BRACHYCEJiA. 



Table of all Families of Diptera except the Nematoceea. 



1. Body not of leathery texture. Head free ; 



mouth generally well developed, with a 

 more or less prominent proboscis. Two 

 palpi and at least two oral bristles present. 

 Femora approximate at base. Abdomen 

 distinctly segmented. Oviparous or larvi- 

 parous ; in perfect state never parasitic on 



warm-blooded creatures 2. 



Body of leathery texture. Head placed in a 

 curved excavation of the thorax or bent 

 back upon the thorax. Mouth very imper- 

 fect ; palpi absent. Abdomen indistinctly 

 segmented. Femora at base remote, through 

 the broad mesothorax ; claws well deve- 

 loped. Parasitic during pupal and imaginal 

 stages in warm-blooded creatures (mammals 

 and birds) 23. 



2. Three distinct pulvilli. Absolutely eremo- 



cliEetous species (i. e., no strong bristles on 

 head or thorax as compared with pubes- 

 cence) 8. 



Two pulvilli (sometimes obsolete or absent).* 

 Species not truly eremocheetous, and often 

 with dense furry pubescence, or bristly . . 8. 



3. Third antennal joint annulated. Eyes in $ 



normally contiguous or very approximate 

 (except in most Neiiestrinidje) ; in $ 



wide apart 4. 



Third antennal joint not annulated (except 

 Xyeophagin^e). Eyes in S generally 

 contiguous 7. 



4. Posterior cells not parallel with hind margin 



of wing f. " Diagonal " vein never present. 



Eyes in $ normally contiguous 5. 



Posterior cells parallel with hind margin of 

 wing. "Diagonal 1 ' vein generally present ; 

 wings often reticulate. Eyes in J gene- 

 rally separated Nemestrinidae, 



5. Tibiae with at least middle pair spurred [p. 144. 



(indistinctly in Acanthomeridje). Veins 

 not crowded together in anterior part of 

 wing. Ambient vein present (thin in 

 Acanthomeridje). Scutellum unspined. 6. 

 Tibias without spurs (except in Xylomvin^e 

 and some BERiNiE). Veins crowded to- 

 gether anteriorly (except XYLOJivraiE 

 and Bering). Ambient vein absent or 



* Middle one sometimes shorter in Nemestrinid.e, but always pad-like. 



t Some Cyrtid.e form exceptions, but the enormous thoracic squama?, 

 globular bodies, aud general appearance of this family at once distinguish 

 them. 



