INSECT OBSER VA TION. 163 



sional excursion together to the other side of the 

 valley. 



Some years ago I was greatly puzzled by 

 an insect which seemed to appear and disappear 

 in a strange manner ; it flashed across a shady 

 path like a minute firefly an intermittent fleck of 

 snow it never seemed to settle anywhere, and 

 was altogether incomprehensible. At last I suc- 

 ceeded in catching some specimens and solved the 

 mystery. The little creature proved to be a slender 

 fly with a tapering, pointed body clothed with fine 

 silky scales, which in some positions were white as 

 snow with the changing iridescence of mother-of- 

 pearl ; thus in its ever-varying flight the insect 

 appeared and disappeared according as the rays of 

 light fell upon it at different angles. In size the 

 creature is but small, less than a house-fly, but 

 when magnified its beauty is exquisite the wings 

 decked with rainbow colours, the thorax rich 

 emerald green, and in life the eyes also 

 greenish and opalescent. 



I might go on endlessly describing visitants 

 to my favourite haunt and yet always have 

 something interesting to say about them, but I 



