DIPTERA, 347 
inferiorly, and bearing the antenne above. The latter are inserted 
in the front, as usual. 
Stratiomys, Fab., 
Or Stratiomys, properly so called, where the antenne are much 
longer than the head, the first and last joint being greatly elongated ; 
the latter is fusiform, or resembles a narrow and elongated club, nar- 
rowed at both ends, consisting of at least five distinct rings *, with- 
out an abrupt stilet at the extremity. The two rings that compose 
it are not distinguished from the others by any sudden contraction. 
The body of the larve is long, flattened, invested by a coriaceous 
or firm skin, and divided into annuli, of which the three last form a 
tail terminated by numerous plumous hairs which radiate from the 
extremity. The head is squamous, small, oblong, and furnished 
with a great number of little hooks and appendages with which 
they agitate the water that constitutes their domicil. They respire 
by keeping their tail on the surface of the water, an orifice situated 
between the hairs at its extremity affording a passage to the air. 
Their skin becomes the cocoon of the pupa. They do not change 
their form, but become rigid, and incapable of moving or bending 
their body; their tail is frequently at an angle with the trunk, and 
thus they float upon the water. The pupa only occupies one of the 
extremities of its cocoon, and the perfect Insect issues from it through 
a fissure which is effected in its second ring, and remains on its ex- 
uviz, where its body becomes firm, and its development is com- 
pleted. 
A common species in France is the 
S. chameleon, Fab.; Rees., Insect. II, Muse. v. Six lines in 
length; black; extremity of the scutellum yellow, and armed 
with two spines; three lemon-coloured spots on each side of 
the superior part of the abdomen fF. 
OpvontomyiA, Meigq., 
Where the antenne are hardly longer than the head, with the two 
first joints short, and almost equal in length ; the third forms a highly 
elongated slender cone, composed of at least five distinct rings, the 
last conical, abruptly compressed and curved inwards, represents the 
extremity of the stilet; otherwise similar to the others {. 
Erniprium, Lat.—Cureviarr, Mergq., 
Where also the antennz are hardly longer than the head, and the two 
first joints short, but the third forms a shorter and thicker cone, with 
the fourth ring conical, truncated, abruptly attenuated at the extre- 
mity, and terminated by a stilet of two joints, the last of which is 
much the longest and slightly arcuated. 
E. vulgaris ; Stratiomys ephippium, Fab.; Scheeff., Monog., 
* There are six of these rings, as in the following Insects, but the fifth is very 
short and indistinct. The two last are converted into a stilet or a seta. 
+ For the other species, see Latreille, Meigen, and Macquart. 
t Idem. M. Meigen now unites this genus with the preceding one. ; 
AA 
