JUNE. 177 



DiPTERA. TaBANID^. 



TAB ANUS. 



Generic BisUnctmis. — Antennce scarcely longer than the head, 

 the last joint thick and crescent-shaped ; eyes very large ; wings 

 horizontal, and triangular ; hody conical. 



Tabanus bovinus. (Plate XY.) Head grejish-wliite^ with 

 the eyes of a shining green; the thorax and body blackish- 

 brown, with spots of a red tinge ; the wings are transparent 

 and veined with brown : it is a large and handsome insect. 



The flight of some species in this genus is noiseless ; their 

 thick proboscis, armed with six lancets, inflicts considerable 

 pain, and their pertinacity is so great, that it is difficult to 

 drive them away ; the horse lashes its tail, and tosses its 

 head in vain, the Tabanus remains firm till its thirst is sati- 

 ated. It is the female alone that possesses this bloodthirsty 

 propensity ; the males frequent flowers. The larva resides 

 in the ground : it is long and cyHndrical, narrow towards 

 the head, which is small, and armed with two hooks. 



PiPTERA. MUSCID^E. 



MUSCA. 



Generic Distinctions. — Antennce rather short, the third joint 



