IN8EGT8 AND VERMES. 351 
BOMBYLIUS MEDIUS. 
The Bomhylius medius is mucli about in March and tlie 
beginning of April, and soon seems to retire. It is a 
hairy insect, like an bumblebee, but with only two wings, 
and a long straight beak, with which it sucks the early 
flowers. The female seems to lay its eggs as it poises on 
its wings, by striking its tail on the ground, and against 
the grass that stands in its way, in a quick manner^ for 
several times together/ 
MUSC^ — FLIES. 
In the decline of the year, when the mornings and evenings 
become chilly, many species of flies (Muscce) retire into 
houses, and swarm in the windows. 
At first they are very brisk and alert ; but as they grow 
more torpid, one cannot help observing that they move 
with difl&culty, and are scarce able to lift their legs, which 
seem as if glued to the glass; and by degrees many do 
actually stick on till they die in the place. 
It has been observed that divers flies, besides their sharp 
hooked nails, have also skinny palms, or flaps to their feet, 
whereby they are enabled to stick on glass and other 
smooth bodies, and to walk on ceilings with their backs 
downward, by means of the pressure of the atmosphere on 
those flaps : the weight of which they easily overcome in 
warm weather when they are brisk and alert. But in the 
decline of the year, this resistance becomes too mighty for 
their diminished strength ; and we see flies labouring along, 
and lugging their feet in windows, as if they stuck fast to 
the glass, and it is with the utmost difficulty they can draw 
one foot after another, and disengage their hollow caps 
from the slippery surface. 
Upon the same principle that flies stick and support 
* I have often seen this insect fly with great velocity, stop on a 
sudden, hang in the air in a stationary position for some time, and then 
fly off again ; but do not recollect having ever seen it strike its taU 
against the ground, or any other substance. — Markwick. 
