HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



157 



(l.) Tachinincs. 



This is an exceedingly difficult group to study, the 

 species being so closely allied, variation being com- 

 mon and the published matter so scanty and ex- 

 ceedingly unreliable. 



R. Desvoidy, Walker, and some other authors have 



Fig. rz'i.—Rhavtpkofttyia, Mg. 



Fig. i2^.—Etnpis, L. 



Fig. 125. — Hilara, Mg. 



^^-» 



Fig. 126. — Tachydromia, Mg. 



Fig. i^T.^DolicJiopus, Latr. 



Fig. 128. — Hydrophorus, Uhlbg. 



created hosts of new species on minute differences, 

 and their names are being sunk wholesale as 

 synonyms as the group becomes better known. 



Walker's Tachinidm in his British Diptera are 

 hopelessly indeterminable, his descriptions of this 

 group being of no scientific value whatever. 



Most of the Tachinida: are parasitic on larvae 

 (especially Lepidoptera, the genus Cucullia being 

 a particular favourite). Sevville reared eighty 

 specimens from one Acherontia airopos larva. 

 Dufour, Winthemi, Curtis, St. Fargeau, Bouche 

 and others record observations of their parasitic 

 habits. 



Fig. i2<j.—Medeierus, Fisch. 



Fig. tyi.—Clinocera, Mg. 



Fig. ■tyi.—Lonchopteray Mg.] 



i-i-H 



Fig. -i^i.—Plaiypeza, Mg. 



Fig. zyi-— Pipunctihis, Latr. 



Fig. 134. — CJtyrsosaster, Mg. 



The flies are usually found in dry, warm habitats 

 and on Umbellijcra:, and are easily recognised by the 

 long, conspicuous spines and bristles that cover the 

 body and legs in nearly all the species. The legs 

 are very brittle and easily broken. 



Five subdivisions are generally recognised. 



