DIP TER A. 
467 
like cross-veins. The only other families of the suborder 
Orthorrhapha in which this occurs are the two following; 
and the venation of the wings in each of these is very differ¬ 
ent from that of the Empididae. 
The antennae are three-jointed ; the first and second 
segments are often very small, and then appear like a single 
segment ; the third segment may or may not bear a style or 
bristle. The mouth-parts are in many cases long, and ex¬ 
tend at right angles to the body or are bent back upon the 
breast. 
These flies are predaceous, like the robber-flies; but they 
also frequent flowers. The larvae live in decaying vegetable 
matter, but are probably carnivorous. The pupae are free. 
The family is a large one, containing many genera and 
species. 
Family Dolichopodid^ (Dol-i-cho-pod'i-dae). 
The Long-legged Flies . 
These flies are of small or medium size and usually 
bright metallic green in color. The legs are 
much longer than is usual in the families 
belonging to the series of short-horned flies 
(Fig. 570). This suggested the name Do - / I 
lichopus (Do-lich'o-pus), which means long- ' 
footed, for the typical genus; and from this Fig t70 .- Dolicho . 
the family name is derived. It should be fus lobatus. 
