OBSER VA TIONS ON INSECTS. 343 



and suck the honey from flowers, from ivy blossoms and 

 umbellated plants ; they carry off also flesh from butchers' 

 shambles. — White. 



In the year 1775 wasps abounded so prodigiously in this 

 neighbourhood, that, in the month of August, no less than 

 seven or eight of their nests were ploughed up in one field : 

 of which there were several instances, as I was informed. 



In the spring, about the beginning of April, a single 

 wasp is sometimes seen, which is of a larger size than 

 usual ; this I imagine is the queen or female wasp, the 

 mother of the future swarm. — Markwick. 



OESTRUS CURYICAUDA. 



This insect lays its nits or eggs on horses' legs, flanks, 

 etc., each on a single hair. The maggots, when hatched, 

 do not enter the horses' skins, but fall to the ground. It 

 seems to abound most in moist, moorish places, though 

 sometimes seen in the uplands. — White. 



NOSE-FLY. 



About the beginning of July a species of fly (musca) 

 obtains, which proves very tormenting to horses, trying 

 still to enter their nostrils and ears, and actually laying 

 their eggs in the latter of those organs, or perhaps in both. 

 When these abound, horses in woodland districts become 

 very impatient at their work, continually tossing their 

 heads, and rubbing their noses on each other, regardless of 

 the driver, so that accidents often ensue. In the heat of 

 the day, men are often obliged to desist from ploughing. 

 Saddle-horses are also very troublesome at such seasons. 

 Country people call this insect the nose-fly. — White. 



