VI. 



FLIES. 



Among the many orders in the insect world, 

 none are more curious and interesting in their 

 lives, habits and the history of their development, 

 than that of the diptera, or the two-winged insects 

 popularly known as flies. 



The most familiar example, the house fly, how- 

 ever common a vagabond and pest it may be con- 

 sidered, nevertheless presents a most remarkable 

 appearance when viewed with the magnifier, as it 

 washes, combs and brushes its legs and wings, by 

 the half hour, in a sunny spot. It is a cleanly 

 insect and works hard to rid itself of dust and the 

 parasites with which its body is often infested. 

 How it bends its head, until it seems the nape 

 must be twisted off by such contortions ! How 

 rapidly it rubs its feet together, as one would rid 

 ills hands of soil ; and with what skill it lifts the 

 hind legs over its back, and brushes the upper and 

 under surface of the delicate wings, that they may 

 be free and unimpeded ! 



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