86 



KELLOGG. 



[VOL. I. 



halteres being not wholly obsolete, but existing still in rudimen- 

 tary condition, are especially suggestive in their likeness to 

 rudimentary wings. The general affinities of the fly are shown 

 by the character of the mouth-parts (and pupa) to be with the 

 simpler nematocerous families. The habitat is unusual, but 

 of course not unique. The discovery of the conditions of life 

 of the immature stages may, however, give the matter of habi- 



ant. 



Fir,. 3 . Eretmoptera browni : ant., antennae of male and female ; h., balancer 

 of male ; cl., claspers of male. 



tat a very great interest. The fact that the imagines are 

 unable to fly is to be remembered in connection with their 

 presence on the tide pools. Are the thickened strap-like 

 reduced wings used in locomotion at all ? 



Other tide-pool flies are known. Various winged forms are 

 common at the verge of the water and must become accus- 

 tomed to occasional watery overwhelmings. Wheeler 1 has 



1 Wheeler, W. M., " A Genus of Maritime Dolichopodidae New to America," 

 Proc. Cal. Acad. Sfi., 3<.l series. Vol. i, pp. 145-152, I'l. IV. 1897. 



