244 THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 



1. Tachininm : about 120 species. — Usually found in warm 

 dry habitats, being partial to umbelliferous flowers. Most, if not 

 all, are parasitic, chiefly on Lepidoptera, and collectors of this 

 order would greatl}' assist the students of Diptera by pinning all 

 that may emerge from their lepidopterous pupse, and attaching 

 date and name of species of moth to each specimen. Walker's 

 references to the Tachininse and Anthomyinse are practically 

 useless. 



2. Dexiin.^: about 12 species. — Their habits are very similar 

 to those of the previous group. Common. 



3. Sai!Coi'ha6in.e : 21 species. — Large powerful flies; common 

 everywhere. The females are viviparous. The species appear 

 very much alike, but the specific characters are very distinct. 



4. MusciN.E : about 30 species. — The larvae live in dung, or 

 rotten vegetable matter. Most of the species are common ; their 

 flight is swift. Several of the species are found in London, and 

 act as natural scavengers, probably more so than any other group 

 of the Diptera. 



5. Anthomyinm : about 230 species. — The larvae of this sub- 

 family live in rotten fungi, decomposing vegetable matter, &c. ; 

 many species are leaf-miners, and damage the crops to no 

 inconsiderable extent. These flies are very common, frequenting 

 every field, wood, and bush, and are as a rule very closely allied, 

 the females being especially diflicult to identify. 



0. AcALYPTERATA : about 530 species. — This group appears 

 to me tlieoretically inseparable from the Anthorayidce, as the 

 distinctive characters, so called, insensibly merge one into the 

 other. Nearly all these flies are small, many exceedingly so, and 

 as a rule are sombre in colour, closely allied, and consequently 

 difficult to identify. Schiner recognises 2G groups in this sub- 

 family. They may be obtained in very great abundance by 

 sweeping. The larvae live in decomposing animal and vegetable 

 matter, dung, mud, water, galls, leaves, plant-roots, cereals ; and 

 the perfect insects may be taken in almost every conceivable 

 ituation. 



Phorid.e : about 8 species. — The larvse live on decomposing 

 vegetable matter. One or two species are common in London. 



Platypezid.e : about 10 species, I think, are British. — This 

 and the next family have been moved about a good deal from 

 one position to another in (.•lassification by various authors. 



