PHYLOGENY OF THE NEMOCERA. 



259 



this view, and there are several that favor it; but I am strongly 

 inclined to associate the Rhyphidae with the Tipulidse. The 

 antennal characters and the venation are not insuperable objec- 

 tions; but I rely on the mouth, simple eyes and genitalia. The 

 first of these characters is much less specialized than in Tipula; 

 three ocelli are present, and the peculiar genitalia foreshadow 

 those of the Tabanidae and Leptidae, while as I have already 

 pointed out those of the Asilidse, Stratiomyidse and Dolicho- 

 podidae and Ernpidae seem to have been derived from a form 

 like that of Tipula. 



I venture to express these ideas in the shape of a tentative 

 scheme, as follows: 



Conopicfae 



If we are content to accept this view that the Rhyphidae are 

 close to the ancestral form of the Tabanidae, we get another 

 gleam of light on this obscure pedigree. If the idea is tested by 

 the general morphology of the families it will be seen one section 



