20 THE BOOK OF THE FLY 



dull-coloured female. Its body is furry but slender; 

 it has small eyes and head parts. In repose it holds 

 its wings parallel close above the abdomen, more 

 like the " breeze-flies," or true "gad-flies," than the 

 ordinary muscid flies. Although its proboscis does 

 not seem as formidable as that of more insectivorous 

 flies, yet it may sometimes be observed pouncing upon 

 some small fly, which it holds with its powerful legs. 

 This fly does not appear to be very predaceously 

 inclined; perhaps it is only "acting a part," like some 

 other creatures, including the amorous male of the 

 common frog, which, failing to secure a more natural 

 and complacent "partner in the dance," will in spring- 

 time seize upon and very persistently cling to an 

 astonished carp. 



Amongst many flies with bodies favoured with a 

 brilliant metallic sheen, several species of green-bottle 

 flies (Lucilicc) are notorious. Of these latter L. Ccvsar 

 is the most common, but L. Sericata is by far the 

 worst in England, not uncommonly laying eggs upon 

 sheep ; many are of a brilliant golden green, but some 

 vary towards a coppery green ; all have red eyes and 

 silvery faces. In summer-time these flies seize every 

 opportunity of depositing their eggs upon any sores 

 or skin wounds of animals ; their larvae normally feed 

 on carrion and dung. The green-bottle, like the blue- 

 bottle flies, are fond of both sweets and filth, but they 

 do not pester wholesome animals as do the sweat-flies. 



Next to the Muscidcc the most often observed and 

 easily recognisable as a distinct family of flies are the 

 Syrphidcc, which include the " hover-flies," the drone- 

 flies (often mistaken for the male of the hive-bee), and 





