90 STHATIOMYIB.E. 



SBueoiis or metallic colour also renders lliem conspicuous, and 

 though iu this they resemble the 8aiigin.e, the latter are always 

 easily knowu by the anterior cross-vein connecting the discal cell 

 with the prset'urca instead of viith the 8rd vein. The frequently 

 dilated hind metatarsns in the (S is ii further character of the 



The life-histories of a few Eu.ropean species are known, but 

 not that of Beris. That of CJiorisoj^s tibialis has been described 

 by Handlirsch. The larvae live in the earth and decaying matter. 



Table of Genera. 



Scutellum unspined Allognosta, Ost.-Sack., p. 93. 



Scutellum spined. 



Palpi minute or obsolete ; eyes con- 

 tiguous in c? Eebis, Latr., p. 90. 



Palpi rather long ; eyes not con- 

 tiguous in rj Chohisops, Rond., p. 92, 



Genus BERIS, Latr. 



Beris, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. iii, p. 447 (1802). 

 Oplacantha, IJondani, Arch. Zool. Modena, iii, p. 87 (186.'}). 

 Hexaeantha, Lioy, Atti Ist. Yen. (?>) ix, p. 586 (1864). 

 Octacantlia, Lioy, loc. cit. 



Genotype, Musca clmlybeata, Forst., as Stratiomys 6-dentata, 

 E. (Europe) ; by original designation. 



Head almost semicircular, transverse, as broad as thorax ; face 

 short, pubescent ; eyes large, contiguous in c? (with rare excep- 

 tions), wide apart in 5 , densely hairy in J , upper facets larger 

 than lower, less hairy in 5 with all equal facets. Proboscis well 

 developed, palpi rudimentary. Antennae porrect, nearly as long- 

 as head; two basal joints short, subequal, bristly; 3rd elongate 

 with eight anuulations, the first and last being the longest. 

 Thorax rather arched, closely pubescent in J , less so in ^ ; 

 scutellum with four to eight spines bearing pubescence (occasion- 

 ally an odd number in individuals). Abdomen hardly broader than 

 thorax, flattened, sides nearly parallel, at least 7-segmented ; 

 genitalia more developed than in the other subfamilies. Legs 

 simple, of moderate size ; hind metatarsus dilated in S !ind 

 elongate in both sexes. Wings longer than abdomen, not of the 

 typical Stratiomyid nature ; anterior veins not crowded together, 

 all veins distinct and generally reaching wing-margin ; 2nd vein 

 ratlier short, enclosing the conspicuous large dark stign)a ; I5rd 

 vein rather \\idely forked, both braiiches ending before wing-tip ; 

 4th vein with only two terminations and occasionally an abortive 

 third; posterior cross-vein absent as upper branch of 5th vein 

 forms hinder side of discal cell ; anal cell closed at some distance 

 from border of wing. Alar squama; of moderate size; thoracic 

 ones undeveloped, 



