hawk fly

Hornet \Hor"net\, n. [AS. hyrnet; akin to OHG. hornaz, hornuz,
   G. horniss; perh. akin to E. horn, and named from the sound
   it makes as if blowing the horn; but more prob. akin to D.
   horzel, Lith. szirszone, L. crabo.] (Zool.)
   A large, strong wasp. The European species ({Vespa crabro})
   is of a dark brown and yellow color. It is very pugnacious,
   and its sting is very severe. Its nest is constructed of a
   paperlike material, and the layers of comb are hung together
   by columns. The American white-faced hornet ({Vespa
   maculata}) is larger and has similar habits.
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   {Hornet fly} (Zool.), any dipterous insect of the genus
      {Asilus}, and allied genera, of which there are numerous
      species. They are large and fierce flies which capture
      bees and other insects, often larger than themselves, and
      suck their blood. Called also {hawk fly}, {robber fly}.

   {To stir up a hornet's nest}, to provoke the attack of a
      swarm of spiteful enemies or spirited critics. [Colloq.]
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Hawk \Hawk\ (h[add]k), n. [OE. hauk (prob. fr. Icel.), havek,
   AS. hafoc, heafoc; akin to D. havik, OHG. habuh, G. habicht,
   Icel. haukr, Sw. h["o]k, Dan. h["o]g, prob. from the root of
   E. heave.] (Zool.)
   One of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the
   family {Falconid[ae]}. They differ from the true falcons in
   lacking the prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in
   having shorter and less pointed wings. Many are of large size
   and grade into the eagles. Some, as the goshawk, were
   formerly trained like falcons. In a more general sense the
   word is not infrequently applied, also, to true falcons, as
   the sparrow hawk, pigeon hawk, duck hawk, and prairie hawk.
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   Note: Among the common American species are the red-tailed
         hawk ({Buteo borealis}); the red-shouldered ({Buteo
         lineatus}); the broad-winged ({Buteo Pennsylvanicus});
         the rough-legged ({Archibuteo lagopus}); the
         sharp-shinned ({Accipiter fuscus}). See {Fishhawk},
         {Goshawk}, {Marsh hawk}, under {Marsh}, {Night hawk},
         under {Night}.
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   {Bee hawk} (Zool.), the honey buzzard.

   {Eagle hawk}. See under {Eagle}.

   {Hawk eagle} (Zool.), an Asiatic bird of the genus
      {Spiz[ae]tus}, or {Limn[ae]tus}, intermediate between the
      hawks and eagles. There are several species.

   {Hawk fly} (Zool.), a voracious fly of the family
      {Asilid[ae]}. See {Hornet fly}, under {Hornet}.

   {Hawk moth}. (Zool.) See {Hawk moth}, in the Vocabulary.

   {Hawk owl}. (Zool.)
   (a) A northern owl ({Surnia ulula}) of Europe and America. It
       flies by day, and in some respects resembles the hawks.
   (b) An owl of India ({Ninox scutellatus}).

   {Hawk's bill} (Horology), the pawl for the rack, in the
      striking mechanism of a clock.
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