The Sarcophaging do not come much into the 
house, but are more often seen in the open air, 
where decaying animal and vegetable matters are to 
be found. Their form is compact, and they fly well. 
Fig. h. Sarcophaga carnaria is grey with red 
eyes, and with square black spots on the abdomen. 
It is ovoviviparous, for it deposits living larve on 
meat instead of eggs; i. e. the eggs are hatched 
within the body of the mother. 
The true M/uscine resemble the last subfamily, 
but are more domestic in their habits. 
Fig. i. Calliphora vomitoria, the Blue-bottle, 
has a black thorax, and a shining steel-blue abdomen, 
with black bands. It makes its presence known by 
its loud buzzing, and appears at once wherever there 
is any carrion. Here the female deposits her eggs 
and the larve feed greedily on even the most putrid 
carrion. 
Fig. k. Musca domestica, the House Fly, is 
the most familiar of all the flies , and accompanies 
man all over the world. The whitish larva is found 
in dung and other refuse. Fig. k. represents the 
head of the fly, highly magnified. 
Fig. 1. Stomoays calcitrans is a grey fly, with 
the abdomen spotted with black. It resembles the 
common fly, but is smaller, and when at rest, its 
wings remain expanded. It inflicts a severe punc- 
ture, and sucks blood. 
The Anthomyiine, or Flower Flies, are not 
unlike the MWausczv@, but their colours are more varied, 
and their antenne are not hairy. 
Anthomyia brassice is greyish black 
and hairy; the head is white, and the 
two first segments of the abdomen are 
brownish red. The larve live in the 
roots of cabbages &c. 
Anthomyia floralis, The larva of this species 
lives in the roots of radishes in July, making long 
galleries through them. They quit them when they 
are ready to become oUee, and burton in the ground 


, 
Anthomyia floralis, Anthomyta ceparum. 
Anthomyia ceparum, the Onion Fly, lays its eggs 
on various kinds of onions, on which the larve feed. 
The 7rypetine have the wings dark, or AEE 
with delicate patterns. The WV/ 
female has a long jointed ovi- @g¥ 
positor. The larve feed in seeds 
or on living plants. 
Flatyparea pecilopterahas 
a shining reddish-brown head, 
a grey thorax, and a black ab- 
domen, ringed with grey. The 
legs are brown. The female lays her eggs between 



34 
the scales of an asparagus head, where the larve 
develope, and often devour the whole stalk. 
Trypeta signata is a little reddish fly with green 
eyes, and wings spotted and banded 
with brown. The female “ays her 
eggs on unripe cherries in May and 
June. As the fruit ripens, the mag- 
gots also become full-grown, when 
they fall to the ground, where they 
become pupe, and give birth to flies 
in spring. 
The Chloropine are small flies, which are note- 
worthy for the numbers in 
which they appear, and the 
damage which they occasion 
to corn. 
Oscinis frit is a little 
black fly with transparent 
wings. It resembles the 
Hessian Fly in habits, and 
has been reared with it from the leaf-sheaths of barley. 
It also bores deep into the knots at the root. There 
is generally more than one brood in the year, which 
renders it still more destructive. 
Family XVI. 
backed flies which run actively about bushes, 
windows &c. 
Fig. m. Fhora inecrassata is shining black, 
with the abdomen dull grey. The wings are trans- 
parent, and traversed by four longitudinal nervures. 
It is a dangerous parasite of the honey-bee, and 
occasions what is called foul brood. The female 
lays her eggs under the skin of the half-grown larva 
of the bee, in which the larve live till the last moult, 
when they quit the bee-larva, and it dies 


Chlorops tenropus. 
Phorida. These are small hump- 
on 
Section ILI. 
These are parasitic flies, sometimes wingless, 
and generally with long sprawling legs. 
Family XVII. Hippoboscida. The thorax is 
leathery, and the proboscis is absent. The legs are 
thick, and the feet are armed with strong claws. 
They live parasitically, chiefly on warm-blooded ani- 
mals, and bring forth their young in the pupa state. 
Hippobosca equina, the Forest Fly, is shining 
rusty-yellow, with the middle of the thorax chestnut- 
brown, and the legs black. The wings 
are brown, and longer than the body. 
They infest the bare parts of horses, 
especially on the belly, and under the 
tail. If anyone tries to seize them, they 
take a short flight, and settle on the 
horse again; and if they are seized, 
they easily slip their tough bodies between the fingers. 
A similar insect with long narrow wings is found in 
swallow’s nests. 
Melophagus ovinus, the Sheep-tick, belongs to 
this family. It is wingless, and runs among the wool 
of sheep. 
Family XVII. Nycteribiida. These insects are 
wingless, and resemble spiders in their outward ap- 
pearance. They have horny, flattened bodies, anda 
very moveable pitcher-shaped head. They are yellow, 
and of very small size. They are parasitic on diffe- 
rent kinds of bats. 
Family XIX. Braulid@ somewhat resembles the 
Nycteribiide. Braula ceca, the Bee Louse, is blind 
and wingless, and is parasitic on bees. 
Pupipara. 

