328 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



with alternate black and white rings, and generally sus- 

 pended or raised in the air. A third kind frequents the 

 marshes in immense numbers ; it is of a brown colour, with 

 the body apparently filled with mud, and leaves a disagree- 

 able, dirty spot if killed on the person. 



Of Muscidce there are three or four species — a House 

 Fly, very troublesome in some seasons, which is closely 

 allied to the Muscidce domestica of Europe; and also a Grey 

 Fly of the, same size, frequently mistaken for the House Fly, 

 but which is, in fact, a Cattle Fly with a sharp proboscis, 

 biting severely ; a black Blow-fly, which lays eggs ; and a 

 grey one, which produces its larvas alive. 



A beautiful Green-headed Gad-fly is not uncommon 

 — Gastrus equi. 



The large " Silk Spider " (Epeira clavipes) is very well 

 known throughout the islands. It spins its web from tree to 

 tree. 



The Hunting Spider, of a grey colour, is not uncommon. 

 I have often killed a fly and fixed it on the point of a pen 

 to watch the approach and spring of this insect. 



The large House Spider of Bermuda, although different 

 in shape and colour, is about the same size as the Epeira. 

 Measured the span of this spider by rule and compass, and 

 found it to be four and a half inches. 



The Tick (Ixodida). I have seen at least a hundred on the 

 fore legs of a heifer. The insect is white, and the size of a 

 large pea. 



The Cicadae {Fidicina tibicen) ; common, and very noisy 

 during the last months of the year. High up on the cedars 



