and of several Brachycerous famities in Diptcra. 285 



It is not only (1) the absence of the pitilinum that 

 separates this family from the Astiadee, or Borborida? on 

 one side, and the Hippoboscidse on the other, but also 

 (2) the venation, (8) the general morphology, particularly 

 of the fore limbs, (4) the articulation of the antennae, (5) 

 the character of the anterior thoracic spiracles, (6) the 

 structure of the eyes, (7) the peculiarity of the hair 

 structure, (8) many characters of the mouth parts, (9) and 

 the peculiarities of the genitalia. 



2. The venation. This is so striking and so well known, 

 that it needs no description, and the absence of true 

 transverse veins, brings it far closer to such combinations 

 as are found in the Simulidse, the Mycetophilidse, or even 

 in some of the Dolichopodidse than to the Muscid type. 



In Trineiira aterrima, F., is found a rudimentary vein, 

 consisting of microscopic hairs, following the course of the 

 wing-edge.* This probably shows that the lower thick 

 vein which so abruptly stops, at one time continued to the 

 end of the wing and is the second longitudinal ; in com- 

 paring the venation with that mentioned above, this ought 

 to be taken into consideration. 



Becker has expressed very similar views to those 

 annunciated earlier in this section, in his monograph 

 already referred to. Brues, while holding to his opinion 

 as regards Olfersia, admits that the affinity between the 

 venation in Phora and MycctopliUa, as analyzed by 

 Girschner, and which is the source from which Becker's 

 opinion is derived, is almost convincing. 



It will thus be seen that the Phorid venation is but of 

 small assistance to the systematist, as in spite of its being 

 so simple, striking and peculiar, it has led to very divergent 

 opinions, it having been claimed as identical with Aspistes, 

 and near to Mycetophila and Olfersia ! 



8. Morphology. The general shape approximates more 

 to that of the Pulicida; at the other end of the scheme, 

 than to the flattened Pupipara, and the long coxae and 

 the legs are similar to those of the Mycetophilidoe, the 

 Lonchopteridae and the Dolichopodidae. 



4. The antennm. The articulation of the third joint of 

 the antennae on to the second is very characteristic. I say 

 the second joint as Brues has clearly shown in the paper 

 already referred to, that what is usually called the first 



* Indicated in Schiner's " Fauna Austrica, Die Fliegen," Plate II, 

 Fig. 4. 



