248 ROUND THE YEAR 



South American species, observed on shore, darted 

 forth four or five threads from its spinnerets, which 

 were more than a yard long, and diverged in an 

 ascending direction. The Spider then suddenly let go 

 its hold, and was quickly borne out of sight. 



FLOWER-HAUNTING INSECTS. 



Sept. 29, 1895. We have had a glorious Sep- 

 tember, hot and sunny. But for one thunder-shower 

 there has been no rain, and for several days past the 

 thermometer has regularly exceeded 80 F. 



I have been noticing with some care the Insects 

 which haunt the clumps of Asters in the garden. 

 There are Bees of at least seven different species, 

 Wasps, two small Beetles in scanty numbers, and a 

 host of Flies. The Red Admiral and Small Tortoise- 

 shell Butterflies flutter about continually, but pay no 

 special attention to the Asters. Among the Flies I have 

 identified two common species of Eristalis, a Volucella, 

 a Syrphus, a Dung-fly, the metallic-coloured Lucilia 

 Caesar, the Blow-fly (Calliphora), and there were also 

 several small Muscidae which I did not examine. 



There were many Insects in the air, chiefly Diptera, 

 which did not alight on the flowers. I was able to 

 recognise small swarms of three species by peculiarities 

 of hovering. As I was sitting this afternoon in the 

 sun with a book on my knee, small Gossamer Spiders 

 now and then descended from the air upon the page. 

 I have not seen any gossamer on the ground for 

 several days. The little Psychodidae abound on the 

 window-pane. 



