Meigen very judiciously having separated Belzcbub from An- 

 thrax, and given it the generic name of Stygia, (which, how- 

 ever, must be changed, it having been unfortunately employed 

 by Draparnaud many years back to distinguish a genus of 

 Zygccnidce) the family now contains four genera, two of which 

 are British. It is probable that the sombre aspect of some of 

 the exotic species might have induced authors to apply the 

 name of Anthrax to this genus, and the association being car- 

 ried further, may have given rise to the eccentric use of such 

 names as Abaddon, Bclzebub, Cerberus, Hottentotta, Lar, Lu- 

 cifer, Tantalus, &c. for some of the foreign species. 



A. ornata was first discovered by J. C. Dale, Esq. at Parley 

 Heath, on the borders of Dorset and Hants, in July 1821, 

 and afterwards in September 1823. It was found settling upon 

 heath, banks, and on the ground where the turf had been 

 pared off; it has also been captured by Mr. Bentley in the 

 same neighbourhood. A. Jiava Hgg. {A. Hottentotta Lat.) 

 I was so fortunate as to meet with the beginning of July 1 822 

 flying amongst rushes, and lighting upon the sand near the 

 sea-shore at Covehithe, Suflblk, and A. circumdata Hgg. 

 {Musca Hottentotta Linn.) has been taken in Devon on the 

 borders of woods in June ; they are all very rare, and the only 

 species at present known to inhabit Britain. Meigen has de- 

 scribed 58 European species ; but, as they delight in a warm 

 clunate, we cannot ever hope to extend our list to that num- 

 ber. The three species enumerated above are included in 

 Meigen's first division, which is disthiguished from the second 

 by the structure of the antennae, the concealment of the trophi, 

 and the absence of a nerve which divides the submarginal cell 

 in two. 



The Anthraccs fly in the sunshine and subsist upon the juices 

 of flowers, which accounts probably for their wanting mandi- 

 bles. The origin as well as the form of the parts composing 

 the mouth, not being so accurately exhibited as could be 

 wished in Meigen and other authors, I have endeavoured as 

 far as possible to investigate the subject for the information of 

 the student. 



The plant figured is Anthcmis ?iobilis (Common Chamomile), 

 found in gravelly soil, and belonging to a class of plants to 

 which Diptera are particularly attached. 



