. Natural history. Zoology. 6o6 INSECTA—ORDER Fig. 100,—Asilus crabroniformis. Nat. size. latter case, however, it ia possible that they feed on other insects which live in the wood, and not on the wood itself. The species of the family Empida much re- semble the Asilidm in habits, but are smaller, and frequent woods rather than open places. They will, however, feed on vegetable as well as animal substances, and their larva; live in loose earth. The Bomhyliii^cE, or bee-like flies, are another interesting family. They are moderate-sized hairy flies, much resembling bees, but with a l
. Natural history. Zoology. 6o6 INSECTA—ORDER Fig. 100,—Asilus crabroniformis. Nat. size. latter case, however, it ia possible that they feed on other insects which live in the wood, and not on the wood itself. The species of the family Empida much re- semble the Asilidm in habits, but are smaller, and frequent woods rather than open places. They will, however, feed on vegetable as well as animal substances, and their larva; live in loose earth. The Bomhyliii^cE, or bee-like flies, are another interesting family. They are moderate-sized hairy flies, much resembling bees, but with a long straight proboscis, with which they suck the honey of flowers. The larvae are parasitic on the earlier stages of other insects. The SyrphidcB are a large family of hand- somely - coloured flies of moderate size, which are remarkable for their curious hovering and darting flight. Many of the species resemble wasps and bees; and their larvae live on decaying animal or vege- table substances, and frequently in foul water. The most interesting species of this family is Eristalis teiiax (Linn.), a blackish fly, more or less clothed with tawny hair, and rather more than half an inch long. Its larva is often found in foul water, and is called the rat-tailed grub, from a long respiratory appendage at the end of the body. This species appears to have given rise to the wide- spread belief that bees might be reared from dead carcases, as we fiud recorded in the story of Sampson Virgil, and in many other old writings. Wasp-like flies of similar habits have also given rise to the idea that wasps or hornets were,, or might be, bred from the carcases of horses. The (Estridce, or bot-flies, are chiefly remarkable for being parasitic in mammalia. Recent statistics have shown that the amount of damage caused by the following species to cattle in England alone is quite Family CEHridce. astounding. Hypoderma bovis (Linn.) is a black hairy fly, —Bot-Flies. varied with whitish and yellowis
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