TABANID^. 393 



belonging probably to this family. Stratiomys has a broad flat- 

 tened abdomen, and the scutellum spined. The larvae are 

 aquatic, being apodal and flattened, and slen- 

 der especially at the end of the body, which is 

 elongated and has a simple terminal spiracle 

 "surrounded by a great number of bearded 

 hairs, which form a coronet, and which are 

 capable of being closed up so as to retain a 

 bubble of air, and by the assistance of which 

 the insect suspends itself at the surface of the 

 water for respiration. On assuming the pupa 

 state, the insect floats at liberty in the water, 

 the enclosed pupa occupying only the anterior Fig. 313. 

 portion of its larva skin." 



Tabanidte Latreille. In this important family the three 

 basal cells of the wings are much prolonged ; the third longitu- 

 dinal vein is furcate, and the teguke are rather large. The pro- 

 boscis of the male has four, that of the female six bristles. The 

 third joint of the antenniB is annulate and always without 

 style or bristle. The ej^es are large, and the thorax oblong and 

 flattened above. The female Horse-flies are troublesome from 

 their formidable bite. The pupne ai-e obtected, resembling the 

 adult flies. Pangonia has a proboscis often longer than the 

 body itself. Chrysops, the Golden-eyed fly, is very trouble- 

 some, unceasingly flying about one's head, strivijig to alight 

 and draw blood. The two basal joints of the antennoe are 

 prolonged, hairy, the third spindle-shaped. Chrysops niger 

 Macquart and C. vittatus Wiedemann are the two most abun- 

 dant species. 



Tabcmus, the Horse-fly, is known by its large size and 

 powerful biting and sucking apparatus. Like the mosquito, 

 the male horse-fly does not bite, but lives on the sweets of 

 flowers. The accompanjdng sketch shows the structure of the 

 proboscis of the female of the Green-head fly, Tabanus lineola 

 Fabr. (Fig. 314 ; a, five terminal joints of the antcnncie ; lb, 

 labrum ; m, mandibles ; tnx, maxillae ; mp, the two-jointed, 

 large, stout, maxillary palpi ; ?, the tongue). Its bite is most 

 painful and poisonous to many. Mr. Walsh has shown, 



