102 iRambles witb iRature Students 



would recommend British Bees, by W. E. Shuckard 

 (published by Lovcll Reeve & Co.). With this 

 book, a small net, and a magnifying glass, I can 

 promise my readers a very fascinating pursuit for 

 their summer rambles. 



The bees may be found on flowers, gravel walks, 

 turf, old walls, and hedge banks ; they are easily 

 caught, and can be kept under a glass until we 

 have ascertained all we desire to know about them. 

 Then we may set them at liberty, as we shall 

 have learnt the appearance of each species, and 

 can recognise them as we see them busily at work 

 out of doors. 



Unless a dried collection of insects is really 

 needed for scientific purposes, I always strongly 

 discourage the indiscriminate killing of insects ; it 

 seems to me that it must tend to blunt kind and 

 tender feelings in young people, and it is really 

 needless, except for those who are in training to 

 become practical scientists. 



THE HOVERER-FLY (Syrphus plumosus) 



As the humble-bee fly is a harbinger of spring 

 and one of the first insects we may see visiting 

 the early blossoms of the year, so the hoverer-fly 

 betokens the arrival of summer. It revels in the 

 hottest sunshine, and is one of the most active, 

 swift-winged creatures imaginable. 



The specimen I watched to-day was a Syrphus 

 plumosus, one of the handsomest of the species. 

 It is covered with yellow down, the wings having 

 a few dark markings, and its general appearance 



