172 MUSCID.E. 



and hairy. Labella round, obliquely etriate. Labrum short. Tongue 

 obsolete. Maxillae with a small linear and hairy lobe disengaged from 

 the tip. Palpi linear, bristly. Eyes round. Antenna rather distant, 

 short, slightly deflected ; first joint very small ; second as long as the 

 third; third transversely spheroidal, obliquely compressed; arista dorsal, 

 long and slender, with only two joints apparent. Thorax rather depressed. 

 Wings in repose lying flat on the back ; subcostal vein short ; axillary 

 lobe rather large. Alula extremely small, the lower valve disappearing. 

 Abdomen depressed, oblong ; in the male with six visible segments, 

 the penultimate being withdrawn ; in the female with five segments, 

 the remainder being very small, tubular and internal ; sometimes less 

 than five, from some being indistinct. Legs long, formed for running 

 or leaping ; hind metatarsus dilated, shorter than the second joint. Ony- 

 chia distinct, feathery. 



The larvae feed on decaying substances, and many of the species 

 are excessively abundant. The genera may be grouped thus : 



fbare ... 1. SPH^EROCERA. 

 , with the basal joint scarcely distinct < 



(.pubescent . . 2. BORBORUS. 



Ans M . ( perpendicular . 3. LIMOSINA. 



jointed at the base. Discal transverse ) x 



I vein of the wing (oblique. . . 4. HETEROPTERA. 



Genus I. SPHJEROCERA. 



SPHJEEOCBBA, Mcq. D. ii. 564. 11 (1835); Hal. Musca p., F. Ca- 

 lobata p., F. Rhagio p., Schr. Borborus A b, Meig. Lordatia et 

 Coprina, Desv. Copromyza p., Zett. 



Frons et scutellum setis experta. Arista glabra, quasi exarticulata. 



Vena discalis transversa ab ales margine remota. Areola analis com- 



pleta. 



Front much produced, flat, without long bristles. Face very short, 

 concave. Antenna reposing in deep lateral cavities. Arista bare, the 

 first joint very minute. Thorax with very protuberant callosities, the 

 suture before the wings deep, the sides of the metathorax angular. 

 Discal transverse vein distant by its own length from the border ; pobra- 

 chial vein continued beyond it ; prasbrachial vein approaching the cubi- 

 tal, at the tip of the wing, by a gentle curve ; anal areolet and the small 

 one before it complete. Abdomen broad, very flat, margined, the first 

 segment almost concealed. Middle tibias without lateral bristles, hind 

 pair ending in a curved spur ; hind metatarsus very much dilated. 

 a. Thorax and scutellum with a number of minute points, which are 



disposed in distant lines on the former, and scattered over the latter. 



Species 1, 2. 



