Marvels from Nature; Or, a Second Visit to Aunt Bessie (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872. Excerpt: ... Strange Flies. 89 'We were much annoyed last summer, and the year before, by some strange flies, which came in at the window every evening as soon as the candles were lighted, bouncing themselves down in a very peculiar fashion upon our books and work. If interfered with, they reared up their heads in a defiant manner, and revenged themselves by angrily bumping down upon our hands, or against our faces. I once knocked one off my cheek, but not before the infuriated insect had literally dug its sharp sting into my face, causing a hot and very unpleasant sensation. The wound immediately swelled very much, and seemed burning with poisonous heat: it was a most painful feeling, but upon bathing it with spirits of ammonia it soon felt easier. I have often wondered what these insects were, as I cannot find them described in any book. They had bright orange bodies, legs, and antennae; the sharp sting was concealed in a sheath, and resembled the sting of a wasp: their wings, two in number, were quite transparent, and of a slight brown tinge. (PL IV. fig. 10.) The bodies of these strange flies were most peculiar, coming almost to a point in the middle, and when resting they would constantly rear up their legs and the fore-part of their bodies, as if to look around them. But perhaps you would like to hear a little more about insect dances, my dears?' 'Yes, please, Auntie, ' replied Annie. 'I suppose it is owing to high spirits also that the crickets chirp so merrily, as I have heard from our old gardener's wife: she says, when she was young they were found in every chimney-corner.' (PL N.fig. 2.) 'So they were, Annie. I dare say you have heard people say "as merry as a cricket." In olden days they would come out in large numbers every evening from their hiding-places...