1899] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 63 



not absolute, certain forms, especially among the Scatomy- 

 zidse and Sapromyzidse, being by the definition, Calyptratse,. 

 while other very closely allied species are, by the definition, 

 Acalyptratse. Both these families are considered as families- 

 of the acalyptrate series by the best authoiities. 



Girschner separates the Calj'ptratje into two grand divi- 

 sions : Anthomyidse and Tachinidse, which are by no means 

 identical with the families usually understood by those names. 



Anthomyidae.— Hypopleural raacrochaetae absent. If three sterno- 

 pleural raacrochaetae Jare present their arrangement is always 1:2. 

 Elbow(if any) of the fourth longitudinal vein without appendix. 

 Ventral membrane usually present. Development of the squamula 

 thoi"acalis very variable. 



Tachinidae. — Hypopleural macrochaetae present. If three sterno— 

 pleural macrochaetae are present their arrangement is always 2:1 or 

 1:1:1. Fourth longitudinal vein almost always with an elbow, which 

 frequently has an appendix. Ventral membrane usually not pres- 

 ent. Squamula thoracalis always well developed, larger than the 

 squamula alaris, sometimes very large. 



Girschner splits up his Tachinidae into nine groups, one of 

 which is the Calliphorinae, which may be thus defined : 



Calliphorinx. — Hypopleural bristles present. Ventral membrane 

 very rarely visible. Second ventral segment, in both sexes, lying 

 with its edges upon and covei-ing the edges of the coiresponding 

 dorsal segment, the other ventral segments lying free, at any rate 

 in the male. Fifth ventral segment of the male frequently gi'eatly 

 developed, with its caudal border incised to a point beyond the 

 middle. Usually only two posterior iotraalar bristles. Color very 

 frequently metallic. Arista, as a rule, long, plumose. Stigmata 

 sometimes very large. Front of the male narrowed (eyes some- 

 times in contact), that of the female wide. 



The following American genera belong to this group : Pol- 

 lenia, Compsomyia, Mesembrinella, Gynomia, CalUphora, Lu- 

 cilia, Phormia and ProtocalUphora . It is quite probable that 

 the Mexican genera, Tyreomma and CMoroprocta, also belong 

 here, but of these I have as yet seen no specimens, and Mr, 

 van der Wulp's descriptions do not permit undoubted conclu- 

 sions to be drawn in the matter. 



Pollenia and Compsomyia diflfer from the other genera ot 

 the group in having the vibrissal angle some distance dorsad 

 of the edge of the mouth opening. Pollenia has the thorax 

 thickly beset with fine, soft, woolly hair in addition to the 

 macrochaetae. Fresh specimens show this verj^ well, but if 



