I I S AN A ceo UNT OF BRITISH FLIES. 



the tip of the prte-brachial areolet and another near the costa. 

 Length, li to 2 lin. 



M. lunata, Mg. 



The metamorphosis of the species has been well followed by 

 Heeger, but in his paper are many curious and erroneous state- 

 ments, as seen in the following quotations : " Tne stigmata are nine, 

 on nine consecutive segments of the body, except the two first ;" 

 and another more important point, viz., "The locomotive swellings 

 and their bristles are described on the back of the larva," etc., etc. 



The eggs are \ lin. long, cylindrical and white. The larvcc are 

 stout white maggots, with a dark-brown corneous head. The eggs 

 may be laid by the ? singly or in patches (twenty to thirty) on the 

 same fungus. The larvse hatch after eight or ten days, and com- 

 mence to burrow into the under side of the pileus. They shed their 

 skin three times, and transform near the outer margin, Halida) 

 says : "The larvae spins for its transformation a long pouch of silk 

 (white), with a flat circular lid." The pupal state lasts nine to 

 twelve days, the fly generally coming out in the morning. The 

 perfect insects and pupae hibernate, and appear in the spring. Bremi 

 obtained it from Agariciis citrinus, and Haliday also records the 

 larvae as living gregariously in the hollow stalks of Agarics, 



, , , . , ^ -,-. CM. arcuata. Zelt. 



VM-pictuIa, Mg. 



This is a somewhat rare species in England. It is brownish- 

 black and covered with pale yellowish hairs. Head blackish-brov/n. 

 Palpi yellowish. Antennae blackish-brown ; yellowish at the base. 

 Thorax with a yellowish stripe on each side, which is largest and 

 broadest in front. Abdomen blackish-brown ; $ genitalia brown ■. 

 $ with blackish-brown lamella. Wings with a brown spot, which 

 passes from the costa to the prse-brachial areolet, and at three- 

 quarters of length with a gray band, which is brown in front. Tips 

 of wings gray. The veinlets of the prse-brachial areolet form an 

 obtuse angle. The fifth longitudinal vein forked beyond the fork of 

 the fourth longitudinal vein. Halteres brownish-yellow. Legs tes- 

 taceous ; tarsi brown. Length, ij to 2 lin. This is a large species, 

 with alar expansion of 4-5 lin. 



