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FOSSIL DIPTERA. 3 
with the number that have been found on the Continent and in 
America. 
One of the chief modes of preservation is in amber, the greater 
number of species having been found in this state. The earliest 
recorded occurrence of Diptera is in the Mesozoic period, although 
insects appeared in the early Palzozoic period. The extreme 
fragility of insects renders their preservation difficult, and we therefore 
find but a very scanty representation of the Dipterous fauna. It will 
be only possible here to give a short account of the genera, many of 
which are described only from such fragmentary remains as wings 
and other detached portions. 
a&,-— BRACHYCERA, 
Fam. Dolichopodida.—The members of this family are very abund- 
ant in the fossil state, being beautifully preserved in amber. Particular 
attention has been paid to these by Loew, who has enumerated 
nearly seventy species of Dolichopus, Rhaphium, Potlopus, Medeterus, 
and Chrysotus. The genus Dolichopus has also been described from 
Wyoming. 
Fam. Hmpide.—This family has been figured by Brodie from the 
Wealden of England ; and, according to Giebel, the species described 
belongs to a new genus—Hasmona. 
Loew has described the genus Ampis from the Rhenish coal and 
sixteen from amber. Giebel, Heer, and Loew have described many 
other genera besides these from the amber of the Tertiaries. 
Fam. Lombylide.—Alone found in the Tertiaries, the genus 
Anthrax being found at Oeningen;and on the Rhine. They are 
mostly found in amber. 
Fam. Asi/ide.—Brodie describes an Asi/us from the Lower Lias, 
and Germar another (Asv/icus) from the oolite of Solenhofen. These 
are the only two recorded Mesozoic species. In amber the Asilidz 
are more abundant. Many are described from Oeningen and in 
Sicilian amber. 
Fam. Leptide.—This family is rare in a fossil state. One species 
has been recognised in the Eocene of the Isle of Wight. 
Fam. Zabanide.—The Swiss geologist, Heer, describes and figures 
one of this family from Oeningen, and it is also reported from the 
Rhenish coal. 
Fam. Stratiomyide.—Both perfect insects and larve have been 
found in the Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. They have mostly 
come from Aix, where Serres recognised Oxycera and Sargus. 
1—2 
