354 THE BRACHYCERA. 



of the antennae, which is always of large size, is often 

 found to terminate in several smaller joints, whilst in 

 those cases where it forms a solid mass, the bristle 



Syrphus Pyrastri. 



which springs from it is frequently jointed. The 

 formation of the palpi also, as already stated, fur- 

 nishes another characteristic difference, these organs 

 being composed of but one or two joints, and applied 

 closely to the sides of the proboscis, of which, at the 

 first glance, they appear to form a portion. This 

 group includes an enormous number of species, ex- 

 hibiting even a greater variety of habit than the Ne- 

 mocera, whilst both in the structure of the perfect 

 insects, and in the nature of their metamorphosis, we 

 find characters sufficient to divide them into three 

 subordinate groups or tribes. 



In walking along the sides of flowery banks in the 

 bright sunny days of spring and the early summer, 

 our attention is frequently drawn to a hairy fly, closely 

 resembling a small Humble Bee, which hovers motion- 

 less with invisible wings and a humming noise over 

 the flowers, and darts away with the rapidity of light- 

 ning, if, impelled by a desire to see something more 

 of its proceedings, we approach it rather more closely 

 than it deems consistent with its personal safety. 

 When we succeed in capturing this little creature, 

 which, from its quickness of vision and great activity 



