95 
DIPTERA. 
expanded wings, like the fan of some fairy queen. The 
larvse feed on the unopened buds of the honeysuckle, and 
spin cocoons, in which they change to the chrysalis 
state. 
DIPTERA 
In the Order Diptera the insects, as the name 
implies, have only a single pair of wings ; but some 
Entomologists include in this order the species of the 
family Pidicidcu , or fleas which are entirely destitute 
of wings. Mr. Francis Walker, one of our great au¬ 
thorities on two-winged insects, and who has published 
a very valuable monograph of them, divides the Diptera 
into these three great groups : (1) Suctoridia, (2) Pro- 
boscidia, (3) Eproboscidia. 
The first group, corresponding to the Order Ajrfiani- 
tera of other Entomologists, contains only the imli- 
cidcc , or family of fleas of which there are several species 
parasites on various animals. Fleas differ so materially 
in many of their characters from two-winged insects, 
that it is, perhaps, better to regard them as belonging to 
a separate order. Everyone is familiar with this active 
little hopper, both as to appearance and the results of 
its bite. Although the flea has no wings, it has the 
rudiments of four wings, in the form of horny plates, 
on the thorax ; the mouth is a very complicated organ, 
being furnished with a pair of sharp sword-shaped 
blades and a needle-like body, the whole being sheathed 
by the labial palpi. The hinder legs are very long, and 
