ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET. 



ORN1THOMYIA AVICULARIA. Latr. 

 Bird Fly or Bird Tick. 



Man, quadrupeds, birds, and even the lower orders 

 of creation, are subject to parasites. This singular 

 insect, the Omithomyia avicularia, is found on the 

 swallow and several other species of birds. We once 

 met with a single specimen from the pipet lark, 

 (Alauda sepiaria) in Plaistow Marshes, some years 

 since ; and if the bird, when killed, had not have 

 been carefully wrapt up in paper, there is no doubt 

 that the insect would have escaped, since parasites 

 of this kind leave their subject as soon as it is cold, 

 and much sooner than the apterous species, as they 

 have the facility of flight. 



As yet, only two species have been detected in this 

 country, the viridis and the present. The head is 

 broad — the eyes set wide and prominent -. a polished 

 elevated suture runs up the front of the head close to 

 the eyes, and joins at the summit, leaving a wide 

 channel down the front of the head : the thorax is 

 brown and highly polished and much larger than the 

 body, which is very flat and of a dirty yellow colour, 

 and furnished at its sides with long curved bristles ; 

 its extremity terminates in a deep notch : the wings 

 are slightly tinged with a lightish brown : the legs 

 are robust and strong, and the feet are furnished 

 with powerful curved claws. They run fast, have 

 been known to suck the blood of man, and are capa- 

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