THE HORNET FLIES. 



759 



among a number of the bees, it would probably pass muster 

 except to a very practised eye. It is a native of Natal. 



The colour of the thorax is black, and so is that of the abdo- 

 men. The latter, however, has a fringe of long grey down. 

 There is a tuft of yellow down on the top of the head, and a 

 patch of the same colour on the tibia of the fore-legs. Those 

 of the hind legs have a fringe of long grey hair running along 

 the inner edge. The rest of the limb is black. The wings are 

 deep blackish brown, and with a strong side light a deep gloss 

 of blue is seen upon them. 



Ouk last example of this genus is Laphria horrida of Sumatra. 

 It is represented in the act of pouncing on a luckless insect, 

 which it will speedily drain of its juices. In these insects the 

 grasping power of the 

 fore-legs is wonderful, 

 and the tenacity with 

 which they stick to their 

 prey scarcely less so. 

 On a windy day, our 

 English hornet-flies may 

 be seen drifting along in 

 the breeze as if without 

 any purpose. No sooner, 

 however, do they come 

 near another insect than 

 they pounce on it, clasp 

 it tightly with their fore- 

 legs, and drive the beak 

 into its body. It often 

 happens that the remain- 

 ing legs are not sufficiently strong to enable the insect to hold 

 its own against the wind, and so it may be seen rolling over 

 and over, clutching at the grass with the second and third pairs 

 of legs, but never for a moment relaxing its hold of its prey. 



The present species is almost entirely black. There is a tuft 

 of yellow hairs on its head, and its legs are yellow, but these 

 latter are nearly concealed by the long black hairs with which 

 they are covered. A ridge of yellow hair runs along both edges 

 of the thorax. The wings are shining yellow. 



Fig. 502.— Laphria horrida. 

 (Black, with yellow wings.) 



