612 



INSECTS AT HOME. 



tending to purple. The present species is rather variable in 

 colouring, whence one of the three species derives the name of 

 • Chameleon. It always, however, has a velvet-black body, on 

 which are a number of bold yellow patches, arranged as shown 

 in the illustration. The legs also are yellow. There are three 

 species all very much alike in colouring, and almost identical 



LXXi 



1. Asilus crabroniformis. 2. Asilns germanicns. 3. Stvatiomy?! furcata. 4. Eristalis 

 tenax. a. Asilus crabroniformis, tarsus. b. Strationiys furcata, autc-nna. c. Eristalis 

 tenax, antenna. 



in their life history. The larva of this insect is an odd- 

 lookin'^- eature, long, slender, and worm-like, with its seg- 

 ments \ery strongly marked, and gradually diminishing in 

 diameter towards the tail, which is furnished with a star of 

 radiating hairs. As is the case with the larva of the Grnat, that 

 of the Chameleon-fly breathes through the end of the tail, 

 the larva remaining suspended with its liead downwards and its 

 star-tipped tail at the surface. The life history of the Common 



