DIPTERA. 309 
inferiorly, or at the oral cavity, by a short, truncated snout, as in 
Scatophaga, and in most of the Dolichocera(1). 
Sarromyza, Fall. Meig. 
Where the face is straight, and does not project inferiorly(2). 
The last of the Scatomyzides have the seta of the antennz sim- 
ple(3); these organs are always very short, distant, and straight, 
with the last joint semi-ovoid or forming a short triangle obtuse at 
.theend. These Insects are very small, aimost glabrous, black or 
cinereous, and more or less varied with yellow; the legs are strong 
and the eyes large. The summit of the head is flat and frequently 
presents, at its posterior extremity, a triangular brown space, on 
which are placed the ocelli. The two ordinary transverse nervures 
of the wings are approximated near the middle. These Diptera are 
found on flowers. 
Several of the larve attack the interior of different plants, and 
some of them are very injurious to the agriculturist by destroying 
various cerealia previous to their fructification. Those of one spe- 
cies—Musca frit., L.—in Sweden sometimes destroy the tenth of the 
crop of barley, the total loss thereby occasioned being estimated 
at one hundred thousand golden ducats. The larve of some other 
species—the Oscina pumilionis, and O. lineata, Fab.—are also highly 
noxious. For further details on those Insects which attack our 
cerealia, see the Memoir of the late M. Olivier(4). 
These Scatomyzides compose our genus 
Oscrnts, Lat. Fab. 
To which we refer the Chlorops of Meigen. A species that I have 
received from Germany under the name of brevipennis, might how- 
ever form a separate subgenus on account of the seta of its antennz, 
which is thick, almost in the form of a stilet, and geniculate. The 
anterior and superior extremity of the head is sometimes truncated, 
and sometimes pointed. Another dipterous Insect which was also 
(1) Meigen. 
(2) Meigen. 
(3) It is thickened at its base. 
(4) Certain species in which the seta of the antennz is plumous, and referred 
by him tothe genus 7'ephritis, are perhaps Sapromyze. 
