196 
THE 
CANADIAN 
NATURALIST. 
of them are large^ and handsomely ringed with black and 
bright yellow ( Vespa Mm^ginata ), The elegant Star Crane- 
fly ( Bittacomorpha Crassipes ) I have observed slowly sailing 
through the air over a pool of water ; the black and white 
legs extended at full length from the body like the radii of a 
star : it appears to be uncommon here. Two small but 
beautiful species of bee have appeared, vieing in the lustre of 
their colours with the brilliant Eubytails ( Chrysis ) ; one is 
of a smooth gilded green all over f Halictus Gramineus J, 
the other has the abdomen polished crimson ( Sphecodes Ru- 
bida ), I netted a pair of handsome Epkeme^^ce in coitu in 
the air, the wings elegantly spotted with brown. The larger 
species of Dragonflies ( Libellulina J fly about, particularly 
on the banks of the river. 
F, — What has become of the tuberous gall which you 
found a few days ago ? 
C. — About thirty little Gallflies crept out of it one morn- 
ing, all alike, about half as large as a gnat, having a green 
thorax, and the abdomen of a metallic brown, with a long 
ovipositor. I had thought that galls produced only the true 
Gallflies ( GalUcolce J, but experience has shown me that I 
was mistaken ; for from one that I was keeping, differing, 
however, from the tuberous one, I had produced, a day or 
two ago, a dipterous fly, like a Musca, with mottled wings. 
F, — The large Whameflies ( Tahanus ) are beginning to 
be troublesome to the horses and cattle : I have been told by 
surveyors and others, whose business leads them to penetrate 
the forests far from human settlements, that these large flies 
are so numerous and virulent that sometimes it is impossible 
to proceed. It is not uncommon for persons in such circum- 
stances, to have their faces and limbs so bitten, as, with the 
venom infused, and the consequent irritation combined, 
to cause dangerous wounds or ulcers. I have never been 
attacked by them myself, nor have I ever known them to 
