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XL The sydematic affinities of the Phoridas and of 

 several Brachycerous families in Diptera. By 

 W. Wesche, F.R.M.S. Communicated by J. E. 

 Collin, F.E.S. 



[Read April 1st, 1908.] 



Plate VII. 



While making some dissections of the mouth and 

 genitalia of Phora inerassata, Mg. (the comparatively large 

 species common on our English hedgerows in August and 

 September), I have met with many peculiarities, and 

 have been struck with the position of the family in the 

 systematic lists. 



This position has often been debated, the last contribution 

 being from Mr. Charles T. Brues of the Public Museum, 

 Milwaukee, Wis., U.S.A.* He considers that the Phoridoe 

 and Lonchopterida3 are distinctly related, and that the 

 former also have affinities with the Borboridoe and Hippo- 

 boscidai, the wing venation being near that of Olfersia, 

 but as a compromise is willing that they should be placed, 

 as Dr. Williston placed them in 1896, in the Cyclorrapha, 

 between the Platypezida? and the Muscidoe. 



Since then Dr. Williston has found some "Nemocerous" 

 characters, " the venation being quite identical with that 

 of Aqnstes of the Bibionida%" and considers that the 

 antenna3 do not offer " insuperable objections to the 

 location of the family among the Neraocera." He attaches 

 great importance to the fact that in several species the 

 palpi are two-jointed, j" 



The publication of these views called forth Mr. Brues' 

 essay, which contains a very able statement of the position, 

 an exhaustive review of the literature, but, I regret to say, 

 no convincing argument to support his views. 



The late Baron von Ostcn-Sacken saw the affinities be- 

 tween the Phorida) and the Lonchopteridas and included 



* The systematic affinities of tlie Dipterous family Phorid.T. — 

 "Biological Bulletin," vol. xii. No. 6, May 1907. 



t Some common errors in the nomenclature of the Dipterous 

 wing.— "Psyche," Dec. 1906. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1908. — PART II. (sEPT.) 



