The Diptera, generally considered,are less attractive than other orders of insects, and appear to be more insignificant, but are the most useful on account of their excessive abundance and of their purification of matter and thereby of the atmosphere. In like manner, the Diptera may be divided into more or less numerous and beneficial tribes, and the work assigned to the former is the removal of decaying substances. The fungus race is in subjection to the Mycetophilidæ, and are the means for

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... developement of the perfect state of the latter, according to the law whereby degradation precedes the attainment of a higher state, and this law is exemplified in minerals, plants and animals.