99 



Genus LXVIII. EMPIS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Antenna short, the last articulation ending in 

 a lengthened point. Mouth with a strong, 

 horny, bivalve proboscis, longer than the 

 thorax, and bent inwards ; the valves hori- 

 zontal. Palpi two, very small, and tri arti- 

 culate. 



General Observations. 



The species of this genus are for the most 

 part very small; some indeed appear to exceed 

 the size of a common fly, but it is more in the 

 extent of their wings than in the volume of their 

 bodies. , They are all carnivorous; the larger 

 species attacking flies, and the smaller ones a 

 prey in proportion to their size. The male and 

 female are often seen united for the purpose of 

 propagating their species, and at the same time 

 satisfying their voracity, by sucking through 

 their long trunk the juices of a fly. The abdo- 

 men of the Empis is long, and pointed at the 

 end. In the female it is terminated by two 

 K 2 



