258 MANUAL OF NATUEAL HISTORY. 



23. Family. — Flat-bodied Flies (Scenopinidse). An- 



tennae with the setae wanting, terminal or 

 dorsal ; labium thick, ending in large lips ; 

 palpi long, thickened at tips ; head hemi- 

 spherical, almost entirely occupied by eyes 

 in males ; body flattened ; wings with few 

 veins ; legs short. Colours obscure. 



24. Family. — Predatory-Flies (Empidse). Antenna 



as long as head, tapering to tips ; head small, 

 sub-globose ; eyes large ; proboscis elongate, 

 perpendicular or folded beneath breast ; palpi 

 reflected, usually 2-jointed ; body elongated ; 

 wings incumbent, large. Voracious, seizing 

 on other insects and sucking their juices. 



25. Family.; — Water -loving Flies (Dolichopidae). 



Antennae short, ending in a small oval or 

 palette-shaped joint emitting a long seta ; 

 labium in females forming a conical muzzle ; 

 abdomen compressed, incurved at tip ; wings 

 incumbent when at rest ; legs long, slender, 

 armed with bristles. Metallic coloured ; de- 

 light in frequenting the edges of water. 



26. Family.— M arsh- Flies (Lonchopteridae). Pro- 



boscis distinct ; cheeks bristly ; eyes wide 

 apart ; wings pointed at tip, cubital vein 

 simple, discal areolet wanting, axillary lobe 

 obsolete. Frequent damp and marshy situ- 

 ations. 



27. FAMILY*— Wood-Flies (Platypezidae), Proboscis 



distinct ; antennae with last joints forming 

 a slender arista attached to tip of third joint ; 



