TABANUS, the BREEZE-FLY: a genus of insects belonging to the order of diptera. The mouth is extended in a fleshy proboscis, terminated by two lips. The rostrum is furnished with two pointed palpi placed on each side of the proboscis, and parallel to it. Gmelin has enumerated 38 species; of which three only are found in Great Britain, the bovinus, pluviatilis, and excuciens.
1. The bovinus, or great horse fly, has a grey head; the eyes almost of a black brown, occupying the greatest part of it. The thorax is of a grey colour; the abdomen is yellowish, with a triangular white spot on the middle of every ring, which constitutes a longitudinal band of spots, the point of which is directed towards the thorax. The thighs are blackish, and the legs yellow. The wings are somewhat dusky, with brown veins of a deeper dye. This insect is the terror of horned cattle, horses, &c. Its mouth is armed with two sharp hooks which penetrate their hide; while with its proboscis, which is shaped like a ring, it sucks their blood, of which it is very greedy. The puncture of the tabanus is keen and painful. The insect is very common in damp woods and meadows, especially during the great heats, when it is most troublesome. The horned cat-
tle are sometimes so molested by their stings, that they go mad, run down precipices, tear themselves on the stumps of trees, stones, &c.
2. The pluviatilis is of an ashen grey colour; its eyes are green, with brown streaks. The thorax is brown, marked with about seven longitudinal grey lines; the wings, which are brown and ash-coloured, are dotted over with small white spots, and have a black spot on the margin; the legs are surrounded with brown and white rings alternately. This species is very common in meadows, and is about four lines in length.
3. The excuciens has a brown head; eyes green and brown, with black spots; the thorax brown with black spots; the abdomen above, yellow with triangular brown spots; yellow legs, and white wings with black and brown spots. The length is four lines and a half.