610 INSECTS AT HOME. 



killed about twelve Luudred by hand-picking, giving them u 

 squeeze in tlie head as they were taken. 



' I did not, however, at that time understand their habits, 

 or tlie slaughter would have been greater. It was not until 

 the latter part of the year that I noticed tliat the Fly comes 

 forth from the earth at twilight — chiefly in the evening, but in 

 the morning twilight also. They may then be easily taken by 

 pacing about upon the grass, and watching them as they emerge. 

 To aid their capture the grass should be kept close cut during 

 llie season of their appearance. I killed upwards of two 

 thousand in the second year, and in the fifth year of their 

 invasion, I saw no more of them. 



' T observed that the male commonly leaves his case in the 

 earth, and begins to fly immediately on his emerging there- 

 from ; or, after the lapse of a minute or so, while he rests upon 

 the grass. He is small and active, and scuttles about close to 

 the ground in a zigzag manner, like a spaniel in search of 

 game. 



' The female, being fat and plump, particularly towards the 

 end of the abdomen, often cannot extricate herself from the 

 old case in which she has been entombed, as the abdomen 

 sticks fast in the upper part of it, which is the narrowest. I 

 have seen them shoot up by the half-score together in the 

 twilight of a soft summer's evening, unable to bring the case 

 fully out of the ground. The wings at their extremities 

 frequently remain encased together with the abdomen, and 

 tlius the insect is prevented from struggling excejDt with its 

 fore-legs. 



' I have measured them when in this position, and found 

 them, with the case attached, two inches and a half in length. 

 Both sexes are of a liglit blanched coloiu- on their first coming 

 forth from the ground ; but a few minutes with the female, and 

 a few seconds with the male, change them to their usual dusty- 

 drab. 



' The reason of the active, searching motion of the male 

 quickly becomes apparent — he is hunting for the female. As 

 soon as he discovers one of them in the hampered position 

 already described, he rushes to her aid, and with his fore-legs 

 drags her out of the light pupa-case. The insects remain 

 together for several hours, and may thus be destroyed before 

 the female has had time to deposit her eggs. 



