172 VAHIOUS FLIES. 



been perforated by them. The well-known oak- 

 apples, plate B, fig. 6, are caused by a Cynips, as 

 the little creature is called ; and so is the common 

 Bedeguar of the rose, seen on plate C, fig. 2. 



The last of these insects that will be named is the 

 beautiful Fire-tail, plate D, fig. 5, one of the most 

 brilliant insects that our island can boast. There 

 are many British species of this insect, but they all 

 much resemble each other, and are insect cuckoos, 

 laying their eggs in the nests of other insects. 



From the bees, we pass to the Flies ; and first 

 take a most singular insect, shown on plate H, fig. 

 5. This insect is found on the blackberry blossoms, 

 and the upper part of its body is so transparent that 

 the leaf on which it sits can be seen through it. It 

 is swift of wing and wary, requiring a quick eye and 

 hand for its capture. 



On the same plate, fig, 6, is shown one of the 

 traveller's pests, a fly that bites, or rather bores, the 

 skin, and that with such virulence that it can even 

 strike its poisoned dart through a cloth coat, and 

 make its victim to lament for many an hour 

 after. 



One of the various hoverer-flies is shown on plate 

 J, fig. 9. The larva of this insect is very remark- 

 able, on account of its curious breathing apparatus. 

 The larva is properly called the Bat-tailed Maggot, 

 and is shown on the same plate, fig. 8 a. The body 

 of the creature is found buried in the mud at the 



