Part 5

_Family 8, Orphnephilidæ._--Most of the species belonging to this family are of small size.

The typical species is _Orphnephelia testacea_, measuring scarcely one-tenth of an inch in length, and is sometimes found in bakehouses. It is of a rusty-yellow colour.

_Family 9, Psychodidæ._--This is a small family consisting of minute brown or yellowish species remarkable for their resemblance to moths. They mostly feed on fungi and decayed vegetable substances.

The species of _Phlebotomus_ are troublesome blood-suckers in the south of Europe.

_Family 10, Tipulidæ._--The insects belonging to this group are popularly known as Crane Flies and Daddy-longlegs. They are very abundant.

The commonest species, _Tipula oleracea_, is a grey species with transparent wings, and exceedingly destructive to corn, roots of grass, etc., and no effectual remedy has hitherto been discovered for preventing their attacks.

The familiar Winter Gnat (_Trichocera hiemalis_) belongs to this family. It may often be seen, even during the dreary months of December and January, dancing to and fro under the shelter of some hedge or wall. In frosty weather it conceals itself beneath the bark of trees, under leaves, etc.

_Family 11, Dixidæ._--This family of gnats frequents damp places in woods, and are therefore designated "Wood Gnats." They may occasionally be seen during the summer time in immense swarms.

The species of _Dixa_ are reddish, yellow, or black insects generally of small size.

_Family 12, Rhyphidæ._--The _larvæ_ of most of these insects feed upon decayed vegetable matter.

The species of _Rhyphus_ may often be found resting on leaves in damp situations, they may also be seen on windows, and occasionally "dancing in the air."

They are generally brown, yellow, or grey insects of small size.

TRIBE II.--BRACHYCERA.

These insects are generally of much larger size, and more robust in appearance than those contained in the previous tribe. They are divided into twenty-two families.

_Family 13, Xylophagidæ._--The _Xylophagidæ_ are thick-looking insects. The head is as broad as the thorax. The legs, which are long and slender, are quite naked. The _larvæ_ live in rotten wood, and the flies may often be seen at rest on the trunks of trees.

_Family 14, Cœnomyiidæ._--In this family the head is narrower than the thorax; otherwise they closely resemble the previous family. The typical European species is _Cœnomyia ferruginea_, which measures about three-quarters of an inch in length, and in colour varies from rusty-yellow to black. The _larvæ_ feed inside the trunks of rotten poplars.

_Family 15, Stratiomyiidæ._--These are rather slender flies, varying from half to one inch in length. They are usually found resting on low plants. Many species frequent cow-dung and manure, etc. Several kinds exhibit a metallic coloration, others are black, often more or less varied with white or yellow.

_Family 16, Acanthomeridæ._--The _Acanthomeridæ_ are met with principally in America. The typical species, _Acanthomera picta_, is found in Brazil, and measures more than an inch in length. It used formerly to be largely used in the manufacture of pomade.

_Family 17, Tabanidæ._--The _Tabanidæ_ are broad-looking insects. The _larvæ_ usually live in damp earth. The females of these species live on the blood of animals.

The best-known species is the Gad Fly (_Tabanus bovinus_), which measures more than an inch in length, and is particularly troublesome to cattle in hot weather. It is blackish above, and reddish beneath and on the sides of the abdomen.

The Clegg Fly (_Hæmatopota pluvialis_) also belongs to this family. It is a dingy-looking insect with mottled-grey wings, and is sometimes very abundant in damp meadows.

Many other species of _Tabanidæ_, popularly called "Breeze Flies," are plentiful in this country.

_Family 18, Leptidæ._--These insects are mostly predatory, though many small species are parasitic on animals and other insects. The _larva_ of _Vermilio degeerii_ lives in sand, and feeds on such insects as fall in its way. Those of the genus _Leptis_ are parasitic on cockchafers and other large beetles.

_Family 19, Asilidæ._--The _Asilidæ_ or Hawk Flies are a family of considerable extent, and include many very large and conspicuous insects. They feed on other insects, and are very courageous, sometimes attacking even dragon flies. One of the most common species is _Asilus crabroniformis_, which is common in the south of England.

_Family 20, Midaidæ._--These are large insects resembling the _Asilidæ_ in their habits, and are nearly all tropical. A few species, however, inhabit the south of Europe.

_Midas giganteus_ is found in Brazil and adjacent countries in tropical America. It measures about one inch and a half in length.

_Family 21, Nemestrinidæ._--These insects are chiefly inhabitants of tropical climates like the preceding family. They are generally of a black colour, sometimes with red legs. They suck the nectar of flowers through a long proboscis, but nothing is yet known of their transformations.

_Family 22, Bombyliidæ._--The Bee Flies belong to this family. They are small or middle-sized insects, densely clothed with hairs. They are exceedingly active insects with long tongues, with which they suck honey from flowers. Their _larvæ_ are often parasitic in their earlier stages on other insects.

They are very useful in North America by keeping down the number of locusts, in the egg capsules of which the _larvæ_ feed.

Two species, _Bombyliis major_ and _B. medius_, are common in this country, and may often be seen in gardens and open spaces in woods during the spring and summer months.

_Family 23, Therevidæ._--This family is a very numerous one, especially those of the typical genus _Thereva_. They are slender, middle-sized black insects, and their bodies are generally covered with hair. They are generally found in the neighbourhood of bushes and trees.

_Family 24, Scenopinidæ._--The _Scenopinidæ_ include a few minute, black flies, not exceeding a quarter of an inch in length. They are not very common, but are sometimes found about windows.

_Family 25, Scroceridæ._--This family also contains small species of flies, but their metamorphoses are at present unknown.

They are usually to be found resting easily on dry branches of trees, but are generally rare.

_Family 26, Empididæ._--The insects of this group are very similar to the _Asilidæ_ in their carnivorous propensities, but the species are usually of a much smaller size. _Empis livida_ is a common yellowish species measuring about one-third of an inch in length.

_Family 27, Dolichopodidæ._--This family is a very extensive one, including a considerable number of genera and species. They are usually small flies often of brilliant metallic colouring. They may be found generally in the neighbourhood of water.

_Family 28, Lonchopteridæ._--The species of _Lonchopteridæ_ are small yellowish-brown or greenish flies with lanceolate wings. They frequent the banks of shady streams, and are often found resting on wet stones.

_Family 29, Syrphidæ._--The majority of flies belonging to this family are of a moderate size, and possessed of brilliant colours. With the exception of the enormous family _Muscidæ_, they are one of the largest families of the _Diptera_.

Most of the species may be recognised at once by their peculiar mode of flight, for they hover motionless in the air, and if alarmed dart off with a rapid motion which the eye cannot follow.

_Milesia Crabroniformis_ is a very large species common in the south of Europe.

About thirty species are found in the British Isles. Of these _Syrphus pyrastri_ is perhaps the best-known example. It is a very wasp-like creature, and is, indeed, mistaken by many people for a wasp. It is a very useful insect, feeding largely on aphides and plant lice, and should therefore be encouraged by every horticulturist.

_Family 30, Conopidæ._--The _larvæ_ of most of these insects are parasitic on _Orthoptera_ and _Hymenoptera_. Many species have a resemblance to wasps in appearance, being striped with yellow and black. The typical genus, _Conops_, are slender flies measuring half an inch in length.

_Family 31, Pipunculidæ._--These are black or brown insects. The head is large and round, generally broader than the thorax. The _larvæ_ are mostly parasitic on other insects. The flies may often be seen in great swarms in shady places in the vicinity of hedges, in lanes, etc.

_Family 32, Platypezidæ._--This family contains many beautiful flies. Great numbers of them are marked with orange and silver and black. The _larvæ_ inhabit fungi.

_Family 33, Æstridæ._--The Bot Flies are well known on account of the annoyance they cause to cattle. They lay their eggs upon the hides of the animals, and the _larvæ_, when hatched, make their way under the skin, and there take up their abode, living on the juices of their unfortunate host. It is estimated that the loss occasioned by these troublesome pests amounts to millions of pounds in the British Isles alone. The best-known species is probably _Æstrus bovis_, which infests the ox. The cattle are so well aware of the danger attending the presence of this insect, that as soon as it appears near them, the whole herd exhibits the most unmistakable signs of terror, rushing about their pasture with their tails in the air, and in case of need taking refuge in water, where the fly will not follow them. Miss E. A. Ormerod has recently paid much attention to the economy of this insect, with the view to finding some remedy for its attacks.

_Family 34, Muscidæ._--The _Muscidæ_ is the most numerous family, of the _Diptera_ and it includes many familiar insects. It is divided into two sections, containing thirteen sub-families. The first section, _Calypteræ_, contains five sub-families. The _Tachininæ_ are parasitic in the larval stage on _Lepidoptera_. The largest of the _Muscidæ_ found in Europe is _Echinomyria grossa_, which measures about three-quarters of an inch in length.

Many species of the _Dexinæ_ are of the most metallic-green or blue. They are principally found in Australia.

The Flesh Fly (_Sarcophaga carnaria_) belongs to the _Sarcophaginæ_ and is one of our largest species. The _larvæ_ of some species are called "Screw Worms" in America.

The fourth sub-family, the _Muscinæ_, contains the most typical species of the _Diptera_ or two-winged flies. The common House Fly (_Musca domestica_) is the most familiar example. Several blue-and-green flies are produced from _larvæ_ which feed on more or less putrid flesh, and are well known to anglers as "Gentles." The Blow Fly or Blue Bottle (_Musca vomitoria_) is one of these, also the Green Bottle Fly (_Lucilia Cæsar_) which is often common about hedges in the summer time. Many species belong to the sub-family _Anthomyiinæ_, are very small insects, and their _larvæ_ mine in the leaves of plants like those of _Tineæ_.

Section 2, namely _Acalypteræ_, contains eight sub-families.

The species of _Scalophaginæ_ are usually called "Dung-flies." The commonest species, the Yellow Dung Fly (_Scatophaga stercoraria_), feeds largely on manure and other refuse.

The _Ortalinæ_ are flies of small or moderate size, which are met with principally in woods and fields. The _Trypetinæ_ feed chiefly on fruit. One species, _Ceratitis hispanica_, is very destructive to oranges in the south of Europe, etc. Of the _Piophilinæ_, _Piophila casei_ may be taken as the typical example. The _larvæ_ which abound in cheese and bacon are popularly called "Cheese Hoppers," or "Jumpers," in allusion to their habit of springing. The _Diopsinæ_ are principally met with in the tropical parts of the world. They are generally insects of moderate size. Most of the species of _Chloropinæ_ are of small size. Their _larvæ_ generally live in the stems of corn and various kinds of grasses. The _Drosophilinæ_ are small, dull-coloured flies, the _larvæ_ of which feed on fungi, rotten fruit, and similar substances.

The last sub-family, namely, the _Agromyzinæ_, is very extensive. One of the commonest species is _Phytomyza ilicis_, the _larva_ of which forms large brown blotches on the leaves of the holly.

_Family 35, Phoridæ._--The insects belonging to this family are generally of small or moderate size. They are very active, and may be observed on plants, and also sometimes sunning themselves on windows.

TRIBE III.--HOMALOPTERA.

The insects belonging to this section much resemble spiders in appearance. They are all parasitic, and are remarkable for the perfect insect producing its young singly, and that not in the egg state, as in most insects, but either in the _pupa_ state, or as a mature _larva_ ready to become a _pupa_ immediately. This tribe contains only three families.

_Family 36, Hippoboscidæ._--The most familiar insects comprised in this family are known as "Forest Flies." The common Forest Fly (_Hippobosca equina_) is a brown species about one-third of an inch in length, and exceedingly annoying to horses, particularly in the New Forest. The Sheep Tick (_Melophagus ovinus_) is another well-known example.

_Family 37, Nycteribidæ._--These insects are all parasitic on bats, and are commonly known as "Bat Lice." They are wingless, but have a pair of halteres placed upon the dorsal surface.

_Family 38, Braulidæ._--This family includes only a single species, which is parasitic upon the honey bee. Its name is _Braula cæca_, and it is an exceedingly minute creature.

TRIBE IV.--APHANIPTERA.

The tribe _Aphaniptera_ was formerly considered to be a separate order, but it is now generally included among the _Diptera_ on account of the similarity in the transformations besides other considerations. There is only one family.

_Family 39, Pulicidæ._--To this family belongs the numerous species of fleas which infest different kinds of animals.

The Human Flea (_Pulex irritans_) is familiar to every one. It gets its living by sucking our blood, and is of great annoyance, particularly in hot weather. The blisters which it raises on various parts of the body are exceedingly irritating.

The Dog Flea (_Pulex canis_) and the Cat Flea (_Pulex felis_) are distinct from the above, and are chiefly confined to those animals, although they do not disdain to vary their diet occasionally with human blood.

The Jigger or Chigoe (_Sarcopsylla penetrans_) is abundant in the West Indies and in South America. It is sometimes very annoying to travellers, burrowing deeply under the skin. The body of the female is capable of attaining to the dimensions of a pea.

* * * * *

Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

* * * * *

=COINS= _AND_ =MEDALS=

Bought, Sold, Valued or Exchanged.

=SPINK & SON=,

THE OLDEST-ESTABLISHED

=Dealers in Coins & Medals=,

=17 & 18 PICCADILLY, W., AND 1 & 2 GRACECHURCH STREET, E.C., LONDON=,

Beg respectfully to announce that they

=PURCHASE OR VALUE=

COLLECTIONS OR SINGLE SPECIMENS OF

=Gold and Silver Coins and Medals=,

_PROOFS, PATTERNS, ETC._,

ALSO

=NUMISMATIC BOOKS CABINETS, ETC.=,

For which they can give the Highest Obtainable Cash Prices.

=SPINK & SON, Established 1772.=

* * * * *

_Coins & Medals Bought, Sold, Valued or Exchanged._

=SPINK & SON=,

THE OLDEST-ESTABLISHED

=DEALERS IN COINS AND MEDALS=,

=1 & 2 GRACECHURCH STREET, E.C., and 17 & 18 PICCADILLY, W.=,

=LONDON=,

Beg respectfully to announce that they

=HAVE FOR SALE=

THE FOLLOWING SPECIALITIES AT LOW PRICES:--

=ENGLISH GOLD, SILVER, AND COPPER COINS.=

=FINE PROOFS, PATTERNS, ETC.=

=FOREIGN GOLD, SILVER AND COPPER COINS.=

=TOKENS OF EVERY VARIETY IN SILVER AND COPPER.=

=WAR MEDALS AND DECORATIONS.=

=COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS.=

=MEDALS IN SILVER AND BRONZE OF CELEBRATED MEN.=

=MEDALS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC.=

=EARLY BRITISH COINS IN GOLD, SILVER AND COPPER.=

=ROMAN= =DITTO.= =GREEK= " =INDIAN= " =EARLY COLONIAL= " =EARLY AMERICAN= "

=COIN CABINETS.=

=MEDAL CABINETS.=

=NUMISMATIC WORKS BY THE BEST AUTHORS.=

=CHEAP COINS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION (LIST FREE).=

Read Spink & Son's "_MONTHLY NUMISMATIC CIRCULAR_," Sample Number Gratis, and Post Free.

All Coins and Medals guaranteed genuine.

=THE TRADE SUPPLIED UPON LIBERAL TERMS.=

=SPINK & SON, Established 1772.=

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY

=SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO., LONDON=.

=Aveling (Dr. E.).--INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF BOTANY.= With 271 Illustrations. 4_s._ 6_d._

=---- AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GEOLOGY.= Fully Illustrated.

=Castle (Lewis)--FLOWER GARDENING FOR AMATEURS=: in Town, Suburban, and Country Gardens. Illustrated. 2_s._ 6_d._ Cheap Edition. 1_s._

=Clement (Dr. E.).--TABULAR VIEW OF GEOLOGICAL SYSTEMS.= Limp cloth. 1_s._

=Harting (J. E.).--OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS=: an Account of the Migratory Birds which pass the Summer in the British Islands. With 30 Woodcuts by BEWICK. 8vo, gilt edges. 7_s._ 6_d._

=Hatch (Dr. F. H.).--AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF PETROLOGY.= 43 Cuts. 3_s._ 6_d._ Second Edition.

=Hay (W. de Lisle)--THE FUNGUS-HUNTER'S GUIDE.= Fully Illustrated and Interleaved with Writing-Paper for Field Memoranda. Limp cloth. 3_s._ 6_d._

=Mayne-Reid (Capt.).--THE NATURALIST IN SILURIA.= Illustrated. 3_s._ 6_d._

=Montagu (Colonel)--DICTIONARY OF BRITISH BIRDS.= Edited by EDWARD NEWMAN, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._

=Roberts (Dr. C.).--THE NATURALIST'S DIARY=: a Day-Book of Meteorology, Phenology, and Rural Biology. With Coloured Flower Chart. 8vo. Limp cloth. 2_s._ 6_d._

=White (Gilbert)--THE NATURAL HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE.= Standard Edition by BENNETT, thoroughly revised, with additional notes, by J. E. HARTING, F.L.S., F.Z.S. Engravings by BEWICK, HARVEY, and others. 8vo. Cloth. 4_s._ _net_. [_Standard Authors Series._

Presentation Edition, cloth extra, full gilt side and edges. 7_s._ 6_d._

=Wood (Theodore)--THE FARMER'S FRIENDS AND FOES=: a Popular Treatise on the various Animals which affect British Agriculture beneficially or injuriously. Illustrated. 3_s._ 6_d._

* * * * *

Young Collector Series.

_Each Volume fully illustrated with practical woodcuts, and bound in flat cloth, extra, 1s. each (post free, 1s. 2d.)._

"They contain just the kind and amount of information required.... It is not easy to understand how works like these, written by men of science in the various departments, can be made a commercial success. Certainly nothing but the enormous circulation which they well deserve can render them so."--_Knowledge._

"We have seen nothing better than this series. It is cheap, concise, and practical."--_Saturday Review._

"We are glad to call attention to this excellent series of handbooks, which deserve to be widely known.... We are glad to see the staff of the British Museum thus coming forward to make popular the stores of learning which they have.... The illustrations are uniformly good--far better than in many expensive books."--_Academy._

=ANTS, BEES, WASPS AND DRAGON FLIES.= W. H. BATH. =BIRDS.= H. A. MACPHERSON, M.A. =BOOK COLLECTING.= J. H. SLATER. =BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS AND BEETLES.= W. F. KIRBY, F.L.S., F.E.S. =CHESS PROBLEMS.= E. W. RAYNER. =COPPER COINS OF EUROPE.= F. C. HIGGINS. =COINS AND TOKENS (ENGLISH).= LLEW. JEWITT, F.S.A. With a Chapter on Greek Coins by BARCLAY V. HEAD, M.R.A.S.

=COLONIAL COINS.= D. F. HOWORTH, F.S.A. =CRUSTACEANS AND SPIDERS.= F. A. SKUSE. =FERNS.= E. J. LOWE, F.R.S., F.L.S. =FISHES.= Rev. H. A. MACPHERSON. =FOSSILS.= J. W. WILLIAMS. =FUNGI, LICHENS, &c.= PETER GRAY, A.B.S. =GRASSES.= W. HUTCHINSON. =LAND AND FRESH-WATER SHELLS.= J. W. WILLIAMS, J. W. TAYLOR, and W. DENISON ROEBUCK.

=MAMMALIA.= Rev. H. A. MACPHERSON. =MARINE SHELLS.= J. W. WILLIAMS. =MOSSES.= J. E. BAGNALL, A.L.S. =POND-LIFE (Insects).= E. A. BUTLER, F.Z.S. =POND-LIFE (Algæ, Diatoms, &c.).= T. S. SMITHSON. =POSTAGE STAMPS.= W. T. OGILVIE. =REPTILES.= C. HOPLEY. =SEAWEEDS, SHELLS, AND FOSSILS.= P. GRAY, and B. B. WOODWARD. =SILKWORMS.= E. A. BUTLER, F.Z.S. =TELESCOPE, THE.= J. W. WILLIAMS.

SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO., LONDON.

* * * * *

The Young Collector Series.

_Each Volume is very fully illustrated with practical woodcuts, and bound in flat cloth extra_, =1s.= _each_ (_post free_, 1_s._ 2_d._).

"They contain just the kind and amount of information required.... It is not easy to understand how works like these, written by men of science in the various departments, can be made a commercial success. Certainly nothing but the enormous circulation which they well deserve can render them so."--_Knowledge._

"We have seen nothing better than this series. It is cheap, concise, and practical."--_Saturday Review._

"We are glad to call attention to this excellent series of handbooks, which deserve to be widely known.... We are glad to see the staff of the British Museum thus coming forward to make popular the stores of learning which they have.... The illustrations are uniformly good--far better than in many expensive books."--_Academy._

BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, AND BEETLES. By W. F. KIRBY.

CRUSTACEANS AND SPIDERS. By F. A. A. SKUSE.

ANTS, BEES, DRAGON FLIES, EARWIGS, ETC. By W. H. BATH.

REPTILES. By CATHERINE HOPLEY.

MAMMALIA. By F. A. A. SKUSE. [_Shortly._

POND-LIFE. By E. A. BUTLER, F.Z.S.

SILKWORMS. By E. A. BUTLER, F.Z.S.

MOSSES. By JAS. E. BAGNALL, A.L.S.

SEAWEEDS, SHELLS, AND FOSSILS. By PETER GRAY and B. B. WOODWARD.

COINS AND TOKENS (ENGLISH). By LLEWELLYNN JEWITT, F.S.A.