DIF TER A . 
463 
The head is not hollowed out between the eyes; the 
ocelli are present; the antennae are furnished with a short, 
simple style. Vein III is usually four-branched, but some¬ 
times it is only three-branched ; all of the branches of vein 
III end before the apex of the wing (Fig. 562); cell V 3 is 
present, but closed by the coalescence of veins V 3 and VII, 
at the margin of the wing; and cell V 3 is divided by a cross¬ 
vein. The empodia are wanting. 
Family BOMBYLIID^E (Bom-by-li'i-dae). 
The Bee-flies. 
These flies are mostly of medium size, some are small, 
others are rather large. In some the 
body is short and broad and densely 
clothed with long, delicate hair (Fig. 563). 
Other species resemble the horse-flies 
somewhat in appearance, especially in the 
dark color or markings of the wings; but F,G * s*-**»*«w. 
these can be distinguished from the horse-flies by the form 
of the antennae and the venation of the wings. 
The antennae are usually short; they are three-jointed ; 
the third segment is not ringed; the style is sometimes 
present and sometimes wanting. The ocelli are present. 
The proboscis is sometimes very long and slender, and 
sometimes short and furnished with fleshy lips at the ex¬ 
tremity. 
Vein III of the wings (Fig. 564) is four-branched ; cell 
III3 is sometimes divided by a cross-vein ; cell V 3 is obliter¬ 
ated by the coalescence of veins V 3 and VII,; in a few 
genera cell V, is also obliterated by the coalescence of veins 
V, and V a ; cell VIII is narrowly open, or is closed at or 
near the border of the wing. The alulets are small or of 
moderate size. 
The adult flies feed on nectar, and are found hovering 
over blossoms, or resting on sunny paths, sticks or stones; 
they rarely alight on leaves. 
