SAKCOl'IIAOIDTR. 189 



comprising but comparatively few genera, lias a greater number 

 of species and individuals. For the most part the species are 

 tolerably uniform in coloration, and at first sight seem scarce- 

 ly distinguishaljle, having a gray striped thorax and marmorate 

 aVxlomen. The more metallic colored species of CijuvmyUi and 

 Oiiesia are exceptions. The flies are found everywhere, about 

 decaying vegetation, especially fruit, excrement, decomposing 

 carcasses, etc. 



The larvge are polyphagous in hal)it, feeding upon decaying 

 animal or vegetable matter, or living parasitically in the flesh 

 of different animals, in the nasal cavities of man and other 

 animals, in ulcers, etc. The larvaj of Cijnomijia live in great 

 numbers in the decomposing carcasses of vertebrate animals. 

 The larva? of SarcojjhcKja, which are often extruded by the 

 parent fly alive, have been found under the skin of turtles, in 

 the stomach of frogs; and most of the cases of myiasis that 

 have been reported, other than those due to the larva? of 

 Compsomyla and Callij^hora, have been caused by the maggots 

 of the species of this genus and those of Sarcophila. The 

 larvae of several species have been found in snails, in beetles, 

 the pupae of moths, etc. 



The Sarcophagid larvae are rounded, thinner anteriorly and 

 amphipneustic. The antennae are short, thick, cylindrical, 

 divergent, wart-like tubercles, each with two ocellus-like chit- 

 inous rings at the tip. The mouth-hooklets are distinct, 

 strongly curved, and separated from each other. The abdo- 

 minal segments are distinctly differentiated by transverse 

 swellings, and are each provided with a girdle of spines. The 

 hind stigma-plate is situated in a deep cavity, which is formed 

 by the last segment alone. The anal swelling is two-pointed. 

 The puparium is oval. 



TABLE OF (JENEKA. 

 1. First posterior cell closed or very niucli narrowed in tlie m.Trfjin. 2 



First posterior cell open. ........ 4 



