THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



PROBOSCIS OF EMPIS-FLY. 



The Empis is often called the Snipe-fly, from its remark- 

 able labrum, which really resembles a Snipe's beak. When 

 at rest it is folded close to the breast, but very frequently 

 is seen transfixing the body of some poor smaller fly which 

 the Empis is greedily sucking. The Empidae are generally 

 small black flies, and there are many species of them. 

 They are more fully described with the slide of Empis 

 stercorea ; also the peculiar veining of their wings. 



.PROBOSCIS OF DIOCTR1A, 



one of -the Asilidse, flies which -inhabit meadows/ trees and 

 bushes, feeding on lesser flies, and more common thaji the 

 true Asilus. They are usually black and shining, and carry 

 their antennae very fiercely erect. The head should be 

 mounted in profile to show the tubercle upon which the 

 antennae are seated, five-jointed and porrect, .-close to each 

 other at the base and diverging -outward. The proboscis 

 stands out almost horizontally. 



HEAD OF .GONOPS. 



This is a pretty black and yellow Fly, frequenting flowers, 

 having a bright triangular spot on the top of the head. 

 The thorax with two yellow scapulae, and the abdomen is 

 banded black and yellow. The remarkable part of the head 

 is a singular proboscis curved suddenly upwards ; a labrum 

 notched at the tip, arched above and hollow beneath; labium 

 bilobed and slightly hairy, with three shallow transverse 

 furrows at the tip. The antennae should be well displayed, 

 for their structure, alone would determine the species, and 

 therefore furnish a useful lesson on the absolute necessity 

 of minute observation, if ,we wish truly to learn and enjoy 

 the insect world. 



The antennae of Conops are about as long as the head, 

 fiercely seated on a tubercle, and have seven joints ; the first, 

 short and slightly hairy, forming an angle with the second, 

 which is much longer and rather club-shaped ; the third 

 is seated on the second like a cone, and the fourth is very 



