DIPTEHA. 
109 
Of the Bombylidcc , the most striking is the Bomby - 
lius major (Plate IV., Fig. 12), a furry-looking insect with 
nearly black body, which is thickly covered with hairs. 
It has a very long proboscis, almost equalling the length 
of its body, by means of which it sucks the nectar from 
flowers, like the Humming-bird Moth. The flight is 
rapid, flitting, and humming. Little I believe is known 
of the habits of the larvae. Most of the Bombylidm 
get their food from flowers ; but in the genus Thereva 
some prey on other insects. Fig. 12 is slightly mag¬ 
nified. 
The Empidce are a very numerous family, the species 
being for the most part small and slender ; some of the 
family, as the genus Hilara , may often be seen in 
swarms hovering over water, performing graceful evolu¬ 
tions in the air, now in circles, now horizontal or 
oblique; they are chiefly predaceous in their habits, 
feeding on the small Ephemeridae or minute Diptera. 
The insect (. Empis livida ), a magnified figure of which 
will be seen on PI. IV., Fig. 4, is useful to the farmer 
in devouring the Wheat Midge ( Cecidomyia tritici ) ; it 
is abundant in corn fields in June and July. 
The Dolichopidce are small flies, seldom exceeding 
three lines in length, often of metallic lustre; u they 
have a partial coating of tomentum in repelling water, 
which communicates a hoary gloss, particularly to the 
lower parts; this is composed of excessively minute, 
short, compressed, pellucid hairs, laid flat, and often so 
thickly set as overlap in several layers” (Ins. Brit., i., 
p. 145). Many species are found near w^ater, on the 
surface of which they can run with great activity. The 
Dolichopidae are all predaceous, feeding on small insects, 
