BOMBYLIIILE. 173 



Family BOMBYLIID^. 



Head rounded or transverse, generally narrower than, some- 

 times as wide as, rarely wider than thorax, and set closely on it ; 

 frons and face not sunk between the eyes, occiput generally en- 

 larged posteriorly, except in Systropin.e ; ocelli present. Eyes 

 bare, usually contiguous or subcontiguous in the J , but in 

 Anthracite always considerably separated in both sexes, but 

 sometimes more so in the $ ; in SYSTROPiNiE contiguous in both 

 sexes. Proboscis generally very long, slender, and porrect, in 

 some genera and in Anthracite short and thicker ; labella small 

 or very small, rarely of moderate size ; palpi with one or two 

 joints, often inconspicuous. Antennae porrect, aDproximate or 

 remote at base ; 3rd joint not annulated, but in some species with 

 a suture near the base of the joint ; style generally present, even 

 if minute, sometimes with a constriction in the middle ; some- 

 times it is replaced by a pencil of stiff hairs (Argyr amoeba). 



Thorax in Bombylius and some other groups of genera with 

 dense furry pubescence, often thicker and scale-like about the 

 wing-roots ; chsetotactic bristles frequently present. In An- 

 thracite clusters of distinct scales often present, generally 

 about the wing-roots, and when abundant the furry pubescence 

 usually less dense. Metapleura? generally densely pubescent, but 

 hypopleuras usually bare. Scutellum generally clothed like the 

 thorax, sometimes with bristly hairs or with scales ; metanotum 

 small, hidden. 



Abdomen in Bombyliin.e " almost globular and clothed with 

 dense furry pubescence, intermingled with which may be some 

 longer straggling hairs ; or (Anthracene) more elongate, with 

 almost parallel sides and less furry pubescence on at least the 

 disc ; or (Cyllenia, Mulio) with strong hind-marginal bristles ; or 

 (Systrojms) very elongate, slender, and bare ; the 6th to the 8tb 

 segments often difficult to trace under the furry pubescence " 

 (Verratt). Genitalia inconspicuous ; in the <$ sometimes turned to 

 one side : in Anthracin.e the ovipositor in many species with a 

 circlet of spines.* 



Legs generally rather long, slender, and weak, used for alighting 

 only. Thickened bristles " like little sticks " occur sometimes on 

 the femora, especially on the hind pair ; rows of inconspicuous 

 spicules on the tibia?, in Toxopliora replaced by stick-like bristles ; 

 tibia? generally with an apical circlet of bristles ; tarsi with 

 numerous short bristles ; pulvilli two, often vestigial, empodia 

 minute, claws of moderate size or small, or the front pair only 

 smaller than the others. 



* It has not always been possible to examine the genitalia satisfactorily. 

 In such cases I have assumed the sex from the comparatiTe width and shape 

 of the frons. 



