Insects. 2959 



Observations on the study of Dipterous Insects.— Few among the many interesting 

 observations on insects inserted in the ' Zoologist,' are accorded to the Diptera, which 

 have been sadly neglected in this country ; and though I scarcely hope that any re- 

 marks of mine on this branch of entomology, will stimulate British naturalists to in- 

 creased activity in its pursuit, yet I cannot resist saying a few words on the peculiar 

 points of interest which it appears to me to possess. Two-winged insects lie under 

 the opprobrium of displaying neither elegance of form nor brilliancy of colour, but 

 very unjustly, and they may fairly rank on an equality in these respects with the Cole- 

 optera. Some of the Syrphidae (for instance the different species of Volucella), equal 

 the humble bees in beauty, and bj ordinary observers can scarcely be distinguished 

 from them ; and the common green bottle-fly (Musca Caesar), and some of the Stra- 

 tiomydEe, as well as many species in other families, vie in metallic brilliancy of colour 

 with the most beautiful of the Coleoptera. Diptera have been said to owe their noto- 

 riety in a great measure " to the disgusting habits and appearance of their preparatory 

 states." Surely this remark is not more applicable to them than to the beetle tribe ; and 

 with regard to the perfect insects, many more species of Coleoptera revel in filth than 

 of Diptera : in fact, a very large proportion of the latter live entirely on the nectar of 

 flowers, and may be found in the society of the most elegant and beautiful of the 

 insect world. Dipterous insects attract our attention, and should excite our interest 

 by their ubiquity. In warm weather they everywhere obtrude themselves on our no- 

 tice; and while Coleoptera, which are much greater favourites with most entomolo- 

 gists (though the Lepidoptera still seem to occupy the first rank, at all events among 

 collectors, if we may judge from the greater space occupied in the ' Zoologist' by the 

 notices of the capture of rare species), require to be sought for, being comparatively 

 seldom on the wing, and being many of them nocturnal feeders ; Diptera, on the con- 

 trary, pass the greater portion of their lives in the air, where the individuals of many 

 species swarm in countless numbers. The naturalist who is anxious to become 

 acquainted with all the animated objects that surround him, feels especially interested 

 with those thrown most prominently in his way; and when, for instance, he sees the 

 clouds of Tipulidae which dance in the air on a summer's evening, he naturally wishes 

 to know whether they are all of the same species, or present an endless variety ; and 

 if he is thus led to study this interesting family, he will find that though most of the 

 individuals composing a particular swarm, are of the same species, yet that the 

 number of distinct species occurring in different localities, is very great : nearly one 

 hundred British species of Chironomus alone having been already described. The 

 lover of Natural History who is pent up in a large town, will take a particular interest 

 in this order, for it may be studied at home ; numerous flies being to be found, almost 

 at all seasons, in every stable and outhouse, as well as on the windows of our habita- 

 tions. The chief point of interest in the study of Diptera, however, is the greater 

 degree of ( novelty which it possesses : the field is fresher and less trodden down (at 

 least in England), and thus the labourer will be rewarded by reaping a more abundant 

 harvest. The naturalist will meet with many new species, and will rind many others 

 common in particular localities, which have been reputed rare inhabitants of Britain. 

 Thus the Atherix crassicornis is a very common fly in this neighbourhood in the 

 month of June ; though Mr. Curtis says in his ' British Entomology,' that he had 

 seen only one British specimen which was captured in Scotland. A few weeks back, 

 I spent about half an hour on the sand-hills at New Brighton, on the Cheshire coast, 

 and speedily collected numerous Diptera, several of which are described as being un- 



