44 



BEE-KILtEB. ITS FKTIS ODOIt. CnOKt MODE OP KILLING ITS PKET. 



Bpecics of Trupanea wliich I had never met witli before, and which is closely 

 like though probably distinct from this Nebraska Bee-killer. The genial 

 warmth reflected from the white surface of the paper lying in the clear sun 

 had evidently attracted it to this unusual situation. 



So late as the month of October, ten years ago, upon a clear warm day, 

 in a sunny nook upon the south side of a forest, I came upon quite a num- 

 ber of the Erax rvfibarbis, flying about and alighting upon the leaves — a 

 species I have never met with except in that instance. They were warmed 

 into such quickness of motion, and were so extremely vigilant and shy of 

 jity approach, that with my utmost skill I was able to capture but two in- 

 dividuals which were impeded in their movements from b(Mtig paired to- 

 gether. I infer tliesc Nebraska flies to be common and far less wary than 

 the species alluded to — else our correspondent would have been unable to 

 secure two individuals of each sex to transmit to us. And I suspect these 

 specimens were obtained when they were copulated. If so, it is probable 

 that the three sting-like bristles wliich I hav(! described above, arc not 

 protruded and visible externally, except at such times. 



In flying, those insects make a very loud humming sound, wliich can 

 scarcely be distinguished from that uf the l)Uinble-beo; and when involved 

 within the folds of a net, thiy utter the same piping note of distress as does 

 that insect. This very probably contributed to impress our correspondent 

 with the thought tliat the three bristles wliich are extruded by tlie male 

 are a formidable three-pronged sting. 



Another fact which I do not see alluded to by any author, is the fetid 

 carion-like odor which some of these Asilus flies exhale. I noticed this 

 odor i|i the Erax rufibarlns whicii was captured as above related. And in 

 these Nebraska specimens, tliougji they have now been dead a fortnight 

 and freely exposed to the air the latter half of that time, this disgusting 

 scent still remains, and so powerful is it that on two occasions nausea has 

 been produced when they have happened to be left upon the table beside 

 me. As the newly captured fly above mentioned is wholly destitute of 

 this fetor, it may be that it is only at the period of sexual intercourse that 

 it occurs. 



These flies are inhuman murderers. They arc the savages of the insect 

 world, putting their captives to death with merciless cruelly. Their large 

 eyes divided into such a multitude of facets, probably give them most acute 

 and accurate vision for espying and seizing their pray; and their long stout 

 legs, theiv bearded and bristly head, their whole asjiect indicates them to 

 be of a predatory and ferocious character. Like the iiawk they swoop upon 

 their prey, and grasping it securely between their f..re feet they violently 

 bear it away. They have no teotli and jaws wherewith to bile, gnaw and 

 masticate their food, but arc furnished instead with an apparatus which 

 answers them equally well for nourisiiiiig themselves. It is well known 

 what maddening pain the horse flies occasion to horses and cattle, in wound- 

 ing them and sucking their blood. TJK.'.se Asilus flies possess similar 

 organs, but larger and more simple in their structure, more Hrm, stout and 

 Jiowerful. In the horse flies the trunk or proboscis is soft, flexible and sen- 



