MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 259 



wings with axillary lobe rounded, cubital 

 vein simple, brachial vein without a spurious 

 vein. Inhabit damp woods. 



28. FAMILY. Hovering-Flies (Pipunculidse). Head 



large, hemispheric ; eyes large ; ocelli three, 

 in a triangle on vertex ; antennae short, third 

 joint compressed, deflexed, with a 3-jointed 

 arista ; proboscis very short ; thorax globose ; 

 wings long, costal vein not continued round 

 hind margin, cubital simple, axillary lobe 

 rounded ; abdomen cylindric or compressed. 

 Inhabit woods and fields ; often hover in 

 the air. 



29. FAMILY. Aphis-eating Flies (Syrphidae). An- 



tennas with third joint dilated, emitting a 

 seta, jointed at base, sometimes plumose ; 

 head hemispherical ; eyes large ; front of head 

 beaked; proboscis long, membranous, elbowed 

 near base, ending in two lobes, and enclosing 

 four pieces ; abdomen never incurved at tip ; 

 wings with perfect cells. Of variegated co- 

 lours ; fly with rapidity ; hover in the sun. 



30. FAMILY. Parasitic-Bee Flies (Conopidae). An- 



tennae with short setae either dorsal or ter- 

 minal ; palpi minute, without joints ; pro- 

 boscis long, always exserted, elbowed, si- 

 phon-shaped, enclosing two pieces ; abdomen 

 usually incurved at the extremity. Colour 

 varied ; frequenting plants and flowers. 



31. FAMILY. Flesh-Flies (Muscidae). Antennae 



3-jointed, the last with a dorsal seta or arista; 



