3§4 



(ESTRID^. 



proboscis rudimentary or siiiall, rarely prominent ; palpi small or 

 rudimentary. Antennte short, three-jointed; first two joints 

 very short, cylindrical or cup-shaped, 3rd rounded, oval or lenti- 

 cular, with bare dorsal arista : the antennae are seated in a 

 distinct, rounded, oval or inverted lyre-shaped cavity, which is 

 often divided by a median ridge, the frons generally forming a 

 conspicuous and prominent ridge along the upper side of this 

 cavity. From the antennal cavity to the mouth-opening runs 

 generally a median fur-naw of greater or less width. 



Thorax oblong or oval, little longer than broad, with a distinct 

 suture; scutellum semicircular. 



Abdomen either short, in which case it is oval or cylindrical, 

 or else moderately elongate, in "which case it is generally conical; 

 ()-segn)ented ; genitalia in J concealed ; in 5 rather prominent. 



Fig. 81. — GastropJiihis equi, L., $. 



Leys moderately long, rather slender ; often, especially hind 

 pair, elongate ; femora at base and tibiae in middle often rather 

 thickened, latter sometimes cylindrical ; two distinct pulvilli. 



Wiuys with characteristic venation, intermediate between that 

 of Stuphidje and MusciD.i: ; surface wrinkled ; 3rd longitudinal 

 vein always simple, 4th vein running straight to Ming-border 

 {Gastropliilus) or more generally comerging apically towards 3rd ; 

 anterior cross-vein at about middle of discal cell ; the latter cell 

 is generally present, formed either by the presence of the discal 

 cross-vein or by the upturned apical portion of the 5th vein ; 

 6th (anal) vein generally, 7th vein sometimes, present, often indis- 

 tinct ; anal cell short, generally indistinct. Thoracal squamae 

 either very large, or small and long haired, in either case covering 

 the hal teres. 



Life-history. The family was monographed by P. Brauer in 

 1863, and the genera were reviewed by A. Ban in Wytsman's 

 ' Genera Insectorum ' (Fascic. 43, 1906). There have been many 



