LAPHRINiE 693 



these genera belong to the Da>^ypogonince ; this difficulty may however 

 be surmounted by recognising that in all these cases it is the sub- 

 costal vein which is shorter than in normal Laphri'/ice and the radial vein 

 curves up so abruptly at its end that the marginal cell is thereby closed and 

 the end of the cell is blunt instead of pointed ; if therefore an Asilid be 

 found which has no antennal style or arista but in which the marginal 

 cell is bluntly closed or almost closed through the sudden upturning of 

 the radial vein that species should be sought for in the Dasypogonince. 

 The character of " Antennae without a style or arista " is not quite accurate, 

 as although there may never be an arista yet sometimes there is a 

 rudimentary or short and blunt style, but in practice this character never 

 causes any doubt as to whether a species belongs to the Laplirinm or 

 Asilince. 



The Laphrinw form a fairly homogeneous group in themselves, 

 but still some species of Dasypogonince and even Asilince appear as 

 if they naturally belonged to them; until however some more natural 

 classification is defined we must accept the present status of the subfamily. 

 They are usually stout oblong flies clothed with dense coarse pubescence 

 and with only indistinct chsetotactic bristles, but in many cases the 

 pubescence is much reduced in amount or may even be absent, while at 

 least some chsetotactic bristles may be developed. 



Only two species of Laphrincv are known to occur in Britain, and of 

 these the grand Z. /am was only discovered in the Northern Highlands 

 of Scotland as recently as 1873, while the other species is apparently 

 limited to the south of England. 



Tahle of the Palccarctic Genera of Laphrin^. 



The genera of Laphrince have never been sufficiently contrasted and 

 consequently the following table may be imperfect. 

 1 (2) Cross-veins closing the discal cell and the fourth posterior cell 

 practically in a continuous line (fig. 364). 



Fia. 36i.—Atomosia rufipes ?. X 10. 



Discal cross-vein near the middle of the discal cell ; first posterior 

 cell comparatively broad at its middle part. Small flies. 



Atomosia. 



A genus containing a large number of species from North and 

 Soutli America, and Southern Asia, but _ with only one Palsearctic 

 species recently described from South "Russia, 



