THE MUSCID^E. 377 



Muscidce. These have been divided into three sec- 

 tions; 1. The Creophilidce; 2. The Anthomyidce ; and, 

 3. The Acalypteridce. We will give the characters, both 

 structural and economical,, peculiar to them, and then 

 hastily notice some of the more striking genera. 1st, 

 The Creophilidce are distinguished by the setae of the 

 antennae usually consisting of two or three joints, and 

 by their wings having large alulae. In the Antho- 

 myidce, the seta of the antenna is not jointed, and the 

 alulae are but small or moderately sized; and the third 

 section, the Acalypteridce, have the face broad in both 

 sexes, and the alulae either rudimentary or obsolete. 

 The Creophilidce are the most powerful of the Mus- 

 cidce : in brilliancy of colour, rapidity of flight, and 

 general instinct, they also surpass the rest, and usually 

 deposit their eggs in decomposing animal substances : 

 many of them are, however, parasitical upon other 

 insects : this is peculiarly the case with the Tachince; 

 and these insects exhibit bodies usually armed with 

 rigid spines, and the setae of their antennae are always 

 naked. The Ocypterce are remarkable for the cylin- 

 drical slenderness of their body; and the Gymnosomce, 

 for its hemispherical convexity. In the Phasiance, the 

 abdomen is considerably depressed ; and their wings 

 acquire great amplitude, and are frequently coloured, 

 and of a thicker texture than is usual : they are pow- 

 erful flies, and are gregarious in their choral aerial 

 dances. Among the Dexiarice, we find the brilliant and 

 conspicuous New Holland Rutilice, which are the largest 

 of the Muscidce, and the most delicately metallic; and 

 they appear to be abundant, both in species and in- 

 dividuals, in that island. The Sarcophagce, the next 

 sub-tribe we have had occasion to allude to in our 

 preliminary generalities, where we have noticed their 

 viviparous nature : they are extremely abundant, and 

 usually chequered with ashy and silvery reflections. 

 The seventh sub-tribe, the Muscidce, have never rigid 

 setae upon the abdomen : they are frequently gaily co- 

 loured and metallic, although of usually sombre or dull 



