HISTORY OF INSECTS. ()9 



it turns to the common ]ady-bird, or lady-cow, a 

 pretty little beetle, which always preys in the 

 same way. 



218. Another enemy of the hop-fly, is a green 

 ungainly looking grub, without legs, which lays 

 flat on the surface of the leaf, and stretches out 

 its neck, just like a leech, till it touches one of 

 them ; directly he feels one, he seizes it in his 

 teeth, and holds it up wriggling in the air till he has 

 sucked all its juices, and left it a mere empty skin. 



219. This curious creature turns to a fly, 

 which has a body banded with different colours ; 

 and which, in summer, may be often observed 

 under trees and about flowers, standing quite 

 still in the air, as though asleep ; yet, if you try 

 to catch it, darting off like an arrow : the fly is 

 called Syrphus balteatus. 



220. A third enemy of the hop-fly has six 

 legs, and very large, strong, curved jaws, and is 

 a most ferocious looking animal, frequently parad- 

 ing about a leaf, covered with the skins of the 

 hop-flies which he has destroyed : this fierce 

 creature comes to a very beautiful fly, with four 

 reticulated wings and two brilliant golden eyes ; 

 it smells very unpleasantly. 



221. A fourth enemy to the hop-fly, is a 

 minute ichneumon, similar to that which is para- 

 sitical of the blight of the rose : the males of these 

 ichneumons are active, flying about, and coursing 

 over the leaves ; but the female is of less roving 



