FAMILIES MELOMYZIDyE, PHYCODROMIDy^ 

 AND SCIOMYZ/D.^ 



The Helomyzidae are small, dark-colored flies, looking some- 

 thing like dung-flies. They seem to prefer damp, shady places, 

 and fly in the twilight. In the larval condition they are to be 

 found in fungi and one species in Europe feeds upon truffles. 

 Some of them also lay their eggs in the excrement of dogs and 

 other animals. 



The Phycodromidae are also small, grayish flies in which the 

 abdomen is somewhat darker than the thorax. They are found 

 on ocean beaches, and also on the shores of lakes, upon the differ- 

 ent substances, usually vegetable, washed ashore, and they 

 probably breed in such places. 



With the Sciomyzidae, the colors are brown or gray, and they 

 are ordinary-looking, medium sized or small flies. Their wings 

 are usually spotted or slightly clouded. The metamorphoses of 

 most of them are not known. These flies are to be captured on 

 high grasses or u,pon bushes. 



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