THE NATURE BOOK 



{Anthomyia). These are mis- 

 called " Small House Flies." 



There is a third, the Storm 

 Stomoxys. and this is the cul- 

 prit whose wickedness has been 

 charged against the unfortunate 

 House Fly. It wiU be seen from 

 the photograph that in size and 

 in outward appearance the bit- 

 ing Stomoxys closely resembles 

 the four House Flies in natural 

 attitudes around it ; but its 

 trunk is very different — a rigid 

 needle-piercing proboscis car- 

 ried, as shown, projecting hori- 

 zontally in front of the head 

 whi'u not in use. Its customary 

 haunt is the pasture field, where 

 it may often be noticed resting 

 on the gates. Strangely enough, 

 it has a habit of entering dwell- 

 ings before the approach of a storm, 

 leaving when the weather brightens. 

 Stomoxys reminds one of the dreaded 

 tropical Tsetse {Glossina). The inexpert 

 might see no difference between them. 

 Not entirely sanguinivorous, it is fre- 

 quently found sucking up nectar from 

 flowers. 



A giant of the race is the Horse Fly 



AQUATIC LARVA 

 OF A TABANID. 



{Tabamts hovimis), a phleboto- 

 mist whose lancets can pene- 

 trate an ox hide. When flying, 

 the vibration of its powerful 

 wings produces a strong hum- 

 ming sound, terrifying to graz- 

 ing animals. The females are 

 the afflictors. The imperfect 

 lancing apparatus of the males 

 renders that sex incapable of 

 blood-sucking. While the females 

 are busy with the cattle in the 

 meadows, the males are else- 

 where engaged with the flowers. 

 For the same reason the males 

 of other biting Flies, with few 

 exceptions, subsist on the juices 

 of plants. This is true of Hccma- 

 topota, the provoking Cleg, a 

 lesser relative of the dun and 

 bulky Horse Fly. In the hot 

 sultry days it is scarcely possible to walk 

 in the vicinity of woods without experi- 

 encing this paragon of viciousness. How 

 silently she settles — no intimation of her 

 presence until the first pungent prick ! 

 It is difficult to think of anything more 

 exasperating, more productive of un- 

 seasonable temper, than the calmly 

 insistent way in which these dehberate 



THE CENTRE OBJECT IS STOMOXYS, THE OTHERS ARE HOUSE FLIES. 



