158 CYllTID^. 



small head and small mouth-parts ; the posterior spiracles accom- 

 panied by peculiar large plates. Pupa free, with a median longi- 

 tudinal row of spines on dorsum of thorax. Lundbeck writes 

 of one species : — ^" The larva was lying in the abdomen of a Cteniza 

 ariana with the terminal spiracles in one of the lungs of the 

 Cteniza. Before pupation the larva left tlie now dead Arachnid 

 and transformed in the nest." Stein and Kiinig state that the 

 eggs of some species are deposited on branches of trees, also that 

 the young larvie possess considerable leaping powers. 



The globular shape of the CiRTioyE with the very large 

 squamse and characteristic venation stamp the members of this 

 family with a facies peculiarl)^ their own, except for a few short, 

 hump-backed Bombyliid/E, but from these the three (not two) 

 pulvilli and the venation at once separate them. 



This family is by some authors called the Achocekid.e, but the 

 name is " absolutely contradictory to most of the genera" 

 (Verrall). The term Cyrtid.e was used as far back as 1841, the 

 genus Gyrtus antedates Acrocera, and the family name is sup- 

 ported by Verrall, Osten-8acken, and others.* 



The range of the family is world-wide, but only about two 

 huudred species are known. 



Table of Subfamilies. 



Prothoracic plates enormously developed, uuited 

 dorsally, forming a large shield between meso- 



notimi and neck PHiLOPOTiNiE,p.l58. 



Prothoracic plates not conspicuously developed. 

 Third auteunal joint long and strap-shaped ; 



no trace of style or apical bristle Panopinje, p. 160. 



Third antennal joint generally short ; apical 



bristle or stiff hairs always present .... Cyrttn.^, p. 163. 



There are different views as to the location of some of the 

 genera, as to their synonymy and their limits. I follow Verrall 

 in keeping Pterodontia in Cyktiwje. 



Subfamily PHILOPOTIN^. 



The principal character is the enormous development of the 

 prothoracic plates. Only one species is Oriental. 



Genus PHILOPOTA, Wied. 

 Philopota, Wiedemann, Ausser. Zweifl. ii, p. 17 (1830). 

 Genotype, Philopota conica, Wied. (Brazil). 

 Head much puffed out behind eyes; three ocelli f; eyes con- 



* The family has been called by various other names by different authors ; 

 Inplat^e, for instance, and Oncodid.e, Kertesz even retaining this latter name 

 to the present day. 



t According to Wiedemann ; the lower ocellus in my species is not discernible, 

 but it is impossible to state definitely that it is not present. 



