366 INSKCTA. 



The abdomen of the other Creophilae is but slightly elongated and 

 triangular ; the wings do not vibrate. 



Phania, Meig., 

 Where the postt rior extremity of the abdomen is elongated, narrowed 

 and bent underneath. The third joint of the antennae is elongated 

 and linear. The Avings, according to the figures of Meigen, closely 

 resemble those of the preceding subgenus. According to the same 

 author, the abdomen, as in the Lophosiae and Ocypterae, presents but 

 four apparent annuli *. In the subgenus 



Xysta, Meig., 

 There are from five to six. The antennae are short, and their two 

 last joints nearly of an equal length. The posterior tibiae are slightly 

 arcuated, compressed and ciliated. 



This subgenus appears to us to constitute the transition from the 

 Gymnosomise to the Phasiae, and also to approach the Trichiopoda- 

 The equivocal nature of the character drawn from the presence or 

 absence of hairs on the face of the head, emploj'ed by M. Meigen, is 

 easily perceived. Certain species of Trichiopoda are ambiguous in 

 this very respect f . 



Tachina, Fab., Meig., 

 Where the abdomen is not curved underneath at its posterior extre- 

 mity, and exhibits externally but four annuli. The antennae are as 

 long as the head or nearly so, and terminated by a joint longer than 

 the penultimate. 



Certain species, forming a particular section, in their larva state 

 inhabit the body of various caterpillars, which they destroy |. 



We now pass to Creophilae in which the seta of the antennae is evi- 

 dently pilose or plumous. Their third joint always forms an elon- 

 gated palette, longer than the preceding one. 



Dexia, Meig. 

 The Dexiae have the general appearance of the Ocypterae, their 

 abdomen being narrow and elongated, particularly in the males §. 



MuscA, Lin., Fab., Meig. — Mesembrina, Meig. 



In Musca, properly so called, or the true Fly, the abdomen is tri- 

 angular, and the eyes are contiguous posteriorly, or closely approxi- 

 mated in the males. 



Here come most of those Flies whose larvae feed on carrion, meat, 

 &c. ; others of the same subgenus inhabit dung. They all resemble 

 soft, whitish worms without feet, thickest and truncated at the pos- 

 terior extremity, and becoming gradually smaller towards the oppo- 

 site one, which terminates in a point furnished with two hooks, with 



* See Meigen. 



f Idem. 



:J; This genus also is in great confusion in the work of Meigen, and consists of 

 species with very diflferent aatennfc and wings, as is evident from his figures. We 

 have removed the Echiiiomyia; and the Mclanophorae : until the work of Dr. Des- 

 voidy is published we will leave the othtr species in the genus Tuthinu. 



§ See Meigen, 



