546 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
The family Emprpm*, nearly corresponding with the Linnzean genus 
Empis (fig. 129. 2. Empis tessellata), closely resembles the Asilide, 
in the elongated form of the body, incumbent wings, and voracious 
habits. The head is small, rounded, and nearly globose; with the 

eyes large. The proboscis is generally elongate, and either perpen- 
dicular, or folded beneath the breast; with the palpi reflected, and 
generally 2-jointed (fig. 129. 3. head and mouth of E. tessellata). 
The antenne are as long as the head, and attenuated to the tips ; 
the second joint the smallest, and the third joint longest, terminated 
by a biarticulate style (fig. 129. 4. ant. of E. tessell.). The wings are 
large, with an elongate discoidal cell a little below the middle of the 
wing, which is, however, sometimes wanting. The abdomen is nar- 
rower than the thorax ; the legs are of moderate length. These 
insects are of small size, but of robust and active habits, living by 
prey, or upon the nectar of flowers; the latter being especially the 
food of the males. They are ordinarily very voracious, seizing upon 
other insects of considerable size, from which they suck the juices. 
Many species assemble in considerable numbers: these swarms are 
often to be observed over standing water, where they alternately fly 
forwards and backwards, as though endued with but a single impulse, 
or driven about by the wind. The females, especially, are quite 
ravenous; and it is seldom that a pair is taken coupled, without this 
sex being found to be occupied in sucking another insect nearly as 
large as herself. 

* Bristiocr. Rerer. To THE Empipa. 
Fallen. Empides Sueciz, 4to. 1816. 
Macquart. Monogr. Ins, Dipt. Empides de la France, Lille, 1823. 
