280 OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS. 



an incipient state of decomposition, previously to 

 being eaten.* 



May 29, 1845. I observed a species of Anthomyia 

 this morning on the window of my study affected in 

 a peculiar way, and similar to what I have before 

 occasionally noticed in the common house-fly. It 

 attracted my attention, from having remained a long 

 time stationary without moving. On examining it 

 closely under a lens of low power, it appeared to be 

 engaged in slowly vomiting up a clear but slightly 

 adhesive liquid from the extremity of the proboscis, 

 and then as slowly drawing it back again into the 

 mouth. This was repeated a vast number of times 

 at short intervals. The globule of liquid, which was 

 about the size of a large pin's head, remained at the 

 extremity of the proboscis from one to two minutes, 

 partly resting upon the glass, previously to being 

 sucked up again. Just before its reappearance each 

 time, the insect was much agitated, a violent 

 tremor seizing its legs and halteres (especially the 

 latter), though the wings remained motionless. Oc- 

 casionally a drop of the same clear liquid was 

 expelled from behind also, and at the same moment, 

 and left upon the window-pane. The fly remained 



* The above is abridged from a notice of this case, which was 

 communicated at the time to the Entomological Society, and 

 afterwards published in their Transactions, (vol. ii. p. 152,) 

 where there will be found a full description, as well as figure, of 

 the larvae, together with references to one or two analogous 

 cases previously on record. 



