88 OUT OF DOORS. 



right of passage. I have sometimes taken fom* or five 

 of these grubs out of a single nest. 



A near relation of this dipterous Paul Pry may often 

 be found about the blackberries while they are in 

 blossom. It is remarkable for the curious fact that the 

 basal half of its abdomen is so transparent as to permit 

 the colour of the leaves or petals to be seen through it. 

 One of these flies, now before me, is so extremely trans- 

 parent that when I place it on the paper on which I am 

 writing the ink-marks can be seen through its substance, 

 though not so clearly as to be readable, owing probably 

 to the convexity of the abdomen. There are several 

 British flies whose bodies are only semi-opaque, but 

 there is none that can compare with the present example 

 in the almost crystalline pellucidity of its structure. In 

 consequence of this peculiarity it is called Volucella 

 translucens. 



A few paragraphs are now due to those much-dreaded 

 insects, the wasp and the hornet, both of which may be 

 found within the compass of our English Lane. 



There are several kinds of British wasps, all very 

 much alike in general appearance, but recognizable to 

 the entomological eye by sundry slight, but legible marks. 

 Some of these insects suspend their nests from trees, but 

 the commonest species follow the example of the humble- 

 bee, and choose a subterranean abode. Suppose now 

 that we lay siege to a wasp's nest, as we have lately done 

 to that of the humble-bee. 'Ware stings here, for there 

 is no creature more irritable than your wasp, and it is 



