Of this genus there are but 3 species, all of which are British. 



1. Rhyphus fuscatus Fab. — Meig. Syst. Besc. v. 1. tab. 11. 



/18. 



2. punctatus Fab. — Meig. Klass. d. Zweif. pi. 6.J'.4:. 



3. fenestralis Scop. 



This last is one of our commonest insects, being almost al- 

 ways to be found inside the windows of our houses. Although 

 the other 2 species are by far more rare than M.JenestraliSf 

 they are well represented in Meigen's works: our species he 

 has drawn with the wings closed, which renders it less satis- 

 factory ; and as I do not know of even a tolei'able portrait of 

 it, a figure of the female has been given in preference to the 

 others. 



Latreille says the larvae inhabit houses, and feed upon de- 

 caying and moist linen ; and Reaumur, who has figured H. 

 fenestralis in its different states {y. 5. tab. ^.f. 3. 10), found 

 the larvae in the dung of cows : they soon became pupae, and 

 the fly appeared about 8 days after. The perfect insect, from 

 its figure and markings, might be easily mistaken for some 

 gnat ; but the structure of the mouth is very different, not 

 being armed in the formidable way that the Culices are. R. 

 fuscatus I think I found beneath damp boleti ; but as I have 

 no memorandum respecting the specimens, it is doubtful. 



The plant is Solanum Dulcamara (Bitter-sweet, or Woody 

 Nightshade). 



