THE TROUBLES OF THE HOUSE-FLY l8l 



that this lobster is, after all, only about an eighth 

 of an inch long, with its claws spreading barely 

 three - sixteenths of an inch ? Yes, true ; but we 

 must remember that the fly is only about one- 

 third of an inch long, and we can imagine how 

 proportionately formidable the little beast must 

 appear as a lurking foe and a handicap to the fly 

 fraternity. I have therefore pictured this little 

 episode of fly-time somewhat from the aspect of 

 the fly. This was one of the " troubles " which I 

 had in mind as I prepared the initial design with 

 its letter O. I had counted on using an old 

 specimen of the lobster which I had safely stowed 

 away in a pill - box somewhere, until my hap- 

 hazard fly victim supplied me with a fresh speci- 

 men, and subsequently helped me out in the com- 

 pletion and modification of my initial. 



A correct idea of the anatomy of the little crab 

 may be obtained from my illustration. But what 

 is it all about, this funny ride on a fly's hind-leg.? 

 Excepting as an inconvenience and encumbrance 

 it is doubtful whether the fly is much the worse for 

 his close attachment, and while this mimic crab or 

 lobster cannot be called a frequent passenger, a 

 careful scrutiny of any considerable assemblage of 

 flies on white paper or window-pane will occasion- 

 ally show us the animated and persistent red tag. 



But let us call him a lobster no more, rather 

 one of the " False Scorpions," one of the group 



