2i8 ORDER VI. Tabanus. 



this author obferves ought to be examined 

 while the infect is yet alive, 



Geoflfroy aiTerts, that the roftrum of the Ta- 

 banus is accompanied by two ftrong teeth, 

 with which the infect pierces the fkins of 

 horfes, &c. No other author has mentioned 

 the exiftence of thefe teeth, nor could I ever 

 perceive them. 



The antenna?, according to the fame au- 

 thor, are of a conic form, and divided into four 

 parts, being generally compofed of feven articu- 

 lations, the three firft of which, from the bafe, 

 are much larger than the four others, and form, 

 as it were, three diftinct pieces ; the four others 

 are much fhorter, and appear as if confounded 

 together, or forming only one piece; the third 

 piece is generally larger than the two firft, and 

 attended with a kind of lateral appendix, which 

 makes the antennas appear as if forked, 



SchasfTer obferves, that the Tabani have three 

 ftemmata, and that their abdomen is as broad as 

 their thorax. 



The Tabani nourifh themfelves with the blood 

 of horfes and cattle. As they are mod frequent 



near 



