Bpril 



75 



they will understand 

 what I mean by 

 difference of char- 

 acter in insects. 

 This might afford a 

 very interesting sub- 

 ject for study. 



I believe very 

 little is known about 

 the life-history of 

 this charming insect. 

 Its larvae arc said to 

 be parasites, feeding 



upon caterpillars and other insects. The perfect fly 

 is seen from March to May, but I have not observed 

 it in the summer or autumn months. 



HUMBLE-BEE FLY. 



THE ASH 



The ash is now becoming conspicuous by the 

 size of its dark flower and leaf-buds. This feature 

 has often been noticed by the poets ; Bishop Mant 

 speaks of 



' Its buds on either side opposed 

 In couples each to each, enclosed 

 In caskets black and hard as jet, 

 The ash-tree's graceful branch beset.' 



I scarcely ever pass by an ash tree in spring but 

 I recall Tennyson's well-known lines 



' Those eyes 



Darker than darkest pansies, and that hair 

 More black than ashbuds in the front of March.' 



