which frequents the 
droppings of cattle, very similar in appearance to S. mer- 
daria of Britain. We also observed a species of Tabanus, 
of rather rare occurrence. A green-headed gad-fly is not 
uncommon ; Mr. Hurdis takes it to be Gastrus equa. 
APTERA (FL iEAs, SPRING-TAILS, CENTIPEDES, ETC.). 
The Common Flea, (Pulex writans), is extremely abun- 
dant in the spring-time of the year, appearing as the 
"Mudians say, “at the same time as the whales on the 
