LEPTID^ 235 



can however be no doubt about the females of some American species of 

 Symphoromyia inflicting severe wounds. I cannot accept the records of 

 the bites of Leptis scolovacea and L. strigosa as recorded by MM. Heim and 

 Leprevost in Bull. Soc. Ent. France, LXI. c. and civ. (1892) ; to begin with, 

 neither gentleman is well known in Dipterology, and in each case only one 

 specimen was observed; M. Heim's specimen was first recorded as L. 

 scolopacea but subsequently altered to L. strigosa, while M. Leprevost did 

 not attempt to name his specimen but stated that it was named by M. 

 Gazagnaire, whose name again is not known in Dipterology; I cannot 

 help thinking that the aggressive appearance of Leptis led these 

 gentlemen to believe that a species of that genus caused the bites which 

 had been really given by Hccmatopota, as the bites of the latter cause in 

 me the exact symptoms detailed ; I would further remark that the status 

 of L. strigosa is eminently uncertain and that it would require a very first- 

 rate Dipterologist to identify that species or variety. 



The metamorphoses of many species are well known ; the larvpe of 

 JCylojyhagi/s occur under the bark of trees, where they live a scavenging or 

 predatory existence among the larvae of wood-feeding Coleoptera and other 

 insects ; the larvae of Ccenomyia show close relationship to those of 

 Xylopliagus and have been found in the earthy debris of fallen trees; 

 many species of Leptinm live as larvse in moss or earthy matter and 

 may feed on worms; but the larva of Vermileo Degrerii is a veritable 

 "ant-lion," and forms pitfalls in dry sand for the capture of small 

 insects. The females of Atherix Ihis collect together in dense masses, 

 and lay their eggs in these clusters, which are attached to dry branches 

 overhanging water so that the larvae when hatched fall into the water 

 while the dead females remain together. 



Areangement :— If the Leptidce be placed between the Stratiomyidce 

 and Tahanidce the sequence of subfamilies is obvious, as the close affinity 

 between the XyJomyinm and XyIoj)hagince compels the commencement with 

 the latter, and then it becomes natural that the other subfamily which has 

 an annulated flagelliform third antennal joint should precede those which 

 have a simple third antennal joint; the Ccenomyince must therefore come 

 next, though otherwise the natural location of that subfamily is not 

 obvious, as the venation of the genus Cosnomyia is very distinct and the 

 bidentate scutellum seems to show some affinity to the Stratiomyidm ; the 

 other genera of the CmnomyincB, however, do not exhibit these characters, 

 and the early stages of Can amy la prove its close relationship to 

 XyJophagus ; in the Ccenomyinoe the fork of the cubital vein indicates a 

 close relationship with the true Leptinm, though the fact of all the tibiae 

 being spurred connects them with the Xylojyhagince. The Vermikoninm 

 have a level face without any socketed epistoma, and must therefore 

 come before the Leptinm, and possibly before the Ccenomyinm even 

 though the antennae are not flagelliform; and this is confirmed by 



