1 96 AN A ceo UNT OF BRITISH FLIES. 



with nacreous gloss, shorter than the thorax, dilated backwards ; 

 segments linear-transverse. Hypopygium as long as the abdomen, 

 and thicker ; lateral arms massive, oblong, with a smaller malleoli- 

 form piece articulated to the end ; below them an oblong plate, 



Fig. 40. — Cliuiio iiiarinits. 

 rounded at the tip. Legs of moderate length, fore pair distorted at' 

 the base ; coxae ferruginous ; extreme base of tibise blackish ; tarsi 

 shorter than the tibiae ; anterior pair with the first joint long, the 

 following three very short ; hind pair with the third joint also 

 elongated. 



" Inhabits the sea coast, amongst the moist gravel bared by the 

 ebbing tide ; walks about with wings raised and half-expanded, in 

 constant vibration, but without taking flight, as far as observed." 



This curious insect appears in July, and was taken by Haliday in 

 Ireland. The other European species is C. adriatiats, Frauenfeld. 

 Concerning this species, Frauenfeld says : "Bie Triestin submarinen 

 Colonien von Mytilus." 



Genus. — Ceratopogon, Mg. 



This genus seems to be at present in a very chaotic condition, 

 although they do not seem nearly so difficult to understand as most 

 of the other Chironomidee. The classification formed by Winnertz 

 is the best we can get, and so it is followed in the present work. 

 The flies of this genus are, in common with the other chironomids, 

 called "midges." They appear in great swarms, and the females 

 are very troublesome, most of them being blood-suckers, and show- 

 ing a decided preference to mankind. The males do not seeui 

 to be sanguinary in nature. There are some, also, which are car- 

 nivorous in nature, living upon smaller insects, which they kill by 

 means of their sharp proboscis. The larvre of this genus live both 

 in water and on land, some (as lateralis) inhabit manures, others 

 are found under the bark of decaying trees {bipunctatus). The trans- 

 formation of the latter species has been frequently observed. 



