

About the middle of April we may notice a 
little black gnat, with the end of the tail red, laying 
its eggs on the stalks 
of wheat and rye. 
In a short time the 
larvee hatch, and 
ensconce themselves 
under the leaf- 
sheaths, where they 
remain until they 
become pupe, and 
in August the flies 
appear. The stalks 
are somuch weaken- 
ed that they cannot 
remain upright, and 

bend over. The 
winter brood lives 
chiefly in stubble- ’ 
fields in the scattered fallen stalks, where they 
pass the winter without assuming the pupa_ state 
till the following spring. 
Family IV. Mycetophilida. These are small 
flies which are often excessively numerous Their 


larvee feed on fungi. 
Sciara militaris, 
the Army-worm, de- 
rives its name from 
the curious habit of its 
larve, which assemble 
previous to their meta- 
morphosis, and creep 
slowly forward in a 
douse column, three 
or four yards long, 
leaving a_ slimy trail 
behind them. 
Family V. Simu- 
liide. The Sandflies 
are small humpbacked 
flies with broad wings 
tinged with brownish, 
spotted legs, and the 
differing in colour. , 
Stmulia columbaccensts, which at times causes 
so much terror to man and animals on the lower 
Danube, is hardly larger than a flea. 
In the spring, they creep into the ears, 
nose and mouth of cattle in vast 
swarms, and torture them to death. In 
the case of men, they usually attack 
the. corners of the eye, leaving a small 
hard swelling. 
Family VI. Bibionida. Hairy flies, with bead- 
like , 9-jointed antennz , and brown or white black- 
bordered wings. 
males and females generally 

Bibio marci, St. Mark’s Fly, is a small 
black hairy fly with a_ large 
head, and broad smoky wings, 
obtuse at the end, and bordered 
with black. They fly heavily, and 
when at rest, let their wings and 
bodies droop. The female lays 
her eggs by hundreds in leaf- 
mould or cowdung. The maggots 
pass the winter in company in 
loose mould, and in February 
change into humped pupe about 
two-thirds of an inch long. The 
about a fortnight. 

in 
flies 
appear 

Army-worm (Scéara militaris). 

‘Section Il. Brachycerta. 
The antenne are short, and only three-jointed. 
Family VIL Tabanidea. The Gad-Flies have 
a broad head, with large greenish eyes, and a short 
strong proboscis. The body is smooth, and the 
wingr are sloping when at rest. They fly well, and 
inflict a severe puncture with their proboscis, and 
even the smaller species often draw blood. The 
larve live in the ground, and the pup are hairy. 
Fig. c. Tabanus bovinus, the largest European 
species, is dark brown with a row of white triangular 
spots on the back. It is found in woods and _pas- 
tures, and is very annoying to cattle. The larva 
resembles those of the Craneflies in form and habits, 
and lives in meadows. 
Fig. d. Hematopa pluvialis is a smaller fly, 
with a slender dark brown body with grey markings. 
The wings are dark grey, marbled with paler. These 
flies are most troublesome during a shower or before 
a thunderstorm, and often settle in numbers under 
an open umbrella. 
Family VII. Asilida, Slender flies, with a 
long body, short antenne, a prominent proboscis, 
and a tuft on the fore- 
head. The wings are 
generally more or less 
extended when at rest. 
Theyare very voracious 
flies, and devour other 
insects. 
Asilus crabront- 
formzs, the Hornet Fly, 
has rusty yellow wings 
marked with a few 
dark spots. The head, 
thorax, and the greater 
part of the legs are 
yellow, and the ab- 
domen is black at the 
base, and yellow to- 
wards the extremity. 
The abdomen of the female ends in a horny point. 
These flies feed on other insects, especially craneflies, 
which they pierce with their 
proboscis, and then suck 
out their juices. 

Dioctrina alandica. Asilus crabroniformis. 
Dioctrina wlandica, though it derives its name 
from the island of Oeland.on the coast of Sweden. 
is found in the greater part of Europe. It has black 
wings, a shining black body, and reddish-yellow legs. 
It feeds on flies as well as on spiders. 
Family IX. Empide. The 
3-jointed antennz, which are pro- 
minent, are near together at the 
base, and the tip is furnished with 
a pencil or bristle. The proboscis is 
prominent, and the palpi are erect. 
They dance in great swarms in the 
evening, and they feed on the 
honey of flowers, and on the juices of small insects 
which they seize and suck out like the Aszde. 

Empis tesselata. 
