XoKTlI A^IKUK AN Dll'IKUA. 41 



KMriD.lv 



Katlier small to vt'i-y small, elongate, iisiially nearly bare, preda- 

 eeous flies. Heatl small, usually round, attached by a free neck. 

 Antennie porrect ; first two joints often very small ; tliird joint 

 variable in slia])e, simple, not annulate, with or without a terminal 

 arista or style, or dorsal arista. Front n<jt excavated. Eyes of 

 nuile usually contij;iu)us. ( )eelli present. Proboscis short or elon- 

 <iate, achipted for piercing; porrect, vertical, or directed backward. 

 Teguhe small. Ab(h)men in the female pointed, in the male with 

 nuire or less prominent genitalia. Legs very variable in structure, 

 tiic coxie and femora often in part thickened, elongate, or with 

 various structural peculiarities, usually sexual ; empodia not devel- 

 oped pulvilliform. Wings variable in neuration ; the discal cell 

 often wanting, as also the anal cell; one to three submarginal cells 

 present. 



The flies in their hai)its are very much like the Asilidiu; they are 

 often observeil in swarms about l)rooks. The larvae live in decaying 

 vcgetahli' matter. Pupa' free. 



1. Anal cell i)resent. 2 



Anal cell wanting; or if present, very sn)all and the sixth vein 



obsolete (Tac hydrom iuie). Ki 



2. Front femora sliorter or but little longer than the coxa? (Tach- 



ydroniina^) 1(5 



Front femora longer than the coxa- ?> 



'4. Posterior basal transverse vein parallel with the hind border of 



the wing (Em pi na») 9 



Posterior l)asal transverse vein not parallel with the hind border 



of the wing (lly botinajj. . 4^ 



4. Third longitudinal vein furcate-; first subniargnial cell closetl. 



BLKPHAISOriiOCTUS 



Third vein simple, not furcate. ...... 5 



0. Anal cell shorter than the second basal cell 8 



Anal cell as long or longer than the second basal. (> 



(i. Origin of the seconil longitudinal vein nearer the humeral than 



to the anterior cross-vein ; wings usualh' spotted. Synecues 



Origin not nearer tlie humeral cross-vein; wings not spotted. 7 



7. Vein lietween the first and second basal cells indistinct. 



Syndyas 

 Vein l)itween first and second basal cells distinct. HvBOS 



