52 THE INSECT WORLD. 



and while resting on the corolla of the honeysuckle and hawthorn to 

 suck the juice, forms a most striking contrast, and sets forth its 

 beauty no less than that of those lovely flowers." 



Anthrax sinuata is common in Europe. 



The family of the Syrphida includes three remarkable types, 

 which we cannot pass over in silence. They are Vermileo, Volucella, 

 and Helophilus. 



Vermileo de Geeri (Fig. 37), which inhabits the central and 

 southern parts of France, is four or five lines in length. Its face 

 is white ; its forehead grey, bordered with black ; the thorax of a 

 yellowish grey, with four brown stripes in the male ; the abdomen 

 light yellow, spotted with black ; and the wings glassy. 



Fig. 37 .-Ver 



Fig. 38. A species of Volucella. 



The larva of the Vermileo has a thin cylindrical body, capable of 

 bending itself in every direction ; a conical head, armed with two 

 horny points ; and the last segment elongated, flat, elevated, and 

 terminated by four hairy tentacles ; 'at the sides of the fifth segment 

 may be observed a little angle, from which projects a horny retractile 

 point. 



It is of very singular habits. It makes a small tunnel in the 

 sand, having a conical mouth, where it waits, like the spider, im- 

 movable. As soon as an insect falls into the hole, it raises its head, 

 and squeezing its prey in the folds of its body, devours it, and after- 

 wards throws out the skin. It lives in this way for at least three 

 years before attaining the perfect state. 



The Volucella (Fig. 38) have a strong resemblance to the humble- 

 bee. Certain kinds make use and abuse of this resemblance to 

 introduce themselves fraudulently into its nests, and to deposit their 



