12 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Family i, Pulicid.i:. 



" 2, Mycetophiltd.k. 



In the following arrangement the first manifestation of Dipterous^ 

 existence is associated with the inmost recesses of man's habitation, and 

 a few beasts and birds also partake of its presence in their dwellings. In 

 this form it has some perfections in which it exceeds all the rest of the 

 race, being une(j[iialled in strength and in activity and in endurance of 

 pressure. The dismissal of this wingless fly will be readily accepted, and' 

 there is a wide gap between it and the next form of Dipterous life 

 wherein it is transferred to the fungoid-race, and here its work is to- 

 appropriate and elaborate the substance of the fungus and to raise it to- 

 its own level, and this will be said to be just contrary to the first scene in 

 which it reduces the circulation of the vertebrata to its own purposes. Ini 

 the second scene the fly has in some cases much resemblance in the bod}^ 

 and in the legs to the first family, but the strength and the activity are- 

 comparatively passed away, and the structure of the mouth is much 

 changed and much less eftective ; however, it has a compensation in the 

 possession of wings. Even in the small extent of England there is yet 

 much to learn about the fungus-flies, but there is a much wider field for 

 observation in Canada and in the more northern regions of America 

 where the gradual diminution and cessation of the race may be traced. 

 Winnerty has contributed much more than any one else to the history of 

 this family, and his synopsis of the sub-families is here translated : 



A — Middle transverse vein elongated. 



a — Brachial vein wanting i Diadocidinae 



b — Brachial vein present. 

 '^ — Antennas not very long. 



t- -Brachial vein long 2 jMycetobinse- 



t + — Brachial vein short 3 Ceroplatinae 



* ^^ — Antennas very long. 



t — Antennas setiform 4 Bolitophilinas- 



t t — Antennas filiform 5 Macrocerin^e 



B — Middle transverse vein not elongated. 



a — Brachial vein present 6 Sciophilinas 



b — Brachial vein wanting 7 Mycetophilinas 



