194 DRONE-FLIES. 



They are large, handsome insects, with a downy, 

 yellow-brown thorax and shining black body 

 which moves up and down in a wasp-like manner, 

 When flying about the room they keep up a loud 

 humming noise, which at once betrays their 

 presence. 



As soon as cold weather begins these flies are 

 driven to seek shelter in our rooms, where they 

 find warmth, but usually no food or welcome. 

 This year I thought I would prepare " a refuge 

 for the destitute," in the shape of a small glass 

 globe, with sufficient ventilation, a little trough 

 full of honeycomb, and a small pan of water. 

 Into this little home I introduced three of these 

 dipterous " waifs and strays " I found buzzing on 

 the window-panes last October, and I suppose they 

 liked their quarters, for they settled down amicably 

 enough, and spent their whole time, like many 

 beings far higher up in the scale of creation, in 

 eating, drinking, and sleeping ! I can speak well 

 of these drone-flies as pet insects, for they become 

 absolutely tame, so as to come on my finger, 

 and to bear being stroked with a soft feather. 

 They cannot sting or bite, as they possess no 



