DIPTERA. 263 
Coleoptera. The wings are extended horizontally on each side of 
the body. The alule almost completely cover the halteres. The 
abdomen is triangular and depressed. The tarsi are furnished with 
three pellets. 
These Insects begin to appear towards the close of spring, are 
very common in the woods and pastures, and produce a humming 
noise when on the wing. They even pursue Man in order to suck his 
blood. Beasts of burden, having no means of repulsing them, are 
most exposed to their attacks, and are sometimes seen covered with 
blood from the wounds they inflict. The Insect mentioned by Bruce, 
under the name of TVsaltsalya, which is dreaded even by the Lion, 
may possibly belong to this genus. 
In some, the proboscis is much longer than the head, slender, 
siphoniform, squamous, and usually terminated in a point, with the 
palpi very short in proportion to its length. The last joint of the 
antennz is divided into eight annuli. They form the subgenus 
Panconia, Lat. Fab.—Tanyglossa, Meig. - 
These Insects are only found in hot climates, and feed on the nec- 
tar of flowers like the Bombylii(1). 
In the others the proboscis is shorter, or hardly longer than the 
head, membranous, and terminated by two large lips; the length of 
the palpi is at least equal to half that of the proboscis, and the 
last joint of the antennz is divided into five or four rings. 
Sometimes the antennz are hardly longer than the head; the last 
joint which is somewhat lunate and subulate is divided into five 
rings, the first very large with a tooth superiorly. They con- 
stitute the subgenus 
TABANUS proper. 
To which belongs that well known species, 
(1) Encyc. Méthod., article Pangonie. See also Meigen and Wiedemann. 
Some species are destitute of ocelli, and form the genus Parroxicne of Count 
Hoffmansegg, Wied., Dipt., Exot,, 54. Others in which the proboscis projects, 
as in Pangonia, but ascends, where the palpi consist of three joints instead of two, 
and the antennz resemble those of Tabanus proper, compose the genus Rarno- 
myta, Wied., Ib., 69. 
Those, which he calls Raratonnyncuus and AcantHomeRa placed by him be- 
