222 MUSC1D.E. 



round. Face slightly oblique. Epistoma and peristoma not prominent. 

 Antennae short, not reaching the epistoma ; third joint a little longer than 

 broad, about twice the length of the second ; sixth bare. Wings rather 

 narrow ; costal vein ending on the hind border at a short distance from 

 the tip of the wing ; subcostal ending at a little beyond one-third of 

 the length ; radial ending at hardly five-sixths of the length ; cubital 

 ending at the tip ; praBbrachial very near the cubital before the prsebra- 

 chial transverse, diverging much from it between the transverse veins, 

 and parallel to it from the discal transverse to the tip ; discal transverse 

 nearly straight and upright, parted by a little more than its length 

 from the prasbrachial transverse, and by much less than its length from 

 the border. Abdomen nearly linear, a little longer than the thorax. 

 Legs pubescent, of moderate length. 



The larvae of the Piophila feed on animal substances, and leap 

 very actively, as is described in the following extract : " When 

 the larva prepares to leap, it first erects itself upon its anus, and 

 then bending itself into a circle by bringing its head to its tail, it 

 pushes forth its unguiform mandibles, and fixes them in two cavi- 

 ties in its anal tubercles ; it next contracts its body into an oblong, 

 so that the two halves are parallel to each other ; it then lets go 

 its hold with so violent a jerk that the sound produced by its 

 mandibles may be readily heard, and the leap takes place." 



1. casei, L. Fn. 1850 (1761); Fal.; Meig.; Curt.! B. E. 126; 

 Mcq. ; Zett. putris var., Gmel. Nigro-a3nea, capite luteo, antennis 

 nigris basi luteis, alls albis, pedibus fulvis, anticis piceis, femoribus pos- 

 ticis piceo-cinctis. Long. 2 ; alar. 4 lin. 



THE CHEESE FLY. JEneous-black. Head luteous ; vertex black. 

 Proboscis piceous. Antenna black, luteous towards the base. Wings 

 white; veins whitish. Halteres testaceous. Legs tawny; fore legs 

 mostly piceous. Hind femora with a piceous band. 



Generally distributed. (E. S. I.) 



2. luteata, Hal. E. M. i. 169 (1833). petasionis, Leon Duf. 

 Nigra, nitida, capite pleuris pectore pedibusque posterioribus luteis, 

 alis subflavescentibus, femoribus tibiisque posticisfmco-cinctis. Long. 2; 

 alar. 3f lin. 



THE BACON FLY. More robust than P. casei. Legs shorter and 

 thicker. Wings sJiorter, yellowish, with thick yellow veins. Back of the 

 thorax, scutellum, and the entire abdomen shining greenish-black. Fore 

 legs blackish, with the knees and base of the tibiaB yellowish; hind 

 femora and tibiae with brown rings ; tips of the tarsi dusky. 



Generally distributed. (E. S. I.) 



The following additional species have been recorded as British: 



1. atrata, F. 3. nigricornis, Meig. 



2. nigrimana, Meig. 4. nigriceps, Meig. 



