54 REVIEWS. 



Hycetophilince, with some of which it closely agrees in the venation. The 

 latter family, again, should be rid ofCorynocera a genus whose affinity to 

 his Chironomii has not entirely escaped Zetterstedt's observation, and to us 

 appears unquestionable. In the section Brachycera, again, the conjunction 

 of Lonchoptera with Phytomyza in one family (Phytomyzides) seems un- 

 accountable, except on the ground of Fallen's preponderating authority, all 

 other modern systematists having removed the former genus entirely from 

 the Muscidce. This great family has been carved by Zetterstedt, follow- 

 ing Fallen, into a number of groups, which, though here denominated fa- 

 milies, cannot, in respect of characters, be accounted co-ordinate with the 

 other families of this order, however the multitude of species to be 

 grouped may recommend such a plan in a system professedly artificial. 

 But, indeed, the subdivisions of this family have been so variously treated, 

 that we do not venture to criticise closely the order or limits of Zetterstedt's 

 corresponding groups. Only the Hcematomyzides may be specified as a 

 merely artificial assemblage of members taken from three different natural 

 groups ; Siphona being closely related to Tachina, Prosena to Dexia, and 

 Stomoxys to Musca. We are compelled to regard it as a retrograde step, 

 that Zetterstedt has fused again so many modern genera into one vast one 

 as in the cases of Tachina, Anthomyia, Aricia, the last two being distin- 

 guished from each other merely by the colour of the legs. The caref Lilly - 

 constructed analytical tables of the species, given with each at least of the 

 more extensive genera, do, however, remedy, in a great degree, the incon- 

 veniences of such a fusion ; nor can we attribute the rejection of so many 

 genera to any indolence, since in the notes he has been at the pains of re- 

 ferring every species he has described of these to its appropriate place in 

 some one of the genera adopted by Meigen in his supplementary volume. 

 The descriptions of the species in the DIPTEKA SCANDINAVIA we have 

 found in general as clear as they are full ; and we must commend, in par- 

 ticular, the simple phrases by which he has, in many instances, delineated 

 the varying venation of the wings without the help of figures. Having ex- 

 pressed dissatisfaction with the families he has given, we shall rather fol- 

 low the arrangement proposed in the first volume of the INSECTA BRITANNIC A, 

 and refer the new genera we have to notice to their places in the families 

 according to it. MYCETOPHILID.E Pachyneura, venation not very unlike 

 Platyura, antennae filiform (18-jointed?), palpi 4-jointed, lateral spines of 

 tibia3 very slight; one species P. fasciata, 9-11 lines long; Lapland and 

 N. Sweden about rotten trunks of trees. Boletina Stg., for the species of 

 Leja Mg., in which the forks of the two brachial veins are equally distant 

 from the base of the wing. CHIRONOMID^ Corynocera, wings adiaphauous, 



