DIPTERA. BRACHYCEBA. 355 



XylopJiagiiSy in the next family, Xylophagidae, con- 

 tains but few and rare species, which in the earlier stages 

 live in decayed wood. 



The antennae in these two families are composed of 

 from five to ten joints, and are generally somewhat 

 elongated, but less distinctly articulated than in the 

 Nemocera section. In Sargus .and some others of the 

 StratiomidaB, the third and following joints are con- 

 solidated into a sub-globular, oval, or spindle-shaped 

 mass, in which the articulations are to be distinguished, 

 and which is terminated by a bristle. The antennae in 

 Stratiomys are long and elbowed (PI. XIV., fig. 2 a). 



Tabanus is the principal genus in the third family, 

 Tabanidee (PL XIV., fig. 4). The "Horse-stinger," a 

 speckled grey Fly, about half an inch long and very 

 common in woods, is an insect well known, especially by 

 those who have once felt its peculiarly acute bite. There 

 are several species, of which one, the Oxfly (T. borinus), 

 is nearly an inch in length, broad in proportion, and 

 covered with a handsome chequered pattern in grey and 

 white. These insects are called Horseflies and Oxflies, 

 Clegs, and Gadflies (a name more usually applied, how- 

 ever, to the (Estrus or Botfly), and, from the sound pro- 

 duced by their wings, Breezeflies. In some countries 

 they are a scourge to the cattle, and even in England the 

 approach of a single individual will sometimes occasion 

 no small panic in a herd. With these insects, however, as 

 with the Gnats, blood-sucking appears to be the habit of 

 the female alone, the males being true flower-lovers. 



The antenna consists of three distinct portions viz., 

 a basal joint, a second, and a tapering mass composed of 

 several joints. 



The eyes are often exceedingly beautiful, lustrous and 

 AA2 



