AN ACCOUNT OF BRITISH FLIES (DIPTERA). 



CHAPTER I. 



FOSSIL DIPTERA. 



One of the branches of science that has advanced with rapid strides 

 during recent years is geology ; in all quarters of the globe fresh 

 discoveries have been made, which have entirely altered many of the 

 old theories and beliefs. We have here only to deal with one branch 

 of geology, namely Palceontology, or the study of fossil animals and 

 plants. 



At the end of the last century William Smith, a land surveyor, 

 laid the foundation of Palasontology. He showed that strata could 

 be traced and identified by their included fossil animal remains, and 

 in 1S15 he published his work on "Strata Identified by their 

 Organic Fossils," and thus laid the foundation of a new branch of 

 geology that was destined to take the place of mineralogy as the 

 handmaid of geology. 



From this time onwards continual advances have been made in 

 paljeontological study, in all parts of Europe and America. England 

 has been especially to the fore in this respect. It is, however, com- 

 paratively recently that insects have attracted the attention of fossil 

 collectors. 



We owe our knowledge chiefly to Scudder, Brodie, Heer, Loew, 

 etc. Scudder has published a good account in the American 

 Government Reports. Brodie had, however, previously written on 

 the Mesozoic and Tertiary insects, and had figured a good many 

 specimens. 



Prior to giving an account of the fossil Diptera it seems well to 

 append a short description of the order. 



