FLIES. 223 



is Eriocera Lunata, Westw., from Borneo The brown wings 

 expand nearly an inch, and in the middle stands a large white 

 crescent, and there are several smaller white spots, especially 

 towards the hind margin of the wings. But the most singidar 

 feature of this insect is its antennas, which, although only five- 

 jointed, bear about the same proportion to the size of the insect 

 as in the genus Adela among the small moths, being fully an inch 

 and a half in length. 



Several of our smaller Tijndldce are winter insects. On most 

 fine sunny days, even when the snow is on the ground, we may 

 see the little Winter Gnat (Tnchocera Hiemalis, Meig.) dancing in 

 swarms in sheltered places, although no other insect may be 

 visible. It is a brownish-grey, transparent- winged insect, and 

 measures about a quarter of an inch in length. Many other 

 species of this family dance in swarms in a similar manner. 



Chionea Araneoides, Dalm., is a yellowish-brown, wingless, 

 spider-like insect, measuring less than a quarter of an inch in 

 length, which is sometimes common on the surface of frozen snow; 

 the larva lives in damp earth. Its systematic position is some- 

 what uncertain, and some authors regard it as an aberrant form of 

 Blbionidce. 



Family XII. — Dixidce. 



Head rounded ; proboscis rather prominent ; antennae long, 

 twelve-jointed (1) ; basal joint very thick, the flagellum slender 

 and hair-like ; eyes round, distant ; ocelli wanting ; abdomen long 

 and slender, clavate behind m the male and pointed in the 

 female ; wings rather large ; legs long and slender ; larva aquatic. 



The species of Dixa, Meig. , are small reddish-yellow or blackish 

 gnats, measuring about one-sixth of an inch in length. The wings 

 are generally transparent, but in some species are more or less 

 spotted with brown. These gnats frequent damp places in woods, 

 and are occasionally seen dancing in swarms before sunset. 



Family XIII. — Rhjphidce. 



Head round ; proboscis rather prominent ; antennae sixteen- 

 jointed, about as long as the thorax ; eyes large, oval ; ocelli 

 present ; abdomen cylindrical ; legs slender, moderately long ; wings 

 rather large and broad ; larvae feeding on rotten vegetable matter. 



The species of Rhyphns, Latr., are grey or yellowish-brown 

 tlies, about a quarter of an inch in length, which may be found 



