52 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



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

 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 SyrphidcB includes three remarkable types 

 which we cannot pass over in silence. They are Vermileo^ VoluccUa 

 and Hclophilus. 



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

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

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

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

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



Fig. 37. — Vermileo de Geeri, 



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 Vohccellce (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 



