190 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



globular, the three forming the apical portion united 

 into an elongate, stout club, on which the union 

 of the joints is marked transversely ; ligula longer 

 and more acute than in the Asilites ; maxillae and 

 mandible acute ; ocelli nearly obsolete ; wings as 

 in the Asilites ; legs and body hirsute. Inhabits 

 woods, forests, settling on leaves, &c., preying 

 voraciously on insects, particularly Hymenoptera. 

 Dioctria. Laphria. 



680. Bird's-beaked flies (Empties). Larva and 

 pupa unknown. Imago with antennae five-jointed ; 

 the basal joint oblong, the second nearly globular, 

 the three forming the apical portion often united, 

 of different proportions in different genera ; ligula 

 very long, slender, recurved, contains elongate and 

 acute maxillae, &c. resembling very much the 

 beak of a bird ; ocelli three ; wings large, parti- 

 cularly wide in the female ; alulae small or obsolete ; 

 body rather hairy, linear, slender. Inhabits woods, 

 lanes, and gardens, preying on other insects. 

 Hilara, Gloma, Empis, Rhampliomyia^ Hybos. 



681. Tachydromiites (Tachydromiites). Larva 

 and pupa unknown. Imago with antennae five- 

 jointed; the basal and second joints oblong, the 

 third elongate and robust, the fourth and fifth 

 forming a seta, which is bent nearly at a right 

 angle with the third ; ligula short, bilobed ; ocelli 

 three ; wings very large and wide, lying horizon- 

 tally on the back ; body rather pilose, short, stout, 

 pointed. Inhabits woods, preying on minute 



