DIPTERA. 95 



expanded wings, like the fan of some fairy queen. The 

 larvse feed on the unopened buds of the lioneysuckle, and 

 spin cocoons, in which they change to the chrysalis 

 state. 



DIPTERA 



In the Order Diptkra the insects, as the name 

 implies, have only a single pair of wings ; but some 

 . Entomologists include in this order the species of the 

 V__^aiiily Pulicldce, or fleas Avhich are entirely destitute 

 of wings. Mr. Francis Walker, one of our great au- 

 thorities on two-winged insects, and who has published 

 a very valuable monograph of them, divides the Diptera 

 into these three great groups : (1) Suctoridia, (2) Pro- 

 boscidia, (3) Eproboscidia. 



The first group, corresponding to the Order ApJiani- 

 tera of other Entomologists, contains only the puli- 

 cidoe^ or family of fleas of which there are several species 

 parasites on various animals. Fleas differ so materially 

 in many of their characters from two-winged insects, 

 that it is, perhaps, better to regard them as belonging to 

 a separate order. Everyone is familiar with this active 

 little hopper, both as to appearance and the results of 

 its bite. Although the flea has no wings, it has the 

 rudiments of four wings, in the form of horny plates, 

 on the thorax ; the mouth is a very complicated organ, 

 being furnished with a pair of sharp sword-shaped 

 blades and a needle-like body, the whole being sheathed 

 by the labial palpi. The hinder legs are very long, and 



