An account of 354 spp of Empididae (including Hybotidae).

Published as three consecutively-paged paper-back volumes or as a single volume in cloth.

The first key is to subfamilies, but this may usually be skipped and the following key, to genera, used instead. The generic key is based primarily on wing venation, with lots of figures. The remainder of the work surveys the family by subfamily, genus and species. The four subfamilies begin with a generic key, but you won’t need this if you used the generic key. Each genus has a key to species and a representative species is illustrated to show the side view and the face. Diagnostic parts (leg, antenna, wing, genitalia etc) are often illustrated for different species.

The species accounts describe the external morphology of the male in some detail, followed by how the female differs. Fieldcraft, history and what is known of habits are then covered. A final paragraph discusses synonymy.

Like all Collin’s works, the keys work well. There are plenty of clear drawings and sufficient detail on each species that you can be confident of your identifications, at least within the limitations of a work of this age. An enjoyable book to use.