DIPTERA. 367 



which tliey divide their aliment, and accelerate its decomposition. 

 The metamorphosis of these Insects is effected in a few days. The 

 posterior extremity of the abdomen of the females is narrowed and 

 prolonged in the manner of a tube or ovipositor, by which she can 

 insert her eggs. 



M. vomitoria, L. ; Roes., Insect., II, Muse, et Cul., ix, x. 

 A large species ; front fulvous ; thorax black ; abdomen glossy- 

 blue with black streaks. 



This Insect enjoys the sense of smell to a high degree, an- 

 nounces its presence in our dwellings by a loud humming, and 

 deposits its ova on meat. Deceived by the cadaverous odour 

 arising from the Arum dracunculus, L., when in flower, it also 

 leaves its eggs there. When the larva is about to become a 

 pupa, it abandons the putrescent matters in which it has lived, 

 which might then prove injurious to it, and penetrates, if pos- 

 sible, into the earth, or is metamorphosed in some dry and re- 

 tired spot. 



M. ca;sar, L. Body, a glossy golden-green; legs black. The 

 female deposits her eggs on carrion. 



M. domeslica, L.; De Geer, Insect., VI, iv, 1 — 11. The tho- 

 rax of the Common Fly is of a cinereous-grey, with four black 

 streaks; abdomen blackish-brown, spotted with black, and yel- 

 lowish-brown above. The five last abdominal annidi of the fe- 

 male form a long and fleshy tube, which she introduces, in coitu, 

 into a slit situated between the pieces furnished with hooks, that 

 terminate the abdomen of the male, and characterize his sex. 

 The larva lives in warm and moist dung * 



Sarcophaga, Meig. — Musca, Lin. Fab., 

 Only differing from Musca proper by the eyes being remarkably dis- 

 tant in both sexes. The ova are sometimes hatched in the venter of 

 the mother — these species are called viviparous. 



S. carnaria; Musca carnaria, L.; Mouche vivipare, De Geer, 

 Insect., VI, iii, 3 — 18. Rather larger and more elongated than 

 the vomitoria; body cinereous; eyes red; streaks on the thorax, 

 and square spots on the abdomen, black. 



The female is viviparous and deposits her larvae, which fill the 

 cavity of her abdomen, on meat, carrion, and sometimes in 

 wounds in the human body. By strongly pressing the abdomen 

 of the male, a bowel-like body of a transparent white may be 

 made to protrude, which has a vermicular motion that is conti- 

 nued even after the Insect has been cut in twof . 

 We will terminate the Creophila with genera which form a con- 

 trast with the preceding ones,either in certain peculiarities of the head, 

 or by the situation of the wings, or the cells of their posterior ex- 

 tremity. 



The seta of the antennae is pilose in most of them. 



» See Meigen : certain species that are more hairy form his genus Mesembrina, 

 + See Meigen. 



