DIPTERA. 407 



these rapacious flies are of great size. The largest one found 

 here is the orange-banded Midas (Midas JUatus*), specimens of 

 which are sometimes found measuring an inch and a quarter in 

 length, with wings expanding two inches and a quarter. It is 

 black, with an orange-colored band on the second ring of the 

 hind-body ; and the wings are smoky brown, with a metallic lustre. 

 It receives its scientific name, jilatus, signifying threadlike, from 

 its antennas, which are long and slender, but they end with an ob- 

 long oval knob. Its generical name was also given to it on ac- 

 count of its long antennas ; Midas, in Mythology, being the name 

 of a person fabled to have had the long ears of an ass. The 

 orange-banded Midas may often be seen flying in the woods in 

 July and August, or resting and basking in the sun upon fallen 

 trees. Its transformations have never been described. Its larva 

 and pupa almost exactly resemble those of the rapacious Asilians 

 (AsiLiDiE). Tl e larva is a cylindrical, whitish maggot, tapering 

 before, and almost rounded behind ; it has only two breathing- 

 holes, which are placed in the last ring but one ; and it grows to 

 the length of two inches. It lives and undergoes its transforma- 

 tions in decayed logs and stumps. The pupa measures about an 

 inch and a quarter in length ; it is of a brown color, and nearly 

 cylindrical shape ; its tail is forked ; there are eight thorns on the 

 forepart of its body ; and each ring of the abdomen is edged with 

 numerous sharp teeth, like a saw, all these teeth pointing back- 

 wards, except those on the back of the first ring, which are di- 

 rected forwards. The pupa pushes itself half way out of the 

 stump when the fly is about to come forth, and the latter makes 

 its escape by splitting open the back of the pupa-skin. 



In the month of June, there may sometimes be seen, resting 

 on the grass or on rotten stumps, in open woods, a large, light- 

 brown or drab-colored fly, somewhat like a horse-fly in form, 

 but easily distinguished therefrom by two little thorns on the 

 hinder part of the thorax; and by the wings, which do not spread 

 so much when the insect is at rest. It is heavy and sluggish in 

 its motions, and does not attempt to fly away when approached. 

 This insect was called Ccenomyia pallida, the pale Ccenomyia, 



* Incorrectly named Mydas filata, by Fabricius. 



