OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS AND VEEMES. 343 



Perhaps some eggs might be injected into the body of the 

 spider, in the act of stinging. Some ichneumons deposit 

 their eggs in the aurelia of moths and butterflies. 



WHITE, 



In my Naturalises Calendar for 1795, July 21st, I find 

 the following note : 



It is not uncommon for some of the species of ichneumon 

 flies to deposit their eggs in the chrysalis of a butterfly. 

 Some time ago, I put two of the chrysales of a butterfly into 

 a box, and covered it with gauze, to discover what species of 

 butterfly they would produce ; but instead of a butterfly, one 

 of them produced a number of small ichneumon flies. 



There are many instances of the great service these little 

 insects are to mankind in reducing the number of noxious 

 insects, by depositing their eggs in the soft bodies of their 

 larvce; but none more remarkable than that of the ichneumon 

 tipula, which, pierces the tender body and deposits its eggs 

 in the larva of the tipula tritici, an insect which, when it 

 abounds greatly, is very prejudicial to the grains of wheat. 

 This operation I have frequently seen it perform with wonder 

 and delight. MAEKWICK. 



BOMBYLITJS MEDITJS. The lombylius medius is much 

 about in March and the beginning of April, and soon seems 

 to retire. It is a hairy insect, like a humble-bee, but with 

 only two wings, and a long straight beak, with which it sucks 

 the early flowers. The female seems to lay its eggs as it 

 poises on its wings, by striking its tail on the ground, and 

 against the grass that stands in its w r ay, in a quick manner, 

 for several times together. WHITE. 



I have often seen this insect fly with great velocity, stop 

 on a sudden, hang in the air in a stationary position for 

 some time, and then fly off" again ; but do not recollect having 

 ever seen it strike its tail agaiust the ground, or any other 

 substance. MAEKWICK. 



(FLIES.)* In the decline of the year, when the 



* Three species of English house-flies have now been introduced into 



