BRITISH INSECTS 



the body. It is a great blood-sucker, and should be 

 studiously avoided. The third species mentioned above 

 is a close relative of the Gad Fly {Tabanus hovinus), and 

 both are the source of much annoyance to cattle and 

 horses. T. autumnalis is co-called because it appears 

 in Autumn. It is dark brown in colour, and has a 

 more pointed abdomen than the other two Breeze Flies 

 already referred to. 



The Humble Bee Fly {Bomhylius major. Fig. 40), is 



HumkU- Y E'^-e- riy. 



worthy of brief mention. It is a bee-like insect belong- 

 ing to the Family Bombylidcs, and seems to be fond of 

 haunting shady woodsides and similar places, where it 

 pursues an energetic life, darting hither and thither 

 with its long tongue fully extended, as shown in our 

 illustration of this species. The larva lives in the nests 

 of humble bees, and the likeness of the adult to the 

 host is probably of much assistance to it. 



86 



