558 



THE FOKEST-FLIES. 



The Hippoboscidse, or Forest-flies, deserve a short notice. These are round-bodied 

 insects with legs that can cling with wonderful force, and are capable of moving back- 

 wards, forwards, and sideways with equal swiftness, so that they are not easily captured, 



even when they do not take to 

 wing. These insects are mostly 

 found in or near forests, and are 

 very annoying to horses and cattle. 

 Their integuments are covered 

 with hair, and are remarkably 

 tough and leathery. The various 

 species of Ticks belong to this 

 family, and are closely allied to 

 the Forest-fly. 



Although not included in Mr. 

 Westwood's list of insects, the 

 Lice are mostly considered as 

 belonging to this class, under the 

 name of APTEKA. There are very 

 many species of these obnoxious 

 creatures infesting different ani- 

 mals and tribes, and at least three 

 species are found upon the human 

 subject. 



ON account of an unavoidable 

 delay in the engraving, the accom- 

 panying illustration was omitted 

 from its proper place, on page 

 519, and is now supplied. It 

 must be inserted after the con- 

 clusion of the first parapraph, 

 just before the Erycinidse. 



The two beautiful insects which 

 are represented on the engraving 

 are examples of the family Saty- 

 ridse, which has no British repre- 

 sentatives. Both these creatures, 

 unlike as they appear to be, belong 

 to the same genus. The upper 

 species is the Hetcera Piera, an 

 insect which bears a wonderful 

 resemblance to the transparent 

 heliconia already described. Its 

 wings are delicately transparent, 

 and with the slightest imaginable 

 tinge of yellow. On the lower 

 wings there is a blush of orange-red, and the marks are darkish brown. 



The lower figure represents the Heicera dracontis, a delicately marked, though not 

 brilliant insect. The upper wings are very soft brown, traversed by a band of a greyish 

 hue, and with a very slight tinge of chocolate. The lower wings are also brown, but with 

 a faint wash of blue, and the light marks are azure. On the under side it is wholly 

 brown, with two round spots of black edged with buff, and two or three whitish blotches. 



Iletcera Piera. 

 Hetccra dracontis. 



