The Empidæ have the trunk bent down, and resembling the beak of a bird; but the Bombylidæ, on the contrary, have the trunk extended straight in front.

The typical genus which has given its name to this latter group is easily to be recognised by the elegance of the fur which covers its body, the slenderness of its feet, and the length of its wings, which extend horizontally on each side of the body.

Much more common in hot climates than in the North, these insects, the larvæ of which are not yet known, take flight in the middle of the day, when the sun's rays are hottest. They fly very fast, making a dull buzzing sound, and hover over flowers, from which they draw the juices without settling.

[Fig. 36] represents the Bombylius major, which is common enough throughout the whole of Europe. This insect is from four to six lines long, black, with yellow fur; the feet light yellow; and the wings have the edges bordered with a sinuous brown band.

The genus Anthrax, belonging to this family, has a different form to Bombylius. The body is much less hairy; the trunk is short and concealed in the mouth; the wings, which are very large, are clothed, at least in the principal genus, in a garb of mourning, sufficiently remarkable, in which the combinations of black and white are admirably diversified.

"Here," says M. Macquart, "the line which separates the two colours is straight; there it represents gradations, in other cases it is deeply sinuous. Sometimes the dark part shows transparent points, or the glassy part dark spots. This sombre garb, added to the velvet black of the body, gives the Anthrax a most elegant appearance; and while resting on the corolla of the honeysuckle and hawthorn to suck the juice, forms a most striking contrast, and sets forth its beauty no less than that of those lovely flowers."

Anthrax sinuata is common in Europe.

The family of the Syrphidæ includes three remarkable types, which we cannot pass over in silence. They are Vermileo, Volucella, and Helophilus.

Vermileo de Geeri ([Fig. 37]), which inhabits the central and southern parts of France, is four or five lines in length. Its face is white; its forehead grey, bordered with black; the thorax of a yellowish grey, with four brown stripes in the male; the abdomen light yellow, spotted with black; and the wings glassy.

Fig. 37.—Vermileo de Geeri.Fig. 38.—A species of Volucella.