204 FIELD ZOOLOGY. 



also being very slender. The beak stands out straight 

 in front of the head, and their prey, smaller flies, they 

 impale upon it. 



The bee flies have rather heavy bodies covered with 

 soft hairs, and look much like bees, even to the colors in 

 some species. (Fig. 86.) The adults are flower pollenators ; 

 and in eating the pollen assist in carrjdng it about on 

 their hairy bodies, thus accomplishing cross-poUenation 

 for many plants. Their larvse are parasitic upon the 

 eggs of several kinds of insects, especially locusts. 



It may seem, from the fly families mentioned, that 

 the order suffers a reputation which it ill deserves; but 

 hardly so. The one family, Muscidse, the house fly family, 

 is the most numerous order, and includes pests enough to 

 put the work of the beneficial flies in strong contrast, if 

 not to outweigh it. 



