PIPTEKA. 1Q9 



Of the Bomhylidce, the most striking is the Bomhy- 

 lius major (Plate IV., Fig. 12), a furry-looking insect with 

 nearly black body, which is thickly covered with hairs. 

 It has a very long proboscis, almost equalling the length 

 of its body, by metins of which it sucks the nectar from 

 flowers, like the Humming-bird Moth. The flight is 

 rapid, flitting, and humming. Little I believe is known 

 of the habits of the larvse. Most of the Bombylidse 

 get their food from flowers ; but in the genus Thereva 

 some prey on other insects. Fig. 12 is slightly mag- 

 nified. 



The Empidce are a very numerous family, the species 

 being for the most part small and slender ; some of the 

 family, as the genus Hilara,. may often be seen in 

 swarms hovering over water, performing graceful evolu- 

 tions in the air, now in circles, now horizontal or 

 oblique ; they are chiefly predaceous in their habits, 

 feeding on the small Ephemeridse or minute Diptera. 

 The insect {Empis livida), a magnified figure of which 

 will be seen on PL IV., Fig. 4, is useful to the farmer 

 in devouring the Wheat Midge {Cecidomyia tritici) ; it 

 is abundant in corn fields in June and July. 



The Dolichopidce are small flies, seldom exceeding 

 three lines in length, often of metallic lustre ; " they 

 have a partial coating of tomentum in repelling water, 

 which communicates a hoary gloss, particularly to the 

 lower parts; this is composed of excessively minute, 

 short, compressed, pellucid hairs, laid flat, and often so 

 thickly set as overlap in several layers" (Ins. Brit., i., 

 p. 145). Many species are found near water, on the 

 surface of which they can run with great activity. The 

 Dolichopidae are all predaceous, feeding on small insects, 



