BIBIONID^. 



391 



wanting, while the posterior tibiae, and first joint of tlie hind 

 tarsi are dilated. The body is short and tliick. The labrum 

 is free, sharp as a dagger, and the proboscis is well 

 developed and draws blood profusely. Tlie species 

 are numerous. The Black-fly, so well known as 

 tlie torment of travellers in the North, is black, 

 with a broad silvery ring on 

 the legs. We have received a 

 large species from Mr. E. T. 

 Cox, called in the West the 

 Buffalo fly. On the prairies 

 of Illinois it has been known 

 to plague horses to death by 

 its bite. The >S'. (Rhagio) 

 Columbaschense Fabr. in Hungary abounds in im- 

 mense numbers, often killing cattle. Other species 

 abound in the American tropics where they are a 

 great scourge. The cylindrical larva of the Euro- ^'"- ^i'^' "• 

 pean species is furnished with short antenna? and two flabelli- 

 form appendages. On the under side of the prothorax is a 

 thick conical and retractile tubercle, and there are several 

 curved filaments at the end of the bod}-. The pupa has eight 

 very long lateral filaments on the front of the thorax, and the 

 posterior end of the bod}^ is enclosed in a semioval membra- 

 nous cocoon, open in front, and posteriorly- attached to some 

 plant. The fly leaves the pupa beneath the water. 



312. 



BiBiONiD^. Macquart. This group is characterized by hav- 

 ing three ocelli and the prothorax much developed ; the wings 

 have no discal cell. The coxae are not prolonged and the em- 

 podium (supplementary cushion) is proportionally- long, while 

 the pulvilli are sometimes wanting. The typical genus, Bibio 

 of Geoffroy, has short, nine-jointed antennae, five-jointed palpi, 

 ajid the eyes of the male are large and contiguous, Avhile those 

 of the females are small. The larvae are cjdindrical, footless, 

 with ten spiracles, and furnished with transverse rows of short 

 hairs, being found in dung, but they mostly feed on the roots 

 of grass, whole patches of which appearing as if winter-killed. 

 Robins destroy- immense numbers of them. Westwood has 



