170 University of California Publications. [Entomology 



In a family where so many discrepancies already exist I 

 think we may be pardoned for not accepting one so marked as 

 this. 



The exact limits of this family and of several others that 

 rank under the general terms of Calyptrate and Acalyptrate 

 Muscidse, are certainly becoming very indefinite as new genera 

 and species are added, and it is to be hoped by students of 

 Dipterology that some authority will revise these at an early 

 date and that when certainly defined descriptions of both new 

 and old forms be published, always under the name of the 

 family to which they belong rather than the more general 

 term, under which many of them may be overlooked in giving 

 the synopsis of a single family. 



KEY TO SUBFAMILIES. 



1. Discoidal and hind basal cells united, anal cell locking: luixiliary 



vein uniting at its extremity with the first longitudinal; 



third antennal joint more or less flat, not rounded 



Discoidal and hind basal cells distinct, anal cell present ; 

 auxiliary vein separate from the first longitudinal through- 

 out ; third antennal segment rounded Canacenae 



2. Second joint of the antennse unguiculated, or at least outer side 



of middle tibia:' with a few strong bristles. ... Notiphiiinae 



Second antennal joint not unguiculated, outer side of middle 



tibiae without bristles 



3. Oral opening small, eyes with distinct hairing, seldom with 



indistinct hairing H yd re Ulnae 



Oral opening large, eyes without visible hairing. ... Ephydrinae 



KEYS TO GENERA. 



Subfamily NOTIPHILIN \E. 



Second joint of antennae with short, spinous bristle at the 



anterior upper end 2 



Second joint of antennae without spinous bristles 17 



Costal vein reaches to tip of third longitudinal 3 



Costal vein reaches to tip of fourth longitudinal. 4 



Costal vein reaches beyond fourth longitudinal 



Ptilomyia Coquillett 



Tip of male abdomen with elongated bristles. . Dichaeta Meigen 

 Tip of male abdomen without elongated bristles. . Notiphila Fallen 



Head with deep concavity at base of antenna? 



Parephydra Coquillett 



Head without deep concavity at base of antenme 5 



Abdomen broad, flat Discomyza Meigen 



Abdomen not broad 6 



