ARTICULATA. 191 
In their perfect state the Diptera are found upon flowers or plants, 
feeding upon vegetable juices, or upon various decaying animal and vege- 
table products. Some suck the blood of vertebrate animals, or kill insects 
to suck their juices. They are very abundant, and are found in all 
climates, including the polar regions. 
Although the Diptera are generally of a small size, they are so abundant 
in individuals that they occupy a prominent place in the economy of the 
animal creation. They fill the air in clouds, and afford food to various 
birds, whilst they are always ready to remove liquid decaying matter. 
The rapidity with which certain carrion flies increase under favorable 
circumstances, caused Linneeus to assert that three of them with their 
progeny can consume the carcase of a horse in as short a time as a lion would. 
The Diptera contain a considerable number of noxious species, among 
which may be mentioned mosquitoes, the flies which torment cattle, bot- 
flies, and the grain flies which destroy wheat and other cereals. 
Macquart divides the Diptera as follows, most of the names being 
latinized. The names between parentheses are called famzlies, and the 
numbered names are given as tribes. 
Drvis. 1. Nemarocera. Antenne with at least six articulations, palpi 
with four or five. 
Suspivis. 1. Recrieaurr. 1, Culicide. 
Suspivis. 2. Curvieaurr. 2, Chironomide; 3, Tipulidae ; 4, Myceto- 
philide ; 5, Cecidomyiide ; 6, Ryphides; 7, Phalenoides ; 8, Bibio- 
nide@. 
Divis. I]. Bracnocera. Antenne with three, and palpi with one or two 
articulations. 
Suspivis. 1. Enromocera; last articulation of the antennse divided into 
segments. (Tasaniens.) 9, Tabanide. (Noracantna.) 10, Acantho- 
meride ; 11, Sicarii ; 12, Xylophagide ; 13, Stratiomyde. 
Suspivis. 2. Artocera ; last articulation of the antenne not annulate. 
§ Trrracua£res, mouth with four lancets. 14, Midaside; 15, Asilide ; 
16, Hybotide ; 17, Empide; 18, Vesiculosa; 19, Nemestrinide ; 20, Xy- 
lostomes ; 21, Leptides ; 22, Bombylide ; 23, Syrphide ; 24, Dolichopide. 
§§ Dicuztes, mouth with two lancets. (Aruericera.) 25, Scenopr- 
nide ; 26, Cephalopside ; 27, Lonchopteride ; 28, Platypezide; 29, Co- 
‘nopside ; 30, Myodarie ; 31, Cistride; 32, Muscide. (Purrirara.) 33, 
Coriacea ; 34, Phthiromyie. 
The following is Westwood’s classification as given in his Introduction. 
Section 1. Cepuatora, Westwood. Head distinct from the thorax; 
claws not dentated; larva annulose, not undergoing its transformations to 
the pupa state within the body of the parent; oviparous (or larvaparous in 
some Muscidae). 
Divis. 1. (Stirps1.) Nemocera, Latr. Antenne of more than six 
joints ; palpi four- or five-jointed; pupa incomplete. Fam. 1, Culicide : 
2, Tipulide. 
395 
