90 STJEtATIOMXIDjE. 



ameous or metallic colour also renders them conspicuous, and 

 though in this they resemble the Sabg-injb, the latter are always 

 easily known by the anterior cross-vein connecting the discal cell 

 with the prsefurca instead of with the 3rd vein. The frequently 

 dilated hind metatarsus in the c? is a further character of the 

 Berlcob. 



The life-histories of a few European species are known, but 

 not that of Beris. That of G'horisojis tibialis has been described 

 by Handlirsch. The larvae live in the earth and decaying matter. 



Table of Genera. 



Scutellum unspined Allognosta, Ost.-Sack., p. 93. 



Scutellum spined. 



Palpi minute or obsolete ; eyes con- 

 tiguous in <S Beris, Latr., p. 90. 



Palpi rather long ; eyes not con- 

 tiguous in rf Chobisops, Ptond., p. 92. 



Genus BERIS, Latr. 



Beris, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. iii, p. 447 (1802). 

 Oplacantha, Rondani, Arch. Zool. Modena, iii, p. 87 (1863). 

 Hexacantha, Lioy, Atti 1st. Yen. (3) ix, p. 586 (1864). 

 Octacantha, Lioy, loc. cit. 



Genotype, Musca cJialybeata, Eorst., as Stratiomys 6-dentata, 

 F. (Europe) ; by original designation. 



Head almost semicircular, transverse, as broad as thorax ; face 

 short, pubescent ; eyes large, contiguous in rf (with rare excep- 

 tions), wide apart in $ , densely hairy in S , upper facets larger 

 than lower, less hairy in $ with all equal facets. Proboscis well 

 developed, palpi rudimentary. Antennae porrect, nearly as long 

 as head ; two basal joints short, subequal, bristly ; 3rd elongate 

 with eight annulations, the first and last being the longest. 

 Thorax rather arched, closely pubescent in d" , less so in $ ; 

 scutellum with four to eight spines bearing pubescence (occasion- 

 ally an odd number in individuals). Abdomen hardly broader than 

 thorax, flattened, sides nearly parallel, at least 7 -segmented ; 

 genitalia more developed than in the other subfamilies. Legs 

 simple, of moderate size ; hind metatarsus dilated in ^ and 

 elongate in both sexes. Wings longer than abdomen, not of the 

 typical Stratiomyid nature; anterior veins not crowded together, 

 all veins distinct and generally reaching wing-margin ; 2nd vein 

 rather short, enclosing the conspicuous large dark stigma ; 3rd 

 vein rather widely forked, both branches ending before wing-tip ; 

 4th vein with only two terminations and occasionally an abortive 

 third ; posterior cross-vein absent as upper branch of 5th vein 

 forms hinder side of discal cell ; anal cell closed at some distance 

 from border of wing. Alar squamse of moderate size ; thoracic 

 ones undeveloped. 



