66 STRICTLY INCOG. 



their proper place in a scientific classification. For instance, 

 these same parasitic flies which so closely resemble bees in 

 their shape and colour have only one pair of wings apiece, 

 like all the rest of the fly order, while the bees of course 

 have the full complement of two pairs, an upper and an 

 under, possessed by them in common with all other well- 

 conducted members of the hymenopterous family. So, too, 

 there is a certain curious American insect, belonging to the 

 very unsavoury tribe which supplies London lodging-houses 

 with one of their most familiar entomological specimens ; 

 and this cleverly disguised little creature is banded and 

 striped in every part exactly like a local hornet, for whom 

 it evidently wishes itself to be mistaken. If you were 

 travelling in the wilder parts of Colorado you would find a 

 close resemblance to Buffalo Bill was no mean personal 

 protection. Hornets, in fact, are insects to which birds and 

 other insectivorous animals prefer to give a very wide berth, 

 and the reason why they should be imitated by a defenceless 

 beetle must be obvious to the intelligent student. But 

 while the vibrating wing-cases of this deceptive masque- 

 rader are made to look as thin and hornet-like as possible, 

 in all underlying points of structure any competent 

 naturalist would see at once that the creature must really 

 be classed among the noisome Hemiptera. I seldom 

 trouble the public with a Greek or Latin name, but on this 

 occasion I trust I may be pardoned for not indulging in all 

 the ingenuous bluntness of the vernacular. 



Sometimes this effective mimicry of stinging insects 

 seems to be even consciously performed by the tiny actors. 

 Many creatures, which do not themselves possess stings, 

 nevertheless endeavour to frighten their enemies by 

 assuming the characteristic hostile attitudes of wasps or 

 hornets. Everybody in England must be well acquainted 

 with those common British earwig-looking insects, popularly 



