INSECTA BRITANNICA. 



DIPTERA. 



BRACHYCERA. (See Vol. I. p. 8.) 



Family XXVII. MUSCID.E. 



MusciD.E p.,Latr. G. C. (1809) ; Lam.; St.; Curt.; Wcstvv. Musca 



p., L. Miiscides p. et Stomoxydes, Fal. ; Meig. Sarcostomtj; p., 



Dumr. CketoloxfB p., Diimr. Ilyodarice p., Dumr. Bicliata, Atlierl- 



cera p., Mcq. ; Zett. Muscldce et Stomoxyd(B, Lea. Muscides, INIcq. 



Muscidil, Bigot. 



Caput sat magnum. Ocidl subtu.s genis inclusi. Proboscis distincta. 



Antennarum articuli apicales aristam fingentes, articuli tertii dorso 



insertam. Al(e confertae, rarissime abortivse ; vena cubitalis simplex ; 



vena spuria apud venas brachiales nulla ; lobus axillaris rotundatus. 



Head large ; proboscis distinct ; eyes below bounded by the cheeks ; 



last joints of antennae forming a slender arista, attached to the third 



joint on its upper edge. Wings perfect, very rarely abortive ; cubital 



vein simple ; brachial veins without spurious vein ; axillary lobe 



rounded. Halteres of some hidden, of others uncovered. 



The Muscida are the most remarkable of the families oiDijitei'a, 

 on account of their very numerous groups, species, and individuals, 

 of their extensive variation of structure, and of their great import- 

 ance in the economy of nature. The nomenchiture of some parts 

 of their structure requires a short explanation. ^\^\\Qjrons extends 

 from the hind part of the head to the base of the antennae, and 

 occupies the space between the eyes ; its hinder part is the vertex, 

 before which are the ocelli ; its fore part contains the, frontalia, 

 which are dark -coloured, and more or less linear; in some cases 



VOL. II. B 



