48 THE INSECT WORLD. 



these Diptera having short antennae — are divided into four groups. 

 In this subdivision the sucker is composed of six bristles. Amongst 

 other famiUes it includes that of the lahaiiidce ; the insects belonging 

 to which family are of remarkable strength, and possessed of daring 

 and courage in the highest degree. Their wings are provided 

 with powerful muscles, their feet are very strong, and their trunk 

 is provided with six flat, sharp lancets. Distributed over the 

 entire world, their instinct is everywhere the same, it is the desire 

 for blood, at least in the females ; for the males are not so war- 

 like, they do no harm, but live on the juices of. flowers. They 

 are chiefly found in woods and pastures, and during the hottest 

 part of the day in summer may be seen flying about seeking for 

 their prey. 



M. de Saint-Fargeau has described the manner in which the 

 males fly. They may be seen flying hither and thither in the glades 

 of woods, remaining for some time suspended in the air, then darting 

 quickly and suddenly away a yard or two, again taking up the same 

 immovable position, and in each of these movements turning the 

 head to the opposite way from that in which they are going. This 

 naturalist is certain that on these occasions they are watching for the 

 females, which they dart upon. When they have succeeded in doing 

 so, they rise so high as to be out of sight. 



To this group belongs the genus Tahanus. 



The first species we shall mention, Tahanus aiitumnalis (Fig. 2)Z\ 

 a common species, is eight or nine lines in length, and of blackish 

 colour. The palpi, the face, and the forehead are grey ; the antennae 

 black ; the thorax grey, striped with brown ; the abdomen spotted 

 with yellow; the legs of a yellowish white; and the outer edge of the 

 wings brown. 



Another species ( Tabaniis bovinus) is twelve lines in length, and 

 of a blackish brown. The palpi, the face, and the forehead are 

 yellow ; the antennae black, with a whitish base ; the thorax, covered 

 with yeflow hair, is striped with black ; the posterior edge of the 

 segments of the abdomen pale yeflow ; the legs yeflowish, with the 

 extremities black, and the exterior edge of the wings yeflow. This 

 species is frequently met with in woods. 



A third species, Chrysops ccectitieiis (Fig. 34), which belongs to 

 the same family, and of which the generic name Chrysops signifies 

 golden-eyed, torments horses and cattle very much by biting them 

 round the eyes. Its thorax is of a yellowish colour, striped or spotted 

 with black ; the abdomen yellow, and the eyes golden. 



In the next group of the Brachycera the sucker is composed of 



