bIPTERA. 



57 



the thorax grey ; and the abdomen of a reddish yellow, with black 

 spots. The wings are whitish, not diaphanous, with a golden tint, 

 and divided by a winding band of blackish colour. The feet are 

 palish yellow. 



This species is found in France, in Italy, and also in the East, 



Fig. 41.— Horse-fly, male {(Estrus 

 {gasterophtlus) eqiti). 



Fig. 42.— Horse-fly, female {CEstrus 

 {gasterophilus) equt). 



especially in Persia, and rarely in England. During the months of 



fuly and August the CEstnis frequents pastures, and deposits its eggs 



chiefly on the shoulders and knees of horses (Plate I. ). In order to do 



this, the female suspends herself in the air for some seconds over the 



iplace she has chosen, falls upon it, and with her abdomen bent, sticks 



ler eggs to the horse's hair by means of a glutinous liquid with 



vhich they are provided, and which soon dries. This is repeated at 



ery short intervals. It often happens that from four to five hundred 



ggs are thus deposited upon the same horse. Guided by a marvellous 



nstinct, the female CEstrus generally places her eggs on those parts 



)f the horse's body which can be most easily touched with the 



ongue, that is, at the inner part of the knees, on the shoulders, and 



'arely on the outer part of the mane. 



The eggs of the (Estrus, which are white and of conical form, 



Fig. 43.— Eggs of the Gad-fly {CEstrus {gasterophilus) equt) deposited on the hairs of a horse. 



dhere to the horse's hair, as shown in Fig. 43. They are furnished 

 ith a lid, which at the time of hatching opens, to allow the exit of 



1 



