THE MYCETOPHILIDA:. 141 
yellow ; tibiz pale brown ; tarsi brown. ‘The wings have a yellowish 
tinge. Length 2 to 2% lin. This is a rare species, and the only 
one of the genus found in England; the larve live in decayed 
wood. 
B. Mouth not elongated like a beak. 
Genus Platyura, Mg. 
Body long and narrow. Head roundish, small. Prodoscts short. 
Eyes round ; ocelli three, the costal one small. Palpi bent together ; 
4-jointed ; first small, second and third large, fourth long and slender 
Antennz stout, not dilated as in Cevop/atus ; 17-jointed, joints trans- 
verse. Thorax short. Abdomen depressed, cylindrical in 4, seven 
segments. Legs long and slender, tibia without spines, spurs 
moderate. Wings are bare, and sometimes clouded ; first vein curved 
forwards towards its tip ; third forked, connected with the second at 
before one-third of length, when it forms a curve near its junction with 
the transverse ; the upper prong of fork may end on the second vein 
or on the costal ; fourth vein short, arises from the third, forked, fork 
long, petiole very short ; fifth also forked, hind prong passing in a 
curve to the posterior border ; sixth vein reaches the border ; seventh 
small, Areolets thirteen. 
The habits of this genus seem to resemble Mycetophila, most 
being found in woods and thickets, and the larve living upon fungi 
and rotten wood. At present very little is known about the larve. 
Meigen* mentions one, ?. marginata, being foundinafungus. The 
species of this genus tabulate as follows :+ 
a. Fork of third longitudinal vein joins 
second longitudinal vein - - = marginata, Mg. 
aa. Fork of third joins costal. 
b. Fork rather long. 
atrata, F. 
c. Fork curved - - - - - =~ nigriceps, Wik. 
( mycetophiloides, WIk. 
cc. Fork straight - - - - = vitripennis, Wik. 
bb. Fork short. 
( antica, W\k. 
=< fasciata, Ltr. 
fiavipes, Mg. 
* Meig., vol. i., p. 232, et Verh. Sch. Ges., 1837, p. 106. 
+ Walker, Ins. Brit., iii., 65. 
c. Wings spotted - - 
