332 INSECTA. 



the aiitennre are closely approximated, and the proboscis is directed 

 backwards, or wanting. 



Those which have the proboscis prolonged backwards form two 

 subgenera. In the first, 



Cyrtus, Lat., 

 Or Cyrtus properly so called, the antennae arc very small and consist 

 of two joints, the last with a terminal seta. In the second, or 



Panops, Lam., 

 The antennae are longer than the head, almost cylindrical, triarticu- 

 lated, and without a terminal seta. 



In the remaining Cyrti the proboscis is not remarkable. 



ASTOMELLA, Dufour., 



Distinguished by the antennse, composed of three joints, the last of 

 which forms an elongated and compressed button without a seta. 



Henops, Illig. — OctCODes, Lat. 



The antennae very small, biarticulated, with a terminal seta and 

 inserted in front of the head. 



AcRocERA, Meig. 



Similar antennae inserted on the anterior part of the head *. 

 BoMBYLius, Lin. — Bombyliers, Lat., 

 Where the wings are extended horizontally on each side of the body, 

 and the halteres are exposed. The thorax is higher than the head, 

 or gibbous as in Cyrtus; the antennee are closely approximated, and 

 the abdomen is triangular or conical ; the proboscis is directed for- 

 wards. 



Their antennae always consist of three joints, the last elongated, 

 almost fusiform and compressed, truncated or obtuse, usually ter- 

 minated by a very short stilet, and never by an elongated seta. The 

 palpi are small, slender, and filiform. The proboscis is generally 

 very long and most slender at the extremity. Their legs are long 

 and attenuated. They fly with great velocity, hover over flowers 

 without alighting on them, introduce their trunk into their calyx to 

 obtain their nectar, and produce a sharp humming sound. I sus- 

 pect that their larvte are parasitical as well as those of the following- 

 genus. 



In some the proboscis is evidently longer than the head, very 

 slender, and tapers to a point. 



ToxoPHORA, Meig. 

 Removed from all the others by the antennae, which are as long as 

 the head and thorax, projecting, filiform, and terminating in a point, 

 and of which the first joint is much longer tlian the rest. The body 

 is elongated f. 



• See Lam., Ann. du Mus, d'Hist. Nat., Ill, p. 263, x.\ii, 3 ; Lat., Gen. Cmst. 

 ct Insect., IV, p. 315, et seq. ; the Encyc, Method., articles Ogcodes and Panops ; 

 Meigen and Fabiicius. For the genus Aslomella, seethe Diet. Class. d'Hist. Nat. 



•|- See Meigen ; his T. maculafus had been described and figured by Villers, in his 

 Entom. d'Europ. III., x, 31. AsihisfascicuMus. See also Wied., Dipt. Exot. 



