332 MINUTES 



124. vifcera appearing to confift of one flraight 

 TENTHREDO paffage from the mouth to the anus. 

 THETWNEP They feem to have a perfect ufe of all their 

 limbs and faculties , and cling fo clofe to the 

 leaf that it is difficult to lhake them off. 



SEPTEMBER 2. Yefterday, to try whether it 

 be, a univerfal faculty belonging to flies in 

 general to live in a ftate of difcapitation, 

 or whether it be peculiar to the Tenthredo of 

 the turnep, I feparated the head of a common 

 large blue houfe-fly, about a -quarter before 

 two o'clock. It immediately rofe upon its 

 wings, two or three inches high, and falling 

 upon its back, fpun round for fome time : 

 lifted it up by its legs, and letting it fall, it 

 made ufe of its wings and lighted upon its 

 feet, on which it now flood motionlefs. About 

 fevcn it was ftill alive. Neglefted to obfcrve 

 it later. This morning it is dead. 



Thus it feems probable, that all flies have a 

 faculty of living fome length' of time without 

 the head ; but that fome flies will furvive 

 the decapitation much longer than others. 



SEPTEMBER 2. To-day, put a female fly on to 

 a fucculent leaf of rape (braftca napus). She 

 tried it over and over, both on the fide and 

 on the edge; but would not attempt to infi- 



nuate 



