LACE-WINGED FLT. 261 



at rest, with her ample folded wings, arching and sweeping, 

 train-like, over her slender limbs and body or whether by 

 expansion of these her gauzy pinions, she displays to more 

 advantage their most delicate workmanship a net of nervures, 

 interlaced over a thin transparent tissue, beautifully iridescent 

 with varying hues of azure blue and rose colour. But above 

 all may this insect-beauty, if she ever takes flattering counsel 

 at a dew-drop mirror, pride herself on the peculiar lustre of 

 her eyes a metallic brilliance closely resembling that of bur- 

 nished gold. There lurks, however, under these glittering 

 orbs, as much deception (though of a much more harmless 

 character) as belongs frequently to others hazel, black, and 

 blue. Their burnish is but gilding, being (like that on the 

 skins of various chrysalides) produced only by an opaque 

 varnish under the cornea. 1 



With all her beauty, and all her seeming gentleness, she 

 bears about her no odour of sweetness on the contrary, an 

 ill-conditioned scent ; and could we but inquire of her character 

 amongst insect nations, especially amongst the tribes of 

 Aphides, 2 which people the waving foliage, we should find her 

 name, amongst them, in worse odour even than her person. 

 The very story that flocks might bleat about the wolf, or turkeys 

 gabble of the fox, these aphides would certainly relate to us 

 of the lace-winged fly. " She invades," would they declare, 

 " our verdant pastures, drains our blood, sometimes even 

 dresses herself in the skins of our slaughtered brethren, and 

 for this, as well for the harmless mien which cloaks her ruthless 

 nature, may be looked on, not merely as a wolf, but as a wolf 

 in sheep's clothing." Thus would say the little aphides; and 

 the same character, with features somewhat enlarged, but by 

 no means softened, we are compelled in justice to assign to 

 their arch enemy, who, even before she has lacy wings to boast 

 of, or golden eyes to look upon the day, begins her murderous 

 ravages among their leaf-sucking tribes. 



1 See Painting, Carving and Gilding. 2 See article on Aphides. 



