206 Descriptions of British Diptera. 



pering gradually from the base to the point, which is very acute ; 

 maxillae setiform and shorter than the labrum ; lip terminating in 

 two curved lobes : head small andtrigonate,hypostome densely hairy : 

 eyes meeting in the male, but separated in the female ; ocelli three, 

 very minute (Fig. 4 :) body short and bulky from being covered 

 with fine down ; wings narrow with two discoidal cells, the first pos- 

 terior cell closed, legs very long and slender ; basal joint of the tarsi 

 as long as all the rest ; pulvilli bilobed and very slender. 



These insects are known at first sight by their downy bodies, 

 long exserted proboscis, and the length and delicacy of their legs. 

 From the first mentioned peculiarity, they bear so much resem- 

 blance to humble bees, that they are known in some parts of England 

 by the name of humble-bee flies. Some of them are vernal insects, 

 but others do not appear earlier than May, and one species, B. 

 minor, is even later in taking wing, at least in Scotland. They fly 

 only during fine weather, and in the middle of the day when the heat 

 of the sun is greatest. They hover over flowers like the hum- 

 ming-bird hawk-moth, employing their long proboscis for a simi- 

 lar purpose, producing at the same time a humming noise — an- 

 other point of resemblance to the insect just named. It is the lat- 

 ter circumstance to which the generic name refers. The following 

 notice applies to B. medius, but it well describes the habits and 

 appearance of the Bombylii generally. " Of all the active, vigi- 

 lant creatures that animate our paths, we have none superior to the 

 little bee-like bombyliusj but this creature is to be seen only in the 

 mornings of a few bright days in spring, seeming to delight in the 

 hot windy gleams of that season, presenting an emblem of that por- 

 tion of our year, fugitive and violent. It is, I believe, plentiful no- 

 where. Particularly solicitous of warmth, it seeks the dry, sunny 

 reflection of some sheltered gravel-walk, or ditch bank in a warm 

 lane ; and here it darts and whisks about in seeming continual 

 suspicion of danger ; starting away with angry haste, yet returning 

 immediately to the spot it had left, buffeting and contending with 

 every winged fly that approaches, with a jealous pugnacious fury 

 that keeps it in constant agitation. This action, its long projecting 

 proboscis and its pretty spotted wings, placed at right angles with 

 its body, distinguish our bombylius from every other creature. It 

 appears singularly cautious of settling on the ground. After long 

 hovering over and surveying some open spot, with due deliberation 

 and the utmost gentleness it commits its long delicate feet to the 

 earth ; but on the approach of any winged insect, or on the least 

 alarm, is away again to combat or escape. Associates it has none, 

 the approach even of its own race excites its ire, and, darting at 



