1909] Braes. Affinities of the Phoridw. 105 



opinion that the resemblances between these two families are not 

 superficial. The second joint shows the same bulbous enlarge- 

 ment which appears to contain a type of spherical sense organ 

 similar to that in the Phorid antenna. 



I have also made preparations of several specimens of Lon- 

 choptera lutea Panz. and find that this species is somewhat differ- 

 ent from the figure given by Wesche for L. flavicauda Meig. 

 Particularly in dorsal view the attachment is extremely like that 

 of Borborus and much more like that of the Phoridae than the 

 figure given in Wesche's paper. (Fig. I.) 3 The antennae there- 

 fore shows less similarity to those of at least some of the Doli- 

 chopodidse than to certain Borboridae. 



Another point not touched upon by Wesche is the general 

 form of the head, the relations of the antennae, face and front. 

 This character has already been pointed out by Mik in discussing 

 the relationships of certain aberrant Phoridae ; it is quite constant 

 among Asilidae, Empididae and Dolichopodidae, the face is long, 

 not regularly excavated for the antennae nor sharply differentiated 

 from the front as is the case in the Cyclorrapha, particularly the 

 Myodaria. 4 The Phoridae are very different in this respect from 

 these families with which Wesche would associate, them, and while 

 the character may at first sight appear to be vague, I think it is 

 one which is clearly defined in the mind of anyone who has 

 devoted much time the taxonomy of Diptera. 



Perhaps the absence of a ptilinum is good evidence that the 

 Phoridae are not descended from Muscid-like forms, but it can 

 not be considered at all unlikely that such a character might be 

 easily lost, especially in such minute forms where its mechanical 

 use is probably not so great. 5 



I do not feel competent to express an opinion on Wesche's 

 data concerning the mouthparts and genitalia, but am assured 



3 The preparations figured were made by soaking the insects for several 

 hours in a 2 5% aqueous solution of Potassium hydroxide, rinsing m water 

 and bleaching in strong Hydrogen peroxide until sufficiently transparent, after 

 which they can be dehvdrated and mounted in balsam. The evolution of 

 oxygen bubbles caused by immersion in the peroxide serves a very useful 

 purpose in gently distending the body, thus extruding very nicely the mouth- 

 parts, genitalia, etc. . ... 



4 It must be admitted that some Leptidse, e. g. Chrysopila, depart widely 

 from this and remind one strikingly of Phoridse in the form of the head. 



5 As to the assumption that the Phoridae are predaceous, I cannot believe 

 that they are very generally so. Most of our species feed on decaying plant 

 or animal matter as adults ; even Phora incisuralis Lw., one of our species 

 with unusually chitinized proboscis, feeds normally on decaying plant Tissue, 

 caterpillar excrement, and dead insect larvae. Even so, I do not think that 

 such a character is of much use in determining affinities between families. 



