59 



including the giants of the order, which inhabit Yorke's 

 Peninsula and adjacent parts, and measure one and three 

 quarter inches in length. All are carnivorous. 



JEstrus musters eight species, but whether any of them 

 really do attack horses, &c, in order to deposit their eggs 

 upon them, as the typical species, I hare not been able to 

 ascertain satisfactorily. Vermileo supplies nine species, and 

 links this order to the Hymenoptera, resembling certain species 

 of wasps much in outline, with their highly-coloured attenuated 

 abdomen. Syrphiis comprises twelve, Stomaxis seven, Sargus 

 eight species ; the latter all of very small size. Chrysops fur- 

 nishes ten species, mostly remarkable for the brilliant colour 

 of their eyes while alive, but fading soon after death. 

 Holophilus, with three, and another genus with large hairy 

 body and very small head, with two species, are very rare. 

 The Tabaktdjb, on the contrary, with fifteen species, numerous 

 enough to be unpleasant at times ; some species attack man and 

 beast fearlessly to suck their blood. The allied genus Bombilius, 

 five species, is not ravenously inclined. The Muscidj3, or flies 

 proper, are well represented by four or five genera, with 38 

 species. Gymnosoma, comprising flies whose larvae feed in the 

 interior of other living insects, finally destroying their host, 

 are noted with three species, but many more exist. One of 

 this kind greatly assisted in reducing the locusts some years 

 ago, two or three small flies having been observed to issue from 

 dead ones clinging to shrubs, &c. Of Sarcophaga seven species 

 have been collected, but only two seem to interfere with human 

 comfort by depositing their young larva? in meat intended for 

 food. Fourteen species of Ilusca have been obtained, but the 

 actual number may be considerably larger. Several species, 

 including the introduced house-fly, are exceedingly numerous, 

 and increasing in exact proportion with domestic animals — 

 notably of cattle and horses, whose droppings form the domicile 

 and food of the larva?. A few pounds weight of manure often 

 contains several scores of larva? of flies. The very small fly 

 attacking the eyes of man with most assiduous impudence during 

 the summer months appears to be a native ; it first appears in 

 the woods, and, as the season advances, invades human habita- 

 tions in the country. Volucella, with fourteen species, embraces 

 the largest Mmcidce • some are embellished with brilliant 

 metallic hues and changeable tints ; some are numerous, but 

 none interferes apparently with man. Of Leptat^na, or ticks, 

 several species are to be noted ; they attach themselve para- 

 sitically to native animals. The largest observed infests the 

 native opossum, clinging to the inner side of the ear, and is 

 about a quarter of an inch long when gorged ; as many as three 

 or four have been seen in one ear. 



