— 
ee | 
33 
Empts tessellata is brownish grey, with three 
black stripes on the thorax, and pale brown wings. 
The abdomen has shining yellowish-brown spots. 
Family X. Bombyliida. The antennz are pro- 
minent, 3-jointed, and near together, The proboscis 
is projecting, and often very long, and the wings 
are broad, always expanded, and generally coloured. 
The body is clothed with fine hair. The flies suck 
honey, but their larvae are parasitic on other insects. 
Anthrax morio is black, with the base and 
sides of the abdomen clothed 
with red hair. The wings 
are black at the base, and 
transparent beyond. The fly 
is seen in summer on dry 
paths. It likes to rest in 
sunny places, and flies away 
swiftly when approached, but 
to no great distance. The larva is parasitic on caterpillars. 
Fig. e. Bombylius major has a smaller head 
than the last species, and a compact shape like that 
of a small humble-bee. The body is clothed with 
silky yellowish hair above, and with white hair be- 
low. The front of the wings is dark brown to the 
tip, and the rest is transparent. It flies with a rapid 
hovering flight from flower to flower, diving its 
long proboscis into them without resting. Its move- 
ments much resemble those of the Hawk-moths. 
Family XI. Stratiomyde. The prominent 
3-jointed antennz are near together at the base, 
the body is broad, and the proboscis long and 
retractile. The scutellum is usually spiny. The 
larve live in the earth or water; in rotten wood &c. 
Stratiomys chameleon is brown, with a black 
abdomen with yellow markings, and 
yellow legs. When at rest, the wings 
lie flat on the body. The larva lives 
in the water, and breathes through 
its tail, which it lifts above the sur- 
face. The flies fly noiselessly from 
flower to flower, but buzz loudly 
if held in the hand. 
Family XIL Syrphida. The proboscis is bristly, 
but concealed, and the antenne are 3-jointed, with 
the third joint compressed, and furnished with a 
pencil at the end, or a bristle on the back. The 
larvee feed on plant-lice (Aphides). 
Syrphus pyrastri is shining blue-black, with 
two white crescents on each segment. The legs are 
reddish yellow. In summer weather 
these flies dart about from place to V3 
place like an arrow, in the way ““/% 
characteristic of the hovering flies. 
They often stop suddenly in their 
flight, and remain hovering at one 
spot in the air, and then suddenly 
_ dart forward, and stop again as before. 
larva feeds on aphides. 
Fig. f. Volucella bombylans may be known by 
its very downy body. It is black, with the thorax 
clothed with yellow hair, and black in the middle. 
The abdomen has yellow spots on the sides at the 
base, and yellow hair, but the tip is white. 
The larve feed on the larve and pupe of 
humble-bees. 
Family XIII. (strida. The bodies of the Bot- 
flies are covered with thick hair, and the proboscis 
is usually absent. The perfect insect only lives a 
short time, to propagate its species. The larve live 
under the skin, or in the frontal sinuses or in the 
intestinal canal of various animals, but the pup are free. 
Amphibia &e, 
CL 



The green 


Gastrophilus equi has the form of a bee. It 
has brown eyes, and a brown downy forehead; the 
body is cloth- SOs ; 
ed with golden- 
brown down. 
There isa grey 
band — across 
the wings, and 
two spots at 
the! tip: The 
female lays her 
eggs on the 
hairs of the 
horse, and the 
newly hatched 
—— ee 



larve either Wa » 
creep: sto} the —— eee 
lips them- Larve of Bot-fly in stomach of horse. 
selves or are licked off the skin, and thus introduced 
into the stomach of the horse. When the larva has 
completed its development, it passes out with the 
dung, and becomes a pupa in the ground. 
Fig. g. LHypoderma Bovis is black, with a fur- 
rowed thorax, red before and black behind. The 
abdomen is green at the base, and yellow behind. 
The female is larger and brighter coloured than the 
male, and lays her eggs singly at different points on 
the hide of horned cattle, especially on the back. 
The maggots cause a swelling on the skin by their 
presence. When full-grown, they squeeze themselves 
out of the sore, which resembles a boil, and fall to 
the ground, where they change to pupe. 
strus ovis, the Sheep-Fly, is quite hairless, 
and has a brown head, a green back, and a grey 
abdomen marbled with black. The female lays her 

eggs in the nostrils of sheep, from whence the larve 
creep up to the nasal sinuses, and feed on the mucus. 
When they are full-grown, they are sneezed out, and 
become pupe in the ground. 
Family XV. Muscide. The body is bristly, 
and the last joint of the antenne is rather long, ob- 
tuse, and furnished with a pectinated bristle. . This 
large family is divided into a number of minor groups. 
The Zachinine have the with 
numerous stiff raised bristles; 
and are parasitic on other in- 
sects. The second joint of the 
antennz is the longest. 
Echinomyta ferox is black, 
with a yellow face, anda yellow 
abdomen divided by a black 
longitudinal streak. The larvie infest other larvee, 
abdomen _ set 

| chiefly those of Lepidoptera, several at a time. 
9 
v 
