Uj/pii^r^^L. Ar ^cyi '^ijCer^ THE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA, INCLUDING CEYLON AND BURMA. Published under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Qouncil. EDITED BY SIR ARTHUR E. SHIPLEY, G.B.E., M.A., Sc.D. Cantab., HON. D.Sc. Princeton, HON, LL.D. Michigan, F.R.S. ASSISTED BY HUGH SCOTT, M.A., So. D. Cantab., F.E.S. DIPTERA. VOL. III. PIPUNCULID.^, SYRPHID^, CONOPID^, (ESTRID.E. \ BY E. BRUNETTI. n I L 0 N DON: TAYLOIi AXI) I'llAXCIS, IIKI) MOX COUIiT, FLEI'/r STREET. Februarij, 1 !»23. PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. EDITORIAL NOTE. As stated in the Preface to Mr. Brunetti's preceding volume (Diptera Brachycera, Vol. I, May 1920), it was necessary, from want of space and for other reasons, to omit certain families from that work. The present volume is devoted to these groups, tlie PiPUNCULiD^, Sybphid.i:, Conopiu.e, and CKstbid.e. The inanu- scri])t dealing with these families was received at the name time as that of the earlier volume, hut in its present form the account of them is substantially enlarged and to some extent re\\ritteii : for, as the author explains below in his preface, several months' work at the British Museum has enabled him to include descriptions of a large number of additional species. Like the autlior, the editors wish to express their indebtedness to tliose who have assisted in providing ilhistrations for the book ; to Dr. N. Annandale for kindly allowing many liguros to be repro- duced from blocks made for ' Eecords of the Indian Museum ' ; to Mr. Bagchi, who has made a number of new figures, and to Mr. Engel Terzi for his careful drawings of CoNOPiUyE and CEsTBiDvE ; to the Societe Entomologique de France for their courtesy in permitting re-publication of the figures of Korinchia rufa given on pages 225-6, wliich recently appeared in their ' Bulletin ' ; and to Monsieur J. llerve-Bazin foi- tlie loan oF his original drawings of that insect. A. E. SHIPLEY. JaDuarv 1923. AUTHOR'S PREFACE. The present volume, although compiled in India, has been to a considerable extent rewritten since my return to London. Access to tiie Briush Museum collection has enabled me to include a number of additional species, to redescribe many of Walker's spec-ies, and to effect some important alterations in synonymy. My tliaiiks are due and are hereby tendered to Dr. N. Annandale, Director of the Zoological Survey of India, (or his kind permission to reproduce many figures from the original blocks made for my papers in the ' Records of the Indian Museum.' This acknowledgment applies not only to the present volume, but also to my previous volume (Brachycera, Vol. I, 1920), from which it was omitted by an unfortunate oversight. Many new figures have been drawn by Mr. Bagchi, of the Indian Museum. Among the Conopidj;: and ffisTKiDJC text-figures 73, 74, 76, 77 and 82-85 are by Mr. A. J. Engel Terzi, of London. I am also greatly indebted to Major E. E. Austen, D.S.O., for allowing me the use of his copious manuscript notes on Syrphid.e, which he made some years ago in arranging the Briti.sh Museum collection, and which have proved invaluable iri my revisionary work. E. BRUNETTI. London, May 1922. SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Fam. 1. PiPUNCUi-ioiE Page 1 Fam. 2. SvBrHiDiE Page . 23 1. Chalanis, Walk 1. irun 43 2. pilipf'.s, Bir/ 43 3. plunibivfntris, Jiruii. . . 44 4. iiirticincta, Jirun 45 5. nigioanea, Brun 45 G. IMelaiio.slonia, .S'rA 46 1. anibij.nuini, i'Vy/ 47 2. (iricntab-, ll'ied 48 .',. iiniviltatiini, If'ied. 50,413 4. ])o.iiiim, If'a//,- 52,410 7. Plalvcliinis, St. Fiii;/. . , 221 8. Axona, Walk 222 1. cyanea, Brwi 22."1 9. Korinchia, Edtc 224, 415 1. rufa, Herve-])a~in .... 224 Subfani. 4. Milesiina; 226 1. Myiolepta, Xetcm 228 1. liinialjiyana, Bran. . . . 229 2. Xylota, Meit/ 2.31 1. dimidiata, sp. nov 232 2. cnpreiveiitris, sp. nov.. . 233 3. annulata, Br7(n 234 4. ornata, Bran 236 5. assamensis, Bru7i 237 6. bistriata, Bran 238 7. auronitens. Bran 239 8. nursei, sp. nov 240 9. carbonaria, sp. nov. 240, 415 10. cuprina, Biff 241 11. peiiicillata, sp. nov 242 12. jeqnalis, Tl'a/k 243 3. Syritta, ,*St. Farg. et ISerr. . . 244 1. pipiens, L 245 2. orientalis, Macq.. . 246, 415 3. rufifacies, Biff 247 4. Eunierus, Mciff 2-18 1. nicobaren.sis, Sck 251 2. aurilrons, Wied... 252,415 3. nepalensis, Jirun 253 4. ruloscutellatus, /y;v/» .. 264 5. pulcberrinius, Jiran. . 2.15 6. jt'neithorax. J>ra?t 250 7. albii'rons, If'alk 257 8. lialictoides, Jiran 258 9. pulveriilentns, sp. nov. . 258 10. sexvittiitns, Jinni 260 1 1 . ]ierpcnsiis, Jirun 260 12. perplcxus, J)'ran 2()l 13. argeiitipes, Jl'alk 415 5. Teninostonia, >V/. Farff. it Sen- '. . . . 261 1. nigrinianiis, AOv/;/ 262 /. SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page 6. Milesia, Z«^>- 263 1. sexmaciilatR, Brim 265 2. maciilaris, Wiecl 266 .'), variegata, £nm 2f)8 4. verticalis, sp. nov 269 5. gigas, Macq 271 6. balteata, KeH 272 7. ferruginosa, Brun 273 8. decora, sp. nov 274 7. Brac\y palpus, Macq 275 1. dives, Brun 276 8. Lycastris, Walk 276 1. albipes, Walk 278 2. austeni, sp. nov 279 9. Criorrhina, Meig 280 1. simioides, Bnm 282 2. imitator, Brmi 283 3. vivida, sp. nov 285 4. dentata. Brim 286 5. interrupta, sp. nov 287 10. Arctophila, Scli 289 1. simplicipes, Bnm 289 11. Sericonivia, Meic/ 291 1. himalayensis, Brun. . . 292 2. eristaloides, Brtm 292 Subfam. 5. Chrysotoxince 294 1. Chrvsotoxuni, Meiq 294 1 . baphyrus, Walk 296 2. convexinn. Brun 298 3. festivum, L 299 4. fuscoiiiarginatum, sp. nov^ .300 5. quadrifasciatum, sp. nov. 300 6. antiquum, Walk 301 7. violaceum, sp. nov 302 2. Callicera, Banz 303 1. dolescballi, Vcrr 304 2. sackeni, Verr 306 Subfam. 6. Microdontince .... 307 1. Microdon, Meig 307 1. contractus, sp. nov 310 2. conveniens, sp. nov. . . 311 3. stilboides, Walk 311 4. metallicus, cle Meij 312 5. cferuleus, Brun 313 6. fulvopubescens, sp. nov.. 313 7. carbonarius, sp. nov. . . 314 8. apiformis, sp. nov 314 9. bellus, sp. nov 315 10. squaniipenris, sp. nov. . 316 11. annandalei, Brun 316 Microdon (con.). Page 12. ruficaudus, Brun. 317, 415 13. flavipes, Brun 317 14. unicolor, Brun 318 15. auricinctus, Brun. 318, 415 2. Paramixogaster, gen. nov. . 319 1, vespiforniis, Brun 320 Subfam. 7. Ceriin. tenella, L'i(/ 366 Subfani. '2. Myvpina 367 1. rieurocerinella, i beugalensis, Macq 399 2. nasalis, Z..^ 399 3. peconini, L\ 401 6. Porleohinsliia, Semenov. . . 402 1. przewalskyi, Ports 404 ERRATA AND ADDENDA. Page 17. Pipuncidus annulifemur should strictly not be designated " sp. nov ," as it was described by the present author in Bull. Ent. Eesearch, xii, part 4, p. 469 (Feb. 1922). As stated there, and again in the present Tolutue, it was described irom two males, the type and another, now in the British Museum. A female was, however, figured from an example not submitted to the present author, and this figure appeared in the plate following the original description (/. c. pi. xv, fig. 6). This plate illustrates a paper by T. Y. Subraiuaniam, in which P. annuli- femur is stated to parasitise the three mango Jassids, Idiocerus iiiveo- spro'sug, atkinsoni, and clypealis. 47. References under Mclanodomn ambiguum : for " Sccsva ambiguum " read " Scceva ambigua." The third reference should read " Syrphus mo7io- cheetus, Loew, Beschr. Eur. Dipt, ii, p. 224 (1871)," and the fourth should read " Scceva hyperborea, Holmgren, Ofvers. Vet.-Akad. Forhandl. xxix, no. 6, p. 100 (1872)." o4. Sixth reference under Asaixina agrota: for " Syrphu:^ ivfirma" read " Syrphus it/frmus." 76. Third reference uuder Syrphus forvns: for " Sccbvu topiar/us" read " SccBva topiaria." 82. References under Syrjjhus balfeaius : the date under Musca scitidiis should be 1782, not 1776. The fourth reference should read " Musca alternafa, Schrank, Enum. Ins. Austr. p. 448 (1781)." Fifih reference ; for " Musca neclarcus " read "' S//?-pkus iieciarcus." 85. After the heading " SyrphuS COrollSB, Fabr." add " (PI. II, fig. 18.)."' 87. The last reference under Syrphus latifasciatus should read " Scceva abbrc^ viata, Zetterstedt, Dipt. Scand. viii, p. 3136 (1849)." 95. Line 21 from top: for " citinfasciaturn" read " citrofascia/u/ji." 103. Top line: i'or " Kercesz " read " Kertesz." 19(). Line 13 I'roui bottom : for '• Magaspis " read " Megaspis." Order DIPTERA. Families PIPUNCULID^, SYRPHID^, CONOPID^, CESTRID^. Tnis volume is devoted to the above four families, the systematic account of which was excluded from tlie volume entitled "Diptera Brachycera, Vol. I," published in 1920. Tliey are, however, referred to in the Introduction to that volume, and are included in the key of families given therein on pp. 6-9. Family PIPUNCULID^. Head nearly globose, practically all eyes, distinctly broader than thorax, and very loosely though rather closely applied to it, generally considerably puffed out behind. Eyea bare, usually contiguous in S for some distance, occasionally subcontiguous only, facets enlarged ; frons in 5 narrow, front facets enlarged, sometimes very considerably ; three ocelli ; face very narrow and elongate in both sexes. Proboscis very small, concealed, as are the palpi, which are said to be clavate, rarely visible. Antennae 3-jointed; first two joints very short ; 3rd more or less elongate, oval or rounded, generally (Pipancidus) broad at base, gradually contracting to a blunt or sharp point; or rounded {VerraUia, Chalarus)- the always long, bare, basally thickened arista placed at the base of the joint. Some small ocellar and vertical bristles in VerraUia and Chalarus, but Pipunculus has no head-bristles. !Z7jo»ym; subipiadrate ; bare (i-'/y>M/if«/j(,s) or with small but dis- tinct bristles {VerraUia, Chalarua.) ; scutellum usually bare, rarely slightly pubescent, or with marginal bristles. Ahdomen normally cylindrical, longer than thorax, generally more or less curved, 5-segmented in ^ , 6-segmented in $ , usually bare, but sometimes slightly or distinctly pubescent. Genitalia in S Ifirge, conspicuous, affording good specific characters ; * ovipositor in $ bulbous at base, the remainder long, pointed, and curved under the venter. Lejs moderate in length and size, bare, except for a few very short bristles beneath some of the femora in certain species ; hind * I have not devoted mticli study persoimlly to tlie genitalia, but according to E. T. CresBon, Junr., these organs ivre similar in structure thougli diverse in form, and are apparently variable to some extent in certain .species (see Trans. Amer. Ent. Sue. xxxvi, pj). 27U-1, Dec. I'JIO). B 2 PIPUNCULID.E. tibitB generally a little twisted about the middle ; tarsi with afew long liairs at" tips of joints ; claws rather long, pulvilli distinct, enipodiuni hair-like. Wings very long, in Fipunculus each wing generally longer than the whole body, but not unduly narrowed. Auxiliary, 1st and 2nd veins moderately long ; auxiliary ending about middle of costa; 2nd ending well before wing-tip; 3rd vein simple, ending approximately at wing-tip, normally gently sinuous ; anterior cross-vein before, at, or after middle of discal cell ; 4th vein long, sinuous, ending a little below tip of 3rd, so that the 1st posterior cell is very broad in the middle, though narrow at both base and tip; 5th vein forked rather widely near base of discal cell, form- ing the lower side of it, the cell closed by the discal cross-vein ; anal cell elongate, pointed at tip, closed a little before the border; anal vein reaching wing-border {Piimnculus) or shortened {Cha- larus). One submarginal cell, three posterior cells (Fijnmcidus), or two only(C7ta7ar»s)by the fusion of the 1st and 2nd. Squamae very small. In Chalarus the discal cell is absent, as the 4th vein ends shortly beyond the anterior cross-vein. The PipunculidtE are easily recognized by their small size, proportionately very large, almost globular head, cylindrical bare body, long wings and peculiar venation, conspicuous by the great width of the 1st posterior cell at its middle with narrow base and tip. Tiiey are obscure in colour, never really common, appearing sparingly' amongst low herbage. They are exquisite hoverers*, and are closely aUied to the Syrphid^ and Plattpezid^, from both of which the venation easily separates them ; whilst they have affinities with the Conopid^ in the cylindrical curved body, in their parasitic nature and in the venation, the only difference being in the open 1st posterior cell, which is normally closed in CoNOPiD^ as in Syrphid^. Life-history. The larvae, so far as known, are all internal parasites in the bodies of Homoptera. They are maggots of fairly typical cyclorrhaphous form, amphipneustic (in the final stage at least) and acephalous. The mouth-parts are very indis- tinct and the segments of the body indefinitely demarcated, probably 10 or 11 ill number ; anterior spiracles small, posterior con- spicuous, near together and at some considerable distance before tip of body. Puparium short, obtusely rounded at ends, with spiracular tubercles on (?) 2nd segment, with or without other anterior minute spiracles. Emergence is effected by detachment of the dorsal plate, through which the spiracular horns project. Boheman has studied the metamorphoses of the European Pipuncidus fascipes, which is parasitic on Thamnotettix {Cicadula). Valuable information on the biology of certain species is given by E. C. L. Perkins (Report Exj). Station, Hawaiian Sugar Planters' * Yerrall considered them the finest hoverers in the wliole of the Diptera, and asserted that he had seen tbem hover in the folds of a butterfly net. ClIALAKUS. 3 Assoc, Div. Ent., Uull. 1, part 4, pp. 123-157, pis. v-vii, 1905 (Honolulu)); and the life-cycle is dealt A\ith by 1). Keilin and W. 11. Thompson (Comptes-rendiis Soc. Biol. (Paris), vol. 78, pp. 9-12, 1915). Table of Genera. Discal cell absent Ciialakus, Walk., p. 3. Discal cell present. Occiput puffed out ; ocellar bristles absent ; pubescence very slight or absent 1'ipuxcultis, I^atr., p. 4. Occiput not prominent; ocellar bristles present ; pubescence distinct Vkrrallia, Mik., p. i^l. Genus CHALARUS, Walh. Ckalarus, Walker, Ent. Month. Mag, ii, p. 269 (1834) Gexotype, C>;phalojjs S2)uriiis, Fin. (Europe); by original designation. Differing from Pipuncxhis primarily in tlie venation. Discal cell absent, through the 4th longitudinal vein ending suddenl}' just beyond the anterior cross-vein ; posterior cross- vein present, situated as in Pipioiculus- 5th vein widely forked, long; anal cell open ; anal vein barely or not reaching border of wing. Second antennal joint bare, 3rd rounded at tip; two ocellar bristles present ; eyes as in FipuncuJi(S, front facets in $ enormously enlarged. Thorax with bristly hairs on side margin and round the scutellum. Abdomen pubescent in d ; genitalia small, rounded; abdomen in 5 more bristly, ovipositor short, incurved. lianr/e. Only two species are definitely known, both from Europe, C. sj>uriu.. .^SO (1834). Atcleneura velutinus, Macquart, llist. 2Sat. Diut. ii, u. 12, pi. xiii, fig. 0 (1835). (f $, Head: eyes in cj" nearly contiguous, front facets scarcelv larger than rest in cJ , very enlarged in 2 ; ti'ons and face narrow, about equally witle, former blackish in J, wider in $ , especially about the middle, with greyish siile margins bearing a few tiny bristles; in both se.\es with silvery-white shimmer when viewed i( 2 ripuNcuLiD.i:. from above; face wliolly shimmering silvery-white. Antennae ratlier short, blackish ; 2nd joint with ratlier long bristles ; 3rd with silvery-white shimmer when seen from above. Ocellar bristles long, parallel, directed forwards. Thorax black, with bristly pubescence, which is stronger in the S ; some bristles behind the humeri and about the sides; scutellum concolorous, witli similar pubescence, and some longer bristly hairs on margin, including a long apical pair. Abdomen dull black in J , blackish- grey in $ ; of 6 distinct segments, the sides of which bear much longer bristly hairs than those on the dorsum. Genitalia of moderate size, rounded in d , closely incurved in 9 , with a short ovipositor, so that that sex is easily mistaken for a (S . Legs dull brownish-black in c? , sometimes more or less yellowish on troclianters, knees and tarsi in 5 . Femora with fringes of long- bristly hairs ; hind lemoia with some longer, bristly hairs in front near tip and a slight ciliation on middle of under side ; tibiae with some hairs about the middle : pubescence on legs less prominent in $ . Wiw/s tinged witli black in J . grey in $ ; stigma long, not clearly defined ; halteres blackish ; squamae small, blackish in cS , whitish-yellow in $ . Length, 2\ mm. Fig. 1. — Clialarus spurius, Fin., wing. This description is mainly abridged from Verrali's description of British specimens. I have only seen one Indian specimen, a 5 not in the best condition, but almost certainly this species, from Darjiling, 7000 ft., 29. v. 1910 (Bruiietti). The under side of the abdomen is not easily seen, but from the increased width of the frons in the middle I now assume it to be a 5 and not a J as at first recorded *. This species occurs in many European countries, and in New Hampshire in North America. Genus PIPUNCULUS, Latr. Pipunculus, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. iii, p. 463 (1802) ; xiv, p. 392 (1804). Microcera, Meigen, lllig'. Mag', ii, p. 273 (1803). Cephulojys, FtvUeii, Specim. entoni. p. 10 (1810). Prot/iechus, Kondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 139 (1856). Alloneura, liondaui, Dipt. Ital. I'rod. i, p. 140 (1856). Genotype, Fijncnculus campestris, Latr. ; by original designation. Head nearly globose, practically all eyes (in profile only the antennae being visible), except for the considerably pufted-out * Brun., Rec. Ind. Miis. vii, p. 495 (1912). • pipuxcri.us. o occiput ; frons and face very narrow, generally linear ; the extremely large eyes normally contiguous in J for a considerable distance, but sometimes for a short distance only or even very narrowly separated ; always separated in $ by a comparatively narrow frons ; all facets large, those in front still larger in S and in tlie 2 sometimes larger still. Anteiiiuc moderately long, 3-ji)inted ; 1st joint very short ; 2nd rather short, irregularl}' cup-shaped ; ;h-d more or less i)oint'ed or beak-shaped, especially in 5 ; arista long, with a basal joint, bare, thickened at base. Thorax subquadrate, rarely slightly pubescent, occasionally with a few distinct bristles ; scutelhnn generally with microscopic marginal bristles. Ahdomeii normally cylindrical, about as long- as thorax, curving downwards more or less, 5-segmented, apart from the genital organs ; hypopygium of male large, exposed ; ovipositor of $ long and pointed, curved under the venter. Legs simple, but offering good specific distinctions, generally bare, except for some microscopic bristles on apical half of under side of some of the femora, and also some pubescence or ciliations behind the femora. Wings with characteristic venation : auxiliary, 1st and 2ad longitudinal veins long, ending between middle of costa and well before wing-tip; 8rd vein simple, curving mai'kedly upwards about its middle and ending at wing-tip ; 4tli vein simple, curving markedly downwards near end of discal cell and then rapidly upwards again, so that the 1st posterior cell is very broad in the middle, tliough (piite narrow at base and narrowly open at the tip ; anterior cross-vein before, at, or beyond middle of discal cell, offering good characters for separating the species into groups ; 5th vein fo''ked, forming the whole hinder side of the discal cell, which is closed by the discal cross-vein ; posterior cross-vein i^resent, short, near base of discal cell, the lower branch closing anal cell, wliich is always elongate, pointed at tip, reaching nearly to wing-border. Alulae and squamae very small. llange. AVorld-wide. Pipunculus is a genus of small dark flies, generally bare or with but slight pubescence or small bristles except for the microscopic ones below the femora. They are usually black, but often \vith parts of the legs, or, more rarely, bands or markings on the abdomen, pale. The species fall into several groups, characterized by differences in venation, form of antenna;, and the structure of the legs and genitalia. lAfe-history : see under description of the family. TaJde of Sf/cciis*. J. .Stijt^ma present, even if weak 2. Stigma entirely absent 17. 2. Fourth lonp:itiulinal vein with a distinct [p. 7. iippondix fi/)jie)iilirii/fifiis, iJnni., Fourth lon^'iiiidiiial vein witliimt trace of an appendix 3. •'». FeniDra penerally mainly black 4. Femora wholly yellow l-'i * For table of Oriental species see Brim., Reo. Iiid. Mils, vii, p. 484. 6 PIPUNCULID^. 4. Abdomen all black, blackish-grey, or aeneous ; in no part yellow 5. [p- 8. Abdomen with basal half yellow Jlavocmctus, Brun., 5. Tibiae wholly j^ellow biroi, Kert., p. 9. Tibiae black, except (at mostj base and tip * 6. 6. Middle femora with ciliation on hinder side 7. Middle femora without trace of ciliation ; hind femora always brilliantly shining black on inner side 9. 7. Anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell brevis, Brun., p. 7. Anterior cross-vein at about one-third the length of tbe discal cell 8. 8. Larger species, 4 mm major, sp. n., p. 10. Smaller species, 2f mm campestn's, Latr., var. himalayensis, Brun., [p. 11. 9. Abdomendistinctlybutuot brilliantly aeneous snbfPtieiis, sp. n., p. 12. Abdomen never igneous, more or less shining black or greyish 10. 10. Femora black to tips extoisiis, sp. n., p. 13. P'emora always pale at tips 11. 11. Genitalia in c? distinctly less broad than last abdominal segment; 5th segment dis- [p. 13. tinctly longer tlian 4th transiersus, sp. n., Genitalia in cJ practically or quite as broad as last abdominal segment; 5tli segment barely longer tban 4th 12. 12. Abdomen nearly bluish-grey, with Avhitish parts chalt/bevs, sp. n., p. 15. Abdomen uniformly cinereous-brown unifurinis, JBrun., 13. Abdomen with 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments [p. 14. yellow JiUcornis, Brun., p. 15. Abdomen without yellow marks 14. 14. Abdomen mainly or wholly sinning black. . 15. Abdomen blncki^h-grey or ash-grey (ground- colour) ..■. Ifi. [P- 17. 15. Femora witli broad black median ring .... annuIifi'niKr, sp. n., Femora without such ring ni(/ro?iitens, Brun., 16. Antennae wholly bright yellow ; coxai brown ; [p. 17. 4th vein nearly straight beyond posterior cross-vein ; length 4 mm cinereo-aneus, Brun., Antennae with first two joints black, 3rd [p. 16. yellow ; coxae j^ellow ; 4th vein normallj' curved ; length 2| mm luleipes, sp. n., p. 18. 17. Anterior cross-vein distinctly before middle of discal cell 18. Anterior cross-vein almost exactly at middle of discal cell , 10. 18. Anterior cross-vein placed at second fourth of discal cell ; abdomen light >:rey with distinct pubescence, aud a large brown spot on 2nd segment ; pulvilli and claws remarkably developed mirabilis, Brun., p. 19. * In P. chalyhcus the tibiae are dull orange, except the posterior pair, which are mainly blue-grey. PIPUNCULTJS. 7 Anterior cross-vein placed at almost exactly one-fourth of the discal cell ; abdomen black, bare, without a conspicuous spot ; [p. 19. pulvilli and claws normal quartcirius, Erun., 19. Abdomen greenish linipidipeimis, Brun., p. 20. Abdomen shining bluish-black nitens, Brun., p. 21. 2. Pipunculus brevis, Brun. Pipunculus brevis, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 491 (1912). 5 . Head with frous moderately wide, of uniform width up to the vertex, blackish seen from in front, silver-grey seen from above; face similar ; antennae brown, arista black; back of head blackish-grey, only moderately puffed out behind. Tliorax almost uniformly blackish-grey, ash-grey at sides; iuimeri small, brown ; scutellum dark brown, bare, except for a few hairs on posterior border; metanotum ash-grey. Abdomen blackish-grey, shortened; sides of segments, and almost the whole of segments one and two grey tinged, which colour goes over the sides to the venter. The abdomen appears discoloured, and probably in its natural state it is wholly dark grey. The last segment bears a long shining brown horny process which reaches under the venter almost to the base of the abdomen, and is turned slightly to the left. Legs blackish- brown ; knees and base of tibi» light yellowish-brown; middle femora ciliated. Wings very pale grey, nearly clear; stigma brown ; anterior cross-vein placed rather after two-fifths of tlie distance from base of discal cell, but distinctly before its middle ; 4th costal segment very shortened, not half as long as 3rd, 3rd and 4th together about equal to the 5th ; the 4th longitudinal vein, after quitting tlie posterior cross-vein, takes an outward curve before proceeding to the wing-border; halteres brown. Length, 3i mm., Avithout ovipositor. Described from 1 $ in the Indian Museum from Mergui, Lower Burma. 3. Pipunculus appendiculatas, Brun. Pipvncnlus appendicnlattis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 485 (1912). 5 . Head (wanting). Thorax bluish-grey, with light brown reflections, but wdtli no distinct marks ; humeri distinct, rather large, brownish ; sides of thorax dark bluisli-grey, with whitish reflections when seen from behind ; scutellum bluish-grey, tinged with pale brown ; metanotum bluish-grey with whitish reflections. Abdomen bluish ash-grey ; rather more than the basal half of each segment rich velvet-black, which extends hindwards in the centre until it nearly meets the next segment; these black bands extend over the sides and right across the ventral surface so that the venter is practically a replica of the dorsum. Last segment (Gth) 8 PIPUNCULIDiE. ail bluish-grey, bent under the venter and carrying a moderately long reddish-brown shining process bearing a bunch of hairs near the tip. Legs dark blackish-brown ; extreme base and tips of femora pale yellowish-brown ; tibife blackish-brown, with bases rather broadly, and tips rather narrowly yello^\isb-bro\v'u ; tarsi dark brown above, light brown below ; femora with silvery-white sliimmer, when seen in certain lights. Legs microscopically pubescent ; uo ciliation behind middle femora ; hind femora not shining on inner side. Wings distinctly pale brown ; second costal segment quite clear and transparent; third twice as long as the fourth, the stigma distinct, but ill-defined on inner side ; 4th longitudinal vein curved outwards in a bow after quitting tlie- posterior cross-vein and possessing an appendix, commencing as far from the junction of the 4th longitudinal with the posterior cross-vein as the length of that cross-vein, and extending more than half-way to the wing-border : anterior cross-vein exactly over centre of discal cell. Basal part of wing rather clear, but extreme base pale yellowish ; halteres brownish-yellow. Length, 3 mm. (excl. head and ovipositor). Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Mar- gherita, Assam. I would not have described as new a decapitated specimen, but for the strikingly distinctive characters of this species, in which the furcation of the 4th longitudinal vein makes it impossible for it to be confounded with any otiier Oriental species except amhoinalis, Walk. This species must be near furcatiis, Egg., occurring in Europe, but that species has wholly yellowish tibiae and tarsi. Walker's species mnhoincdis would be almost unrecognizable from the brief description, except for the appendiculatiou of the " proebrachial " vein (4th longitudinal), a character which I do not know to occur in any other eastern species but these two. Herr Kertesz does not inention this character in his notes on amboinalis (Ann. Mus. Hung, i, p. 470), founded on an examination of Walker's type by Miss Bicardo, but I presume he would have called attention to the fact had Walker's description been in error. P. appendiculatus is therefore distinguished by the mainly black legs and the slightly different (but, I should think, consis- tent) coloration of the abdomen. The latter might equally well be described as black, with grey posterior borders to the segments (interrupted in the middle), this colour being continued over the sides and across the venter. 4. Pipunculus flavocinctus, Bmn. Pipunculus Jlnvocinctus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 488 (1912). 6 . Head with eyes contiguous for a considerable distance ; back of head, frons and face wholly black ; antennae with 1st and PIPUNCULL'S. 9 2ud joints black, 3rd brownish-yellow, whitish towards tip when seen from above ; proboscis slightly brownish-yellow ; occiput moderately puffed out. Thorax black, mainly dull, bare, but dorsum a little shining; sides inclined towards blackish-grey; scutelluin and metanotum apparently concolorous. Abdomen black, barely shining ; posterior margin of 1st segment, the whole of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and towards the sides of the 5tli segment brownish-yellow, the colour extending over the sides across the venter; genitalia black. Legs y Alow \ coxae (except tips), femora (except broadly at base and narrowly at tips) black ; middle femora with ciliation of hairs behind; hind femora shining on inner side on the black part. Wings clear, 3rd costal segment brown, the colour filling the apical three-fourths, 3rd segment about equal to the 4th in length, and much shorter than the 2nd ; anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell ; 4th longitudinal vein gently angled after quitting discal cell ; anal cell ending at a moderate distance before the margin ; halteres pale yellow. Length, 2| mm. Described from a type-specimen in the Indian Museum taken by Dr. Annandale at Kurseong, Darjiling District, 28. vi.1910. The type is now in very bad condition, and of the legs only one remains. A second specimen in the same collection appears to be a variety of this species, the differences consisting in the antennae being all black ; a greater contrast between the scutellum and metanotum, the former being shining black, bare, the latter distinctly grey; and the presence of a wide dorsal black band, connecting the basal and apical black parts, although the yellow colour extends over the sides and across the venter, as in the type. The legs and wings are identical, except that the third costal segment is relatively a littie longer. Size identical. One specimen, a male, taken by Mr. C. W. Beebe, at Tonglu, Darjiling District, 10,000 ft., 22. iv. 1910. 5. Pipunculus biroi, Kert. Pipunculus biroi, Kertcsz, Ann. Mus. Hung, i, p. 466 (1903) ; Bru- netti, Rec. fnd. Mus. vii, p. 487 (1912). 6 2 . Head in S with eyes contiguous for a considerable space ; frons brownish, grey-dusted, with an elojigate hiack streak just below the middle, and, viewed from above, with a white shimmer immediately above the antenine ; face brilliantly shining white ; antennie rather small, first two joints blackish, the 2nil with a few bristles, 3rd joint yellowish-grey, with a white shimmer when viewed from above ; the long arista black ; proboscis and mouth-parts orange; occiput considerably puffed out, brownish- grey, with a white shimmer in certain lights. In $ , frons with parallel sides, grey-dusted, shining white just above antenna) ; the front eye-facets enormously enlarged. T/tora.v olive-grey; 10 PIPUNCULIDiE. shoulders, side margins and hind margin, also the pleurae and raetanotum wholly, ash-grey ; sciitellum brownish-grey. Abdomen dark ash-grey ; a broad dark olive-brown basal baud, narrowing at the sides, on each segment, extending in the centime nearly or quite to the next segment ; base of abdomen more or less greyish ; venter mainly dark grey. Genitalia in S blackish, shining, of moderate size; in $ blackish, with a long reddish-brown ovipositor. Lerjs : coxae greyish ; femora rather darker grey ; trochanters, tips of all femora and base also of hind pair, orange; inner sides of liind femora whollv shining black; tibiae and tarsi orange, tips of latter blackish. Wings pale grey, stigma brownish, rather long ; antei-ior cross-vein barely before middle of discal ceil ; halteres yellow. Length, 3 mm. Eedescribed from a number of specimens of both sexes ; apparently a widely distributed species ; tvpe described from Colombo, 28. ii. 1902. Darjiling, 29. ix. 1908 {Brunetti) ; Allahabad, 29. x. 1906 (ffon-- lett) ; Calcutta, not uncommon, 2. x.-22. xi. 1907 ; Port Canning, 6. xii. 1907 ; Paresnath, AY. Bengal, 4500 ft., 11. iv. 1909 (Annan- dale); Bhagalpur, Bengal, 16. ii. 1910 {ChaudJiitri) ■ Puri. 18-19.1.1908 (Annandaie) ; Pusa, 7. i. 1914, 24. iv. 1913, 30. iv. 1914, 10. xii. 1912 ; Mangaldai District, Assam-Bhutan Frontier, 2. i. 1911 {Kemp) ■ Eangoon, 23. xii. 1904-3. i. 1905 {Brunetti). 6. Pipunculus major, sp. uov. (PI. I, fig. 1.) (S ? . Head with eyes touching in S for less than half the dis- tance from the ratlier large elongate vertex to the antennae; frons and face silvery-white when seen from above ; antennae light brown, with a little white shimmer when seen from above, arista black ; back of head only moderately puffed out, greyish round margin. Frons in 2 fis wide as face. Thorax dull blackish, with traces of a thin cinereous-brown covering of tomentum ; a little greyish about the shoulders ; sides and pleurae more or less ash-grey ; scutellum dull black ; metanotum ash- grey. Abdomen in S with 1st segment ash-grey, dirty black at base; 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments dark slate-grey, with a shining black basal band filling about half the segment and extending to the sides, which latter are ash-grey, except at the base of each ; 5th segment nearly twice as long as 4th, mainly light grey or ash- grey, broadlv black at base ; genitalia very small, mainly concealed. In § , light grey, nearly ash-grey ; 1st segment as in c? ; 2nd, 3rd and 4th with a narrow ill-defined black basal band ; 5th segment not much longer than 4th ; basal segment of genitalia appearing like a 6th abdominal segment and of the same coloration. Legs black, tips of femora rather broadly, base and tips of tibiae very broadly, orange ; middle tarsi orange, except the last joint, which is black ; fore and hind tarsi brown on basal half, black on apical PIPUNCULDS, 11 half. All femora with iiiinute bristles on apical half of under side ; inner side of hind femora very shining blat-k ; middle femora with a ciliation of hairs on hinder side. Wings clear, iridescent : stigma pale brown, rather weak ; anterior cross-vein more nearly at one-third than middle of discal cell ; halteres brownish. Length, 4 mm. Fig. 2.—PipHncidus major, Bruu., -wing. Described from ?> 6 6 and 2 $ $ in the Pusa collection from Piisa, Beno-al, 20. iii. 1^13 {tijpe 6 ), 7. xi. 1912(^y^)e $ ), 7. i. 1^13, 7. iv. 19137 Types sent to the British Museum. 7. Pipunculus campestris. Latr., var. himalayensis, Brun. Pijjunculus campestris, Lair., var. hiuKtlarjcnsis, 15raiietti, liec. iud. Mils, vii, p. 487 (1912). cf . Head: frons blackish-grey, with a little grey shimmer above the antennae ; vertex shining black ; antennse black, some- what short, 3rd joint with a grey sliimmer; arista only twice as long as the antennae; eyes contiguous for a considerable distance, facets almost uniform in size; back of bead dark grey, occiput rather well pulled out. Thorax blackish, sides lighter; scutellum shining blackish ; metanotum with silvery-grey tinge. Abdomen blackish, greyish towards the sides, the colour with a tendency to extend a littie along the margins of the segments; hypopygium black, short, wide, with a distinct depression in centre. Le00 ft. 16. Pipiinculus nigronitens, Brun. Pipunculiis niyronitcns, Brunetti, Rec. Iiid. Mas. vii, p. 490 (1912). S . Head with vertex shining black, slightly elongated ; frons and face blackish, but if viewed from above the former ap|)ears grnyish with a slight bluish tinge, and the latter nearly snow- white ; occiput slightly puffed out behind; antennai wholly black but seen from above tlie tip of the 2iid joint aiul the apicfd part of the 3ril are more or less grey-dusted ; arista black, thickened at b.ise ; proboscis light brown. Thorax and scutellum nhining black, bare ; sides grey-dusted, the colour carried at-ross the meta- notum ; iiumeri brownish-yellow. Abdomen shining black, 1st 0 18 PIPUNCULIDjE. segment conspicuously grey-dusted; genitalia black, shining; venter black, but less shining than the dorsum. Legs nearly wholly yellow ; coxae black ; tips of tarsi blackish-brown. jN"© ciliation behind middle femora ; hind femora not shining on under side. Wings clear ; third costal segment wholly brownish-yellow ; longer than 4th segment ; anterior cross-vein placed just before one-third of the discal cell ; 4th longitudinal vein forming a wide curve before posterior cross-vein, and distinctly bisinuate beyond : first posterior cell rather narrowly open ; halteres dirty yellow, the clubs blackish. Length, 3 mm. Described from a single S in the Indian Museum, taken by me at Darjiling, 29. v. 1910. 17, PipTinculus luteipes, sp. nov. 2 . Head with irons rather broad, slightly widening from vertex downwards, distinctly though not greatly contracted throughout that portion in coutact with the exceptionally enlarged eye-facets, blackish-grey, but the whole frons with a silvery-white shimmer if viewed from above ; face wholly, brilliantly shining white. Antennae black; 3rd joint considerably elongate, with long pointed tip, bright yellow, with a white shimmer viewed from above. Mouth-parts withdrawn ; occiput moderately puffed out, blackish grey, white-dusted laterally. Thorax and scutellum moderately black, dusted with olive-brown. Abdomen ash-grey; 1st segment with a basal olive-browai band ; 2nd segment wholly ash-grey ; 3rd, 4th and 5th with olive-brown bands basally, the colour not or barely reaching the side margins and then only basally, but extending posteriorly nearly or quite to the next segment. Geni- talia very large, fully as wide as last segment, with a deep groove on upper side of the globular basal piece : ovipositor reddish- brown. Legs wholly rather pale yellow to the tips of the tarsi, but the minute black bristles on the joints of the tarsi give them a slightly darkened appearance ; claws much lengthened, pulvilli pale yellow, very greatly enlarged. Wings pale grey ; stigma pale brownish, ill-defined ; anterior cross-vein distinctly before middle of discal cell ; halteres pale yellow. Length, 2^ mm. Described from a perfect 5 from Pusa, Bengal, 11. iv. 1913. Ty2'>e given by Mr, T. B. Fletcher to the British Museum. This must be near P. hepaticolor, Beck., owing to the highly developed claws and pulvilli, but that species has a black streak on the upper side of the femora, the wings are slightly infuscated, the stigma conspicuous and the tip of the 3rd antennal joint is blunted, not considerably elongated. P. hepaticolor was described from Singapore, PIPUNCULUS. 19 18. Pipunculus qiiavtarius, Brun. Pipimculus quttrtariux^ Ikuiietti, Rec. lud. Mus. vii, p. 493 (1912). $ . Head with i'roiis sliiiiing black, wide, lower part with white shimmer as seen from below; face with white sliimmer; proboscis brownish-yellow ; eves with the facets contiguous to the region of the antenna) very much enlarged; antennae blackish, 3rd joint yellowish-white with long white style ; arista very long, black ; back of head considerably puffed out, cinereous-grey, with a ten- dency to whitish on postocular orbits, bearing a slight fringe of pale hairs. Thorav dark cinereous-grey, slightly shining ; sides of thorax a little lighter; scutellum coucolorous with dorsum; metanotnin light grey. Ahdomen blackish-grey, practically bare, but microscopically pubescent, slightly shining ; 1st segment grey ; 5th segment widest ; ovipositor of moderate length, shining brown, with a little hair at its base; venter cinereous-grey, unmarked. Ler/s mainly black; tips of fore coxae, tips of all femora I'atber broadly, basal third and tips of tibia", and apical part of all tarsi, black ; femora not shining and absolutely bare. Wings clear ; stigma absent, but the 3id costal space much reduced, and the veins limiting it somewhat thickened ; anterior cross-vein placed slightly before one-fourth of the discal cell ; 4th longitudinal running nearly straight from its junction with the posterior cross-vein up to the 3rd vein, which it almost meets rather sooner than usual, thence running parallel with it to the border for a longer distance than in most species ; halteres pale brownish-yellow. Lenr/th, 1| mm. Described from a unique $ in the Indian Museum, taken in Calcutta, 13. xii. 1907. A second speciuien in the same collection may possibly be this species, varying only in being larger, with the back of the head shining black, instead of greyish, and the abdomen more blackish and more shining. Taken at Simla, 7. v. 1910 (AunanduJe). 19. Pipunculus mirabilis, Bruu. l\'])it/icii/us inirahili.i, Drunetti, Rec. Iml. Mus. vii, p. 492 ( 1912). 9 . Head with front leather narrower at vertex, which is black; frons greyisli-white, lace below anteunie similar, and with a silvery-white sheen when seen from above ; mouth light brown ; eyes light brown; the facets in the vicinity of the antennie much larger : (antenuje missing) ; occiput rather well pulTvil out. Thorax blackish-aeneous; humeri yellowish-brow n ; edge of dorsum and sieles of tliorax greyisli ; a broad stripe of grey with silver riflections extends across the nietanotum and embraces the metapleura vn eacli side; scutelhnn light yellowish-brown, the po>terior part and margin with long pale pubescence. Aidomen ash-grev; on the 2n(I S'^gnnMit is a large roiuid brown spot in c2 20 PIPUNCULID^. tlie middle; on the 3rd, 4th and 5th are black basal bands, very narrow in the centre, and much widened at the sides of the segments; on the Gtli the black band is of uniform width and very narrow ; this segment bears a long ferruginous-brown process bent under tlie venter, with hairs towards its tip. The whole abdomen is covered with ratlier long (but not dense) pale hairs, mixed with a number of black ones, these latter having no relationsliip to the black parts in the ground-colour. Lerfs : 00X36 brown, with a little silvery I'eflection in certain lights; remainder of legs bright lemon-yellow, practically bare, but the tibiae have several rows of almost microscopic spines towards the apices ; tips of tarsi dark brown ; claws and pulvilli much enlarged ; inner side of hind femora not shining. Wings quite clear,. extreme base very pale yellow ; anterior cross-vein placed at two-fifths from the base of the discal cell ; 4th longitudinal vein taking an outward curve on quitting the posterior cross- vein ; 3rd costal segment twice as long as 4th and about equal in length to the oth ; halteres pale yellow. Length, 4 mm., without ovipositor. Described from a ]jerfect 5 in the Indian Museum from Margherita, Assam. A A'ery striking and beautiful species and apparently closely allied to Becker's hepaticolor, from which I ditferentiate it as follows: there is no darkening of the stigma; the thoracic dorsum is blackish not greyish ; the abdominal marks are some- what different ; the femora have no black streaks above ; and the anterior cross-vein is placed distinctly before the centre of the discal cell. 20. Pipunculus linipidipennis, Brun. Fipunculus Umpidipeiinis, Brunetti, E,ec. Ind. Mus. -Nii, p. 491 (1912). S $ . Bead with frons of uniform width, greyish, with a silvery- white shimmer when seen from above; face below antennae similar; antennae blackish, 3rd joint white with silver shimmer; arista black; eyes (in $) with the facets much larger on each side of the frontal space than those behind; back of head promi- nent, grey, with a whitish shimmer. Thorax dark aeneous-grey, moderately shining, bare; sides and humeri a little lighter; scutellum aeneous-black, bare, shining. Abdomen concolorous, with a slight olive-green tint, submetallic, bare, unmarked ; venter unicolorous ; the last abdominal segment bears in the J a knob-like process, and in the $ a long horny process bent under the venter. Legs : femora blackish, base and tips yellowish- brown; tibiae with a broad blackish ring, occupying the middle third or more; tarsi yellowish brown; no ciliution on middle femora ; hind femora shining black on inner side. Wings quite clear ; 4th longitudinal vein, after quitting the posterior cross- vein, running almost straight to the wing-border, without being PIPUKCULUS. — VKURALLIA. 1! 1 bent outwards in a bow; anterior cross-vein almost exactly over centre ot discul cell; no distinct stigma, but the costal vein is a little tluckeued along the 3rd and 4th segments; 3vd and 4th costal segments oF about equal length, and taken together only halt' the length of the 5th segi;ient ; wings barely pain yellowish at base; halteres pale livid yellow. Lcni/th, nearly 2 mm. Described from 5 c5' J ii'id 1 $ in the Indian Museum : Cal- cutta, 4. ix.-2U. xi. 1907 and 22. v. 1909; Puri, Orissa Coast, 20. i. 190S; Benikhola, frontier of Nepal, 7. ii. 1908; Igatpuri, Western Grhats, Bombav, 20. xi. 1909 {Annandale), 9.x. 1913: Balasore, 16. x. 1914; Pusa, 24. iv. and 21.x. 1914. 21 Pipimculus nitens, Bran. Piji/niculus 7iit('iis, ]}runetti, Kec. lud. Mus. vii, p. 492 (1912). S. //mc^ with irons and face shining silvery-white ; eyes con- tiguous for some distance ; antennse black, 3rd joint, except at the base, reddish-yellow ; back of head blackish-grey, rather well puffed out, with silver shimmer at least round the edge. Thorax blackish, with a slight bluish tint, moderately shining, practically barn; sides dark-bluish grey, with a little whitish shimmer in certain lights ; scutellum concolorous, with a few hairs ; meta- iiotuni with a greyish-white shimmer. Abdomen shining bluish- black, with some sliort whitish hairs ; 1st segment pale bluish- grey ; genitalia rather small, clubbed, concolorous. Legs : femora black, except at tips, with a little grey shimmer; rest of legs yellow ; the tibite with a broad band (apparently not always com- plete) occupying nearly their entire length ; tips of tarsi blackish on upper side; hind femora aj)parently not shining on inner side. IV/'xf/s cle;ir ; 3rd costal segment very short ; 4th very slightly yellowish, ])ractically clear ; anterior cross-vein exactl}' at middle of discal cell (in one specimen) or immediately before it (in the 2nd specimen). LimrjtJi, 2 mm. Described from two specimcMis in the Indian 3Iuseum from Maddathorai, at the western base of the Western (xhats, Tra- vancore State, South India, 19. xi. 1908 (Annandidr) ; Pusa, 22.x. 1908. I suspect that this and lirnj^idipennis may represent but a single species, as some specimens show neither distinct greenish nor bluish tinges, being modt-rately shining blackish. Genus VERRALLIA, Mi/,-. Verru/Ua, Mik, Wieii. Eiit. Zeit. xviii, p. KJ.'! (1S99). Genotype, (Jephalopx ancinfi. Iln. (Kuropo); i)y original de- signation. Characters of I'ijtniicidus : difft-ring in shajje of hack of head, which is ncarlv flat.orcnen concavi-, nistead of being miidi jiuffcel 22 PIPLrNCULIU.F. out. Second anteiinal joint di.slinctly bristly above and below ; 3rd joint with rounded instead of pointed tip; a pair of ocellar bristles present. Femora without microscopic bristle^s beluw, but anterior femora pilose behind, and the hind femora and tihiae in front. Anterior cress-vein placed at about middle of discal cell. RaiKje. Only about half-a-dozen species were previously known, from Europe, North America and China. The two Indian species are easily distinguished : — Legs principally yellow argentiseymentatu, Bruii. Legs principally black phcmhella^ Brun. 22. Verrallia argentisegmentata, Brun. VevralUa arqentisef/mentata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 494 (1912). S- Head with frons black; face grey, with silvery -white shimmer when seen from above. Antennae yellow ; 3rd joint rounded at tip ; arista black ; 2nd jomt bristly above and below. Eyes contiguous on vertex, facets small, uniform in size ; mouth reddish. Thorax blackish, moderately shining; scvitellum aeneous- black : metanotum grey ; sides of thorax dark grey. Abdomen velvet black; posterior borders of segments with a band (of varying width) of shining briglit silvery-leaden colour. Genitalia large and thick, light tawny-brown, shining and extended below the venter for some distance, the tip being pointed and bisected. Legs, except the brown coxae, uniformly yellow ; quite bare, except for some minute spines on the tibice; tarsi brown on upper side. Wimjs pale grey, iridescent ; 4th longitudinal \ ein, after quitting the posterior cross-vein, running nearly straight to the wing-border; anterior cross-vein placed at one-third of the discal cell ; stigma yellowish-brown ; 3rd costal segment nearly twice the length of the 4th, but rather difficult to judge ; 3rd and 4th rather longer than the 5th ; balteres pale yellow. Length, '.)^ mm. Described from one S from Mergui and one S {typ<') taken by Dr. Annandale in jungle at the base of the Dawna Hills, Lower Burma, 1. iii. 1908, both specimens in the Indian Museum. The blunted 3rd antennal joint and head not pulfed out behind cause me to place this species in Verrallia, but I do not perceive the distinct ocellar bristles which also characterize this genus. One of the specimens (from Mergui) is gummed on cork, the vertex being almost invisible, and the bristles are not present in the .•second example, but may have been accidentally broken off. The head of the Dawna Hills specimen is however other- wise in perfect condition. 23. Verrallia plumbella, Brun. Verrallia phimhella, Bnmetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 495 (1912). $ . Hend with vertex black ; frons and face both of uniform width, with white shimmer; proboscis yellow; facets in front SYRPHIDJE. 23 considerably larger than the others ; back of head only just pro- j;^ctino[ beyond tlie postoeular orbit, grey, with a whitish reflection; (antennae missing). Thorax and scutellum black, moderately shining; sides and nietanotuin apparently con- colorous ; scutelluni with a row of minute hairs on posterior border. Abdomen shining lead colour, with a few microscopic hairs ; the base of each segment, narrowly in the centre and more broadly towards the sides, dead jet-bhick ; 6th segment the longest, bearing a thick blackish-grey pointed genital organ, ter- minating in a long shinv hrown ovipositor. Legs (middle pair missing) black, barely shining; tips of femora rather narrowly, and base of tibiae broadly," reddish-yellow ; base of tarsi yellowish- brown, tips black, with a few hairs ; claws small, pulvilli distinct and white. Legs ujicroscopically pubescent and the fore femora with a few very small bristles below, near the tip. Winys quite clear ; stigma pale brownish-yellow, stigmatic segment barely longer than following segment ; anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell ; 4th longitudinal moderately sinuous after quitting tlie posterior cross-vein. Lem/th, tj^ mm. Described from a single specimen in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 5000 ft., 5. vii. 1908 (Annandale). Kertesz has (on Becker's authority) removed both of Thomson's species, annatus and abscissus, to Verrallia, in Ann. Mus. Hung, i, p. 405, 1903; yet Thomson in his lengthy description of armatus distinctly says of the 3rd antennal jiiint " apice rostrato acuminato," but does not mention any pilosity of the 2nd joint. He mentions the very narrow postocular orbit of armatus. My present species appears to be distinct from both of Thon)son's; armatus having very short brown antennae, rather smoky anterior portion of the wings and mainly black femora, this last character being present in abscissus also*. Family SYRPHIU^. Jlecid about as wide as thorax. Eyes varying from bare to densely hairy, sometimes pubescent in oin' sex only ; facets in cf sometimes larger in front; generally contiguous or closely approximate in d , rarely wide apart {Sphci/ina, Microdon); always wide apart in 2 with rare exceptions and always wider apart in $ than S ^^ven if only sliirhtly so. Frons Hush with eyes, moderately or strikingly prominent. Face varying to about the sane extent; in the more usual form in typical genera distinctly projecting beyond eyes in profile, usually distinctly cut away immediately btdow antennae, then produced into a central bump of varying size and shape, then retreating again and linally again produced over upper border of mouth. Excavation below central * P. armatus is replaced bj' Kertdaz in Pipuiiculus in Cat. Dipt, vii, p. 309 (1910). 24 syephidjB. bump often absent; the wliole face sometimes conically and conspie'uously projected forwards or diagonally downwards (Ascia, Rhin)di8tincl])' notes them both. Some pedantic author.'* have de.sired to throw out the ji^enus (Tr«y'A'»«//~rt, owini; to tbeabsonce in it of the vriia spuria, but this nrenus is now universally recognized as belonging to this family. t The above is mainly from Verrall, 'British Flies,' Syrphid;i', p. l.'!l. 26 SYEPHIDJi. the Syrpliidoe of Ohio (Ohio Biol. Survey Bull, i, pp. 7-122, pis. i-xi (Cokunbus, 1913); see also Ohio Naturalist, vol. xiii, pp. 81 -Ul, pis. iv-v, 1913)*. The perfect insects are mostly sun-lovers, and are in fact frequently called " sun-flies," occurring practically in any situation on warm days, especially on flowers and sweet-smelling ]ilants. They are amongst the most skilful hoverers in the whole of the Diptera, returning again and again to the same spot after fre- ([uent strokes of the net liave been made to capture them. Some species fly with a loud shrill hum, and many bear close re- semblance to bees, wasps, and hornets {Vohicella, Crio7-r7iina, Eristalis, Microdon, Sjniomyia and the CkminvE), whilst certain genera of smaller species (Eiimerus, Paragus, Pijyiza, etc.) appear to mimic some of the smaller aculeate Hymemoptera {Halictus etc.), and Yerrall thinks there is some connexion between them. The more typical forms, such as Syrphus and its allies, are of moderate or ratlier small size, mostly with yellow as the prevailing colour ; or else of a dark colour with yellow spots and transverse abdominal bands, frequently with similarly coloured callus-like spots on the thorax. The SiRPHiDiE are a natural and well-defined group, and are usually the first to attract the notice of collectors from their general distribution, bright colours and the ease with which many species may be identified. The family is unquestionabh^ allied to the PipunculidjE on the one hand, by the elongate anal cell and the discal cell projected distally, and through the same characters to the CoNOPii)^, but the latter family, owing to the subfamily Myopin.e being akin to the Muscin.f;, is usually placed (with the CEsTKiD^ also) between the Sybphid.T' and the MtJSCiDiE. Table of Subfaniilies. 1. Antennse moderately long, generally droop- ing ; if very elongate or porrect, not seated on a produced frons 2. Antennje very porrect ; frons conspicuously produced (except in Microdon, which is distinguished by its peculiar venation) . . 5. 2. Anterior cross-vein before middle of discal cell 3. Anterior cross-vein at or after middle of discal cell : generallv sloping 4. 3. Marginal cell open ; apical section of 4th vein not recurrent (rare exceptions) ; arista bare or at most slightly pubescent SyRPHiNiE, p. 27. * Suiniuaries of what is known of the biologj* are given (iu English) under the various genera by Luiidbeck, ' Diptera Danica,' Part V (Copenhagen, 191()) ; tbis wiirk is several times cited u\ tlie present book. For some information on tbe biology of common European species {Melanostoma, LasiojMcus , Syrphus), see also L. N. Staniland in tbe ' Fruit Grower, Fruiterer, Florist and Market Gardener' (L )ndon), vol. 53, nos 1365-6, 26. i.& 2. ii. 1922, pp. 143-4, 185-7, 10 figs, (abstract in Eev. Appl. Eut. Ser. A. x, April 1922, p. 185). siTirmx-t. "21 Marginal cell normally closed (rarely open, Graptoinyza etc.) ; apical section of 4tii vein distinctly recurrent ; antennae ex- tremely plumose VoLUCKLLiN^;, p. 134. 4. Third longitudinal vein distinctly looped downward into 1st posterior cell I'Ihistalix.i;, p. 154. Third vein not distinctly looped downward, but often slightly curved downward .... INIilesiinti-:, p. 226. 5. Third vein without any downward loop or [p. 294. any appendix in 1st posterior cell CHUYSOTOXiNiE, Third vein with either a downward loop or an appendix in 1st posterior cell G. 0. Arista dorsal ; antennne never seated on a petiole ; 3rd vein not downward looped, but with an appendix extending across middle of 1st posterior cell ; 4th vein distinctly recurrent in apical section ; scutellum with [p. 807. a blunt spine or tootli at each hind corner . 3Iicrodontin^, An apical style ; anteiuui! generally seated (m a conspicuous petiole ; 3rd vein with a downward loop generally ending in a sharp point with an appendix (as in MiCRODONTiN.T3) but shorter; 4th vein never recurrent at tip ; scutellum un- armed ' Ckriina:, p. 321. Though authors are not unaiiiinoiis as to the number of sul)- families to be recognized nor as to their exact lin)its, the above series probably meets the views of the majority of present-day writers, and it was the one adopted by Yerrall. The exact affinities of several genera, iSericomijia and Myiolepta for instance, still remain uncertain. Subfamily SYRPHIN/E. Head: antennae moderately long, usually more or less pendant, if elongate and more or less porrect then not ])laced on a pro- duced frous or prominence; arista bare or at most moderately pubescent, never plumose ; face excavated or nut below antenna?, with or without central bump, generally produced, often con- spicuously so, over ui)per border of moiitli ; pubescence very variable in quantity. Eyes varying from bare to densely pubes- cent, generally contiguous in S for a greater or less distance. Thorax and ahdoiuen of normal relations to head, or the laltrr extremely attenuated, sometimes rounded. L^-vs generally simple, sometimes (Plati/clilnis) wit'j conspicuous specilic characters ; femora seldom spinose or dentate. WinMiera. 28 sYRPniu.i:. Several groups have been suggested, of vvliich none have met with anything Hke universal approval. Verrall* treats effectively of the attempts at subdivision, which need not be recapitulated here, since they are not generally adopted. He also thinks that different relationships exist among these insects, judging from the very different larval habits of some of those the life-histories of which are more or less known. Tahle of Genera f, 1. Face flat or retreating {i. e. not arched, nor with a central knob; rarely (Psilota) produced at upper mouth-edge), being from the prominence of the frous down to the mouth almost parallel with the eye-margin. Eyes and face hairy ; face all blackish or seneous | ; dark- coloured species with no pale mark- ings on head or thorax 2. Face with a central knob, or else ai'ched, or produced cone-like and not at the upper mouth-edge only § 3. 2. Face with upper mouth-edge not ]U'o- duced PiPizELLA, Ptond., p. 36. Face with upper mouth-edge conspicu- ously produced 7 Psilota, Meig., p. 38. 3. Face arched, not hollowed below frontal prominence ; always moreorlessyellow. Paragus, Latr.. p. 30. Facehollowed below frontal prominence il, produced again to central knoh, or to upper mouth-edge, or to both 4. 4. Wholly dark species, Avithout pale mark- ings ; at most under side of ord nn- tennal joint or knees are pale ^ 5. Species with pale markings on head, thorax, scutellum or abdomen **. . . 6. 5. Third antennal joint more or less elon- gate ; apical section of 4th vein re- current, about perpendicular to longi- [p- 40. tudinal axis of wing ORTHONErRA, Macq., Third antennal joint not elongate ; apical section of 4th vein not recurrent ; forming an acute angle with 3rd vein and with longitudinal axis of wing . . Chilosia, Meig., p. 41. * Brit. Fhes, Syrphidse, p. 137. t The present table is constructed uhiiost entirely from Verrall's table of the European genera. + Two species referred to Pi-pi-eUa have yellowish faces. § In doubtful cases the face and eyes are nearly always bare. II Except in some species of SplKerophoria. ^ Some $ 9 of Melanostoma and nielauoid specimens of IHafychirus, Melano- stoma and Syrphus might apparently fall in section 4 and be mistaken for Chilosia, but the latter genus is known from all others by its eye-margins. ** Unicolorous fem;\les or nielanoid ones might be mistaken for Chysogaster or Chilosia, but species of the former are more or less metallic, and those of the latter genus possess eye-margins. SiUl'lllN.K. 29 6. Face with central knob, seldom con- siderably produced at upper mouth- edge 7. Face without central liuob, generally mucli produced at upper mouth- edge 18. 7. Abdomen conspicuously constricted at base Baccha, Fabr., p. 1 1 •!. Abdomen not conspicuously constricted at base 8. 8. Face and scutellum ■wluJlv a-neous or black * " !». Face partly yellowish* 10. 9. Front' tibia; 'or tarsi dihxted in J; in $ [et Serv., p. 52. simple Platyohirus, St. Farg. Front tibia> and tarsi simple in c5' and § Mfxanostoma, Sch., 10. Thorax with conspicuous yellow side [p. 40. lines ; pleurae also with yellow marks. 11. Yellow side lines on thorax incon.^picu- ons or absent ; pleurte without yellow marks '. 12. 11. Abdomen ralatively broader, about as [p. U4. wide as thorax Xaxtiiogramma, Sch., Abdomen relatively narrower, always [et Serv., p. 99 f. narrower than thorax Spii.'EROPHORiA,St. Farg. 12. Abdomen with sharply-defined yellow bands or pairs of yeUow spots or lunules 13. Abdomen without such yellow marks . . 17. [p. 66. 13. Frons inflated ' Lasiopttcus, Rond., Frons not inflated 14. 14. Third longitudinal vein dipped down- wards into 1st posterior cell 16. Third vein not dipped downwards (rare exceptions i l-"). 16. Frons less abruptly produced into an antennal prominence ; mouth-opening short and oval : ocelli placed near vertex Syri'HUS, Fabr., )>. U'.». Frons rather abrnptly produced into an obtuse antennal prominence ; (abdo- men broader and flatter than in Si/r/i/nis ; facial bump more ])rominent than in Si/rphus, and sul)marginal cell a little broadened at niiddli' and tip); mouth-o])ening narrow and linear; oceili ]ilaced at some distance from vertex Asaucina, Macq., \>. (53. 16. Eyt-.s practically bare; 3rd vein well- dipped \ DiDKA, Macq., p. '")«). Eyes closely pube.-ccnt ; 3rd vein niiuh less dipped I Diueoides, Bruu , p. 57. * Sonic care is requirod to decide these charueters. t IsciiioDON, Sack, also fulls in this sectioa ; see p. 97. J These sccoudHry chiirnctorfi are weak. 30 SYRPIUD^. 17. Abdomen short ovate, considerably broader than the tra.nsverse thorax . . Eriozona, Sch., p. 103. Abdomen like that of Si/rphus\ thorax [p. 65. not transverse Ischyrosyrphus, Big., 18. Alulfe of normal size 19. Alulfe extremely small ; eyes in J sepa- rate : 20. 19. Epistome produced into a distinct snout ; eyes in J contiguous Ehingia, Scop., p. 129. Epistome not snout-like ; eyes in (5 dis- tinctly though rather narrovrly sepa- [de Meij.,p. 111. rated" Spheginobaccha, 20. Apical section of 4th vein not recurrent ; [p. 127. hind femora not thickened or spinose . Rhinobaccha, de Meij., Apical section of 4tli vein recurrent; hind femora tliickened and spinose . . 21. 21. Face deeply hollowed below antennte ; npical section of 4th vein rounded at the angle Sphegina, Meig., p. 106. Face only slightly hollowed below an- tennje ; flexure of 4th vein almost rectangular . . : Ascia, Meig., p. 105, Genus PARAGUS, Latr. Parayus, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. xiv, p. 359 (1804). Genotype, Mulio hicolor, Fabr. ; by original designation. Head rather flattened, broader tban thorax ; face not cut away below antennae, but produced towards a large central bump. Eyes pilose, contiguous in rj' ; antennse nearly porreet, rather long, 3rd joint usually longer tban 1st and 2nd together; arista dorsal. la \ Fig. 8. — Paragus lutcus, Brun. Thorax quadrate, arched, with soft pubescence ; scutellum rather larc'-e, unspined except in P. serratns, Fabr. Ahdomen as wide as thcTrax, usually linear, with a shallow transverse depression on each of the segments, the latter about subequal in length. Legs simple, moderately slender. Wings with normal venation except PARAOUS. 31 that the ii[)ical sections of 4th and oth veins are undulating, not parallel witii \ving-iuar;i;;in ; anterior cross-vein distinctly before middle of discal cell. Range. World-wide. Life-hisiori/ not known, but the larvae are reputed to feed on Aphides occurring on Centaarea and/Souc/i^fs, according to Konilani; and Yerrall, from wlioni this note is culled, suspects them of being in some wav connected with the small aculeate 1 ! ynienoptera, as Ualictus. Dr. de .Meijere has noted the Oriental species. Stoutly built, rather smiU dark tiies, often with pale markings on face, abdomen and legs. Table of Specks. 1. Scutellum conspicuously serrate ou hind margin serratus, Fabi., p. 31. Scutellum not serrate 2. 2. Abdomen wholly black* . 3. Abdomen yellowish, reddish or with a broad pale band 4. 3. Face with a distinct medinn black stripe tVom below antvnnae to mouth-opening . . indicns, Bruii., p. 33. F;ice without stripe, at most a slight exten- sion upwards of the black colour of the mouth-border atratus, de Meij., p. 33. 4. Scutellum wholly black rttjiventris, Bruu.,p. 34. Scutellum with hind margin more or less broadly pale 5. o. Face without stripe ; legs all yellow except a narroM' black band on hind femora .... luteiis, Brun., p. 3o. Face with black stripe (sometimes reduced in cJ ) ; legs with about basal half of femora black hicolor, Fabr., p. 35. 24. Paragus serratus, Fahr. (PI. I, figs. 6, 7.) Mulio serraiun, Fabricius, Syst. Antliat. p. 18G (180o). Paragus serratus, Wiedemann, Aussereur. Zweifl. ii, p. 88 (1830) ; Brnnetti, Bee. lud. Mas. ii, ]>. 52 (1908), xi, p. 201 (lOio); de .Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. Ii, p. 284 (1908). S $. Head: eyes in (S absolutely contiguous for a short but appreciable distance ; bare, except for three longitudinal, about equidistant, stripes of whitish pubescence ; vertical triangle elongate, ixearly three times as long as the distance of ocular contiguity, shining black or blue-black with short black hairs; ocelli placed well away from vertex ; anterior part of fi-ons for a short space with yello\sish-grey dust ; frontal triangle very small, and, with the whole face, orange- yellow with short sparse whili>li pubescence; uiouth-opening large, brown ; a narrow brownish-bhu-k * Some European specimens of P. hicolor Imve the abdomen wholly black, so tliat some care is required in identifying those species. '32 svRPUtu.i:. luediau siripe oa face. AiileiiniB large and elongate, blacldsb, lower part of: 2nd and 3rd joints more or less brownish-orange ; arista bare. Occiput exceedingly concave, dark grey wirh a little short yellowish or greyisli pubescence on margin. Tliorax rather shining blue-black, punctulate ; with a pair of greyish rather narrow median stripes, generally united broadly in centre of anterior margin, thence diverging and uarrov\ing, disappearing before hind margin; whole dorsum with yellowish-brown pubescence, which is longer and more yellowish in the humeral re'^ion. Sides of thorax shining black, punctulate, with a con- spicuous stripe of greyish-white long pubescence from below humeri to sternopleurae. Scutellum black, punctulate with brownish pubescence, hind margin broadly yellow witli serrated edo'e of about 13 to 16 teeth. Abdomen so variable that a normal example is difficult to select ; perhaps the most typical form is as follows : — Eiiielv punctate ; 1st segment generally black, sometimes partly or wholly reddish-brown ; 2nd generally reddish-brown or orauo-e-brown, more or less blackish on anterior margin broadly, or towards sides, or both ; 3rd, 4th and 5th segments varying from wholly some shade of brown or yellowish to nearly wholly black, or with their centres or sides mainly black ; 3rd and 4th segments with a whitish dust-band on each side on the anterior margin, these bands not united in median line ; 5th with a similar, some- times broader dust-band, uninterrupted in middle, placed rather diagonally; (ith segment from orange-brown to black, with white pubescence at tip. Anterior corners of abdomen sometimes entirely black, but always with a little long whitish pubescence. Pubescence of abdomen whitish, more obvious towards sides and on the whitish dust-bands. Venter yellowish. Legs : coxfe, base of fore femora broadly, about basal half of middle pair and basal tlu'ee-fourths or more of hind femora, black; hind tibioe more or less brownish on about apical half ; hind metatarsi brownish-black ; rest of legs orange or yellowish, a little variable; pubescence of legs whitisii. Wings quite clear, stigma and base pale yellowish ; halteres yellowislu Length, about 5 mm. Described frotr. a good series in the Indian Museum, Pusa :md other collections. A variable species, especially in the extent of pale colour in the abdomen. Chitlong, Nepal; Mussoorie, ix. 1906 ; Dehra Dun; Sukna (Annandale) ; Purnea (Paiva); Cawnpore District (Crtim/er); United Provinces (Caunter) ; I^atpuri, Bombay ; Karachi; Allahabad, 5.x. 1905 {Hoidett); Pusa, 27. xi. 1905 (LefroH), 18. xii. 1905 Puri (Kemp) • Madhupur, Bengal {Faiva) ; Calcutta (vftr.coZZ.); Bangalore; S.India; TvuMincove {Annandale)-, Mormugao, Goa, ix. 1916 {Kemp); Dawna Hills; Sadiya ; Dibrugarh ; Batavia ; Sarawak; Papua. Apparently widely distributed in the East, and immediately recognized by its seri-ated scutellum. Also common in Africa. Type 6 in Fabricius collection. PA RAG us. 33 25. Para^is indicus, Bran, (PI, I, fi^. 8.) Pipizella indica, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 52 (1908). Paragus indietis, id., op. cit. xi, p. 201 (1915). igi)t, Anu. Soc. Ent. France, (6) iii, p. 230 (1883). Gexottpe, Syrphus Jlavipes, Paiiz. ; as depila, sp. nov.* Head, about as broad as thorax ; ej'es contiguous in S for a considerable space (with one or two exceptions), broadly separated in $ , ranging from densely pubescent to absolutely bare, always more hairy in S than $ except in a limited group of species in which the reverse is the case; frontal triangle in 6 small, frons in $ usually Avith three longitudinal channels and a more or less distinct transvei'se depression just above the antennaB ; face excavated below antennae and then produced into a distinct central bump, being hollowed again before the produced mouth-border. A peculiar generic feature is the sliglitly raised eye-)nargins extending along the lower inner orbit of the eyes, bearin). In the Indian Museum. 35. Chilosia pilipes, Bir^. Carfosi/rpkus pilipes, Bigot, Ann. See. Ent. France, (G) iv, p. 551 (1884). "Bronze-black, bare, abdomen darker. Antenna; tawny, face and frons bare, shining black ; eyes pubescent. Thorax with traces of four grey stripes ; s(]uanKO and halteres dull testaceous : scutellum fringed with yellow hairs. Femora black, knees and tibia; pale tawny, latter witliout a black ring; tarsi concolorous, with the last segments a little brownish about the middle. Witv/s pale grey, tips broadly pale brownish. India. One specimen.'' Length, 11 nuu. Tifpe in Jiigot collection. 44 STEPHID.^;. 36. Chilosia plumbiventris, Brun. Chilosia jdumbiventris, Bnmetti, IJec. Ind. Miis. xi, p. 205 (1915). $ . Head : frons and face shiniug aeneous-black, almost with a deep indigo tiuge, tlie frons widening graduall_y from vertex to about one-third tlie width of the head above the antennae ; frons slightly prominent above the antennae from eye to eye, giving the appearance of an elongate transverse callus ; above tliis callus- like prominence is an oval, yellowish-grey dust spot on each side touching the eye-margins ; frons, except the dust spots, wholly covered with thick black hairs ; face shining black, the central knob large and prominent, the mouth-border but slightly produced, very narrowlj- orange ; a little almost microscopic pubescence at the sides of the mouth, but not extending just below the eves. Eye-margins distinct, grey, widened immediately below antennal prominence, and on this wider part on each side of the face are three elongate notclies as though impressed with a knife. Vertical margin, occiput and lower part of head aeneous-black, but the facial eye-margins are continued narrowly round the eyes to the vertex, bearing a fringe of yellowish-grey liairs, and similarly coloured hairs also cover the lower part of the head below and behind the eyes. Antennae with first two joints brownish- yellow, ;jrd large, broadened, rounded, darker and duskier brown; arista concolorous, bare. Thorax dark aeneous -,black, shining, covered rather closely with very short brownish-yellow pubes- cence, which, viewed at a low angle from in front, appears uniform and continuous over the whole dorsum, but viewed from behind appears to form three longitudinal stripes, the median one narrowly divided in the middle and attaining the front margin, the exterior ones foreshortened ; sides of thorax concolorous, with very sparse and short brownish-yellow hair. Scutellnm concolorous, with short bi'ownish-yellow pubescence and a single pair of well separated apical long black bristles. Abdomen shining lead-colour with almost microscopic pale yellow pubescence ; a dull black broad band, half the length of the segment, on the hind margins of 2nd and 3rd segments, narrowed to a point at the sides of the segment and very slightly notched in the middle in front ; these transverse black bands are best seen from behind. Legs dark reddish-brown; femora with a moderate amount of pale yellow pubescence ; extreme tips of all femora, basal half of all tibicB, tips of middle tibiae and first three joints of middle tarsi, brownish-yellow, the posterior margins of these three joints blackish. Under sides of fore and hind tarsi with golden-brown pubescence. Wings very pale grey ; stigma pale yellow ; halteres bright orange. Length, 8 mm. Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Simla, 7. V. 1910 (Annandale). The shining lead-colour of the abdomen will easily distinguish this species. CHILOSIA. 45 '^7. Chilosia hirticincta, Bmn. Vhilii^ia hirtici/irfa, Bnuiotti, Kec. Ind. Mas. xi, p. 204 (lUl-^). c5' . Bead : eyes covered with dense brownish-yellow pubes- cence, touchino: for a, considerable space, leaving a very small vertical triangle, blackish, with three or four long black hairs intermixed with the long brownish-yellow ones. Frons sharply (len)arcated from face, very convex, teneous-blackish, with only a very narrow grey-dusted eye-border and an indistinct median similar line ; the whole frons covered witli long black hair. Face moderately prominent, central bump small, mouth-border not very prominent, extremely narrowly orange; the face blackish, with very sliort, almost microscopic pubescence. Eye-margins greyish, with long yellowish-grey liair. Occiput and lower part of head grey, with yellowish-grey hairs. Proboscis black. An- tenntc with first two joints black, 3rd black, with, visible in certain lights, a greyish dust ; rounded, but with rather truncate tip ; arista bare, black ; the depression in which the anteinia; are set, brownisli- yellow. Thorax and scutellum shining aeneous, with rather long and thick brownish-yellow hair with which some black hair is intermixed. No stiff bristly hairs on either thorax or scutellum. Sides of thorax cinereous-grey (the colour extending almost over the shoulders), with rather long brownish-yellow hair. Abdomen a;neous-black, shining, with long yellowish hair ; the third segment with all the hairs on the dorsum black. Legs: femora blackish with long yellowish hair, extreme tips orange. Tibiae black, the base broadly, the tips less broadly, orange or brownish- yellow ; with yellow or golden-yellow short pubescence on front side of front ])air. Tarsi blackisli above, with a little yellowish- brown hair, under side with rich golden-brown or golden-yellow close pubescence, the first two joints of tlie middle pale hi-ownish- yellow. \Vi)ir/s pale grey, a little yellowish on basal half anteriorly, in one specimen slightly yellowish in the neighbourhood of the veins. Ilalteres and tegula; brownish-yellow. Length, 9-10 mm. Described from three d" S i'l the Indian Museum from the Darjiling District {Lgnch). This species is easily known by the conspicuous, wholly black- haired 3rd abdominal segment. 38. Chilosia nigvoaBiiea, Brmi. Chilosia 7iiyroccnea, Brunetti, lice. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 204 (191o). S $. Head: eyes in c? contiguous for about one-tliird of the distance from extreme vertex to root of antenna), vertical triangle blackish, with some long black hairs. Eyes with rather thick, short yellowish-grey {)ubescence, which when viewed from certain directions appears quite white : frons as in hirticiucia, dust on eye-margins less distinct; face with central knob somewhat large, conspicuous and rounded, a^ieous-black, shining, with very 46 SYRPHIDiE. sparse, almost microscopic greyish pubescence ; ceuti'al knob and space immediately below it very shining black ; moutli-border narrowly orange, moderately produced, with a small bump on each side of it; eye-margins dull blackish, with sparse, rather short greyish hairs : occiput grey, with short greyish hairs. Antennae dull dirty brownish-grey; arista bare, black. In $ , frons }iot much narrowed on vertex ; about one-third width of head just above antenna? is shining black with a little grey pubescence. Thorax and scutellum shining black, with rather thick brownish- yellow pubescence, a few black bristly hairs intermixed in front of wings, and on hind margin of scutellum, where these black hairs are much longer than the general pubescence; sides moderately dark shining greyish, with yellowish-grey hair. Abdomen all shining black, with close, pale yellowish-grey pubes- cence ; venter similar. Legs blackish, with pale yellowish-grey pubescence ; extreme tips of femora, base of tibice rather nax'rowly in (S and to the extent of basal third in 5 , brownish-yellow ; tarsi blackish, with pale hairs above and thick rich golden-brown or golden-yellow pubescence below ; base of middle tarsi above more or less brownish-yellow. Winf/s very pale grey, c? , practi- cally clear, $ ; stigma pale yellow ; halteres yellowish. Length, c? 7, $ 6 mm. Described from a single d", Matiana, and 5 , Simla, 7. v. 1910, in the Indian Museum (both AnnandaJe). JV.B. Various other species of Chilosia are Indian, but are mostly represented by uniques or indifferently preserved speci- mens, so that in such a critical genus it would be worse than folly to set them up as new. C. grossa, Fallen, was recorded by me * with a doubt from two specimens in the Forest Zoologist's collection from the Western Himalayas (Binsor, Kumaon District, 28. v. 1912, J 2 l_Iinms'\), but no further specimens have come before me, and the various discrepancies from normal grossa suggest that the identification of the species requires further confirmation. Genus MELANOSTOMA, Sch. Melanostoma, Schiner, Wien. Eut. Moiiats. iv, p. 213 (1860). Plesia, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. 4, p. 15(3 (1849). Pai/lof/aster, Lioy, Atti Isti. Veneto, (3) ix, p. 753 (1864). GrENOTYPE, Musca melUna, L. ; by original designation. Differing from /Syrp/nts by the entire absence of pale markings on face, thorax and scutellum ; from PlatycJiiriis by the front tarsi in the S not being dilated, and from Chilosia by the absence of eye-margins. These distinctions are sufficient to understand the Oriental species, but there are one or two European genera very closely allied. The exact limits of the genus are not * Eec. Incl. Mas. xi, p. 206 (1915). MEI/AXOSTOMA. 47 well-defined, though the species appear to form a natural group. Eyes bare, contiguous in S ; arista bare or very shghtly pubescent. Abdomen elongate-oblong or sometimes long-ovate, narrowed towards tip, sides usually parallel ; middle segments generally with pairs of yellowish spots, sometimes bluish or absent. Pubescence of whole body soft and moderate in quantity. Wings etc. as in Syrphus. Life-Jiistory unknown. Ranye. Europe, Asia, India, Orient, North and South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, North and Central America. 7\ihle of Species. 1. -Vbdomiual .spots yellow or orange 2. Abdominal spots ( c? ) grey, yellowish-grey or ( 2 ) bluish ambi(jimm, Fin., p. 47. 3. Face in profile with two distinct small bumps orientale, Wied., p. 48. Face in profile forming a single angle only, being nearly straight above and below this [p. 50. point itnivittatmn, Wied., Syrplms pedius,\^ii\k,., is a Melanostoma, with S. co<7«onea,Walk., as a synonym, but the descriptions of both are too meagre to identity the form with any degree of certainty. Mr. Edwards is my kind informant as to the generic position of the species, which may be synonymous with one of those admitted here. 39. Melanostoma ambiguum, Fin. Scatra amhiyiium, Fallen, Dipt. Siiec. Syrph. p. 47 (1817). Melcmostoina (i7nbif/Kunt, \emiU, lirit. Flies, viii, p. 304 (1901). Syrphus vwnocluetum, Loew, Beschr. Eur. Dipt, ii, p. 2 (1871). Sccp.va hyperhorcum, Holmgren, Ofvers. Kongl. Vet.-Akad. Forhandl. XX, p. 100 (1872). (S . Head: vertical triangle equilateral, of moderate size, elevated, black with long brown pubesceiice ; eyes closely contiguous for a distance equal to length of vertical triangle : frons blue-black, moderately shining with long bi'own pubescence : face well produced, moderately shining iciieous, covered with yellowish- grey dust except on the shining black moderately large central bump and tip of mouth-opening. Antennoi blackish-brown, under side of '5rd joint more or less orange. Occipital margin light grey with yellowish-white fringe. Thorax and scutellum aeneous with brownish pubescence ; sides grey-dusted with greyish pubescence. Abdomen black, 1st segment dark brown, 2iid orange-brown, anterior corners sligiitly ajucous, the colour running narrowly along side margins ; a small triangular grey tomentose spot on each side margin just below middle; an elongate grey tomentose spot with rounded inner end placed diagonally on each side of 3rd and 4th segments, well below anterior margin 48 STEPHIDJK, and reaching side margin, the spots well separated. Pubescence of abdomen whitish, sparse on dorsum but longer at sides, especially on basal half ; microscopic black pubescence on black parts. G-enitalia sbining blue-black. Venter indistinctly brownish- yellow with indefinite blackish marks. Legs mainly black, coxae with a little grey pubescence ; fore femora except narrowly below, middle pair on about apical half, hind pair narrowly at tip, anterior tibiae for nearly basal half, hind pair narrowly at base, orange. Fore femora on outer side with long black hairs, also with the peculiar, curved long hair near tip and three long yellow thin bristles on under side, characteristic of the species {teste Verrall); fore tibisB with very short sparse pale pubescence and some long pale hairs on outer side ; middle femora with rather long yellowish pubescence behind and a single yellow bristle on under side before middle ; middle tibise with a few long black hairs on hinder side on apical half ; hind femora with long yellowish or whitish pubescence on outer and under sides; hind tibise with some pale pubescence and longer hairs; hind metatarsi considerably in- crassate. Wings practically clear ; stigma very pale yellow ; halteres orange. Length, 9 mm. Described from a single 6 in the Indian Museum from Matiana, Simla District, 8000 ft. Widely spread in Europe. There can be no doubt of the identity of this species (although this description does not quite agree with Verrall's description of British specimens), as the peculiar, curved single hair towards the tip of the front femora, in conjunction with the equally unusual yellow thin bristles below the front and middle femora, infallibly distinguish it from all others except diibium, Zett., which differs however in the abdominal markings and otherwise. A comparison with the British specimens in the British Museum confirms the identification, the Indian c? being slightly larger in size. M. am- bigiium very closely resembles the S of Platycfiirns aJbimanus, but is known by the undilated front tibise. M. duhium, Zett., was recently recorded by me from the Simla District *, but a more detailed examination proved the specimen to be only a melanoid Platycliirus alhimanus. 40. Melanostoma orientale, Wied. (PI. I, fig. 14.) Syrphus orientalis, Wiedemann, Analec. Ent. p. 36 (1824) ; id., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 139 (1830). Melanostoma orientale, de Meijere, Tijd .v. Ent. li, p. 312 (1908); liv, p. 347 (1911); Brunetti, Rec. Ind, Mus. xi, p. 207, pi. xiii, fig. 2, head in profile (1915) ; xiii, p. 85 (1917). J 5 . Head: eyes in S bare, closely contiguous for half or a little more than half the distance from extreme vertical margin to upper angle of frons ; lower facets barely appreciably smaller * Ecc. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 207 (1915). MELANOSXOMA. 49 than upper ones ; distance from upper angle of frons to the well- defined slightly ridged anterior margin a little greater than that of ocular contiguity; vertical triangle and frons siiining seneous- black with black or brown hairs ; face and lower part of head a;neous, all grey-dusted except the small central bump and moderately produced upper mouth-edge. Antennae blackish, under side of 3rd joint to a greater or less extent brownish- orange, sometimes tiiat of 2nd joint also ; arista microscopically pubescent. Occiput grey, the colour nai'rowly visible behind eyes inprotile; occipital margin with yellowish-brown hairs behind vertex, and a fringe below of short whitish hairs. Proboscis blaekisli. In $ , frons almost exactly one-third of head at level of antennae, a little narrowed above; at about the middle at each side of frons, contiguous to eyes, a subtriangular grey or yellowisli- grey dusted spot of varying size, sometimes large enough nearly or quite to meet the other in the middle line ; sides of face similarly grey-dusted, leaving central bump and upper mouth-edge rather more broadlv bare than in cj" . Thorax and scutellum all Fig. 13. — Melanostoma orientale, VVicd,, frons and face in profile. shining a;neons, with soft yellowish to greyish or brownish-grey pubescence. Abdomen moderately shining black, 1st segment and anterior corners of 2nd a little more shining; 2nd segment in cJ with a pair of orange-yellow spots, rounded on inner sides, placed a little below the middle of side margins of segments ; 3rd and 4th segments with a pair of large quadrate to oblong orange- yellow spots, placed on side margins and attaining anterior border butvvellclear of hind border; inner sidesof tbesespots straight, and separated from each other by a moderately broad median space ; 5tli segment wholly jcneous. In $, spots on 2nd segment often elongate and diagonally placed, or reduced or indistinct; those on 3rd and 4th segments subtriangular, ])laced on anterior margin, the inner sid(; straight, the third or outer side often slightly sinuate; 5th segment with a pair of narrow spots on anterior corners, well separated. Pubescence of abdomen in S and $ from yellowish- grey to whitish, soft and longer at sides. Venti-r black, with some pale marks somew liat corresponding with those of dorsum, E 50 SYRPHID^. sometimes wholly absent. Legs orange ; 6 with about basal half of anterior femora, and hind femora wholly (except narrowly at tips and sometimes very narrowly at base), black ; a broad median blackish band on hind tibiae filling greater part of limb ; upper side of hind tarsi and anterior tarsi more or less towards tips, brownish. Pubescence of femora whitish, very sparse on tibiae, and, with that of tarsi, more yellowish. In $ , legs all orange ; an indefinite brownish median band on hind tibiae and upper side of tarsi towards tips ; sometimes hind legs marked as in 6 . Wings pale yellowish-grey ; stigma more yellow; halteres brownish- orange. Length, 5-7 mm. Described from a good number of specimens from various sources. Peshawur, v. 1916 (FletcJier) ; Simla (var. Iocs.); Naini Tal : Darjiling; Kurseong ; Bengal ; Khasi Hills ; Assam ; Assam-Bhutan Frontier ; Abor Country. Dr. de Meijere records several specimens from Pattipola, Geylon, 2000 metres. Apparently the commonest and most widely distributed species of the genus in the East, occurring throughout all the warm weather in the plains and hills. I am still undecided whether orientale is specifically distinct from the common European mellinum {v. my notes, Rec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 207). Type in Copenhagen Museum {teste Wiedemann). 41. Melanostoma univittatum, Wied. Syrphus unimitatus, Wiedemann, Analec. Entom. p. 36 (1824) ; id., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 139 (1830). Melanostoma univittatum, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 208, pi. xiii, figs. 4-G, head in profile, abdomen S -9 (1915). Syrphus planifncies, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. 3, p. 43 (1848). Syrphus cyuthiyer, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. i, p. 125 (1867); Eigot, Ann. "Soc. Ent. Prance, (6) iv, p. 86 (1884). Melanostoma planifacies, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 313 (1908) ; liv, p. 346 (1911). S 5 . Head in S '• vertical triangle equilateral, a little elevated, dark grey with blackisli hairs ; frons and face greenish-aeneous, both with yellowish-grey dust and a little pale yellowish pubescence ; face with outline in profile nearly perpendicular. Antennae orange, tip of 3rd joint more or less blackish, arista orange at base. Pro- boscis yellowish. Occiput blackish-grey, lighter grey towards margin, which bears a slight fringe of pale yellow hairs. In $ , frons and face enclosed by two straight lines, diverging slightly downwards, forming one-third of head at level of antennae, both moderately shining black with grey dust, which is less thick in the median space just below vertex and almost absent just above antennae ; frons and face with thin yellowish-grey pubescence. Thorax and scutellum aeneous-black, sometimes with greenish or cupreous tinge ; humeral region with a little yellowish-grey dust ; MELAXOSTOJIA. 51 pleura? aeneous, more or less yellowish-grey dusted ; whole thorax with sparse yellowish-grey pubescence. Abdomen orange ; 1st seg- ment black ; a narrow black hind margin to 2nd, lird and 4th seo-ments in S , which in the $ is widened at sides up to about middle of side margin (resembUng Melanostoma meUumm, Y., though rather less conspicuous); u narrow median black stripe, sometimes indistinct, on 2nd and 3rd segments in c? , on 4th also in $ ; i>th segment in $ a small replica of 4th. A peculiar feature in the $ is the presence of two large whitish spots, placed side bv side, covering the 1st and 2nd segments and encroaching on the 3rd, through which the ordinary markings of the 2nd segment can be seen, these spots being sometimes absent or very 'faint. Genitalia in d" l:ii-ge, shining black, knob-like. Pubescence of abdomen sparse, pale yellow. A^enter dull orange with indefinite blackish marks. Li^gs: coxae blackish with grey dust; hind tibiae Fig. \-i. — Melanostoma univiliatum, WiecL, frons and face in prulile. indistinctly blackish about middle ; pubescence of legs pale yellow, black on blackish part of hind tibiae. Wlngfi yellowish-grey ; stigma barely appreciably darker; halteres orange. LeiKjOi, 5-0 mm. Described from a number of both sexes in the Indian Museum, Piisa and otlier collections. Darjiling, 5900 ft. (Bnoietti); Katmandu, Xepal ; Bhim Tal, 4450 ft.; Pusa, not uncommon, i., ii., iii., xii.; Cbapra, Bengal ; Coorg, S. Iiulia, 15-2(1. x. 1015 (Fletcher); Bangalore, 3000 ft. ; Coromandel, 2500 ft. ; Xeduman- gad, Travancore {AnmiwlaJe) ; Sadiya, Assam ; Sbillong, 5000 ft., X. 1910 {Hetcher); Lower Burma; Mergui ; Dibrugarh, 17- 19. xi. 1911 (Kemp): Sarawak (Beehe). De Meijere records planifacies 2 fi'om .Singapore, Ceylon, Sunuilra and (^)ueensland, but no 6 . Three $ $ (one headless) in the Indian ]\Iuseuin, named planifacies, Macq., by Bigot, are onlv rather small specimens of univittatum ; tiiey come fnim Dehra l)u;i. Ty/;c in Copenhagen Museum (Ustc Wiedemann). 0"J SYKPHID.*;. 42. Melanostoma pedium, Wal/c Syr2)hus pedim, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 234 (1852). Si/rp/itis cothonea, id., op. cit., p. 235 (1852). c5' . "Metallic green; face mostly adorned with a pale tawny covering; eyes red: suckers and feelers ferruginous ; chest clothed with tawny hairs ; abdomen black, much longer but not broader than the chest, slightly widening from the base till near the tip, which is brassy, fringed with pale tawny hairs, adorned with three pairs of large, oblong tawny spots ; legs pale tawny; wings tinged with pale tawny ; wing-ribs tawny ; veins black, tawny towards the base and along the fore border ; poisers tawny, "Length of the body 3 lines; of the wings 6 lines. East Indies." A species requiring confirmation as to its validity. Type, $ , in the British Museum. Genus PLATYCHIRUS, St. Farg. et Serv. Platycheinis, St. Fargeau et Serville, Encycl. Method, x, p. 513 (1825). Genotype, Syrplius scutatus, Meig. ; by Westwood's designation (1840). Differing from Syrplms principally in the blackish face, which is more or less dusted, without any trace of yellow colouring ; eyes bare, contiguous in S ; antennae blackish, but under side of 3rd joint sometimes pale; arista bare. Tltorax and scutellum without trace of yellow markings, pubescence never bristly. Abdomen M'ith nearly parallel sides, always with pairs of yellowish (or occasionally bluish) spots. "Ze^/sof the J remarkably charac- teristic, as the base of the front tarsi is always enlarged — whence the name of the genus — and also ev^ery part, coxae, trochanters, femora, tibiae and tarsi bear individual specific characters in all three pairs of legs ; sometimes on the front legs only, sometimes on the anterior legs only, and sometimes on all pairs " ( Verrall). In the 5 the legs are simple, except that the front tarsi may be slightly widened. Wings etc. as in Syrplms. Life -hi story . One European species is said to have been bred from rotten fungi ; others have been found in the stems of plants and trufiles, or bred from larvae found in flood refuse and other vegetable debris. Range. Europe, Siberia, Orient, North America, Greenland. Platycliirus may be recognised from Syrphus by the absence of any yellow markings on the face or scutellum, from Melanostoma by the dilated front tarsi of the 'OTYPE, Didea fasciata, Macq. ; by original designation. Very near Syrphus, but differing by the 3rd vein having a distinct downward bend into the 1st posterior cell, somewhat resembling its course in Eristalis. Eyes very nearly bare. An- tennae proportionately rather larger. Abdomen quite oval, flattened, broader than thorax, with the extreme margin distinctly raised and black, except where the yellow spots overlap the side margins. In all else practically as in Syrphus. Only one species, which is widely distributed, is Oriental. Range. Europe, India, Japan, North America. 45. Pidea fasciata, Macq. (PI. I, fig. 15.) Didea fasciatu, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt, i, p. 508 (1834). S $ . Head : frons dusted with yellowish-grey, often with a large blackish spot above each antenna ; pubescence rather long, mainly black; vertex elongate, shining blue-black, with short black pubescence. Eyes slightly pubescent. Antennae dull blackish, 3rd joint large, twice as loug as 1st and 2nd together ; arista brown, bare. Face shining yellow, nearly bare of dust, but with rather abundant pale yellow pubescence ; front of mouth-border brownish. In $ , frons at upper part, just below antennae, con- siderably more than one-third of head, shining blue-black at vertex ; side dust-spots near middle joined to dust of face, leaving a more or less complete black stripe to the large black lunule above the antennae. Thorax shining greenish-black, two rather faint, moderately broad, greyish stripes on anterior part, narrowly separated. Pubescence moderately dense, tawny; longest on side margins and on the whitish-grey pleurae. Scutellum brownish- yellow with yellow tip seen from above, or orange with blackish basal corners if seen from the side ; pubescence tawny, some long, thin black hairs round margin. Ahdoraen black, a pair of large irregularly oval orange spots on 2nd segment, placed rather diagonally from front half of side margin towards middle of liind border, but their inner ends well separated and not attaining hind border; 3rd segment with an orange band placed not quite on front margin, narrowly clear of side margins and well clear of hind margin, its hinder side deeply cut away in middle ; -Ith seg- ment with a pair of elongate triangles, placed clear of all margins, their apices meeting in the middle line. In $ , a pair of spots on anterior coi-ners which sometimes meet in the middle line, and the band on the 2nd segment sometimes attaining side margins. Entire margin of abdomen narrowly raised in both sexes ; pubes- cence of margin wholly black except ^here the side margins are yellow, in Avhich parts it also is yellow ; pubescence on disc following ground-colour. Genitalia black, with yellow pubescence. DIDEA. DIDEOIBES. O / Legs : coxse black ; anterior femora orange, basal third black, the colour extended a little on middle p;iir : anterior tarsi black. Hind legs black, except tips oF femora narrowly orange. Pubes- cence black, orange on anterior tibia;. Wings nearly clear, sub- costal Cell and stij^ma blackish ; 3rd vein considerably looped down- ward into 1st posterior cell; squama; pale yellow with deeper margius. IJalteres brown, tip of knob orange. Length. 12 mm. The above description is abbreviated from A^ei'rall as being likely to be more correct, since bis description was drawn up from a number of specimens ; whereas only one specimen is available to me, though thei'e is practically no doubt of its identity. The legs are, however, described from the unique Assam specimen, as they show sliglit differences from Verrall's description; hut a $ fasciata from Austria in the Indian Museum has the legs almost exactly similar. One $ from Shillong, 5000 ft., x. 1 916 {Fletcher). In the Pusa collection. The Paris Museum possesses what is probably the type of the species. It ranges from Central and South Europe to Japan and North America as well as to India. Genus DIDEOIDES, Brim, Dideoides, Brunetti, Hec. Ind. Mu9. ii, p. 54 (1908). Genotype, D. ovata^ Brun.; the original species. Allied to Dldea, Macq., from which it is separated essentially by the 3rd longitudinal vein (cubital, Verrall) being nearly straight, as in Sgrphus, and not dipped, as in Eristalis, into the cell below. In other respects it resembles Bidea, ]\Iacq., having a bare arista and the large, Hat ovate abdomen in both sexes much Mider than the thorax, and bearing the distinct, ridged margin as in that genus. Tiiis genus has appeared to me unstable at times, as the species referred to it form a transition from true Didea to Sgrphus. Theoretically Didea should possess the following four characters : a ridged edge to the abdomen, a definitely dipped 3rd vein, bare or nearly bare eyes and all-black antennae. I), fasciata of course possesses them all. I placed annandalei in Didea because of the quite bare eyes, and disregardful the barely dipped 3rd vein as of minor importunce, but if the scope of Dideoides be widened to include both bare- and pubescent-eyed species, the genus can include this species. Didea therefore essentially differs from Syrplius (apart from its general facies) in the ridged abdomen and the conspicuously dipped 3rd vein, as tlio bareness of the eyes and the all-black antennie appear unreliable characters. Dideoides differs from SgrpJurs only in the ridged abdomen, and from Didea only in the nearly straight 3rd vein. The five species now- retained in it are truly congeneric and possess the orthodox facies of Didea. 58 SYRPiriDvE. Table of Species. 1. Eyes bare (abdomen black, with 3 pairs of very [p. 58. large yellow spots) cnmcimlalei, Brim., Eyes densely pubescent 2. 2. Abdomen wholly black, except two narrow transverse yellow spots on 2nd segment and a long narrow one on 3rd Icempi, sp. n., p. 59. Abdomen (nominally) black with tliree trans- verse yellow bauds, ui which the 1st may be resolved (specitically or individually) into a pair of transverse elonjiate spots . 3, 3 {a). Abdominal 2nd segment with a pair of trans- verse, elongate orange spots, narrowed on inner sides and nearly touching one another. Hind margin of 3rd segment narrowly, of 4th broadly, pale, 5th segment all orange except narrowly black at base. Abdominal pubescence, when seen from the side or behind, verv dense and apparently all deep orange, the black pubes- cence on the l)lack parts of the surface hardly noticeable ". ovntcu Brun., p. 60. 3 (i). Abdominal 2nd segment with the spots as in ovata but narrower, and also again narrowed at each end of each spot. Hind marsins of 3rd and 4th segments not appreciably pale, 5th dull br(3wnish - orange. Abdominal pubescence (viewed as in ovata) less dense, paler yellow, and the black pubescence as conspicuous as the [p. 62. yellow trilineata, sp. n., 3 (c). Abdominal 2nd segment with a broad yellow band which is (1) very narrowly interrupted in the middle, forming two spots with broad inner ends or, (2) entire, moderately broad but much wider at each end or, (3) tilling all the surface except the black hind margin. Hind margins of 3rd and 4th segments respectively narrowly or broadly yellow, 5th segment yellow, narrowly black at base with a transverse small triangular or curved black mark. Abdominal pubescence following ground-colour, but the [p. 62. black much less conspicuous fi(jerina, Big., 46. Dideoides annandalei, Brun. IHdea annandalei, Brunetti, liec. Ind. Mus. xvi, p. 299, J (1919). cS . Head : frous and face bright clirome-yellow ; former with short, stifl' black pubescence, latter with softer, pale yellow hairs ; antenna^ orange, upper side brownish ; arista orange ; rnouth- border brownish. Eyes quite bare ; occiput black, entire margin with fringe of whitish hairs ; vertex with stiff black hairs ; ocelli ruby-red. Thorax shining black ; dorsum without trace of median grey stripes on anterior margin, w^holly with quite whitish pubescence ; side margins distinctly yellowish ; pleuriB mainly shining black, with whitish pubescence ; mesopleura aeneous, with DI DECIDES. 59 yellowish i)nbeseeiK-e. Scutelluiu wholly rather dull yellow, with all-yeUowish pubescence. Abdomen witli yellow spots as in v. fascinta, Macq., except that the 5th segnient is wholly orange except at middle ot" base. Venter yellowish, an indistinct black mark about middle of each segment. Lec/s, except the black coxae, wliolly yellow. Wings with 3rd longitudinal vein barely dipped. Length, 8 mm. Described from a single cT from Nasratabad (Consulate Garden), Seistan. T2/2ie in Indian Museum. 47. Dideoides kempi, sp. nov, (PL II, fig. 9.) cS 2 • JJi^cd '■ eyes with dense brownish-yellow pubescence, contiguous for a little greater distance than lengtli of vertical triangle, which is black, with black hairs; frons, face and cheeks with close orange-yellow pile, wliich is a little more orange on former ; pubescence of frons black, of face pale yellow, very inconspicuous; facial bump orange-yellow, bare ; mouth-border barely darker ; proboscis black. Antennjc black, under side of 1st and 2nd, and base of <3rd joint below, dull orange. Occiput yellowish-grey, with yellow fringe, with which a few black hairs are intermixed behind vertex. In 5 , frons aiul face widening rapidly downwards, at level of antennte about one-third width of head, a median, rather wide dark bi'own stripe froin vertex (where it reaches from eye to eye) to antenna?, tiie frons on each side of it dusted with yellowish-grey, all covered with rather dense black pubescence. Thorax greenish-ajneous {tgpe) or yellowish- a!neous ; two yellowish-grey median stripes from anterior border to about middle of dorsum ; side margins rather orange, but not conspicuously so ; sides of thorax yellow-dusted ; under side of thorax grey-dusted. Scutellum translucent oran.iie-yellow. Pubescence of dorsum of thorax and on pleurie bright yellow, of side margins and around wing-base orange; of scutellum yellow "With some brown hairs intermixed. AU/omen very distinctly inarginate ; 1st segment aeneous with yellowish-grey pubescence, remainder barely shining indigo, hind margins of segments broadly shining deep blue. A pair of elongate-triangnlur yellow spots lying across middle of 2nd segment, their bases towards but (juite clear of side margins, their rounded apices just separated from one another in middle of segment ; a narrow , slightly curved yellow band just before middle of 3rd segment, well clear of anterior margin and distinctly clear of side margins. Pubescence of abdomen very short, bristly and black, making the surface appear at first sight almost pun<;tate, excei)t on the yellow spots; 2nd segment with sparse yellowish pubescence over whole siu'face except behind tlie yellow spots. Pubescence brownish- yellow on yellow band on 3rd segment. Venter shining black, a pair of large pale yt-liow spots on 2nd segment and a pale yellow broad basal band on ."(rd segment. />!'//••<■: coxie, nearly all iho 60 SYEPHID.?:. basal half of anterior femora and more than basal half of hind pair, more than apical half of hind tibiae and all tarsi, wholly black ; remainder of legs orange. Pubescence mainly orange- yellow, but black on black parts of femora, and a friuge of tiny black bristles down binder side of hind tibiae and also on apical half on inner side. Wings distinctly yellowish ; stigma darker ; squamag and halteres orange. Length, 14 mm. Described from two c? d" in the Indian Museum. Above Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 3500-3900 ft., ix. 1917 (Mrs. Kemp). Avery striking and handsome species. Two $ $ and a headless specimen from the lower ranges, Khasi Hills, 1878 (Chennell), iu the British Museum. 48. Dideoides ovata, Brun. (PI. I, figs. 16, 17.) Dideoides ovuta, Brunetti, Rec. lud. Mus. ii, p. 54 (figs., abd. (^ $ ) (1906). 6 $ . Head, S '• fii^e moderately produced above mouth and just below the antennae; in depth descending only a little below eyes; face and fro ns bright yellow, with moderately thick yellow hair, which above the antennae is replaced by black liairs. Eyes touching for half the distance from top of frons to the triangular- elongated vertex, which is black with black hairs and prominent reddish ocelli ; eyes with close gi-e\' pubescence. Antennae reddish- brown, situated on a tawny (darker on upper side) protuberance : 3rd joint of antennae darker on upper side, arista orange, bare ; mouth and proboscis black, latter with some grey liair at tip ; back of head greenish-grey ; posterior orbit of eyes with a thick fringe of short bright yellow hair, of equal length all round. In $ , frons with a broad greenish-black stripe from vertex down to and enclosing upper part of antennal protuberance, the black hairs being thicker than in the /rosi/rp/ius tit/erim/s, Bigot, Anu. Soc.Ent. France, (6) v, p. 249 (1885). d" 2 • Very near botli oi^ata and trilineata. Thorax aeneous, a little more yellowish in the c? , greenish in the $ ; the three longitudinal dark stripes as in both those species, perhaps some- what less distinct. 1st abdominal band normally entire, though in one 6 it is just visibly interrupted in the middle; in some specimens so broad as to fill all the surface except the rather broad black hind margin, 2nd and 3rd abdominal bauds as in ovata, but rather broader and more yellowish than orange. Edges of abdomen black, with long pale yellow pubescence only at sides of 2nd segment, that on remainder of margins black, with a few yellow hairs intermixed in places. Pubescence of dorsum of abdomen yellow, conspicuous, but less dense than in ovata, and the black pubescence on the black parts short and less noticeable than in trilineata. Eacial stripe sometimes less conspicuous, and antennae wholly black except for a slight paleness at base of 3rd joint. Eemora entirely yellow except in one d" , in which about the basal halt is pale. Eest as in ovata. A short series of both sexes in tlie British Museum. Lower ranges, Khasi Hills, Assam, 1S78 (Chennell). Their identification with Bigot's type c? is certain, from a close comparison. 2'i/2)e in Bigot collection. Both of the two latter species appear distinct, although further specimens and the 5 sex of trilineata must be forthcoming before a final decision can be made. The kindred genus Asarcina shows a disposition to form local races, judging by the excellent series of such forms amongst the African species in the British Museum, and Dideoides may be found to possess the same tendency. The characters of my three closely allied species are defined in the table perhaps as clearly as in tlie descriptions. AS.VllCIXA. 63 Genus ASARCINA, Macq. AsarTxina, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 77 (1842). Gen'OTYPe, Sijrphus rostratus, Wied. ; by original designation. Characters mainly as in tSi/rj^Jins. Abdomen rather broader, flat. Frons rather abruptly projected into an obtuse antennal prominence ; face a little excavated below antenna; ; facial bump distinct, more prominent than iu Sf/rj^Jius ; mouth-border not produced ; proboscis rather long, labella large. Winr/s with submarginal cell widened at about the middle and again at tip. In all else as in Syr^ihus. Macquart considers that this genus a])proache3 Rliingia, and attributes it to Serville in maiuiscript. The type-species rostratus is evidently more Rhvu/ia-Wke than the two Orit^ntal ones, cecji-otus and ericetorum, in neither of wliich does the face in any way approach that of Rhingia. Life-historj/ apparently unknown. Range. South Asia, China, Orient, North and Central Africa. Of the two Indian species, ericeionun has pale yellow unmarked wings, and cegrota a dark broad band across the middle of the wings. 51. Asarcina ericetorum, Fair. (PI. I, fig. IS : PI. II, tig. l.) Si/rphus ericetorum, Fabricius, Spec. Ins. ii, p. 425 (1781). Asarcina ericetorum, Bnmetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 210 (1915). Si/rphns salrice, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. ii, p. :j40 ( 1787). Asarcina salvice, de Meijere, Tijd. v. J"]nt. Ii, p. .31 1 (1908). Syrphus incisuralis, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Siippl. 5, p. 94 (1855). Asarcina typica, liezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, vi, p. 499 (1908). ? Didea diaphana, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. xiv, p. 409 (1857J. c? ?. Ilead: eyes in 6 closely contiguous for half the dis- tance from vertex to frons; facets uniform in size; vertical triangle very elongate, black with black pubescence ; frons bright sulphur-yellow with long black erect pubescence ; a semicircular shining blackish-brown spot on upper side of the small antennal prominence, the rest of which, with the antennae, is brownish- orange ; 1st and 2nd joints of latter with black stiff hairs above and below, upper side of 3rd joint brown ; arista orange, bare • face and all lower part of head covered with pale yellow tomentum and very fine concolorous pubescence ; central bump and mouth- border brownish-orange; proboscis black; occiput dark, with yellowish-grey tomentum on side margins and an unbroken fringe of bright yi'llow liairs forming a complete circle round the whole head. In $ , frons at vertex about one-ninth of the head, rather rapidly widening to double that width at level of antenuc'©; vertex for some distance brilliantly shining violet, with sparse, almost imperceptible fine dark h;iirs ; face with parallel sides, as wide as widest part of frons, with fine yellow pubescence. Thorax jcneous with a slight brassy tinge, from fore to hiiul margin : sides of dorsum and the scutellum wholly (irange-yellow ; pleuraj yellowisli-grey. Whole; thorax and scutellum covered with 64 SYEPHIB^. moderately dense, rather fine bright yellow pubescence, but hind border ot" scutellum with black hairs. Abdomen orange-yellow ; 1st segment with moderately broad median stripe and hind border narrowly black, the colour slightly broader in middle ; sometimes the segment nearly or wholly yellow ; 2nd segment with narrow median black stripe present, indefinite or absent ; hind margin shining black ; 3rd and 4th segments similar, but median stripe absent and occasionally extreme anterior margin black; 5th segment with black hind margin indefinite or absent, occasionally quite distinct. Extreme sides of 1 st and basal half of 2nd segment yellow with short yellow pubescence, sides of rest of abdomen narrowly black with short black pubescence. Apical half of abdomen some- times darkened. Venter yellowish, apical half more or less obscured. Pubescence of 1st and 2nd segments with short yellow pubescence ; on hind border of 2nd segment and on all the rest of the abdomen the pubescence is black, though very short and inconspicuous. Legs yellow ; about the hind half of anterior tarsi, and hind side of hind tibiae, also all hind tarsi, brown or blackish. Wings pale yellowish-grey ; subcostal cell and stigma pale yellow ; halteres orange. Length, normally 12-13 mm. Widely distributed in India and the East, in both hills and plains, throughovit the greater part o£ the year. Ti/pe in Fabricius collection. 52. Asarcina aegrota, Fabr. Eristalis mjrota, Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 243 (1805). Asarcina cec/rota, Brunetti, Rec. Iiid. Mas. xi, p. 210 (191o). Syrphus infirma, Eondani, Ann. Mas. Gen. vii, p. 423 (1875). S $ . Head : eyes, vertical triangle and occiput as in A. erice- torum ; f rons and face shining black, closely covered with yellowish-grey tomentum, on former with black hairs, and with whitish tomentum and pale yellow hairs on latter ; antennal prominence shining black except for a small space below in front ; bare with sparse black hairs; central bump and a stripe from base of antennae down to it shining black. Antennae with 1st and 2nd ■joints black, 3rd narrowly black, but orange on more or less of basal half below ; arista blackish ; mouth-border blackish. In 5 , frons about one-eleventh or one-twelfth of head at vertex, gradually widening to about two and a half times as wide at level of antennae, mainly shining black, with sparse black pubescence, but with a yellowish-grey dust-spot on each side on eye-margin, iust above antennal prominence, the spots nearly united at their inner ends. Tliorax : dorsum shining black with short dark brown pubescence; a collar of erect bright yellow hairs on front ASAKCIXA. — ISCnYROSYRPHUS. 65 iiKU'giii ; shoulders and hind corners dull yellowish with yellowish pubescence ; scutelluni yellow, with line black pubescence ; pleurae grey with white pubescence. Abdomen dull black ; 2nd segment with a pair of large irregularly oval orange-yellow spots placed obliquely from anterior corners, their inner ends occasionally meeting, occupying a considerable part of the surface ; 3rd and 4th each with a broad orange-yellow basal band, one-third to one-half the length of the segment, extending from side to side but occasion- ally not quite reaching the extreme side margins ; hind margin of 4th segment moderately shining black ; 5th segment more or less black in middle, sometimes nearly wholly black, rather shining. Pul)escence of abdomen pale yellow and conspicuous on yellow spots on 2nd segment, short, black and inconspicuous on rest of dorsum ; abdominal side margins (except where the spots on 2ud segment attain the margin) with a distinct fringe of coarser black pubescence. Venter black with bast? broadly pale and two (sometimes three) pale yellow bands corresponding to those on the dorsum of the 3rd and 4th (and sometimes 5tli) segments. Lei/s : coxie black; anterior femora and tibiae yellow; base of middle femora blackish ; anterior tarsi mainly black, often brownish at base ; hind legs wholly black. Winr/s clear ; a broad dark brown band from front to hind margin occupying middle third of wing ; extreme base brown ; haltenjs yellow . Leiu/tli, 11-12 mm. As widelv distributed as A. ericetoram in India and the East, both from hills and |)laius, at almost all seasons of the year. Location of t>/pe uncertain. Geuus ISCHYROSYRPHUS, Birj. Ischi/rosi/rphus, Bigot, Ann. Sue. Eat. France, (6) ii, Rnll. ]>. Ixviii ( \^&2). Ischyrosyrphiis, Vorrall, Brit. Flies, Syrph. p. 321 (1901). Genotype, ^yrphas (jlaucius, L. ; by original desigiuition. Near Syrphiis. Eyes distinctly or indistinctly hairy ; jow Is not more than one-third as deep as diameter of eye ; face without median Ijlack stripe; abdomen in outline club- or |)liial-shaped, sometimes broader, sometimes narrower; 2nd segment with a broad, more or less (though always slightly) interrupted band, generally transparent; 'A\\\ segment, and generally 4th also, with a small widely interrupted band. These are the principal characters set out by I\Iik in erecting his genus Lrtf/enosyrj)has, which is considered synonymous with Ischj/rosyiphics by some authors. Bigot's diagnosis of the latter genus was very faulty, and it seems questionable whether it is advisable to give generic rank to every group of s|)ecies that ililfers from tlie general facies of a very large genus such as >S>fr/)h>(s. However, Verrall admits the present genus, and the only Indian species referred to is Higot's. P 66 SYRPHID.E. 53. Iscliyrosyrphus sivae, Bhj. Ischyrosyrphus i^ivce, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Eut. France, (6) ii, Bull. p." Ixviii (,1882). S . ''AnteuiisB tawny, tip slightly darkened; face and frons yellow ; thorax dull aeneous with rather dense tawny pubescence, and three longitudinal, narrow, brown stripes ; scutellum tawny with tawny pubescence ; abdomen coucolorous, with rather dense but very short, tawny touientuni ; base of abdomen narrowly black; three narrow black transverse bands, Avidened in the middle. Legs tawny, base of femora black; bind tibite and tips of tarsi broadly darkened. AVings pale yellowish ; anterior margin a little deeper brownish yellow. Length 19 millim. One speci- men, India." I know^ nothing of this species. The tupe is recorded as in the Bigot collection, but I have been unable to find it there. Genus LASIOPTICUS, llond. LasioptJiicus, llondaui, Nuov. Ann. Sci. Nat. Bologna, (2) ii, p. 459 (1844). Catabomha, Osten-Sacken, Bull. U.S. Geolog. Surv. iii, p. 325 (1877). Genotype, Syrplms pyrastri, L. ; by Rondani's designation. This genus differs from Syrpluis almost solely in the inflated frons in both sexes, and the area of larger facets on the upper and middle portion of the eye in the S- The species have a certain facies of their own, but the genus is not universally recognised, and some authors prefer the use of the name Catnhomba, Osten-Sacken ; though the two genera are perhaps not exactly synonymous, as llondani's limits of Lasiopticus (LasiopJithicus) were vague. The question whether the name Lasiopticus or Catabomha should stand for i\\e pyrastri, L., group of species of Syrphus has been discussed previously, but opinions difter, and I have experienced some difficulty in deciding which name to adopt. Verrall's contention was that Lasiopticus, as proposed by Rondani in 1844 (the species being described in 1857), was a wholly impossible genus on account of the inclusion of incongruous species; but this does not seem flawless, as in the first phice the genus as originally constituted was not more ill-founded than many others. of those times ; and in the second place, Eoudani in 1856 (Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 51) set up a definite type-species, pyrastri, L. This would at least attach to that group of species the name Lasiopticus, even if that genus was subsequently shorn of all the other species placed in it by Rondani. Therefore, when Osten- Sacken in 1877 erected Catahomha on 2yyrastvi* he went beyond * Verrall says the genus was founded by Osten-Sacken for pyrastri "and its allies," hut pyrastriv/iis selected definitelyas the type of Lasiopticus hi 1856. LASIOPTICUS. 67 his riglits. It would have been better to have defined Eondani's genus* more closely by adding tlie characters of the inHaled trons and the enlarged facets of the upper part of the eyes in the d ; these being apparently stable characters, whereas the jiubescence of the eyes in this group is not a generic character. Si/rphm contains species with distinctly pubescent eyt-s in both sexes, others with the eyes moderately hairy in the c? and almost bare in the 5 , and still others with quite bare eyes in both sexes. Lasiopticns in Kondani's sense has pubescent eyes only, but if Catahomha be regarded as synonymous with it, the genus will then contain bare-eyed species also, since Verrall notes (Brit. Flies, Syrph. p. 333) a species from North America in Bigot's collection with bare eyes. Ischyrosijrphus also contains hairy-eyed and almost bare-eyed species ; whilst the genera Xantliogramma, Sch., and Olhiosyrphun, Mik, are only separated by the bare eyes of the former contrasted with the pubescent eyes of the latter, and an intermediate species might be considered to unite the genera An American writer (R. C Osburn, Journ. N. Yk. Ent. 8oc. xviii, p. o^, 1910) suggests the suppression of the genus Catahomha. Of the two Indian species of this genus, L. seleniticus has the abdominal spots comparatively narrow and curved upwards at the inner ends, whilst L. latimaculaius has them very broad and oval. 54. Lasiopticus seleniticus, Jleir/. (PI. II, fig. 2.) Si/rphus seleniticus, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. iii, p. 304, pi. xxx, fi"-. 21 • (18i'2). Catahomha neloiitica, Verrall, Brit. Flies, Syrph. p. 3.37, iip. 280, abd. (1001). Syrphiix liDiulatus, Wiedemann, Aiiss. Zweifl. ii. p. 121 (1830). Lasiophthicus annamites, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) v, p. 2o0 (1885). S 2 . Head, S '■ eyes with dense whitish pubescence, which is sparser on under side ; closely contiguous for a short distance ; vertical triangle small, black, with black or blackish-brown hairs; ocelli ruby-red ; frons and face orange-yellow, generally a little deeper on former, which bears conspicuous black pubescence; space above untenna? blackish- or orange-brown ; face with parallel sides from lev(d of antennic downwards, in width considerablv more than one-third of head; with shortiM- black |)ubescence which becomes yellow on lower part; an irregular blackish-brown stripe * A siiuiliir ciisc to ilie present one came before me recently in 'J'ipumd.k regiircling tlie genns Trent cpohlia, Big. Thi.s wns only " cliarncterised " by its incliiaion in a table containing genera belonging to two otlier subfamilies of TiPi'LiD-fi, and a genua each of Di.xin.i; and M vCKToi-ini.n).!;, bcsidea otlier wholly unrelated genera of Tiruun.K. Ifowevor. Bijot had stated a type- species and Edwards aftervvarda sufUciently cliaracteri.sed the genus, so I suppressed my genus Moiiqo7ni(>i(fcx (erected on Bigot's typo of Treiitepohfia), though I still ciiiim that (lie nomination of a type-species dnea not constitute the diagnosis of a genus. 68 SYliPHlDyE. from inoutli-border ; latter browiiisli-orauge along eJge ; proboscis blackish. Antennae black, 1st joint and base of 3rd below more or less orange ; arista bare, black. Occiput ash-grey with shorter yellow fringe on upper half and longer whitish fringe on lower half. In $ , pubescence of eyes less dense; vertex broadly shniing black ; frons widening rapidly to level of anteunje, thence, the sides parallel (in the two $ $ before me the brown marks above antennae deeper and more extended than in 6 ). Tliorax aeneous with dense yellowish-brown pubescence; humeri and sides of dorsum dull brownish-yellow, the pubescence there thicker and more orange in colour; pleurae ash-grey with pale yellow pubescence ; scutellum dull brownish -yellow with all-brown pubescence. Abdomen black, moderately shining : 2nd segment witli a pair of well separated oval orange-yellow spots lying across the middle, the outer ends rather narrowed, passing over side- margins towards anterior corners of segment ; 3rd and 4th seg- ments each with a pair of orange-yellow lunules, less separated in tlie middle line than the spots on the 2nd segment, their upper ends reaching nearly to anterior margin of segment and level with one another, their outer ends passing over side margins near anterior corners ; hind border of 4th segment narrowly orange ; otli segment mainly black, margin more or less narrowly orange. Pubescence of abdomen practically following ground-colour. Venter black, more or less yellowish on basal half. Legs mainly orange ; nearly all the basal half of anterior femora, all the hind femora, a median ring on hind tibiae and last four tarsal joints, dark brown. Soft, fine, rather long, pale yellow pubescence chiefly confined to basal half of outer and under sides of fore femora, diminishing towards tips ; also on hind and under sides of middle femora, and outer and under sides of hind femora, though much sparser on the latter. Tibiae and tarsi with only normal pubescence. Wings clear, stigma and halteres yellowish. Length, 12-13 mm. Described from 2 S c?a,nd 2 $ $ in the Indian Museum. Simla, 7000 ft., 5. V. 1907 ; Tlieog, SOOOffc.. 27. iv. 1907 (both Anncmdale); Mundali, Dehra Dun District, 12,000 ft., 12. v. 1910. One $ in the British Museum from the Khasi Hills, Assam, 1S7 8 (Chennell). The specimen from Theog was originally recorded by me as Syrphus luniger, Meig. A common European species. 55. Lasiopticus latiniaculatus, sp. nov. (PI. II, figs. 3, 4.) (S 2 • J^ecid pale yellow ; vertex rather narrowly deep black with very short black pubescence ; frons vesiculose, with browu pubescence on upper part and whitish on lower part, as also on face; mouth-border and traces of a streak extending upwards from it, also frons around base of antenna?, all narrowly brownish. Autennal 1st and 2nd joints brownish-orange, 2ud narrowly black above, 3rd black, brownish-orange below at base, arista orange, LASIOPTICUS. — SYUPIIUS. 69 the colours more distinct in $ tlian in cJ . Occipihil margin ash- grey with rather dense white pubescence, which is yellow isli behind vertex. Thorax aeneous-bhick witli brownish-grey pubescence on dorsum, white on pleurae and more yellowish on the broad con- spicuous yellow side margins, which reach tlie yt^Howish trans- lucent scutellum ; latter darker in centre and with black pubescence except for some whitish pubescence at base. Abdomen shining black with three pairs oF broad subequal orange spots, the 1st pair lying across middle of 2nd segment, well separated, oval and continned broadly over anterior part of side margins ; 2nd and 3rd pairs, on 3rd and 4th segments, rather less widely separated than 1st pair, a])proximately oval, slightly curved, with outer ends truncate, parallel to but quite clear of side margins ; 4th segment with narrow orange hind margin ; 5th black with narrow side and hind margins. Genitalia orange, marked with black ; venter yellow with black transverse marks. Pubescence of abdomen practically following ground-colour. Tjegx orange- yellow; coxfe, anterior femora for nearly basal half, hind pair for more than basal half, black; upper side of tarsi brownish. Whufn colourless, stigma pale yellow; squamsD whitish with white pubescence. Length, 11 mm. Described from a S from Allahabad, 12. i. 1906 {Ilowldi), and a 2 from Peshawur, 18. iii.1913, "on rye grass" (Ilowlett) : Ferozepore, v. 1908, c^ ?; Abu, cf $ (both Nurxe). Types sent to the British Museum by Mr. T. B. Fletcher. Genus SYRPHUS, Fahr. Syrphiis, Fabricius, Syst. ICiit. p. 7(i2 (177o). Scfeva, Fabrifiu3, Syst. Antl. p. lU8 (ISOo). Psyloijaster, Lioy, Atti Isli. Vfiieto, (:{) ix, p. 7oo (1801). Episirophe, Walker, Ins. Sauiid., Dipt, i, p. --'42 (1852). Genotype, Mvscn rihesii, L. ; by universal acceptance *'. Head as broad as or rather broader than thorax ; eyes contiguous in (S , well separated in $ , generally bare, but varying up to densely pubescent ; frons prominent; face slightly hollowed below antenna), a moderately large central knob and the mouth-border produced ; face wholly yellow or yellow with a median black stripe; antenna; of moderate and normal Syrphine type, 3rd joint oval, arista nearly basal, bare or slightly pubescent. Thorax subquadratt! or slightly wider just bin'ond middle, black or asneous, or at most slightly y(41owish towards sides, but without con- spicuous markings on pleura;; scutellum normally yellow, with * Coquillett's siiKgestion to apply the name Syrphus to Lcucozona lucorum is unwarrivntfiblo ; tlie apecii-s ribcsii lins always been accepted as typical of this genus, and I decline to troiilile about, any prcsiuned claim of any other grfuqi of species U> the nauic Si/rjihiis. 70 SYRPHID^. sott pubescence, as has also the thoracic dorsum. Abdomen longer than thorax, segments subequal in length except the very short last one in cT and the small anal segments in $ ; ranging in shape from a short oval to a long oblong, generally broader in ? ; yellow or pale spots or bands present in all species. Legs simple, slightly pubescent. Wings with typical Syrphine venation ; anterior cross- vein before middle of discal cell, 3rd vein normally almost straight; alulae and squamae of moderate size. Wings folded over abdomen at rest. Life-Mstory, The larvae feed on Aphides, the metamorphoses of several European species being known *. Range. World-wide. Fig. 16. — Si/rjyhus conf rater, Wied., (^. The typical genus of the family, forming the centre of a group containing Didea, Platychirus, Melanostorna, Pyrophcena, Cliilosia and allies, and some othei's. Lasiopticus^ Eond., and Ischyro- syrphus, Big., are recognised as distinct, though they do not strongly appeal to me as such. Some confusion has arisen over the synonymy of the genus which is lucidly explained by Verrall f. This author also records two swarms (consisting of more than one species) that occurred in England in 1869, simultaneously at two places. The genus occurs almost everywhere, though its natural home seems to be Europe. De Meijere gives some valuable notes on the Oriental species, with a table (Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 291 ei seq.). Table of Species. 1. Eyes pubescent 2. Eyes bare 10. 2. Two definite greyish stripes on anterior part of thorax (less distinct in serarius) . 3. No such obvious stripes ; at most, traces in individuals 4. 3. A black facial stripe ; grey thoracic stripes more distinct albostriatns,Fln., p. 72. No facial stripe ; grey thoracic stripes less distinct serarius, Wied., p. 73 * See p. 25 and footnote to p. 26. t Brit. Flie.='. SyrpliidiP, p. 3^0. SYRPiirs, 71 4. Xo facial black stripe, but central bump may be black 5. A blaclc facial stripe (brown and very narrow in oj)imius) 7. i). Abdominal bands divided into three pairs of spots (rneifrons, lirun.. p. 7"). Abdominal bands entire (in serarius, the pair of spots on the :*nd seg-ment often ujiited, forming a narrow band still narrower in middle) 6. (3. Under side of 3rd antennal joint always moro or less orange (abdominal bands [p. 76. yellow) torvus, Ost.-Sack., Aiitennoe wholly black (/riseocmctus, sp. n., 7. Abdomen with o pairs of spots 8. [p. 77. Abdomen with 2nd and ;3rd abdominal bands entire 9. 8. Abdominal spots large, sub-lunate opimins, Walk., p. 78. Abdominal spots narrower, linear reDiotus, sp. u., p. 78. 9. Vertex brilliant shining violet; face dull yellowish with small central bump shining black; anterior femora practically all yellow, at most extreme base black ; [p. 71). hind legs blackish transversus, Brun., Vertex black ; face orange-brown with broad black stripe ; anterior femora black on basal third to half; hind legs apparently withmoreblack surface tiian in ^/•rtJj.si'frsMS orsiui, Walk., p. 80. 10. Thoraxwith obvious grey or bronze stripes, at least on anterior margin 11. Thorax without obvious grey stripes, at most, traces of such in individuals 12. [p. 81. 11. Thoracic stripes five, bronze-coloured .... quinquevittatus, sp. ii., Thoracic stripes two, greyish, sometimes [p. 82. indistinct haltcatus, De Cieer, 12. Abdomen rather conspicuously narrow. . . . ciitctillm, Zett., p, 84. Abdomen of usual ovate shape T'l 13. Abdomen with three pairs of spots; no entire transver.se baud 14. A pair of spots on 2ud segment; 2nd and .">rd abdominal bands entire l''^- \\\ tlirce jibdominal bands entire* 18. 14. Abdominal spots clearly passing over side margins; genitalia in S very largo ; scu- tellum yellow-haired corolUr, Fabr., p. 80. Abdominal spots clear of side margins ; genitalia in S of normal size; scutellum black-haired Iimiijcr, Meig., p. 80. 15. No facial black stripe IJJ. A black facial stripe 17. * .S. covfrahr, Wicd., is included under tliis bending, as tlio mnrkinps of the 2nd ivbdoniinal setjuicut generally consist of a pair of elongate, tr.insverae spots broadly united at their inner ends, tlins forming im entire hand ; but in some specimens they nro just separated. Wiedemann deserilied lliem ns » psiir of contiguous spots, wliicli is im excellent definition. 72 SYBPHID^. 16. Facial bump pale yellow ; scutelluni yellow- haired ; hiud femora partly ( d )> or entirely ( 2 ), orange, hind tibiae mainly [p. 87. oranpe lafifasciattis, Macq.. Facial bump dark ; scutellum black-haired ; [p. 89. hind femora and tibiae nearly all black. . fiilvifacies, Bruu., 17. Hind leg-s with conspicuous black pubes- cence : long. 14-15 mm aqualis, Walk., p. 90. Hind legs without such conspicuous black [p. 91. pubescence : long. 6 mm maculipleura, Brun., 18. Abdominal bands lying acro.«s middle of [p. 92. segments, nearer front than hind margins. confrater^ Wied., Abdominal bands placed on hind margins of segments, each band slight^ over- lapping the following segment* asswu'lis, Macq., p. 94. 56. Syrphus albostriatits, Mn. (PI. II, figs. 5-8.) tScceva albostriata, Fallen, Dipt. Suec, Syrph. p. 42 (1817). Syrphus albostriattis, Verrall, British Flies, Syrph, p. 344, figs. 282- '284. Syrphus carinthiacus, Latzel, Jahrb. d. naturh. Landesmus. von Karuten, p. 105 (1876). S $ . Head : S -, eyes absolutely contiguous for only a short distance, but very narrowly separated thence to vertex, bearing dense brown pubescence ; frons with dark grey dust and black hairs, mainly occupied by the relatively large shining black antennal prominence ; face bright chrome-yellow, a little darker below anteunse, with a distinct black median stripe enclosing the shining central bump ; cheeks orange, generally sharply demar- cated from face by a clear-cut black stripe ; pubescence of face fine, black, that of cheeks whitish. Antennae and proboscis black. Occiput grey, with a yellowish-wliite uninterrupted fringe, which is more whitish on lower part and more yellowish on upper part, where there are some long black liairs on vertex. In 5 , frons from vertex to base of antennae shining black with a broad trans- verse grey space across the middle, the colour continued narrowly along eye-margins till merged in the yellow face. In both sexes both frons and face sometimes almost translucent. Thorax moderately shining aeneous-black ; a pair of obvious though not conspicuous short grey stripes, narrowly separated, extending from anterior margin hindwartis to beyond suture ; a slight greyish tinge at each end of suture; pleurte dnrk grey, shining ; pubescence of dorsum and pleurae yellowish or yellowish-grey, scutellum brownish-yellow, with v\ holly long black pubescence except for some shorter yellow hairs in front. Abdomen black ; * I add this species to the table, as Macqnart's expression "near ribesii" should mean that the eyes are bare; however, he uses the same expression with regard to his consimifis, in whicli he states tlie eyes to be pubescent. SYRIMIUS. 73 on 2ik1 segment a pair of moderate-sized yellow oval spots placed across centre, near siiies, well separated from each other and clear of side margins ; 3rd segment with a sinuate narrow yellow hand of uniform width from side to side, placed a lirtle before middle of segment and broadly contiguous to centre of anterior margin. Jn some specimens this band is slightly emarginate behind at the middle. Fourth segment similar to 3rd. Pubescence following ground-colour except for a few black hairs at hind corners of segments. In 9 ? band on 3rd abdominal segment ratlier less sinuate and much narrower in middle than in cf ; hind corners of 4th segment and hitid margin of 5th narrowly orange. Lecjs orange-yellow; basal half of anterior femora, and more than basal half of hind femora, black, also hind tibiae more or less blackish towards tips ; upper side of hind tarsi blackish-brown. Wwfjs pale yellowish-grey; stigma ch'stinct, long, yellowish- bi'own ; iialteres orange, squama) yellowisli. Length, 8|-10 mm. Described from several S S and a single $ in the Indian Museum. Mundali, Dehra Dun District, 9000 ft., 10. v. 1910; Matiana, Simla District, 8000 ft. ; Kurseong, 4700 ft., l.'. iv. 191 1 {Annnndale^-, Darjiling, 6900 ft., 20. x. 1905 (J?n«n^«i), a rather dark variety. Distributed throughout Europe. There is no doubt about the identification, the grey-striped thorax and the con- vex yellow abdominal bands being striking and unusual characters. 57. Syrplms serarins, Wied. (PI. II, figs. 11 14.) SyrpJms i^crariits, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 128 (1830); de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 290 (1907). J $. J fend', in (^ , eyes with dense brown pubescence ; vertical triangle small, black with black hairs ; upper part of frons almost aeneous, sometimes with greenish or yellowish tinges, w ith close blackish-grey dust and long black pubescence. Antennal pro- minence shining violet-black, space round base of antennae narrowly orange ; face with ground-colour orange, often with an aeneous tinge, with dense yellowish-grey dust and rather thick though not conspicuoufi dark brown ^nil'escence, which becomes whitish an the type taken between Kalek and Misshing (4000 ft.), 18. iii. 1 912 ; the second exam])le taken at Yeinbung (llOO ft.), 17. iii. 1912 (Abor Expedition). Type in Indian Museum. 59. Syrphus torvus, Ost.-Sack. Syrphus torvus, Osten-Sacken, Proc. Bostou Soc. Nat. llist. xviii, p. 139 (1875). Scceva ribesii, Fallen, Dipt. Suec, Syrpb. 40, 6 var. (1817). Scceva topiarius, Zetterstedt {nee Meigeii), Ins. Lapp., Dipt. p. 599 (1838); id., Dipt. Scnnd. ii, p. 723 (1843). Syrphus topiarius, Schiner, Faun. Austr. i, p. 304 (1862). Syrjihus torvus, Verrall, Brit. Flies, viii, p 356 (1901). S $ . Head : 6 , eyes contiguous for a distance equal to length of vertical triangle, with grey pubescence : vertical triangle black with long black hairs ; frons with yellow dusr and long black pubescence : above antennae, shining black with an orange margin ; face wholly covered with yellow dust which is more orange on cheeks, all covered with fine black pubescence ; antennae black, under side of 3rd joint dull reddish-brown ; occiput dusted with yellowish-grey, marginal fringe bright yellow, some black hairs intermixed behind vertex. In $ , frons at level of antennae more than one-third of head; a considerable space at vertex and a similar space above antennae, brown ; rest of frons yellow-dusted as in S ■ Thorax dull greenish-grey; pleurae dark grey; scutellum brownish-yellow ; pubescence on dorsum of thorax brownish- yellow, brighter yellow round wing-bases, pale yellow on pleurae and wholly black on scutellum. Abdomen black ; 2nd segment with a pair of oval yellow spots, well separated, across middle, narrowly overlapping side margins near anterior cornel's ; 3rd and 4tli segments each with a yellow band placed just clear of anterior margin, though its centre might actually touch it for a space ; it is a little emarginate behind in middle, and each end clear of the side margins, except at anterior corners, where it passes over the edge. Hind margins of 4th and 5th segments orange. Genitalia orange and black. Pubescence mainly following ground- colour, but entirely pale yellow on 2nd segment except on hind niargin ; that on the cross-bands brownish. Venter, basal half svKPJius. 77 yellowisli, ivst blackisli ; pubescence pale, long, sparse. Legs orange ; about basal half oi: anterior, and two-thirds of hind, feuioru, black ; an indefinite brown ring on apical half of hind tibia? ; tips of anterior tarsi and all of the hind pair dark. Pubes cence of legs pale yellow ; some black hairs behind anterior femora and a row of black bristles down outer side of hind tibite. Winys nearly clear ; stigma pale yellow ; halteres orange ; squanue yellowish with deeper edges. Length, 10-12 mm. Described from 'd 6 6 and 1 5 from the tSimla District ; Matiana, 8000 ft., 28-;i0. iv. 1907 {Aiuumdale). The only discrepancy with Verrall's description in the above specimens lies in tbe black, instead of yellow, hairs on the face. The species has a wide range in Europe and jVorth America, 60. Syrphus griseocinctus, sp. nov. (Plate II, tig. lo.) (S . Head: eyes with close, short greyish jndjescence ; vertical triangle black with long black hairs; frons com[)aratively small, sinning brownisli-yellow, with ratlier long and dense black i)ubes- cence ; antennal prominence shining black with narrow orange front margin ; face pale brownish-yellow, with yellowish-grey dnst and soft pale yellow pubescence. Antenna) all-black, also arista. Pacial bump shining brown, bare, upper part of mouth- border narrowly black ; cheeks with traces of orange. Occipital margin yellowish-grey with yellow fringe. Thorcw slightly greenish-ajueoiis with dense yellow, rather long pubescence; pleurae yellowish-grey; hind corners of dorsum and scutellum brownish-yellow, translucent. Pubescence on pleunc yellowish, on side margins of dorsum more orange, on scutellum maiidy black, with pale hairs at base. Ahdo))ien: 1st segment aeneous, rest black ; hind margin of 4th segment broadly, and more than apical half of oth, rather shining; a narrow grey band with parallel sides across middle of 2nd segment, and similar bands just behind base of 3rd and 4tli segments, none of the bands reaching the side margins ; last segment all shining black. Pubes- cence golden-yellow except that of 2nd segment, w hich is almost all yellow, but has some darker hairs intermixed on hinder part. Venter dusky blackish, a little shining. Legs: coxte, basal half of anterior femora, more than basal half of hind i)air, a|)ic;d half of hind tibiie, anterior tnr.si towards tips and hind ])air wliolly, black ; rest of legs orange. Pnbescf nee on femora pale yellow, on rest of legs following the ground-coloiu". Wings pale g'cy ; stigma distinct, brownish-yellow; lialteres dark. Lenglli, 115 mm. Described from a single rT in the Indian ]\Iuseum from Hogar- kote, Kunuion, W. Himalayas, NOdO ft., 20. iv. 1014 ( '/'//. KtO (l!M.']j. $. Head: eyes with yellowish-white pubescence: frons gradu- ally widening from vertex to base of antenna), where it is fullv one-third width oF head; vertex shining violet, bare, except for the ocellar triangh; which bears a few short black hairs ; rest of frons dusted with yellowish-wliite, but for a large space around the antenna! piotnberance it is shining black ; face pale yellow, more whitish below, central bump rather small, shining black, tlie colour extending in a stripe to the mouth. Wiiole frons (except the vertex) down to antenna^ witli black pubescence ; whole face with whitish pubescence, w hich is longest on lower part and 80 STRPHID.E. around the black moiitli- border. Proboscis blackish-brown. Autennae wholly black, much as in ceneifrons, 3rd joint a little shorter. Anterior edge of autennal protuberance brownish- yellow. Back ot" head ash-grey ; upper posterior orbit of eyes with a fringe of bright yellow scale-like thick hairs, lower ])art of orbit with similar white scaly hairs. Thorax seneous, with pale brownish-yellow hairs ; sides ash-grey with whitish hairs. Scu- telluiu yellowish, with yellow hairs on dorsum and long black hairs in region of posterior border, and soft pendent white hair below. Abdomen ovate, black, 1st segment aeneous, very short ; 2nd, 3rd and -Ath segments with a moderately bz'oad yellow band on each, none of the bauds attaining the side margins, all narrowed in the middle, the 1st and 3rd bands practically interrupted there; in fact, the 1st band is really composed of two elongate triangular yellow spots, their apices not contiguous, but connected by a small grey-dusted patch. The 3rd baud is actually interrupted for a very short space, aud in individual specimens might easily resolve itself into two elongate spots ; pubescence of abdomen concolorous with ground-colour, a good deal of white hair laterally at base, and short pubescence along side margins except where the black parts of the abdomen intervene ; venter blackish, the two wider bands duplicated as on the dorsum, pubescence sparser; in certain lights the dorsal abdominal bauds have a creamy shade, especially the 1st band. Legs: coxoe, anterior femora at base, and about basal half of hind femora, black ; tibiae brownish-yellow, tarsi browner blackish-brown, hind pair with golden-brown pubescence below ; femora with pale hair, hind tibife with minute black pubescence on outer side. Wings clear, subcostal cell pale yellow; halteres yellowish-white. Length, 10 mm. Described from one § from Sadiya, Assam, 28. xi. 1011 {Kemp). In the Indian Museum. The unique tiipc is now considerably stained, the abdominal markings being indistinguishable. 64. Syrplius or sua, Walk. Syrphus orsua, Walker, lus. Saund,, Dipt, i, p. 231 (1852). The type was headless when described and is now in very indifferent condition. A probably conspecific $ from Sumatra in the British Museum is in equally bad condition. Head: frons broad at vertex, rapidly widening downwards, seneous-black, with moderately dense black pubescence ; eyes with rather dense dark brown pubescence. Antennae dull black. Face distinctly prominent, apparently dull yellowish- brown, with dark pubescence and a distinct, broad black median stripe ; cheeks apparently dark brown, with a blackish stripe between them aud the face. Post-ocular pubescence yellowish. Thorax ^neon?, with a blackisli tinge, a barely tawny tinge towards sides, on SYE.PHUS. 81 wliici) parts there is some yellowisli pubescence; scutellum dull brownish-yellow, with ratlier loug and line black hairs. Abdomen, black ; a pair of well-separated, narrow, ti'ansverse yellow spots before middle of 2nd segment, slightly widening to\^•ards sides ; 3rd and 4th segments with a transverse, moderately narrow yellowish stripe (rather arcuate in front) on eacli, the centre of each stripe just touching hind margin of segment in front, but the ends not reaching side margins. Hind margins of 4th and 5tli segments narrowly yellowish, anterior corners of 5th rather broadly so. Abdominal pubescence yellowish; A'enter yellowish, with broad, transverse obscure bands towards hind margins of segments. Legs: anterior pairs (type) mainly yellowisli, with about basal tlurd dark ; liind legs considerably more brownish ; the latter in the Suinatran specimen practically all black, except very narrowly brown about the knees and metatarsi. Wings clear, stigma moderately dark brownish-yellow ; halteres brownish- orange. Length, (Sumatran specimen) 10 mm. The type must have been about the same. It is labelled "India," and is from the Saunders collection. The second specimen is from Mt. Dempo, Sumatra, 7000-10,400 ft., 1. V. 1881 (Forbes). Type in British Museum. ^^5. Syrphus quinquevittatus, sp. nov. (PI. II, fig. 10.) S 5 . Head: eyes bare. In S , frons rather prominent, yellowish- dusted, with rather long and moderately dense black hairs; face almost translucent, with a pale yellowish tinge and \\ hitish dust ; moderately prominent with a conspicuous central, shining black bump, the colour extending to mouth-opening. Antenna) black, basal joints blackish-brown, with a transverse shining black callus on frons immediately above. Occiput grey ; postocular fringe white, more yellowish behind vertex. In $ , vertex broadly shining black, the colour continued down centre of frons to the shining black antennal prominence ; rest of frons with vellowish- grey dust, whole surface from vertex to antennae with x-ather dense black pubescence ; space between antennae orange, latter wholly black ; face yellowish with yellowish-grey dust and pale yellow soft pubescence; central bumij large, shining black, bare, the colour extended upwards slightly ; mouth-border at upper edge black, remainder, with cheeks, orange; occiput grey, lower part broadly orange: marginal fringe yellowish-grey, yellow behind vertex. Thorax aeneous, with a bronze tint in certain lights ; five obvious, though not conspicuous, bronze stripes from anterior margin nearly to scutellum, the outermost ones on extreme edge of dorsum. Pleura) ash-grey; humeri yellowish- grey; hind corners of dorsum yellowisli; scutellum brow^iiish- yellow, translucent. Pubescence of dorsum yellowish ; of humeri, side margins and hind corners bright yellow ; of pleura, pale yellow, but bright yellow round wing-base ; of scutellum, black. Abdomen bright yellow, 1st segment a>ueous, 2nd, 3rd and 4th G S2 SYEPHID^. with narrow ( J ) or broad ( $ ) black hind margins, each suc- cessively wider, those on 3rd and 4th segments in $ reaching to middle of segments, a narrow indefinite median black line on 2nd segment. Hind margins of 4th segment narrowly shining yellowish in S , more broadly aeneous in § ; 5th segment all shining black. Pubescence bright yellow on 2ud segment towards sides, shorter and paler in middle ot" segment ; whitish on yellow |3arts of rest of abdomen, black on black parts. On side mai'gins of abdomen, pubescence all yellowish except for some black hairs ^here the black bands occur. Venter blackifeh, with a little short pale hair. Legs orange ; apical half of hind femora, and remainder of hind legs black ; anterior tarsi brownish towards tips ; pubescence following gi'ound-colour. Winr/s quite clear; stigma brownish-yellow; halteres brownish-orange; squamae yellowish with long, soft bright yellow fringe. Length, 12 mm. Described from a single S in the Indian Museum, from Ivalimpong, Darjiling District, 600-4500 ft., 24. iv.-lO. v. 1915 (Graveh/), and a single 2 from the Pusa collection, Shillong, 5000 ft, 17. ix. (Fletcher). Type (S in Indian Museum, $ sent to British Museum by Mr. T. B. Fletcher. 66. Syrphiis balteatiis, De Geer. (PL I, figs. 19, 20.) Musca balteata, De Geer, Mem. Insectes, vi, p. 116 (1776). Musca canahhia^ Scopoli, Ent. Caro.p. 314 (1763). Musca scitti/uf!, Harris, Expos. Engl. Ins. p. 105, pi. xxxii, fig. 33 and {scitide), p. Ill, pi. xxxiii, fig. 55 (1776). Musca cdternatus, Schrank, Enum. Ins. p. 448 (1781). Musca nectareus, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. ii, p. 341 (1787). Syrjjhus halteatus, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 297 (1908). Syrphus v{ridau7-eus, Wiedemann, Anal. Ent. p. 35 (1824). SyrpMis nectarinus, Wiedemann, Anss. Zweifl. ii, p. 128 (1830). Syrphus alternans, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 89 (1842). Syrphis triligatus, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. i, p. 19 (1856). S 2 . Head : eyes bare, contiguous in ^ for a short distance ; "vertical triangle in d" more or less greyish-black with black hairs ; frontal triangle yellow-dusted with yellow hairs. Face in 6 orange, \\\t\\ gre)'' dust and pale pubescence, or with pnle yellowish tomentum and concolorous pubescence ; central bump yellow, bare ; cheeks sometimes blacldsh near lower corners of eyes. Frons in $ rapidly broadening from vertex to base of antennae, twice as wide below as at vertex, aeneous or greyish- yellow, covered with pale yellow dust and a little whitish pubescence on lower part ; generally with an indistinct dark middle line; ocellar triangle blackish. Autennal prominence duller yellow, translucent, bare shining, with a small black dot above base of each antenna. Thorax shining aeneous wdth two greyish stripes ou fore part, and an indefinite, very narrow median one ; pubescence yellowy erect, fairly abundant, not conspicuous ; humeral region, mesopleura and front part of SYUPHUS. 83 sternopleura with yellowish-grey tomentiim ; rest of pleurae ieiieous-black, with yellowish dust and whitish pubescence; or tlie whole pleurte may be yellow-dusted and with yellow pubes- cence. Scutelluiu translucent yellowish, base often slightly darker, with yellow pubescence on basal half, black long iiairs towards and on margin, and a drooping fringe of yellowish-white hairs below extreme hind margin. Abdomen almost linear, slightly- broader about the end of the 2nd segment ; wholly orange, varying a little ill shade, an indistinct blackisli median spot on 1st seg- ment united to a black stripe on hind margin; this does not reach tlie sides, but is continued on 2nd segment as a transverse basal band joined by a median stripe of varying width to a broad black band on liind margin, this latter band uniformly wide and reach- ing sides ; 3rd segment with a narrow transverse line of uniform width (in Indian specimens), or narrowed to a point on each side and also interrupted in the middle (in European specimens), seldom reaching sides ; hind margin with a black band as on 2nd segment ; 4th segment similarly marked except that the hind marginal baud leaves the extreme margin pale, and is slightly convex anteriorly or straight in some cases and practically or actually terminal : 5th segment orange with an indistinct small black spot above the middle. Pubescence following ground- colour, a few black tiny bristly hairs down middle of, and on orange part of, 4th segment. Venter pale yellowish, a black moderately wide band before the hind border on 2nd and 3rd segments, (xenitalia orange and black. In the $ the abdominal black marks are rather more extensive. Lerfs rather long, slender, orange; coxae and trochanters blackish, hind tarsi slightly dark- ened. Pubescence moderate, yellow ; some blackish hairs behind middle femora beyond the middle, and on front side of hind femora near tip ; some tiny bristles al)out tip of middle femora, and in front of and about tip of, hind femora, also about top and front of hind tibiie. Basal joint of hind tarsi long. Wings nearly clear, subcostal cell and stigma very pale brownish-yellow ; 3rd vein sinuate, straight : halteres orange. Lenrjth, 8 to 11 mm. ; dwarf specimens are by no means rare. The above is partly based on Verrall's description of British, or at least European, specimens, and is partly from Indian examples. The abdomen is descri!)ed as orange with black marks instead of vice versa because it seems more natural. The chief ditference in Oriental specimens, especially Indian ones, is that the narrow transverse lines on the 3r(l and 4th segments are of more uniform w itith, more nearly attain the side mai-gins, and are hardly ever interrupted in the middle, though they are sometimes bent just a little forward in their centres. Specimens from Shanghai and Hankow, China, more nearly approach the European form; arul it is not at all uncommon to fiiul Indian specununs with the two narrow transverse bands altogether wanting or ])ractically so. Ue Meijere gives some interesting notes on the typical form and the two varieties, necLarlnus and altcrmtns. g2 84 SYRPHID.E. "Walker's S. triUgatns, of whicli the type (a J ) is still in very fair condition, varies only in the abdominal bands beiug ratlier broader and very black. The hind legs are missing. S. halteatus is distinctly variable ; in the variety nectarinus the face and frons are whitish, the facial stripe blnish-black. The $ , even of the common Indian form, is sometimes tinged with bluish. The various exceedingly closely allied species from China, Borneo and Java (referred to by Verrall, but of which he only specifically mentions nectarinus, Wied.) are probably synonymous; T have genei-ally adopted the principle that anything that looJcs like halteatus, is halteatus. It is not unusual for specimens to have a D-reyish-Eeneous space in front of the scutellum concolorous with and united to the grey dorsal stripes ; viewed from behind this space is sometimes as large as the scutellum. Specimens with the narrow transverse abdominal bands distinctly reaching the side margins are common (sometimes one band does so and the other- is shortened); and in one such $ from Peshawur (19. iii. 1913, Boivlett) they are two-thirds as wide as the broad bands, tlie 5th segment having a large triangular spot attaining the front margin and the two hind corners, whilst the side margins of the abdomen are almost continuously black. A headless specimen from Pusa, 29. viii. 1912, has the three broad transverse abdominal bands distinct, but only a mere trace of the foreshortened narrow ones, the median stripe on the 2nd segment and the spot on the 5th both being absent. This species is extremely common throughout the whole of the East in both hills and plains during tlie greater ]-»art of the warm weather. Its range includes all Europe, Madeira, Canaries,, N. Africa, and Asia to Japan. 67. Syrphus cinctellus, Zett. (PI. I, fig. 21.) Sceeva cinctella, Zetterstedt, Dipt. Scand. ii, p. 742 (1843). Syrphus cinctellus, VerraU, Brit. Flies, Syrph. p. 392 (1901). (S 2 . Head in 6 with eyes closely contiguous for a consider- able distance; vertical triangle rather elongate, dark yellowish- grey with ruby-red ocelli and long black pubescence ; frons and face shining chrome-yellow, former with a large semicircular black spot above anteunse "and black pubescence ; latter with fine pale yellow pubescence: facial bump shining, bare, brownish-yellow; mouth-border rather orange; proboscis black. Antennae black,, 1st and 2nd joints on lower side and 3rd on basal half below, brownish-orange. Occiput yellowish-grey, marginal fringe bright yellow, some black hairs intermixed behind vertex. In $ , vertical' space shining brassy-aeneous, sometimes with a broad blackish stripe thence to the black spot above antenna? (in one specinien this stripe is reduced to the narrowest suspicion of a median line). Thorax brilliantly shining aeneous, often with a brassy tinge ; anterior corners towards sides, mesopleurae, upper part of sternopleurse and adjacent regions yellow-dusted; rest of SYRPIIUS, 85 pleura^ and under side iciieous-grev ; scutelluin brownish-yellow. Pubescence ot" dorsum and pleura? yellow; of scntellum long and wiioUy black, except the dependent fi'inge from below hind margin. Ahdomen conspicuously narrow, black and yellow to about aa •eqnal extent ; ground-colour black; 1st segment shining yellow- ccneons ; 2nd with a pair of large yellow spots on side margins, clear of anterior and hnid margins, more or less oblong, generally rather closer together behind tiian in front, sometimes more oval or roughly triangular; 3rd segment with a very broad yellow baud from side to side, slightly emarginate in middle behind, leaving anterior margin of segment narrowly, and hind margin broadly, black ; 4th segment similar, but with distinct orange hind margin ; 5th segment orange with an indefinite, more or less triangular, blackish spot in middle. Pubescence of 2nd segment and side margins of abdomen long and yellow, but shorter and black for a short space on black parts of side margins: pubescence of black part of 2nd segment and of all dorsum after that quite short and black. Venter yellowish with long yellow pubescence, and blackish cross-bands more or less corresponding to the black colour on upper side. Legs : anterior femora all orange ; hind femora with basal third orange and tips obscurely pale; hind tibije and tarsi black; under side of hind metatarsi orange, with bright yellow pubescence. All the obvious jjubes- cence of legs yellow, sparse though long on under side of hind femora. Winc/s yellowish-grey ; stigma yellowish ; halteres and squamje orange. Length, 9 mm. Described from a short series in my collection in perfect con- dition taken bv mvself at Darjiling on various dates from 15. v. to 8. vi. 1917;" Darjiling, 12.'vi. 1914 (Gravely); Thaumaspur, ISepal, 18-20. ii. 1908; Simla, ix.l908 (Nurse). Widely spread in Europe. 68. Syrphus corollaB, Fahr. Scesra corolUc, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 306 (1794). Syt-fihus corollff, Meigeii, Syst. liesclu-. iii. p. 304 (1822); Schiner, Fauua Austr. i, p. 306 (1802; ; Verrall, P>nt. Flies, viii, p. 381 (1901). c? $ . Head in S with eyes contiguous for a short space; vertex black in front with black pubescence, on upper part narrowly yellowish-grey with yellow pubescence; frons and face bright shilling chrome-yellow, former with black hairs extending down- wards to each side of antennae, belo\^• which the face bears fine pale yellow hairs ; cheeks and mouth-border black; an inddinite black line from the latter to central bump or just above it. Antenna? black, under side more or less reddish-brown, arista black. Occiput yellowish-grey, marginal fringe bright yellow. In $, upper half of frons shining ltlacl<, the colour dying away indeHnilely, the space above l)ase of antennje more orange than in (S and with a pair of obliquely placed blackish lunules just 86 SIEPHID^, above. Thorax eeneous, pleurae moderately dark yellowish or aeneous-grey, shiniug; ; scutellum browuisli-yellow, all with dense brownish-yellow pubescence; rather paler on pleurae. Abdomen black ; 1st segment shining seneous ; a pair of rather large, oval, well separated yellow spots across centre of 2nd segment, dis- tinctly passing over side margins near upper corners ; 3rd and 4th segments each with a pair of large, oval or oblong spots with rounded corners filling most of the surfnce, passing at their upper corners more or less broadly, but always distinctly, over side margins ; the spots often joined in median line in J narrowly or broadly ; never so joined in $ . These spots lie more broadly on anterior margin of 4th segment than on 8rd, being ni some indi- viduals just clear of margin on 3rd segment ; when this is the case they are generally more broadly united on 4th than on 3rd segment, as in some individuals they may form a pair of spots on 3rd segment whilst united as a distinct band on 4tb. Hind margin of 4th segment orange ; 5th segment orange, indistinctly darkened in middle. Genitalia large, sliining black above, orange below. Pubescence of abdomen following ground-colour; pale on 1st segment and anterior corners of 2Dd ; black on side margins from hind part of 2nd segment to tip; pale yellow on genitalia. Venter yellowish with indistinct black markings, pubescence pale. Legs orange ; basal half of anterior, and two-thirds of hind, femora, black ; hind tibiae indistinctly darker on outer side; tarsi brownish or blackish, paler basally ; pubescence mainly pale yellow, some short black pubescence behind femora and (in addi- tion) below hind pair and on hind tibiae. Wings practically clear; stigma yellowish ; halteres orange. Length, T-Tg mm. Described from five 6 S in good condition in my collection, taken by me at Darjiling, 6900 ft., 2. vi.-15. v. 1917, also a S and two $ $ in Indian Museum from Shanghai, i. v. 1906 (Brnnetti). There seems no doubt of the identity of this common European species, the Oriental examples agreeing practically thi-oughout with Verrall's description. Its range includes all Europe, Madeira and Canaries, N. Africa, A.sia to Japan, and perhaps N. America. 69. Syrphus luniger, 3Ieig. Si/rphus luniger, Meigeu, Syst. Beschr. ill, p. 300 (1822) ; Verrall, ■ Brit. Flies, Syrph. p. 385, fig. 298. (S § . Head: face and frons orange-yellow, a blackish stripe on lower half of former, cheeks blackish ; often a small black spot above each antenna. Antennae brownish-black, under side more or less reddish-orange ; arista yellowish. Vertex shining black, with blackish pubescence. Pubescence of frons black, extending at sides to below antennae. Occiput rather prominent, whitish- grey, with whitish pubescence. Frons in $ glittering blue-black on upper third, with large side dust-spots filling most of remainder SYKPHLTS. bt except a small shininp; lunule below middle of frons ; a small dark spot above each antenna. Pubescence of frons black, absent above antennae; that of occiput pale yellow, conspicuous. Thorax shining a^ieous, slightly tawiiy at sides, with pubescence yellow, longer and darker at sides and on pleura) ; scutelluin brownish- orange, pubescence black on disc, pale at base and tip. Abdomen dull black, shining at base and tip, and also on the rather flattened margin, and on the hind margin of 3rd segment. Three pairs of large well separated orange spots or lunulas^ hind margins of -itli and otli seguients orange. Basal spots not lunulate, somewhat oval, slightly curved, inner ends bUintly pointed, outer ends narrowed, not quite reaching side margins ; 2nd pair of spots larger and lunulate, their inner ends rather nearer the front margin than their outer ends, always clear of side margins ; 3rd pair similar, slightly smaller and less lunulate; hind margin of 4th segment rather broadly orange ; 5th segment mainly, some- times almost wholly orange ; margin of abdomen normally black except at tip. Pubescence mainly following ground-colour. Genitalia inconspicuous, black and partly orange, dusted. In $ , spots smaller, 3rd pair more lunulate, disc of 5th segment mainly black ; venter orange, a black spot in middle of each segment. Legs mainly orange ; anterior femora blackish on about basal third, hind pair on basal two-thirds ; slight traces of an obscure ring on the tibiae ; tarsi blackish, except at base. Pubescence moderate, mostly black ; pale hairs intermixed behind anterior femora, and pale tiny bristles on inner side of hind tibiae near tip. Wings nearly clear ; subcostal cell and stigma pale brown ; hal- teres and squama} yellow or orange. Length, about 11 mm. The above description is abridged from that of Verrall, as the onlv Indian specimen that I can refer undoubtedly to the species is a 6 fi-om Simla, 7'»0() ft., 12-13. v. 1913 {Anncindale). The 6 from Theog, Simla Hills, 27. iv. 1907 {Annandcde), on which I wrongly introduced the species to the Indian Faunn, is Lasiopticus seleniticus, Meig. *S'. luniger is common in many parts of Europe, and is recorded from the Canaries. 70. Syrphus latifasciatus, Ma-. ")], pi. vi, ti|:'. o (I8t).'5). Sjirphua c.vcisiis var., Schiu'T, Faiui. Austr. i, p. 31 1 ( 18(i2). Si/rp/ms ffrivici'ps, Kondaui, Dipt. Itul. Piod. ii. p. 133 (1807). Screva ah/ireriatus, Zetterstedt, viii, p. 3130 (1849). c? $. Iferiff ■ frons in J yellow with long black puliescence; vertical triangle a^neous-black, black-haired with some yellow be SYEPHID^. hairs on hinder part ; face yellow, no median stripe but central bump sometimes a little darker ; face with blaclt pubescence ; cheeks blackish-grey. Antennae wholly reddish-brown, a little paler below, sometimes nearly all blackish, arista dark. Occiput grey, marginal fringe yellowish, paler below and deeper behind vertex ; no long black hairs behind vertex. In 5 , frons gradually widening to level of antennse, where it is distinctly more than one-third of the head; face gradually narrowing downwards; frons shining black with violet reflections and very dense short black pubescence; rest of frons and whole of face bright cln-ome- yellow, former with a little black pubescence but bare just above antennse ; face with almost invisible pale pubescence. Thorax shining a^neous-black, side margins distinctly yellowish (at least in the $ before me); pletirse aeneous with yellowish tinge ; under- side aeneous; sciitellum bright yellow. Pubescence of whole thorax dense, bright yellow. Abdomen shining black ; 1st seg- ment, and hind margin of all segments broadly, with distinct though not strikingly conspicuous bluish tinge; 2ud segment with a pair of approximately triangular or oval, moderately large, distinct but not widely separated, yellow spots, placed slightly obliquely, their upper ends passing widely over the side margins near the anterior corners of the segments ; 3rd and 4th segments ■each with a broad orange-yellow band just behind anterior margin, very slightly emarginate in front and deeply so behind, the band suddenly narrowed towards side margins where it passes narrowly over anterior corners of segment ; hind margin of 4th segment narrowly orange ; 5th segment orange with a rather small, more or less oval, blackish spot in centre ; 6th segment entirely orange. Pubescence bright yellow on yellow spots of 2nd segment, very short and inconspicuous on rest of dorsum, pale yellow on the oi'ange bands, practically all bhick elsewhere and along side margins except at base. Venter mainl}^ blackish, j^ellowish towards margins ; genitalia small. Legs orange-yellow. Fore femora in S on basal -f, in $ on less than i ; middle pair in S on basal |, in $ very narrowly ; hind pair on basal ^ in J and not at all in $ , blaclv. Anterior tarsi practically bare, darker ; hind tarsi brown above. Pubescence in c? mainly black behind anterior femora, with some pale hairs at base on middle pair ; bind pair nearly bare ; in $ practically all yellow, some stiff black hairs behind middle and hind femora ; rest of pubescence in both sexes mainly pale, but black on hind tibiae and tarsi. Wings pale gre}^; stigma pale yellowish ; halteres orange ; squamae yellowish-white. Length, 9-9| mm. Described mainly from a $ in good condition from Simla, 8000 ft., 26. V. 1914 {Capt. Evans); the description of the S being incorporated from Verrall. There is no doubt whatever of the identity. The species has several varietal forms in Europe, and extends to North America. STRPHUS. 89 71. Syrphus fulvifacies, Briin. Hyrphiis fulvifacies, Bruiietti, llec. Ind. Mus. viii, p. 161 (1913). (S 2 . Head ( $ ) : eyes bare ; frons twice as wide at level of antenna? (where it forms one-third of the head) as at vertex ; all dull bhack, but with a brassy tinge for a short space below the bhack vertical triangle and above the antenna! prominence ; black hairs from vertex to antennae ; face wholly, from base of antennie to lower margin, bright golden-orange, rather deeper on central knob, which is of moderate size ; mouth black, but mouth- border yellow with a small black spot at extreme tip of snout ; proboscis dark brown ; face with a little short black pubescence on sides of prominence, the remaining surface \\\i\\ very soft pale yellow pubescence ; antennae dull black, basal two-thirds of under side of ;ird joint dull reddish-brown, arista black ; occiput grey with a complete marginal fringe of uniformly-sized, bright yellow, scale-like hairs*. Thorax dull blackish, with soft pale brownish- yellow hairs, so fine and sparsely placed that the dorsum appears almost bare except towards and on the lateral margins, where it is bright golden-yellow and much thicker in texture and quantity. Pleurae and wing-bases covered with similar hair ; sides of thorax cinereous-grey ; scutellum yellow, with rather copious long hiack pubescence. Abdomen ovate, black ; a pair of elongate yellow spots in centre of lateral margins of 2ud segment, their inner ends rounded but well se|)arated from one another ; a yellowish band in midille of 3rd and 4th segments, only their anterior corners reaching side margins ; these bands are emarginate in middle, more conspicuously so behind ; both are of uniform width with the spots on the lind segment. Extreme posterior margin of oth segment yellow. Pubescence of abdomen black, even on the yellow parts, but there is the nsual amount of hair about the anterior corners, where it is bright yellow. Venter blackish, the yellow bands present about the same appearance as on the dorsum. Ler/s: coxK, nearly all the basal half of anterior femora, all hind femora except tips, and rest of hind legs wholly, except basal third of their tibiae, black ; remainder of legs yellow, tips of anterior tarsal joints with a row of black bristles, giving a darkened appearance to these parts ; anterior tarsi with short black bristly h;iirs below. Hind tibiae \\\t\\ golden-yellow ])ubescence on inner side; hind tarsi with similar pubescence below. Ulnr/s clear, subcostal cell brownish-yellow ; halleres yellow. Leiif/th, 9 mm. Described from a single $ (in the Indian Museum), Kotung, 26. ix. 1918. One d , Kashmir, 8000-9U(»0 ft., vi. 1901 (Nursf). This species is remarkably like the very common Palaearctic S. I'ibesii, L., and mav possibly be a variety of it, unless the limits * In (5 , vertical triangle us long as disttinee of contiguity of eyes ; bliickisli, wit li 3'ellow dust and pubescence ; frons and faco _vellow-du->t,ed, fornicr witli •black liairs and witli a sliining black Bcniicircular space above base of antennae. 90 SYRPHID.I. of that species are truly known. If so, it differs from ribesii by the hind femora being principally black. In this respect it resembles vitrijjennis, Meig., if this latter is really distinct. Yerrall states of vitriftennis, in comparing that species with his wonderfully correct description of S. ribesii, that its best specific distinction from the latter is " the scarcity of the tiny black bristles about the tip of the hind femora in both sexes." In ribesii these bristles are wholly yellow on all the femora except the middle pair (where they are black) ; in vitripennis they are all black and scarce. In the present form they are black and numerous. The hind tibiae are all black except about the basal third, whereas in ribesii there is at most an obscure dark patch on the front side, and in vitrijyennis the tibia3 are wholly yellow. The present form is as distinct from both ribesii and vitripennis as these two are from one another, but it is still open to question whether the three forms are not merely three well-marked varieties of one species. There are so-called " species" in jSTorth America so near ribesii that further confirmation of their distinctness would be very satisfactory. 72. Syrphus aequalis, Wall-. Xi/lota cequalis. Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt, i, p. 220 (1852). Si/rphus distinctns, Brunetti, Rec. lud. Miis. xi, p. 211, pi. xiii, fig. 7, abdomen (1915). (S . Head : frons, face and under side of head covered with pale orange-yellow tomentum, this being more dusky towards the frons ; a broad median blackish stripe ; frons with black hairs ; vertex blackish with black hairs. Antenna? and arista wholly black. Back of head dark grey with short yellow hairs, some black ones behind the vertex. Thorax: blackish on dorsum, yellowish-grey at sides, mainly covered with brownish-yellow pubescence. Scutellum orange-yellow, with black hairs in the middle and yellowish-white ones on anterior and posterior margins and below the latter. Abdomen : blackish, 1st segment yellowish, hind margins of 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments pinkish-grey, with a rather narrow cross-band of the same colour across the middle of each, the first band narrowly interrupted ; that of the 4th segment lying just below the middle. Dorsum of abdomen with i-ather thickly placed black hairs except on the 2nd segment, on the pale band on the 3rd and at the sides of the whole abdomen, where the pubescence is whitish-yellow. Venter blackish, yellowish at base and along the hind borders of the segments, covered with yellow or black pubescence according to the colour of the surface. Ler/s : anterior pairs principally orange-yellow ; anterior femora blaclc on about the basal half ; hind legs principally black, knees broadly brownish-yellow as are tlie last four tarsal ioints. Anterior femora with some moderately long yellowish or brownish-yellow hairs on under side, with black hairs intermixed towards tips of fore pair and generally on under side of middle SYRPnus. 91 pair. Conspicuous thick but short Mack liairs on hind femora, longest on under side, and on front and hind sides of hind tibia?. Winr/s yeUowisli-grev, stigma brown ; squamae yellowish-broun with fringe of the same colour. Length, 14-15 mm. The above redescription is from three perfect d 6 in the Indian Museum from Tolpaiii, Garhwal District, W. ]Iimalayas, 9500 ft., 23. iv.-13.v. 1914; Simla, x. 1911 [Uoiulett). The type c? in the British Museum agrees perfectly. This is the most striking of tlie Oriental species known to me, the very conspicuous, dense black hair on the hind femora and tibijB being quite unknown in any other. The pinkish and grey bands of the abdomen are also very characteristic. The species beafs a close general resemblance to S. ;/riseocinctus, but this latter is immediately recognised by the pubescent eyes and by tlie absence of the black hair on the hind legs. 73. Syrphus maculipleura, Bnm. tSi/rj)hus maculipleura, Brunetti, liec. Ind. Mus. viii, p. 162 (1913). 2 . Head : frons at base of antennae one-third of head, diminishing to half this width on vertex, where it is shining with a dark violet, seneous tinge ; remainder of frons shining ajiieous-black, except for a narrow pale yellow eye-margin which joins the pale yellow face, on which is a bi'oad shining black middle stripe from the base of the antenna) to the mouth ; the small space between the roots of the antenna; yellow. Antennae with 1st and 2nd joints brown, 3rd with upper half black and lower part dull reddish-brown. Frons with line l^laok hairs, fac(3 with s|)arse short line yellow hairs. Proboscis black with yellow hibella. Hinder oi'bit of eyes with whitish-yellow scaly hairs, back of head blackish-grey. In prolile the head does not extend downwards below the level of the eyes. Thorax : briglit shining ameous with a bronze tint, with short black or blackish-brown hairs ; side margins of dorsum rather narrowly yellow. Scutellum with dull black (almost velvet-black) dorsum, the colour becoming dark brown on the hind margin ; the extreme base is narrowly pale yellow ; the surface covered with black hairs. Sides of thorax dull ajiieous or ajneous-grey, with a small (juantity of yellowish or yellowish-grey hair. A small oblong, pale yellow, inconspicuous, callus-like spot on each shoulder; a small similar spot on prothorax on each side just above the first pair of coxa). Tiiree elongate, similai-ly coloured, small spots placed in a curved line below anil behind the wings, the lowest sjjot situated on the sternopleura. Abdomen elongate, of uniform width, about as long as iiead and thorax together, black; Ist segment yellow except a little blacldsh in the middle at the base; 2nd segment with a pair of elongate yellowish spots aci'oss tlie middle, their outer ends touching the lateral edges of the segment, their inner ends well separated; 3rd and ^2 SrKPHID,!. 4th segments each with a shghtly arcuate yellowish band, einargiuate in middle on hinder side, placed just before middle ot' segment, and almost attaining lateral margins (or it' reaching them in individual examples, the contact is practically only at a point). The 5th segment with two oval yellow spots diagonally from anterior border to each hind corner. Whole abdomen with fine short black hairs, sides also with black hairs ; verv little pale hair about anterior corners ot the abdomen. Venter mainly yellowish ; the black parts of the dorsum more or less duplicated below. Lei^is : anterior pairs pale yellow ; an inf uscated streak on upper side of fore femora and on outer side of fore tibife ; middle femora and tibife similar, but the obscure mark on the tibiae forms more nearly a median band. Fore tarsi all rich brown, middle tarsi black. Hind legs all black, except base of femora a little yellowish; rich golden-brown pubescence below hind tarsi. Pubescence of legs weak, pale yellow on anterior legs and black on hind pair. Whigs : clear, iridescent ; subcostal cell pale brownish-yellow ; halteres yellow. Lenrjth, 6 mm. Described from one $ in the Indian Museum ; Rotung, N.E. Indian Frontier, 25. xii. 1911. This species might possibly be referred to Xantliogramma, as the side margins of the thoracic dorsum are distinctlv though rather narrowly yellow. Yet the abdomen has not the flattened form characteristic of that genus nor is it at all raarginate. The distinct yellow spots on the pleura are characteristic of Xantho- granima, but the whole facies of the insect is that of Syrphus. 74. Syrphus confrater, Wied. (PI. II, fig. 17.) Syrphus coiifniter, AViedemanu, Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 120 (1830). Syr2)huscrunapes,'W'a\\iex,lu$. Saund.,Dipt. pt. 3, p. 231, J $(1852). Syrphus mundus, id., op. cit. p. 230, S (1852). Syrphus trilimbatus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Eiit. France, (6) iv, p. 86 (1884). (S 2 ' Head : in S , f'yes bare ; front facets only micro- scopically a little larger than others ; vertical triangle dark grey with black hairs ; actual vertex very small, yellow-dusted, with yellow hairs ; frons and face yellowish, former rather more orange with erect yellow hairs on upper part and black ones on remainder ; face more whitish below, wholly covered with whitish tomentum and pale yellowish hairs ; central bump shining brownish-yellow, pubescent ; luiuilar spot orange-brown. Antennae brownish-orange, darker on upper side ; arista dark brown, paler at base. Occiput with yellowish-grey tomentum and an entire fringe of hairs which are yellow behind vertex, the remainder whitish. In 2 , face below antennae one-third width of head, less than half this width at vertex ; ocellar triangle dark, with a Aiolet tinge ; frons with yellowish-grey tomentum and short fine black hairs. Dark brown lunular region more extensive than in (S . Thorax : dorsum steely-aeneous (a little more brassy in svuphus. 93- cJ), witli dense bright ^-ellow soft pubescence; sides similnr but less shining and the pubescence more whitish ; extreme side margins of dorsum from suture to wing-base a little tinged with shining yellowish. Scutellum normally almost translucent yellowish, often with middle part more or less indefinitely darker ; pubescence black, erect, fine and rather dense, but there is a narrow band of pale yellow hairs on the anterior margin and a fringe of yellow hair? pendent from below the hind margin. Metanotum steely-aeneous. Abdomen : 1st segment mainlv blackish, narrowly yellow at sides ; rest of surface pale shining blackish. A pair of irregularly oval or sometimes almost diamond- shaped spots placed not quite in a straight line on 2nd segment, their inner ends more or less narrowed but practically always meeting rather broadly, their outer ends much narrowed behind, not quite reaching anterior corners of segment; 3rd segment with a broad yellow band placed fractionally above exact centre of segment, filling more than oue-tiiird of it, curving slightly forward at sides and considerably narrowed on the actual side margins ; a similar broad band on 4th segment just behind anterior margin, curving very slightly forwards towards side margins, which latter are just reached; 5th segment brownish- yellow with an indefinite blackish space in centre. Pubescence of abdomen mainly following ground-colour, but some of the black pubescence overruns the yellow parts. Venter pale yellow, with soft whitish pubescence. Legs all orange-yellow except the dirty dark brown coxae, also extreme base of anterior femora and 2nd, 3rd and 4th joints of anterior tarsi, which are more or less brown ; 5th tarsal joint orange. All femora sometimes narrowly black at extreme base. Hind femora often indefinitely brownish about the middle ; hind tibiae generally with apical half more or less brownish ; the dark parts on both femora and tibiae bear microscopic stiff black hairs, which heighten the impression of dark coloration ; hind tarsi mainly dark browTi. Wings clear ; subcostal cell rather dark yellowish-brown : squamae pale yellowish-grey with yellow fringes; halteres pale yellow. In J , wing generally a little yellow ish-brown about the middle and anterior margin, basally. Le)ir/lJi, 8-11 mm. One c , from the Kliasi Hills, is 14 mm. lieported as feeding on Aphides on cotton, wheat, cabbages and chrysanthemums. Described from about thirty of botli sexes maiidy from Pusa, wiiere it seems common from the end of January to about the end of March. Generally distributed : Patna District, Bengal, ii. 19h, pubescence of legs pale yellow. Win'js as long as abdomen, quite clear ; stigma brownish ; halteres bright orange. Lenijdi, about 7-8 mm. 102 SYErHIDiE. E-edeseribed from a d and two 5 $ in good coudition in the Indian Museum. Darjiliug, 7000 ft., 26-28. v. 1917, 6. 15-19. V. 1917, 2 (both Brunettl); Kurseong, 5000 ft., 4. ix. 1909 (Aiuiandale). Previously described from specimens from Simia, 16. V. 1909 ; Theog, 2. v. 1907 (Annandale), and from Kurseong. There can be little doubt that tliis is a valid species, the black- striped face separating it from the other forms common in India, all of which 1 have here united under indiana. Big., and the entirely yellow legs separating it from javana, Wied., which is the only other species with a black-striped face. The 6 described above has the tips of the hind femora darkened, also the hind tibiee, but I do not regard it as intermediate. The species is of the very narrow type characteristic of the genus, whereas S. javana and IscModon scutellaris, T., are distinctly broader, approaching the narrower species of S^p'jjhus in the cinctellus group. 80. Sphserophoria Indiana, Big. (PI, III, figs. 1-6.) tSpkcerophoria Indiana, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) iv, p. 99 (1884). 6 2 . Head whitish-yellow to pale orange-yellow, including antennae; latter generally brownish above or towards tips; pro- boscis blackish : occipital margin with whitish fringe ; vertex in 6 small, black, shining. Prons in 5 yellow with a median rather broad shining black stripe joined to the all-black vertex ; proboscis blackish. Thorax: dorsum dull to moderately shining reneous- black, with, at least on anterior part, two median greyish stripes generally perfectly obvious in fresh specimens. Pleurae shining black with yellow spots as in viridxunea. Scutellum wholly yellow; pubescence of both dorsum and scutellum pale yellow. Abdomen : ]st and 2nd segments black, latter with a median yellow band of uniform but varying width ; remaining segments sometimes mainly yellow and sometimes principally black ; in the latter case the anterior and hind parts of each segment are black ; in many specimens the abdomen after 2ud segment, including geni- talia, is wholly yellow or orange-yellow. Venter mainly yellowish; pubescence of abdomen mainly yellow basally, and towards sides, and on venter, but considerably black on black parts. 6 genitalia with long yellow pubescence. Legs all yellow ; tarsi varying from wholly yellow to wholly moderately dark brown; pubescence of legs yellow. Wings clear, stigma yellowish or brownish ; halteres yellow. Length, generally 6-7 mm., but probably variable. The very common Indian species referred to here as indlana, Big., seems universally distributed throughout India, occurring mostly from December to May, and in September, which causes me to think it may be two-brooded. Common in the Western Himalayas, apparently rather less so in the Eastern ranges, but found in Nepal. Very abundant at times (Agra and Ferozepore, EEIOZONA. 103 iv. 1905, Bnineiti) in fields of diy grass. Found in the Bombay Presidency and as far south as Bangalore. I took it at Shanghai, 17. iv. 1906. All the dates and localities previously recorded by me of my " Forms 1, 2, 3 " apply to this species. Type in Bigot's collection. Genus EEIOZONA, Sch. Uriozona, Schiuer, Wien. Eut. Monatschr. iv, p. 214 (1860). G-E>'OTYPE, tScceva siji'jjhoides, Fallen ; by original designation. Head semicircular, a little broader than thorax ; eyes distinctly pubescent, contiguous for some distance in J , wide apart in $ . Face broad, pubescent or bare, central bump present ; sometimes (E. analis, Kert.) the whole lower part of the face down to the mouth-border is conspicuously prominent. Proboscis rather prominent, moderate!}^ long, labella large ; palpi elongate, filiform, cuneiform at tip. Antennae pendent, moderately long ; 3rd joint rounded, ovate or twice as long as 1st and 2nd together ; arista bare. TJwrax varying from a little broader than long to a little longer than broad, moderately arched, pubescent. Abdomen short-oval, nearly rounded ; at its widest part wider than thorax, gently Fig. 18. — Erio2ona uiia/is, Kert., $ . arched aiul curved. Ligs moderately long and strong; all femora sometimes rather elongate, but not specially so in the two Oriental species; tibia? rather curved, tarsi broad, pulvilli well developed. IVinr/s with normal Syrphine venation, with a large brown patch across the middle ; anterior cross- vein mucli before middle of discal cell. lianfje. One European species (A'. si/rpJioides) and two from India are all that ai'e known. The above description is based on Schincr's, modified to enable the genus to receive the two Oriental species, which from their peculiar facies should undoubtedly he included in .t One of 104 STllPHID.E. these, Idmalayensis, possesses eye-margins to the face, hke those in Chilosia. Third antennal joint 2^ times as long as deep ; ground-colour of 3rd and 4th abdominal segments orange ; pubescence of 1st and 2ud abdominal segments (except at corners of 1st), black analis, Kert., p. 104. Third antennal joint no longer than deep ; ground-colour of 3rd and 4th abdominal segments dull teneous ; pubescence of abdomen all j^ellow or orange-red, except at sides of 3rd and 4th segments, lihnakajensis, Brun., p. 105. 81. Eriozona analis, Kert. Eriozona analis, Kertesz, Term. Fiizet. xxiv, p. 414 (1901). Eriozona rujicauda, Brunetti. Rec. lud. Mus. ii, p. -56, $ (1908) ; i, pi. xi, tig. 2, full ins. (1907). d" $ . Head : eyes pubescent, vertical triangle black ; f rons in c? with a blackish- brown transverse stripe frou) eye to eye, drawn through the lunule above base of antennas ; frons, and surface for a short distauce below it, with rather long black pubescence ; face prominent, bright yellow, shining, slightly dusted, with long yellow pubescence, especially at sides, where some blackish hairs are intermixed ; lower part of head and mouth-border black. Antennae and arista black, 3rd joint elliptical, 2^ times as long as deep. Occiput black, posterior orbit of eyes with yellow pubescence. In 5 , face with very short yellow pubescence ; frons blackish with blackish hairs, slightly wider below, and a pale irregularly shaped yellow spot immediately above base of antennae. Thorax black or blackish with yellow and black hairs intermixed ; pleurae with long blackisli pubescence in d , in 2 dark brown with brownish-yellow hairs. Scutellum in J brown with long black pubescence and shorter yellow hairs intermixed ; in $ with yellow hairs. Abdomen in (S with 1st, 2nd and 3rd segments black, with black pubescence on 1st and 3rd and yellow on 2nd ; rest of abdomen reddish-orange with pubescence varying from concolorous to yellow. In $ , 2nd segment with traces of a translucent band somewhat as in Leucozona Jucorum*. The pubescence stands out densely for some distance at the sides of the abdomen. Legs in c? with greater part of femora and a ring in middle of tibiae, which is widest on hind pair, bhickish-brown ; tibias and tarsi reddish-brown ; femora and hind tibite on outer side with long hair; tibiae and tarsi with comparatively shorter depressed golden-yellow pubescence ; in $ legs tawny ; basal half of all femora blackish. Winr/s pale grey, slightly clouded in c5' ; a broad brown band across middle from costa to about base of discal cell; anterior cross-vein much before middle of discal cell; base of wiug brown. Length, 13-15 mm. * A rather common European ISyrphid. ERIOZONA. ASCIA, 105 Described by Kertesz from a sinc^le ratber damaged 6 from Sikkim, presumably iu the Hungarian Museum ; my nificauda was described from tbree 2 2 iii the Indian Museum from the same locality. The two descriptions are united herewith as they repre- sent only one sex each and shew slight differences. 82. Eriozona himalayensis, Brun. Eriozona himalaijeusis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 217 (191 o). S . Head wholly moderately shining black ; frons with a pale yellowish-grey tomentum when viewed in certain lights ; face with more obvious similarly coloured tomentum or minute pubescence, a median rather broad space being bare ; some longer black hairs on the cheeks. Proboscis black. Eyes with thick dark brown pubescence ; eye-margins as in Ckilosia. Antenna? black, 3rd joint dull, no longer than deep, arista black. Occiput blackish-grey with yellow hairs round tiie margins, with which are intermixed some black hairs behind the vertex. Thorax modei'ately shining black, with, in certain lights, a slight ceneous tinge ; prothorax dull teneous, covered with light brownish-yellow, rather thick pubescence, rest of dorsum covered with black pubescence ; scu- tellum with long thick black pubescence, lower posterior margin with a fringe of short yellowish hairs. Mesopleura and sterno- pleura with thick yellowish pubescence, rest of sides of thorax with sparser black hairs. Abdomen shining black, 3rd and 4th segments dull ;oneous, all covered thickly with bright orange-red pubescence, which becomes more yellowish on 1st segment and on sides of 2nd. Margins of 3i-d and 4th segments, and whole of venter, with black jmbescence. Genitalia dark grey with black hairs. Legs black, with short black pubescence, which is rather long on under side of femora, the hind pair having iu addition two diverging rows of long, widely separated hairs. Wings grey, anterior margin slightly darker; a broad brownish infuscation from round the stigmatic region across the middle of the wing extending half-way to the posterior margin. Halteres yellow, clubs black. Length, 13-14 mm. Described from several S S from the Kumaon District, "Western Himalavas, 20. vi. 1914 to 20. vii. 1914 ; Onaii, Garhwal District, 11,000 ft. (Tgtler). This species evidentlv mimics the bee, Bombus hcemorrhoidalis, Smith. Genus ASCIA, Mtig. Ascia, Meifren, Syst. Beschr. ill. p. ISo (182:>). Neonscia, Willistoii, Bull. U.S. ^at. Miis. No. .•?!, p. Ill (l-'^'')- Genotype, Syrphus j^todagricus, Fabr. ; bv dcsiLrnation of Westwood (1840). Head distinctly broader than tliorax, aeneous ; eyes bare, separated in both sexes, antennal prominence very slight ; face 106 SYRPHID^. slightly hollowed below antennae, produced, distinctly snout-like at upper mouth -edge, without any central bump ; autennal 3rd joint elongate, rather porrect ; arista short, bare, dorsal. Tliorax quadrate, robust, nearly bare, scutellum similar. Abdomen at least twice as long as thorax, much narrowed at base about the junction of 1st and 2nd segments, behind tliat club-shaped, arched, tip narrowly rounded; 1st segment long, 2nd longer than 1st, 3rd longer than 1st but shorter than 4th, which is itself shorter than 2nd ; a peculiar pointed projection from basal corners of abdomen. Legs simple; hind femora much thickened, spinose below, hind tibite slightly curved. Wings with apical sections of 4th and .5th veins very upright ; anterior cross-vein much before middle of discal cell. Range. Europe, Canary Islands, Orient, North America. Life-history. Lundbeck thinks that the larvae probably live on micro-organisms rather than aphids ; he figures them and a pupa (Diptera Danica, v, p. 375 (1916)). 83. Ascia brachystoma, Wied. Ascia /jmchysto)na, Wied., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 90, $ (1830). $. i/e'rtf? black, white-haired; antennae blackish-brown, reddish- yellow below ; 1st and 2nd joints horizontal, 3rd drooping, oval, tip rounded ; proboscis dirty yellow ; epistome hardly convex, perpendicular ; upper mouth-border not produced. Thorax black, with white pubescence. Abdomen club-shaped ; 2nd segment, hind border of 3rd, and remainder yellowish-brown ; emarginations of segments, sides of abdomen towards base, and tip of 4tli seg- ment, with white hairs. Legs dirty yellow ; femora brown; hind tibise towards tip blackish-brown. Wings quite clear, venation as in the European A. j^odagrica. Length, about 4 to 5 mm. East India: in Berlin, Copenhagen and Wiedemann collections. Walker states that this species has been recorded from Hindu- stan, but gives no actual data. Macquart, also without definite data, quotes it as having occurred in " Indes Orientales," which may mean tlie East India Islands. Wiedemann describes it from " Ostindien," which, I believe, was with writers of that period a general term for the whole of the Orient. Genus SPHEGINA, Meig. Spher/ina, Meigeu, Syst. Beschr. iii, p. 193 (1822). S2}hoegina, Roiidani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, ii, p. 102 (1857). Genotype, Musca clunipes, Eallen (Europe) ; by original designation. Head semicircular, rather wider than thorax ; eyes bare, dis- tinctly separated in both sexes ; face deeply concave below SPHEGINA, 10 antenna), witli no central knob, but with upper mouth-edge much enlarged ; antenna) short, 3rd joint ovate, the dorsal arista slightly pubescent. Thoriuv subquadrate, corners rounded, i)ubescence very short ; scutelluin normal, practically bare, a pair of subapical mar- ginal bristles'. Abdomen much narrowed at base, about twice as long as thorax, more or less club-shaped. Lecjs slender; hind femora very much tliickened and very spinose below ; hind tibia) curved ; basal joint of hind tarsi dilated. Wiiu/s with normal venation, except that the apical portions of the 4th and 5th veins jire turned sharply upwards and are upright and somewhat rectangular at the bend ; anterior cross-vein before middle of discal cell : aluhie very small; squamae small, with characteristic fringes peculiar to this geinis. Range. Europe, Orient, North and South America, Brazil. Table of Species. 1. Wiugs willi small brownish infuscations . 2. Wings entirely clear 3. 2. Thorax wholly black ; anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell; hind femora all black except at base bi,sjnno.^{/, liniii., p. 107. Thorax brownish ; anterior cross-vein almost exactly at one-third of discal cell, not beyond this point ; hind femora with distinct pale transverse streak below trit frons more than one-fourth of the head ; antenna) a little paler. Thora.v blackish, a little shining and with a more or less dark blue tinge ami microscopic, depressed pale hairs ; suturii exactly at middle of dorsum, very distinct towards sides. Pleura blackish, practically bare, a sus- picion of grey dust here and there ; scnt(dlum concolorous, some 108 SYEPHIDiE. inicroscopie pale hairs towards hind margiu. Abdomen con- colorous, with a bluish tinge ; -nd segment twice as wide as 3rd, barel}'^ wider at tip. In c? , with a short tooth-like process on eacli side of 1st segment, just behind the halter, and three pro- minent black bristles, the front one the smallest. Pubescence of abdomen whitish, sparse, short and uniform, longer at sides, longest on sides of 2nd segment and on dorsum of last segment in $ . Venter dark, with sparse pale pubescence ; under side of last segment of abdomen in (S with about seven long, strong, socketed, black bristles on hind margin, slightly curved upwards as though to ])rotect the genitalia; the latter large, black, shining, twisted to the left, with long, pale, stiff and soft hairs. Legs : front pair dirty brownish-yellow; femora and tibiae darker, except at base and tip ; middle legs similar, but with a greater extent of black. Hind legs shining black with a bluish tinge, femora and tibi* both narrowly orange at base ; also with a narrow ring on latter at or just beyond middle, the ring broader in the $ ; tarsi black, with dense rich orange-brown pubescence below. Pubes- cence of legs microscopic or absent ; two or three long isolated hairs on upper side of hind femora near tip, and a row of rather small spines below. In $ , anterior legs all yellowish except tips of tarsi, which are darker. Wings jellowish- grey , very iridescent ; stigmatic region, anterior cross-vein, base of discal cell, tips of 2nd and 3rd veins and outer side of 1st posterior cell, narrowly brown-infuscated ; anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell. Halteres very pale yellow. Length, 7i mm. Described mainly fx-om a {ti,pe) S from Sureil, Darjiling Dis- trict, 5000 ft., 11-31. X. 1917 (Annandale and Gravehj), and from the ty^je 5 in the Pnsa collection from Mussoorie, ix. lyOO. Type (S in Indian Museum in indifferent condition. Tlie species is remarkably like the European .S'. dunipcs, Tall., but quite distinct, as in the latter the tooth and bristles at the base of the abdomen are absent and the wings are quite clear. There are also one or two other minor differences. 85. Sphegina tristriata, Bmn. Splierjina tristriata, Biuaetti, liec. Ind. Mus. viii, p. 165, pi. vi, fig. 7, wing (1913). $ . Head : frons uniformly wide, about one-fourth of the head, shining black, but not brilliant. Eyes dull red, antennae brownish- yellow, 1st joint brownish, 3rd a little infuscated above at the tip. Mouth-parts and proboscis yellowish. Tliorax : ground- colour brownish-yelloAv, but dorsum almost wholly occupied by three practically contiguous dark brown stripes, with only a brief space between them (at their middles) as they are united on the anterior margin and practically so near the posterior margin also ; pleurae dark brown ; scutellum concolorous. Abdomen mainly SPllKGIXA. 109 black, base of 2utl segment and wbole of 3rd pale -wliitish-yellow. Lefjs : anterior pairs pale yellow, tips of tarsi bro\\ nisli ; hind legs yellowisli-brown, witii femora broadly dark brown at tips and on upper side, tbe colour extending over the sides, but not reaching the ventral surface for a certain space beyond the wholly pale yellow base. Wings pale grey, subcostal cell darker grey ; tip of wing infuscated as far inw ards as just proximal to the upturned section of 'ith longitudinal vein ; but, in the marginal cell. Fig. 19. — SpJiecjina tristriata. Bfun., wing. implanted in tbe infuscated part, is a tear-shaped clear spot in contact witb tlie clear part of tlie wing ; small infuscations over the origin of 3rd vein, anterior cross-vein and upturned section of 5th vein ; anterior cross-vein almost exactly at one-third of discal cell, not beyond one-third. Jlalteres dirty white. Length, 6 mm. Described from a unique 6 from Eotung, N.E. Frontier of India, 6-13. iii. ]912 {Kemp). In tbe Indian Museum. 86. Sphegina tricoloripes. Ih-un. (PI. Ill, fig. 11.) d'p/iefjuifi tricoloripes, Bruuetti, Rec. Iiid. Mas. xi, p. 'J2o, pl. xiii, tig. 9, wing (1915). $. Head: frons blackisli-grey, nearly one-third the width of the head, uniform in width, vertical triangle not very distinct ; face blackish-grey; upper mouth-border well produced, proboscis moderately long, bruwnish-yellow. Antennal prominence distinct but small, antennae blackish ; 3rd joint slightly produced above at base; occiput blackish-grey. Thora.r dull blackish, with two rather narrow, well separated, greyish dorsal stripes from anterior margin to scutellum ; shoulders a little greyish. Scutellum rather shining black, with a pair of apical pale bristles, convergent and weak. Abdomen tawny-brown, much contracted at base, widening rapidly from middle of 2nd segment to tip of 3rd, thence gradu- ally narrowing : upper side of last segment a little obscure ; a few long whitish hairs at sides at base of abdomen, the reiiuiinder of tlie dorsal and ventral surfaces jiractically bare. A'enter tawny- brown. Legs ; front pair with coxa\ base and tip of femora, basal half of tibiic and the metatarsi yellow, the remainder black. Middle pair similar, but the very short coxa) obscure. Hind ])air much enlarg<'d, \\ith obscure coxa;; of the hind femora the basal fourtii is bright lemon-yellow, tbe remaining [)ortion witii 110 SYKPHID.i;. proximal half black and distal half reddish-brown ; extreme tip black. Under side beset with several rows of very short spines, and an additional row of about 8 or 9 longer ones. Tibise distinctly but not greatly curved, pale yellow, rather less than the apical lialf black; tarsi all black, metatarsi distinctly enlarged and lengthened. Winc/s pale grey ; subcostal cell yellowish from tip of auxiliary vein ; 4tli longitudinal vein curved upwards to 3rd in a very rounded loop ; 5th vein bent upwards at a slightly obtuse angle ; halteres yellow. Length, 7 mm. Described from a single 2 in the Indian Museum presented by Dr. A. D. Imms, taken by him at Bhowali, Kumaon District, 5700 ft., 2. vii. 1910. A second 5 was taken by Col. Nurse, Simla, viii. 1898 ; in company with yet another $ , probably con- specific, but with the abdomen all black except the basal half of the 3rd segment, -which is yellowish, and the apical two-thirds of the hind femora, which are all black. 87. Spliegina asciiformis, Brun. Sphcfjina asciiformis, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 223 (1915). $ . Head : frons seneous-black, with a little yellowish-grey tomentose dust along the eye-margins. Antennae with 1st and 2nd joints dark brown, 3rd joint black with long dorsal arista placed at the base of the joint. Mouth-parts reddish-brown. Occiput dark grey, lliorax dusted with yellowish-grey, a little lighter on the shoulders ; three moderately wide dorsal infuscated stripes, separated from each other by less than their own width. Scutellum shining black, with a little hoary dust. Sides of thorax blackish, with a little greyish dust on upper parts. Ahdomen : the 1st segment narrow, 2nd very much contracted at base, thence suddenly widened ; rich shining deep mahogany-brown, nearly black, with very sparse and almost microscopic whitish hairs. Venter yellow-ochre ; two small black spots in a dorsal line near the base, and a median well marked black line on the apical half. Legs : anterior four bright yellow. Hind femora much incras- sated, yellow, a blackish band in the middle (incomplete below), and a complete broad black ring at the tip. Under side with two rows of minute black spines ; hind tibiae pale yellow, a long black streak below at base, and a blackish ring (incomplete on upper side) at tip. Hind tarsi brown, their metatarsi distinctly thicker than the tibiae, nearly half as long and about as wide as rest of tarsi. Wings absolutely clear, brilliantly iridescent ; halteres blackish. Length, 4 mm. Described from a unique $ taken by me, 29. v. 1910, at Dar- jiling. In the Indian Museum. From the small size and very contracted base of the abdomen, this species closely resembles an Ascia. SPHEGIXA. — SPIIEGINOBACCIIA. Ill 88. Sphegina tenuis, Brun. Sphcfjina tenuis, Eruuetti, Rec. lud. Mus. xi, p. 224 (1915). (S . Head : frons dull black, with grey dust, ocelli distinct, red ; the concavity in profile below the antennae well marked. Antennae black, a little dull grey-dusted, arista very curved ; nioutli-parts reddish-bi'own. Occipnt grey. Thorax black, with yellowi.sli- grey dust and three dorsal int'uscated stripes, the median one the widest, the outer ones slightly interrupted at the suture and not reaching the slioulders. A pale grey spot on the latter can be seen it; viewed from beliiud. Sides of thorax blackish, with yellowish-grey hair. Abdomen black, 2nd segment much atteini- ated and very long, 3rd with a broad yellowish sub-basal band. Genital organs large, apparently globular. Venter black, greater part of 3rd segment brownish-yellow. Le(j!i.\ the first two pairs pale yellow with the last two tarsal joints black. Hind coxae black, hind femora considerably incrassate ; basal half pale yellow, apical half black; hind tibiie mainly dark brown, pale at tips, and a narrow band just beyond the middle (which band appears as if in some examples it might be interrupted) ; hind tarsi blackish-brown, the hind metatarsi thickened, but only one- third as long as the tibia?. Wings yellowish-grey, brilliantly iridescent; stigma long, brown; halteres brownish-yellow. Length, 4h mm. Described from one S from Darjiling, taken by me, 29. v. 1910, and incorrectly recorded as a $ . In the Indian Museum. Genus SPHEGINOBACCHA, de Meij. Sphefjinobaccha, de Meijore, Tijd. v. J:]ut. li, p. 327 (1908). Genotype, SpJiegina macropoda. Big. ; by original designation. Body -a^vYOw. Basal half of abdomen rather contracted ; 2nd segment the longest, 3rd and 4th rather shorter, subequal. Eyes in (S narrowly separated, in $ parallel on hinder half, wider apart in front. Epistome with small central bump, not produced over mouth. Antenna) moderately long ; 3rd joint rather large, rather longer than broad, rounded ; arista bare. Eyes sparsely pubescent. Humeri comparatively large. Hiiul femora not thickened, spinose below on apical half. On middle of outer side of 1st posterior cell is the stump of a vein projecting inwards; a similar stump projects from the lower side of the cell, near the tip of the discal cell ; 4th vein with a short appendix at its fiexure upward ; outer side of discal cell straight; anterior cross-vein much before middle of discal cell ; 3rd vein nearly straight; aliihc \\ell developed. This genus is allied to Ascia and /Sphegina in possessing spinose hind femora, but is distinguished from tliem by the well-deve!oi)ed aluhc, the course of the anterior cross-vein and of the veins at 112 STRPHID^i:. ^ the wing-tip. It is distinguished from Syritta by the non- thickened hind femora ; from Bacdui and allied genera by the hiud femora being spiaose, and by possessing the stumps of veins near the wing-tip and tbe separated eyes in the S • The following is the only species. 89. Spheginobacclia macropoda, Big. Spheqina macrojyoda, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Eut. France, (6) iii, p. 331 (1883). Spheqinobaccha ??iac/-o^jof/rt, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Eut. li, p. 327, S $, notes (1908). S $ . Head : frons in S shining blue-black with black hair, in $ shining blue-black, with a white dust-spot in the middle on each side touching the eye-margins ; frons with a deep transverse furi-ow; eyes with a little pale pubescence; epistome not pro- duced, but with a median tubercle at about middle of face ; the latter black with a little white tomentum at sides. Antennae tawny, 3rd joint rather large, broadly oval, tip obtuse; arista bare, blackish-brown. Thorax black, slightly shining; humeral calli prominent, tawny ; a lateral straight line above the wing* and a transverse band on the pleurte, tawny ; scutellum pale tawny. Abdomen moderately shining black ; segments finely bordered with tawny ; 2nd and 3rd segments with a wide squarish tawny spot, rounded on inner sides, on each side ; 4th with a pair of broad spots leaving only a narrow median space, or united to form a broad oblique band, the spots visible through the white dust on the segment. Leys : hind femora elongate, a little in- crassate, not clavate, with small spines below ; hind metatarsi relatively thick and elongate. Legs in 6 yellow ; tips of fore and middle femora, apical half of hind femora, and all tibiae and tarsi, black ; in § , tips of fore femora a little brownish *. Wings with 2nd and 3rd veins gently curved ; 1st posterior cell closed a little before Ming-tip ; outer side of this cell curved inwards, with a stump ot a vein at its greatest convexity, another at the flexure of the 4th vein and a third on the lower side of the cell towards the end ; anterior cross-vein much before middle of discal cell ; latter with lower outer angle somewhat rounded ; costal cell aud whole of wing-tip rather narrowly, brownish ; stigma brown. Length, 11 mm. The above description is compiled from those of Bigot and de Meijere. Tgpe in Bigot collection, from Burma ; de Meijere's specimen is from Semarang, Java, October {Jacobson). * Desoriptioa of legs by de Meijere. Bigot writes, "Femora tawny, tibi^ whitish, broadly black at tips, tarsi black.'' UACcir.v. 113 Genus BACCHA, Fair. Baccha, Fabricius, Syst. AntLj). 199 (1805). liacca, Koudani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, ii, p. 104 (1857). Bacha, Scliiiier, Faun. Austr. i, p. 32.'> (1862). Bacehina, Williston, Mon. N. Amer. Dipt. 2iid Ed. p. 86 (1896). Genotype, Stirplms eJonqatus, Fabr. ; by designation of Curtis, Brit. Ent. (1S39). Head more than hemisjjherical, broader than thorax, tiat^;ened behind: frons slightly prominent; eyes bare, contiguous for a long distance in 6 , narrowly separated in $ ; antennte short, 3rd joint deeper than long, arista bare. Face generally swollen in centre, the swelling forming an indefinite bump, or with a small distinct tubercle. Thorax and scutellum normal, former much wider across the middle. Abdomen very slender, very much longer than thorax, 2iid and 3rd segments very long and narrow, behind which the abdomen widens gradually nearly to tip. Some pubescence at sides of abdomen on basal half. Legs long, thin. Fig. 20. — Baccha triavgulifera, Aust. {elegans, Brun.), (f . simple; hind femora distinctly lengthened but not thickened; basal joint of hind tarsi generally thickened. Wings with vena- tion of Sijrphus; alula very small or almost absent; squamio small, inconspicuous ; wings at rest folded over abdomen. Very slender, graceful ilies of moderate size, fond of hovering ; the species somewiiat didicult to separate. Life-Jiistorif. Larv:e feeding on Aph'ido', or perhaps Coccido:. llancje. Practically world-wide. The exact generic limits of Baccha are not very definite. Some authors include in it Ociqttamits, a North American group, whil>t Major Austen seems to have much extended the scope of the genus. The 2nd segment of the abdomen is sometimes almost fused with the broader, very short 1st segment, and this must not be lost sight of in interpreting the descriptions. 114 srEPHiD,!:. Table of Species *. 1. Wings with a conspicuous transverse dark band across middle dispar, Walk., p. 115. Wings never so marked 2. 2. Wings mainly or to a considerable ex- tent brown; in nubilipennis mainly dark brown; \n fallax aluiost wholly pale brown; in tticjricosta and um- brosa with a large median diffused brown spot on a comparatively or actually clear background 3. Wings never to any extent brown. Ground-colour clear, or nearly so, with at most anterior margin and a small apical spot dark, or (in macu- lata) a few very small dark spots on disc 4. 3. («) Wings practically wholly dark brown, but just appreciably paler at base and tip nubilipennis, Aust., p. 116. (b) Wings wholly pale brown except basally nearly clear fallax, Aust., p. 117. (c) Apical wing-spot practically united narrowly to costal dark band; abdominal markings dull orange , niyricosta, Brun,, p. 118. {d) Apical wing-spot separated from end of costal dark band by a wide clear space ; abdominal markings bluish-grey tmibrosa, sp. n., p. 119. 4. Anterior cross-vein suffused, and a narrow brown streak from end of prte- furca nearly to anal cell mamlata, Walk., p. 119. Disc of wing always clear 5, 5. Abdomen barely narrower at base than at widest part 6. Abdomen very distinctly contracted at base 7. 6. Antennae yellowish or orange robusta, Brun., p. 120. Antenna) wholly black plumhicincta, Brun., p. 121. 7 . No yellow pleural or presutural spots ; no yellow markings on body sappkirina, Wied., p. 122. At least mesopleura with a vertical callus-like spot 8. 8. (a) Side-spots of thorax consisting of a vertical spot on mesopleura, and a small round presutural spot buried in ends of suture; sterno- pleural spot absent, but individuals might shew a trace of paleness there pulckrifrons, Aust., p. 122. * For notes on, aud a table of a number of, Oriental species, v. de Meii Tijd. V. Ent. li, p. 31G (1908). ^'' BACCHA. 115 (b) Side-spots distinct, three, elongate, presutural, mes. 'pleural and sterno- pleiiral. Abdomen mainly reddish- brown, with a large yellow spot at or towards tip of 3rd segment. . . . irianf/ulifera, Aust., p. 124. (c) Side-spots as in triant/ulifera. Ab- domen mainly yellow with black bauds across ;ird and 4th segments mnphitlioe, Walk., p. 126. ^0. Baccha dispar, Walk. Baccha disjya?; AValker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 121 (1860). c? $. Head: eyes dark red-brown, in d closely contiguous, the very small black vertex bareiy raised, bearing a few black-brown stiff liairs ; in $ comparatively well separated ; frons in d fairly prominent, shining black, with an aeneous tinge and black-brown hairs, rapidly widening in $ to 2| times as wide at level of an- tennae, with yeliowisb-grey dust except on the shining black vertex ; face sliglitly narrower in cJ and $ in lower than in upper part, yellow with a broad blackish median stripe and whitish pubescence; mouth-border and proboscis brown. Eegion round base of antennae shining black ; antennae bright orange. Occiput dark, with fringe of pale yellow hairs. Thorax black, with brownish-yellow pubescence; humeri brownish-yellow; a con- spicuous yellowish presutural callus-like spot in S , which in $ ■extends nearly to the humerus; a similar vertical spot on meso- pieura, bearing whitish pubescence ; sternopleura with upper part -aeneous in d , in 2 bearing a callus-like horizontal spot, all the spots in $ more orange. Pleurae a little aeneous in front in S , lower part of sternopleurae grey-dusted in cf $ ; inconspicuous whitish pubescence on pleurae generally. Abdomen: in c^ , 1st segment dull brownish-yellow, remainder shining black ; 3rd seg- ment with a pair of narrow, linear, diagonally placed yellowish spots across middle of surface, their iinier ends well separated ; 4th segment with a pair of rather large yellowish spots on anterior margin, their inner sides well separated and parallel, their outer sides arcuate, the convexity outwards, their hinder sides deeply excised, the whole spot roughly in the shape of a tiiiger and thumb. In $ with 1st and 2Md segments and basal iialf of '6vd sliining brown ; rest of abdomen black; a broad yellowish transverse band occupying middle third of ord segment, and a similar band on base of 4th, bent hiiulwards at each end, not reaching side margins. Pubescence in 6 and $ sparse, whitish. Venter yellowish, some darker transverse bands corresponding to the darker parts on upper side. Le(js : fore legs yellowish-orange ; hind coxa' black, rest of legs generally rather darker; apical half of hind femora and hind tibiae (in $ ) and the metatarsi (in 2 ) dark brown, WiiKIs clear; a moderately dark brown narrow band on cost a extpnding to tip of 3rd vein ; a transverse band from costa, nearly -reaching hind margin, ending over tip of anal cl'II, in breadth i2 lit) SYEPHID^. extending from base of 3rd vein to anterior cross-vein. Halteres dirty brown. Length, 12 mm. Redescribed from the tiipe Si in fair condition, in the British Museum, from Celebes; and from one $ in the Indian Museum named by Bigot and undoubtedly of this species. There is a further specimen from the Nilgiris, in wretched condition, 3000 ft., 13. ix. 1917 {Ncujnath). Walker's description of the 5 abdomen, "2nd yellow baud not arched," does not quite apply, but the cross-band on the wings is sufficient to separate the species from all others. 91. Baccha nubilipennis, Aust. Bacclia nubilipeiinis^ Austeu, Proc. Zool. S(ic. Lond. p. 136, pi. iv,. tigs. 7 (full ins. col., d ), 9 (full ins. col., 5 ) : ph v, fig. 14 (head, J ,. profile) (J 893). 6 2 • Head : " Face and clieeks yellow, with yellow pollen and pale yellow pile. Cheeks in S sometimes narrowly blackish immediately below the eyes. A prominent, rounded and sharply defined facial tubercle, commencing halt-way down the face; some- times an indistinct brown stripe between it and the antennae. Antenupe orange, 3rd joint large, ovate, larger in 5 than in the S - A very pronounced antenniferous process, shining black above, and orange-yellow immediately above the base of the antenna ; the orange-yellow area is larger in the $ ; the projection is trun- cate and flattened in front and pilose on the sides only. Front in S greenish-black with yellow pollen and vertical triangle black; in 2 shining black with a narrow triangular area on each side, in front yellow pollinose, Pile on front biackish in J , yellowish in 5 , shorter in the latter than in the former. Occiput with a fringe of pale yellow hairs. Tliorax shining black ; the collar of hair in front pale yellow; elsewhere nearly bare. Humeri and postalar callosities brownish; pleurae with a broad vertical stripe of golden pollen in front of the suture ; the stripe has a reddish ground; pleurae behind wings silvery - pollinose. Scutellum polished dark brown on the disc, more or less yellowish, semi- translucent behind. General colour of the abdomen metallic black (browner in 5 ), sometimes with a distinct bluish sheen; the abdomen is broadest in the 4th segment. The 1st segment has outstanding pale yellovv hairs on each side ; elseM'here the abdomen is clothed with very short appressed black pile. 1st segment black, browner and with an edging of yellow in the $ ; 2nd segment with a basal j^ellow band, notched in the median line behind, and with an interrupted brownish-yellow band near the tip, the latter often scarcely visible in the J ; 3rd segment with a conspicuous transverse yellow band, occupying about the middle third of the segment but slightly nearer the base; the remaining segments wholly metallic black ; male genitalia small and concealed. Legs orange-yellow; posterior femora slightly darker, dark brown BACCUA. 117 above and below on tlie distal halt" but orange at the tips; pos- terior tibiae reildish on basal third, then dark brown; posterior tarsi dark brown on basal two-thirds ot" 1st joint, then whitish- yellow. Wings infusoated, dark brown in the middle, and usually darker in the 6 than in the 5 ; i'l '^'■e $ the wings show a faint secondary infuscation at the tips, above the third vein ; an area at the base on the inner side nearly hyaline; 3rd vein gently curved above the base of the 1st posterior cell; in the (S the wings are narrower and less I'ounded at the tips, while the terminal section of the 4th posterior vein, closing the 1st posterior cell, is less sinuate and more oblique than in the 2 ; alulae long, narrow, posterior margin straight. '' Length, S 12^-14^ ; $ 12|-13| millim. Ceylon." Kandy, 1800 It., 28. vi. 1892, type 6; 25. v. 1892, type $. Coimuon in Central Province of Ceylon; 1 example from Badde- gania, near Galle; ^"ilgiri Hills, 2500 ft. (H. L. Andrewes); Trivandrum, Travancore ; PoUibetta, Ceylon, 24. x.-16. xi. 1915 {Fletcher): CherrapunjI, Assam (Kemp); above Tura, Assam, 35U0-39U0 ft., 15. vii.-30. viii. 1917 {Kemp); Shillong, 5000 ft., vi-vii. 1918 {Fletcher). Differing from all other Oriental species known to Austen by the abdominal markings and the sharply defined facial and antenniferous tubercles when viewed in prolile. Types in British Museum, also specimens from Kandy, 1700 ft., 25-30. v. 1892 (Fer6i;Vie/-t«rt,Wiedemann, Aiis. Zweifl. ii, p. 96 (1830); Yerrall, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. p. 415 (1898). S $ . Head shining black, but with the frous more or less narrowly round sides in the 6 , and broadly across centre in $ , also with the outer third on each side of face in 5 , dusted with blue-grey, leaving a broad shining median black stripe. Antennae bright orange ; proboscis black ; postocular fringe white. Thorax shining aeneous-black, dorsum with short white pubescence ; scutellum similar, rather more cupreous in S ; pleurae with greyish dust and a little white pubescence. Abdomen mainly shining black ; 1st segment deep bhie, 2nd aeneous, 3rd aeneous on basal half, 4th broadly blue-greyish at base and less distinctly so at tip ; also 5th and 6th segments wholly blue-grey. Pubescence whitish, longer at base and towards sides, shortest on dorsum. Legs orange; apical half of hind femora and of hind tibiae, and tips of hind tarsi, to a greater or less extent blackish. Wings quite clear; sub- costal cell wholly, and a moderately small, detached, clear-cut spot at tip of submarginal cell, always limited hindwards by 3rd vein, black ; halteres conspicuously yellow. Length, 8 mm. Eedescribed from three Indian specimens and a series in good condition in the British Museum fro]n various localities in Africa. Coimbatore, S. India, vii. 1911 ; Abu, Rajputana {Nurse) ; Deesa, X. 190 1 {Nurse). Recorded also from Ceylon and Aden {Yerbury). Type in Copenhagen Museum. 99. Baccha pulchrifrons, Aust. Baccha pulvhrifrons, Austen, Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud. p. 139, pi. iv, figs. 10 (full insect col., (S), 10 a (head, J), 11 (full insect col., $ ) (1893). Baccha apicenotafa, Brunetti, Pec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 221, 5 > ph xiii, fig-. 8, part of wing (1915). "In c? , front, upper part of the face immediately below the antennae, and a broad facial stripe reaching to the oral margin steely. In $ , front, including whole circumference of anteinii- ferous projection and a facial stripe, narrower than in the J , but BACCHA. 1 23 reaching to the oral margin, metallic black, sometimes steely ; sides ot face yellowish poUiiiose ; cheeks orange-yellow, with a blackish-browu spot in trout, more or less distinctly connected with the facial stripe, sometimes indistinct in the $ . Front (in- cluding vertical triangle in o ) '"ind face clothed with pale yellow pile. Frontal triangle in 6 dusted with yellowish pollen above ; front in $ , a little below the middle, with a triangular patch of pale yellow pollen on each side, the apices of the triangles meeting or narrowly separated in the median line. A distinct facial tubercle and antenniferous process, the latter somewhat more pronounced in the $ than in the c^ . A lunate spot on eacli side of the antenniferous process metallic-violet. Antennae orange- yellow; 3rd joint oval, arista brown, yellow at the base. Occiput black, whitish j^oUinose, with a fringe of pale hairs. 'Thorax and scutellum : in (5 metallic bronze-black, clothed with golden pile; in J' metallic blue-black, clothed with shorter wjjitish-yellow pile ; in the S ^ sometimes obscure yellowish vertical stripe steriorly, so that each spot shews a sharp angle jjrojecting backwards on each side of the median line; 4th segment in the $ metallic black, with a yellow longitudinal stripe on each side of the median line, starting from the base and running the wlude length of the seginent, and a broader yellow elongated spot starting from the base of the yellow stripe on each side and 124 SYKPHID.i;. running obliquely outAvards so as almost to cut off' a basal angle ; 111 some specimens the yellow longitudinal stripes become obsolete before reaching the hind margin of the segment, and in others apparently do not run more than half-way; 5th segment in the 6 wholly metallic black ; genitalia small, metallic black ; 5th segment in the $ metallic black, with a somewhat confused repetition in miniature of the yellow markings on the 4th seg- ment. Lerjs yellow; coxaj blackish-brown, and a band on the outer half of the posterior femora, not reaching to the tips, and the distal third of the posterior tibiae, brown ; there is sometimes an indication of an incomplete brownish ring round the middle of the posterior tibias. Wings in the J sharper at the Fig. 24. — Baccha imlch-ifrons, Aust., wing. tip and with the terminal portion of the 4th longitudinal vein, closing the 1st posterior cell, more oblique than in the $ ; suffused with brown, usually lighter at the base on the inner side, darker in the costal and subcostal cells and in the middle, and with the stigma and an elongated and not sharply defined spot at the tip, above the 3rd vein, dark brown ; wings in the $ hyaline, the sub- costal cell brown, and the stigma and an elongated spot at the tip above the 3rd vein, as in the 6 , dark brown ; 3rd longitudinal vein gently curved ; alulae of full size. '^ Length, S 10-11| ; $ 9|-10| milHm." Bhowali, W. Himalayas, 5700 ft., vii. 1909. (L)i?iis) ; Darjiling District, 5000 ft., iv.,v.":L917 (Kemj)); Pusa, Bengal, 10. li. 1906 (Mism); 3. viii. 1909; Mormugao, Goa, ix. 1906 (Kemp); Hot AVells, Trincomalee, 2.x\.18d0 {ttq^e J oi ajncemtata), 13.iii.]S92 {ty^^e $ of apicenotata); Heneratagoda and Bentora (both Cevlon, E. E. Green); Cherrapunji, Assam, 4400 ft., 2-S. x. l^\4{Kemp); jungle at base of Dawna Hills, l.iii. 1908 (Annandale). The species is recorded by de Meijere from Singapore and Java, and the British Museum has specimens from various localities in Ceylon collected by Col. Yerbury in March, June, July and JN'ovember. Austen notes a 6 and $ which may be a variety of this species. 100. Baccha triangulifera, Aust. Baccha trianr/ulifera, Austen, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lend. p. 138, pi. iv, fig. 5 (full ins. col., J) (1893). Baccha eletjans, Bnmetti, Eec.lnd. Mus. xi, p. 220 (1915). (5 $. Head: " Front, face and cheeks yellow, with short, pale yellow pile ; a narrow dark brown median stripe extending a little BACCHA. 125 more than luilt'-way down the face from the antennse. \'ertic'al triangle in d" shining hhack, very long and narrow, extendinjr more than one-third of the distance between tlie occiput and antennae. Front of $ with a brownish triangular spot im- mediately above the antenncne; very narrow above, metallic black, with parallel sides for one-half of its length from the occiput. Occiput dull black, poUinose, with a fringe of glistening whitish hairs. Antennte orange, 3rd joint bluntly oval; arista brown, except the base. Thorax metallic black, finely punctuate, with very short silky yellowish pile; humeri, a stripe from then) to the suture, a vertical stripe on the pleura in front of the suture, a laro-e rounded spot below this stripe, an oblique elongated spot behind the base of the wings, and the anterior margin of the scutellum, pale yellow. Scutellum, except anterior margin, blackish-brown, punctate. Abdomen cylindrical and very narrow- from posterior half of 1st segment to midille of 3rd, expanding and spatulate from thence to the tij) ; general colour reddish-brown, clothed with short appressed, blackish pile ; 2nd segment with fine,, whitish, erect pile ou the sides; a very conspicuous translucent yellow spot occupying distal third (rather more in 5) of the 3rd segment, and shaped like an equilateral triangle; 1st segment yellow, brown ab the tip; 2nd segment reddish-brown, darker at the tip, before which is a narrow indistinct lighter band ; base of 3rd segment yellowish, posterior margin brown ; 4th segment polished dark brown, steely on posterior margin in c? ; 5th seg- ment polished dark brown, with a steely sheen ; external genitalia reddish in both sexes, rather prominent in J . Legs luteous, coxte blackish-brown, posterior femora reddish-brown, yellowish at the base; posterior tibije pale yellow on basal third, then dark brown ; 1st joint of posterior tarsi dark brown except at the tip ; this and the remaining joints dull yellow. Wings hyaline witli a brownish tinge along the j)osterior margin ; sub(;ostal cell dark brown, and a brownish patch at the distal extremity of the marginal and submarginiil cells, terminating sharply at the 3rd vein; the latter straight; veins dark bro\\n; aluhe almost absent.' "In the shape of the profile of the face and in the venation of the wing, this species resembles B. j^edicellata, Uol. (according to Doleschall's figure), from Java ; but the sharply defined yellow triangle on the 3rd abdominal segment distinguishes the species from any other known to me. "lluldamulha, Ceylon, circa 4000 ft. (Col. Ferburi/) : a ]iair taken in copula, June 10, 1892." Length, 12^-13 mm. As elegans 1 described the species from Sukna, base of Dar- jiling Hills, 500 ft., 1 & 2. vii. 1908, including tigpc; and from jungle at base of Dawna Hills, l.iii. 1908 (hotli Annaiuhih). Other specimens are from Kollur (ihat, 8. Kanara District. 3000 ft., 18-21. ix. 1913; Kungpo, Sikkim, 1400 ft., 0. ix. 1909. The latter specimen lias the face wholly pale, but is no doubt conspecilic with the nst. None of the specimens seen by me have 120 SYRPHID.?:. the hind margins of the wiugs brownish-tinged, as stated by Major Austen. Types in British Museum. 101. Baccha amphitlioe, Wall-. (PI. Ill, fig. 12.) Bacclia amphitlioe, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii, p. 549 (1849). Baccha Jiavopunctata^ Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. viii, p. 165, pi. vi, tigs. 5, G (191.3) ; id., op. cit. xi, p. 219, (5 $ . Head : vertex and frons shining metallic black, a little vellow on lower part of frons at sides bearing 3'ellow dust : iu 5 5 an indistinct narrow median line on frons. Antennae orange- yellow, antennal prominence hardly noticeable. Face and cheeks yellovv, a clear-cut blaclv or blue-back stripe on face from antennae to mouth ; a small tubercle on face : below mouth-opening shining steel-colour. Occiput dark grey- or yellow-pollinose, with short whitish-yellow fringe on margins. Thorax dark seneous to metallic- black, with short golden-yellow pile; yellow calli on humeri, an oblougone thence to suture ; a perpendicular oblong stripe on meso- pleura ; a round spot just below it on steruopleura ; a long oblique «pot behind wings, with a small round spot contiguous to its lower Fig. 25.— Baccha amphithoe, Walk., abdomen. -end. Scutellum yellowish, brownish in middle, with some grey pubescence. Abdomen : 1st segment pale yellow ; 2nd very narrowed, pale brown, witli a yellowish band before hind margin ; 3rd yellowish at base with a reddish-brown triangular patch ou each side margin, more distinct in $ , and reaching hind margin, which latter bears a sharply defined blackish band ; middle of segment yellowish ; 4th segment yellowish ; basal angles, sides and a large, rather triangular spot resting on hind margin, black ; the sides of this segment are addicted to curHng under the belly ; 5th segment with a blackisii median basal spot, indistinct in 6 . Venter more or less as dorsum. Legs: coxae black ; anterior legs (except coxae) wholly bright yellow down to tips of tarsi ; a broad median band on hind femora, and the apical half of hind BACCIIA. KIIIXOB.VCCUA. 127 tibi;e, dark brown or black ; upper side of hind metatarsus rich dark gokleu-brown, tlie colour more or less extending to the under side, which is covered with golden-brown hair ; remainder of bind tarsi orange-yellow. Whigs clear grey ; subcostal cell blackisii, costal cell and about the basal half of tlie marginal cell brownish, and the costa from the end of the stigma to the tip of tiie 3rd vein, narrowly and distinctly black suffused. HaUeres yellow. Lenyth, 9-11 mm. Fig. 26. — Baccha amjjhithoe. Walk., wing. The above is the amalgamation of my description of Jiavo- jnuictata (built up on a single $ in the Indian Museum from Dibrugarh, Assam, 17-19. xi. 1911 (Kemp)) with Austen's descrip- tion of Walker's amphithoe, with which species my species is, as proved by examination, identical. Walker described the species from a single headless specimen in the British Museum from Moul- mein; whereas Austen's re-description is from several of both sexes. Sibpur, Bengal, 4. iv. 1913 (Gravely); Calcutta (Graveli/); 8ukna, Rungpo, Sikkim, 6. ix. 1909; Cherrapunji, Assam, 440U ft., 2-8 X. 1914 (Kemj)); Moulmein (Terburi/) • Kanthalai, 8. iii. 1892; Kottawa, 2-1. iv. 1892 ; Trincomalee ; Galle (all Ceylon, Yerhuri/). I surmise that pedkellata, Dol., vcsjxeformis, Dol., and yraliosa, Big., are closely allied to amphWwe. Genus RHINOBACCHA, de Mevj. Rhinobaccha, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Eut. li, p. 315 1908). GEyoTYPE, R, r/racilis, de Meij. ; t. c. p. 316, d" ? , pi. viii, fig. 38, head (profile). Body narrow. Eyes bare ; in c? not conspicuous, a little wider apart in $ ; antenna) short, 3rd joint rather longer tiian broad, arista bare. Epistome produced downward into a long snout as in Ilhingia ; proboscis long, about IJ times height of head in the type-species. Ahdomen narrow, only a little broader at tip. Jlind femora not thickened, not spinose. Whtijs narrow, alulse rudimentary ; cross-veins bent towards the wing-tip, nearly parallel to the wing-border. This genus possesses some of the characters of liJiingia, Baccha and Spher/ina : the epistome of the first, the venation of the second and the rudimentary alulae of the third, and it has the basally narrowed abdomen common to the two latter. From Ociip>la)nvs, Spreenisb-grey or aeneoiis-^a-ey, never yelluwi.-^h ^. 2. Scutellum wholly with .<()ft long yellow pubescence, no "bristly blaclc hairs on hind border .' binotata, Bruu., p. 131. Scutellum with yellow hairs on disc and a conspicuou.s row of erect black bristly hairs on hind niarjjrin 3. 3 (a). Second, 3rd and 4th abdominal sejrmcnts mainly black : a pair of distinct (tbionjj spots in middle of side niarjrin of each, all subeqiial, their imier ends well [p. 131. separated scxmaculata, Bran., (Jb). Second, 3rd and 4th abdominal aejments mainly yellowish, with black i-lonfraic spots towards each side on hind mar^nn. la t ici net a, Vy\\m., p. 132. (c). Third and 4th abdoniiniil se<,'menta slightly shining, dull olive-green, the colour e.xtt'ndmg to hind corners of 2rid segment ; hind margins of •_'nd,3rd and 4th segments distinctly but very nar- [p- 133. rowly shining black, ilninlerrupted . . anffnsticincta, Brun., K 130 syrphidjE. (d). Third and 4th abdominal segments a little shininp:, greenish-seneous; hind corners of 2nd segment black ; hind margin indefinitely blackish ; 3rd segment with distinct, broad blackish margin, not conspicuous ; 4tli segment with [p. 134. indistinct black hind margin semicinerea , sp. n., 103. Rhingia cincta, de Meij. (PI. Ill, fig. 13.) RhuKjia cincta, deMeijere, Bijd. tot Dierk. xviii, p. 101 (1904). S ? • Head iu S with bare eyes, closely contiguous for the whole distance from the small vertical triangle to the equally small frontal one; former black, with ruby-red ocelli and long brown hairs curved forward ; latter orange-brown with a little paler dust : face and lower part of head orange-brown, the snout projecting forwards a distance equal to the width of the eye seen in profile, shining, bare. Antennas and arista brownish-orange, latter bare. Occiput grey, lower part orange-brown, both with a little very short marginal pale pubescence. Frons in $ just perceptibly broader below^ than above, flush with eyes, about one- fifth of head at level of antennae, blackish, with pale yellowish- grey dust. Thorax brownish-orange ; dorsum olive-grey except side margins, the grey colour outlined on eacli side by a longitudinal black stripe of moderate width ; a pair of median, similar, rather narrowly separated stripes, often united on anterior margin. Pubescence of dorsum brownish-yellow, some small black bristles or bristly hairs in front of whig and on posterior calli. Pleui'ae with a little yellowish-grey tomentum and- pale yellow soft pubescence. 8cutellum orange-brown with soft black pubescence, hind margin with a I'ow of erect black bristly hairs and a fringe of dependent yellow hairs. Abdomen mainly black ; 1st segment, and the 2ud anteriorly at sides, orange, more or less broadly a little darker on anterior margin ; sometimes a narrow black median stripe on 1st segment ; 3rd segment in r? black, with an elongate dull orange spot at middle of each side margin ; in $ the spots joined, forming a narrow band across centre of segment, much broadened at side margins (in one $ this segment is all shining black) : 4th segment practically wholly black. Pubescence of abdomen yellow on pale jjarts and black on remainder. Venter niore or less brownish-orange, blackish towards sides and tip. Legs orange with pale yellow pubescence except for a little very short black bristly pubescence on hind tibiae, which latter are a little brownish, and the usual microscopic black bristles on upper side of tarsi. Whujs pale yellowish, stigma barely darker; halteres brownish-orange. Length, 9-10,| mm. to tip of snout. Redescribed from a S from Darjiling, 12. viii. 1909 {Dr. Jenlins) ; and some $ $ from Kurseong, Darjiling District (Annandale), 4.vii.l908, 13-1(5. vii. 1907 ; above Tura, Assam, 15. vii.-30. viii. 1917 (Kemp) ; all in the Indian Museum in good condition. Orisjinallv described from Java. . RHINGIA. 131 104. Rhingia binotata, Ih-Ku. (PL III, fig. U.) lihiiujia biiwtnta, ]»niiietti, Rec. lucT Mas. ii, p. 59, J (1908) ; id., op. cit. viii, p. 1*56, $ (191;J) ; xi, p. 226 (1915). rS $. Head: frous and upi)er pai-t of stiout di'ep black; lower part of both face and snout lawny-yellow. Antennie brownisli- x'ed. Vertex very small, with a few black hairs • short yellow- hairs behind the head above, and rather close whitisli hair on lower part ; proboscis black. Frons in J one-fiftli of head, dark grev, uniformly wide. Thorax yellowish-grey, with four rather indistinct, sligiitly darker, dorsal stripes ; tlie two outer ones wide, and inter- rupted at the suture ; the two inner ones very narrow and close together. Dorsum with rather thick, short bright yellow hair ; sides of thorax cinereous-grey, darker posteriorly, some yellow hair just below wings ; scutelhim bright tawny, dorsum bare, a fringe of short yellow hairs at base, and a fringe dependent from posterior n;argiii, on which nuii-gin is set another fringe of long yellow hairs, pr«ijected posteriorly; by which character this species differs from all the others. In $ , thorax grey and general pubescence in this sex grey instead of yellow. Abdomen aeneous-black, covered with thick, short, bright yellow hair ; the 1st segment appears pale, and on the 2nd on each side, towards the base, is a lateral, oval, i)ale yellow spot. Legs orange-yellow, basal half of all femora black; the femora with soft yellow hair, the rest of the legs practically bare. Wings yellowish-grey, slightly darker in front ; stigma pale yellowiijh-browu ; halteres yellowish-brown. Length, 9 mm. Described from one ^5' in perfect condition, captured by me at Darjiling, 13. x. 1905. In my collection. A second j comes from Kurseong, 3. vii. 1908 (Annaadale). The $ subsequently received at the Indian Museiun from the banks of the Siyom Kiver, near Yekshi, 3. li. 1912, taken on the Abor Expedition. A fourth specimen from Darjiling, 1908. 105. Rhingia sexmaculata, linrn. (PI. III., lig. 15.) llhiiiijia scxinucuUda, IJrunetti, liec. lud. Mas. viii, p. 166 (1913). O . Head : frons rather more than one-fourth the width of the head, just perceptibly narrower at vertex; ground-colour jcneous, dusted with brownish-yellow, with short, comparatively line black hairs; ocelli red, distinct, placed on an impressed triangle; face immediately below anttyiina^ concolorous, snout orange, comparatively siiort, being only as long as the Ijiteral width of the eyes; haustellum blackish, mouth-parts brownisli-yellow. .Antonnal protuberance of moderate size, concolorous with frons ; .-ijitennic wholly orange, n])|)('r marixin and ti[) of 3rd joint very narrowly brownish, arista black. Tliorax: ground-colour icneoiis, dusted wilh brownish-yellow; two narrow, closely approximated median lighter stripes, and an outer under stripe on each .side, none of the k2 132 SYRPHIByE. stripes very obvious ; scutellum coneolorous, bind margia very narrowly brownisli-yello*' ; dorsum witli a few sbort black hairs ; sides of thorax coneolorous, a little pale yellow hair about pleurae and base of wings. Abdomen blackish, Isl segment pale whitish- yellow except for the dark posterior corners ; 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments each with a pair of well separated oblong yellowish spots (about as wide as one-third the length of the segment), placed towards but not on the anterior margin, their extremities attaining the lateral margins of the segments ; a little yellowish hair at the sides of the abdomen, basally ; venter blackish. Legs brownish- yellow ; coxae and extreme base of femora black ; tips of tarsi a little brown ; femora with a very little pale hair. Wings clear yellowish-grey ; stigmatic region of subcostal cell yellowish ; tegul^e brown with yellow fringe ; halteres brownish-j^ellow. Length, 8 mm. Described from one 5 in the Indian Museum from Dibrugarh, Assam, 17. xi. 1911 {Kemp). 106. Ehingia laticincta, Brun. li/iinf/ia hiti'chicta, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 58 (1908); i, pi. xi, fig-. 7, abdomen (1907). (S 2 • H^iid : snout tawny ; lower part of head shining grey ; antennae tawny ; eyes quite contiguous as far as vertex ; frons in $ of about the usual width in the genus, cinereous-grey. Thorax cinereou.s-gre3% with aeneous reflections and soft black and grey hiiir ; four blackish longitudinal stripes, not always very distinct, the two outer ones interrupted at the suture, the two inner ones close together on the front, diverging widely posteriorly, where Fig. 28 ff. — Bhiiigia laticincta, Bran., typical form S 9' abdomen. they become diffused and meet the ends of the outer pair just iu front of the scutellum. Scutellum unicolorous, similarly haired, a row of stiff black hairs on posterior edge, from wliich a fringe of soft pale yellow hair hangs down. Abdomen bright tawny, with soft yellow hair, thickest at the base on the sides ; 1st segment very narrowly black-edged, 2nd, 3rd and 4th with a broad black band on posterior border, interrupted in the centre in front, but continuous on the extreme edge of the segment ; a vertical long RHINGIA. VSd black spot oil the dorsum of eacli segment forms a sort oF longi- tudinal dorsal stripe. Venter tawny-brown. Ze^/s all pale tawny, all femora black at base, an indistinct blackisli wide ring round centre of hind tibiae ; tarsi darker. In $ , femora nearly all pale and the ring on the bind tibiso less distinct. Wings pale grey, stigma yellowish. Length, 7-9 mm. Described from tlie type 6 , Darjiling District, 9000-12,000 ft. (Burl-iU) ; the ti/pe $ , Mussoorie, both in the Indian Museum, and a c? and 2 in my own collection. Simla (Annan dale) ; viii., ix. 1898 (JYarse) ; Phagu (Annandale, Kemp) ; Ivurseong, 4700- 5000 ft. Yar. fasciata, Brun. Mhingia laticincta var. faxciata, Erunetti, Hec. Ind. ?>rus. ii, p. ,58 (1908) ; i, pi. xi, fig." 8, abdomen (1907). d" 2 . AVliat I take to be a variety of laticincta differs by the abdominal bands being reduced to semi-circular spots, placed on the posterior borders of the segments and joined by a very narrow line on the extreme edge. Tiie legs in the abdomen. indication of a dark band on the hind libioc. Another point of difference is that the pubescence on the thorax is much shorter, and ahnost absent on the posterior part, and the sculellum is practically hare, except for some long hairs towards the tip. 1 have four specimens ( d d $ $ ) taken by myself at Darjiling (7000 feet), 10-15. x. 1905, antl am not at all sure that it is not specifically distinct, for which reason 1 liave given it a nanie. In mv collection. li>7. Rhingia angusticincta, Dmn. (PI, III, iig. lU.) liltiiKjia a/ii/i(iticinct((, IJruuetti, liec. Jnd. Mu.s. ii, p. 59 (1908). c? 2' This species resembles laticincta, tlie points of difference being as follows : the snout is distinctly siiorter ; tlu- abdominal 1-34 SYRPniD.E. transverse bands are extremely narrow, and not interrupted, this being the main, but a constant difference. Length, S mm, (without snout). Described from the tjipe d" from between Kufri and Simla, 7000 fC, 4. vii. 1907, and the ^//pe $ from Tlieo^, 27. iv, 1907 (both Annandnle). A third specimen from Darjiling District, 9000- 12,000 ft. {BurlilJ): this latter has a darker thorax and all the tibiae have a distinct broad black ring. I have seen a specimen from Dungagali, 21-24. v. 1915 {Fletcher). lOS. Rhingia semicinerea, sjj. nov. S. Head: vertex small, black, with a few black hairs; frons blackish above with grey dust towards sides, gradually changing in colour to the brownish-orange of lower frons and orange of face and snout ; latter projecting horizontally as far as width of eyes in profile. Antennae and arista orange. Lower part of head aeneous- black ; occiput with close grey dust; short black bristly hairs on upper, and softer pale hairs on lower, margin. Thorax wholly dull green-aeneous, with brownish-yellow pubescence and distinct traces, seen from behind, of a pair of moderately broad greyish dust-stripes, rather close together but visible on anterior part of dorsum only; humeri brownish-orange; a little grey dust in humeral region ; scutellum concolorous, with yellowish hairs on dorsum and a fringe of them dependent from hind margin, wdiich latter is narrowly orange, bearing black bristles. Abdomen : 1st and 2nd segments mainly orange, both with very narrow black hind margins ; 2nd with also a narrow median stripe and a large black spot on each side on hind margin ; ,Srd and 4th greenish- black, hind margin of 3rd broadly blackish, of 4th indistinctly blackish with a slight aeneous tinge; remainder, with venter, greenish-black, latter yellowish at base. Legs brownish-orange wit h pale pubescence ; laind tibiae a little brownish about the middle. Wings, squamae and halteres j^ellowish. Length, 10 mm. from tip of snout to tip of abdomen. Described from a single i). Described by Wiedemann froiu Wester- mann's collection,' from .lava: also recorded from the jNicobars. The abdominal black bands vary from a practically line:ir band (with a slight subtriangular projection on the anterior margin) on the hind margins of 2nd and 3rd segments, to a band of which the anterior margin forms three conspicuous curves which nearly touch the front, margin of the segment. The band on the 4th segment is similar to that on the 3rd, but the middle curve is truncate anteriorly instead of bluntlv conical as on 2nd segment. The markings of the 4th segment are pretty constant m all the varieties, consisting of a median and two side stripes all black, of moderate width and reaching from about anterior to hind margin. 111. Graptoniyza tinctovittata, Bnm. Grapfomyza tmctovittata, Brunetti, llec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 227, pi. xiii, fig. 10, wing (li)!;")). $ . IJead pale lemon-yellow ; face with a shining brown median stripe from antenufc to'mouth-horder ; snout about half as long as lieight of eves ; proboscis short. Occiput black, the colour encroaching narrowlv on the vertex. Frons with a very large subquadrat.', blackish-brown, moderately shining spot, which occupies nearlv all the surface, not contiguous to the eyes, but extending downwards to the root of the antenna?; this square spot joined to the vertex by a short, broad stripe embracing the ocelli. Eyes sparsely and microscopically hairy. Antenna) brownish-yellow, upper side a little brownish, arista bare. Thora.v shining black, with short yellowish-grey pubescence; side margins and posterior mai-gin of dorsum narrowly jiale yellow. Shoulders with a yellow callus, and tliere is an elongate perpendicular yellow spot on tlir mesopleura, just before the wing and united to the yellow margin of the tliorax. Scutellum shining black. Presutural bristle apparently absent, also hind marginal dorsal ones, but some longer, sti'lf yellow hairs ther(> ; notopleural bristles rather wider apart than "usual : scutellum with three side marginal, the last one nearly ajjical ; all the bristles black. Abdomen bright yellow, 2nd segment with a broad black band on posterior border, widest in the middle, where it extends nearly to 140 SYEPHID^. i; the apex of the short and very narrow 1st segment. A similar band on 3rd segment, rest of abdomen black. Venter yellow, with a few blackish marks. Legs wholly yellow, except the hind 00X86 rather obs^cure, a broad dark brown band on hind femora leaving the knees narrowly pale, and hind tibije blackish-brown, with base and tips narrowly yellow. Wings very pale grey ; a brownish very short stripe from tip of auxiliai-y vein to 2nd longitudinal vein, a second stripe from tip of 1st vein to (and indistinctly including) the upturned end of lower branch of 4th Fig. 30. — Graptomysa tinctovittata, Brun., wing. vein, and a third stripe from tip of 2nd vein to, and including, the upturned end of upper branch of 4th vein ; all these stripes being narrow and indistinct yet perfectly obvious. The closed anal cell very slightly infusoated at tip. Halteres brownish- yellow. Length, 3 mm. Described from one specimen in the Indian Museum, sex uncertain but probably $ , from Sukna, base of Darjiliug Hills, 500 ft., 1. vii. 1908 (Annandale). 112. Graptomyza longirostris, Wied. Graptomijza lonyirostris, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweiti. ii, p. 208 (1830); Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 63, tig. abd. normal; abd. var. Vl-notuta, mihi (1908) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Eut. 11, p. 277 (1908). § . Head orange-yellow ; frons and face of uniform width, being ^ of head ; frons black except at sides, with a little yellow pubescence ; a black median stripe from base of antennae, and a short one on each side of epistome, but none of them i-eachiug tip of snout ; this latter longer than height of eyes, proboscis nearly twice as long as snout, conspicuously bifid at tip ; pro- boscis black. Antenuse brownish-orange, upper half of 3rd joint black ; arista orange, plumose. Thorax orange-yellow ; dorsum with a large black subquadrate spot filling greater part of surface, sometimes broadly reaching hind margin, with a short median black stripe in front joining the spot to anterior margin ; the yellow of the side stripe runs narrowly along suture for a shoi-t distance on each side. Pleurae about equally black and yellow, the area below humeri, and a very large triangular spot on mesopleura, yellow ; the spot contiguous to base of wiug and reaching posterior calli. Scutellum dull yellowish, a little QRAPTOMYZA. 141 brownish in middle ; three or more black supra-alar bristles, 1 po.stalai", '2 on posterior calli, 2 notopleural, and a row of long black bristles or bristly hairs along hind margin; similar bristles on hind mnrgin of scutellum. Abdomen yellow ; side margins narrowly black, and four longitudinal black stripes of about equal width, the mediau two rather closer together; all these stripes run from anterior margin of 2nd segment to tip of abdomen, and are unbroken in the typical form, but in the 12-notata variety Fi^. 3la.- Graptomyza loigirostris, Fig. ?.lh.— Grapiomijza lovffirosMs, Wied., abdomen. Wied., var. V2-notata, Brim., abdomen. they are interrupted at margins of segments, thus formhig twelve elongate spots ])laced longitudinally in four rows of three in eacli^; varying considerably in individuals in the matter of width. Legs orange-yellow; femora and fore tibia) broadly brown in middle ; hind"^ tibia; almost wholly brown ; tips of tarsi brown. Winr/s pale grey ; stigma yellowish : wing-margin a little smoky from' stigma to tip; outer side of 1st posterior cell narrowly suffused ; halteres orange. LeiK/th, 7-7^ mm. Described from a typical example from the Tenassernn Valley (Doherh/) and another from Batavia, x. lt)07 {Jacohson) ; also from tile tirpe-spec'.meAi of tny var. 12-notata from Sadiya, Assam, all in the indian Museum. The species occurs in Sumatra, and the British Museum possesses a good series from Singapoi-e {li'uUey). Described by Wiedemann from Westermann's collection, from Java. li;j. Graptomyza angustimarginata, sp. nov. ( I'l. Ill, lig. 1'.).) $. Head: frons and face of uniform width, l)etween \ and \ of head, \\ith short yellow jmbescence. Anteniue biown, ufiper part of the long 3r(l joint black, arista bhick, brown at base, plumose. Epistoine distinctly longer than height of eyes, browni.sh- yellow, a mo(lrd and 4th segments Avith a similar spot each, but leaving only a narrow yellow anterior margin to each segment, 144 SYEPHIDiE. and not reachiug sides ; both these spots narrowly bisected longi- tudinally by a pale space. Pubescence of dorsum mainly following ground-colour, but whitish or pale yellowish at sides, and over all the 4th segment and the nearly all yellowish venter. Legs orange-yellow ; apical half of anterior femora, apical three-fourths of hind pair, and nearly the whole of all the tibite, black ; all knees narrowly pale ; all tarsi brovvnish-yellovv, tips darker, especially in the fore pair. Pubescence of legs Avhitish but black on hind tarsi. Wings pale yellowish-grey ; stigma ill-defined but moderately dark brown, the subcostal cell thence to its tip yellow; a small brown elongate ill-defined spot over tip of 1st basal cell. Length, about Ih mm. Described from 3 ^ $ in Indian Museum. Kasauli, 29. vi. 1905 (Barroiv) ; Kurseong, 5000 ft., 3. vii. 1908 (Annandale) ; Sadiya, Assam, 27. xi. 1911 (tgpe of nigripes) (Kemj)) ; other examples from Kurseong, 5000 ft. {Annandale)-, Grangtok, Sikkim, 6150ft., 9. ix. 1909 ; above Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 3500-3900 ft., 15. vii.-30. viii. 1917 {Kemp). In the typical form of ventrcdis the yellow colour of the face is carried narrowly along the eye-margins of the Irons to the vertex ; the sides of the thoracic dorsum are narrowly yellow and there is considerably more yellow on the pleura?. The pubescence towards the hind margin of the dorsum is yellow, and the bristles there all yellow. The femora are mainly orange, but tinged indefinitely with brown on the apical half: the hind tibiae have whitish, not black, pubescence, and all the tarsi have more orange in them than iu the variety nigripes. Differing from angustimarginata, Brun., by the yellow coxse, the almost wholly black front tibiae and yellowish fore metatarsi, the broadly black ringed middle femora and nearly wholly black middle tarsi, the larger amount of black in the hind legs, and the pale grey basal part of the wing, with the inner end of the stigma conspicuously black. Only one specimen of the typical form has been seen by me : a $ from Eotung, Abor Expedition, 1400 ft., 26. xii.1911 {kemp). The species was originally described from Java, and De Meijere records it from Buitenzorg. The coloration of the legs and of the chsetotaxic bristles appears to be distinctly variable. Genus VOLUCELLA, Geoffr.* Volucella, Geoffrey, Hist, d'lns. envir. d. Paris, ii, p. 540 (1764). Cenogaster, Duraeril, Zool. Anal. p. 282, Expos, etc. (1801). Pterocera, Meigen in IlHger, IlIig.'Mag. ii, p. 275 (1803). Ornidia, Sf Fargeau et Serville, Eiicycl. Method, x, p. 786 (1825). Tenmocera, id., 1 >c. cit. Ate^nnocern, Bii>ot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) ii, Bull. p. cxiv (1882). . Camerania, Giglio-Tos, Boll. Mus. Zool. e Anat. comp. Torino, vii, No. 117, p. 3 (1892). * For a table of the Oriental species, see Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 60 (1908) TOLUCELLA. 145 Gexotipe, Mmca peUucens, L. ; by designation of Curtis, 1833. Head as broad as tliorax or a little narrower ; frons but little produced ; eyes pubescent in S at least on upper part, bare in 5 *, contiguous in J for a considerable space ; face barely lioIlo\\>'d uuder anteniue, but ])roduced abruptly into a very large centriil bump, below which a slight excavation may appear above the still more produced upper mouth-border. Antenuce moder- ately long, 3rd joint elongate, arista nearly basal, very plumose. Thorax quadrate, with long and dense pubescence (like that of Fig. 32. — I'oliicella ntficanda,'Brun., (^ . Bomhiis) or with deu.se short inconspicuous pubescence ; some strong black bristles above base of wing, on post-alar calli and back of mesopleura, along sides of thorax and round margin of scutelluin. Ahdovien short-ovate, broader than thorax, with pubescence like that of the thorax. Legs simple. Wings with a characteristic venation ; marginal cell closed, anterior cross- vein distinctly before middle of discal cell, apical portion of 4th vein strongly recurrent ; :^nd vein bristly at base. Life-history. The larvas live in bees' and hornets' nests, where they devour not the living hymenopterous larva) as was at Hrst supposed, but the dead larva) and pupse. Thus they are scavengers, and their presence in the liives is not resented. Ramie. The world, except Australia. An exceedingly well-inarked genus, many of the species showing great resemblance to humble-bees, wasps and hornets. Verrall makes the very interesting statement that of one of the commonest British species, V. bom/>ylons, L., about 60 per cent, of the specimens mimic the common bee liomhus terrestris, and about 38 per cent, mimic J>. lapidarius. while the remaining 2 per cent, may have tlie coh)ur-sclieme ol almost any species of Bomhus; the various forms jiair promiscuously. * Except in one Europoiiu species, V. inflata, Fabr., and possibly certain others. 146 STllPHID^. Table of Species. 1. Bare species ; any pubescence present very short, even if dense 2. Densely pubescent species, pubescence long and conspicuous 6, 2. Abdomen mainly orange, with black marks signata, sp. n., p. 146. Abdomen mainly or wholly black .... o. 3. Thorax tawny or orange 4. Thorax black 5. 4. Abdomen with two narrow pale cross- bands ; wings suffused in centre and at tip trifasciata, Wied., p. 147. Abdomen entirely black ; wings pale brown, unmarked discolor, Bran., p. 149. 5. Second abdominal segment wholly yellow ; scutellum bright tawny .... itelhicens, L., p. 150. Second abdominal segment with basal half only yellowish : scutellum nearly black basalis, Brun., p. 150. 6. Tip of abdomen black-haired ursina, de Meij., p. 151. Tip of abdomen orane:e- oi- yellow-haired 7. 7. Venter uniformly black. . .' ruficauda, Brun., p. 152. Venter with 2ndaiid3rd segments livid, lividnentris, Brun., p. 152. Volucella opalina, Wiedemann (Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 203, 1830) must be totally deleted from the list of Asiatic Diptera. It was erroneously recorded by Wiedemann from "Bengal," a mistake which wasunfortunately repeated by Bigot in 1883 (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) iii, p. 68) and by Van der Wulp in 1896 (Cat. Dipt. S. Asia, p. 116). Princess Theresa of Bavaria lias, however, called attention (Berlin. Ent. Zeitschr. xlvii, p. 245, 1902) to the fact that the type really came from Brazil, and further specimens have subsequently been collected in S. America. The locality is correctly given by Kertesz, Cat. Dipt, vii, p. 197, 1910, 116. Volucella signata, sp. nov. (5 . Head set very closely on thorax. Eyes closely contiguous for about half the space between vextex and base of antennae, with dense short brownish-yellow pubescence on upper half; facets gradually diminishing in size from in front hindwards. Head wholly orange ; vertex very small, witli long hairs, black and yellow mixed ; ocelli ruby-red. Frontal triangle rather small, with short yellow hairs. Antennae and aristje wholly orange. Face rather deeply cut away below antennsB. The whole epistome obtusely px-oduced, bearing short yellow pubescence with which some short black hairs are intermixed over central bump ; the latter is of moderate size. A rather faint, brownish, narrow streak on clieeks from lower corners of eyes to tip of epistome. Occiput yellowish- grey, not extending beyond level of eyes, the upper margin nearly bare, but with yellowish-grey pubescence about the middle, VOLUCELLA. 147 gradiKill}- lengtlieiiing on underside. Iliorax brovvnish-oraiioe ; a fairly obvious, pale yellowish, median sfripe from anterior margin, reaching (seen from behind) about to middle of dorsum ; humeri, more yellowish. Hinder part of dorsum and under side of tliorax darker brown, the colour softly blended with that of the paler dorsum. Pubescence of dorsum and pleurae bright golden-yellow on the orange parts and blackish-brown on the brown parts. Some stiff l)lack hairs and moderately long black bristles on hinder half of side mai'gins of dorsum. Scuteilum orange, with golden-yellow pubescence with some black hairs intermixed on hinder |.art, and a row of about twelve long black bristles on hind margin. Abdomen bluntly conical, as long as thorax ; brigiit orange with a slight brown tinge ; 1st segment and base of 2nd narrowly livid grey ; rest of 2nd segment soft dull blackish-brown ; 3rd segment with a large triangnhir spot in centre, the apex barely touching anterior margin ; the other angles drawn out to sides of segment, which they attain ; base of triangle quite clear of hind margin; 4th segment a little tinged with brown towards tip. Genitalia orange. Whole pubescence of abdomen microscopic, dense, orange, except on the livid base and anterior corners, where it is grevisli and rather longer. Venter blackisii ; hind margins of 2ud, 3rd and 4th segments narrowly pale yellow, well-defined. Leqs orange, with short orange pubescence ; coxae and about basal half of femora bhiek, with black pubescence; hind tibiieand tarsi more yellowish, \\ itii dense pale yellow ])ubescence. Whif/a vellowish- grey ; anterior part deeper yellow; stigma obvious, blackish, elongate ; halteres pale yellow. Lenrjth, 15 mm. Described from one S {type) in the Indian Museum, from above Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 3500-3900 ft., ix. 1917 {Mrs. Kemp) : a second d in the British Museum from the Khasi Hills. A'cry distinct from all other Indian species. 117. Volucella trifasciata, ]Vied. Voiucella trlftisciutu, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifi. ii, ]i. 1!)G (1830). Volucella linearis, Walker, Ins. Saund. Dipt, i, p. liol ( 18o2). Volucella (lecorata, id., Proc. Linn. 8oc. Loud, iv, p. ll'O (I86O1. Volucella iiitbeculosa, ]Jif>ot, Auu. Sue. l*]nt I'lance, (5) v, p. -4 74 (1875); (G)iii, p. 77 (1883). (S $. //e«f^ yellow ish-orange to dull yellowish ; vertical triangle in S extremely small, black, with some brown hairs and brow iiisli- yellow ocelli ; frons in S small, somewhat projecting, dull yellow ish with yellow pubescence. Antenna orange, arista orange with black hairs. Face deeply cut away below antennjc, where it is pale yellowish, rest dull yellowish with short bristly pubescence: jnouth-border :ind proboscis orange-yellowish. Jn $, frons barely wider above antenna; than at vertex', orange-yellow, very smooth and shining, with short soft pale yellow pubescence, in l2 148 SYRPiiin.E. individuals of both sexes occur traces of a blackish stripe from eye- margins to mouth-border ; postocular fringe yellow, ineons])icuous. Occiput dusted with yellowish grey. Tliorax and scutellum entirely orange ; former with wholly yellow pubescence to the normal extent, and a row of yellow bristles on hind margin; latter sometimes with hardly any pubescence other tlian the long up- curved stiff hairs on hind margin ; dorsum of thorax appearing tinged with brown when viewed from in front ; at least three black or orange, brown-tipped spines on humeri, also two above and a little in front of wing-base, two on upper part of niesopleiira, three on posterior calli, generally all orange ; long yellow stiff hairs on hind margin of dorsum ; soft yellow hair on pleuraj. Abdomen black, base of 1st segment yellowish, as are two narrow, linear bands, slightly arcuate in front, the first rather M'ider than the second, lying over the margins of the 2nd and 3rd, and of the 3rd and 4th, segments ; venter vei-y similar. Pubescence of abdomen short, golden-yellow, invisible when viewed from behind, but conspicuous when seen from in front. Legs orange ; hind femora some- times with a broad sub-basal or median blackish baud ; they and the posterior tibiae are generally a little brownish ; tarsi generally darker towards tips. Wings yellowish-grey; a small broM ii narrow cloud from middle of anterior margin, along the cross- veins, dying away towards anal cell; wing-tip smoky-brown; halteres orange. Lengih, 14-16 mm. Tyj^e in Leyden Museum {teste Wiedemann). Eedescribed from a single c? (decorata, Walk.) and nine 5 2 in various collections. The identity of the species given here as synonymous is certain, the f^/pes of decorata, linearis, and nuheculosa being before me (in the British Museum). The type of decorata, AValk., from Celebes is in fairly good condition and is the only cJ I have seen. It has the thoracic dorsum blackish with deep blue reflections, leaving only moderately narrow side mai'gins, the pale colour extending inwards at the end of the suture. The hind femora have a broad median brownish band, the hind tibiae are brownish on the apical half, and all the tarsi are a little darker than in the more normal form. Of linearis, W^alk., a species described without record of locality, only the type, in wretched condition, is present, labelled as from India. Tlie head has been stuck on, and may not belong to the body, judging by the frons, which widens rapidly fmni vertex to antennae (whereas in the normal form it is barely wider below than above). The wings are much darker brown anteriorly-, making the dark patch in the middle of the costa less obvious ; the costal patch is of the usual dull orange colour ; the abdomen is all black, except for being r;ither narrowly pale at base of 1st segment and barely appreciably so on hind margin of 2nd. Legs orange to tips of tarsi (the tarsus of the one hind leg remaining is missing). YOLUCELLA. 149 V. nitheculosa. Big., differs in jio «ay from trifasclatu, except that the pale parts of the ahdoineii are reduced to two narri^v bands lying across the eniarginatioiis of tlie 2ii(l and 3rd, aiid of the 3rd and 4th segments, \ery slightly arcuate on front side, practically linear, the first band sliijhtly wider than the 2)\d. The pale bands (regarded as such) in trifascidta are merely much broader, but are similarly shaped and placed, Indi\iduals of V. infasciata vary in the thoracic dorsum being tinged with blue-black, which is sometimes confined to the hinder half (as is the case in two $ 2 i" th^ British Museum from Assam, which also possess a bluish-black frons) ; in the hind femora, which are normally entirely orange, but which sometimes have a more or less basal broad black band : and in the intensity and extent of the wing-markings. •' In.dia" (type of linearis) ; Sikkim ; South Shan States, Upper Burma, 4000 ft., xi. 18D9 (Lieut. -Col. Bin(/ham) ; Lower Eanges, Khiisi Hills, Assam, 1878 (Chennell) ; liukit Kutu. Selangor, Federated Malay States, 3500 ft. {Itohinson): Kelantan, Fed. Malay States (a $ variety, with frons and nearly all the surface of thorax, scntellum and abdomen shining black) ; Celebes (type of decorata) ; China (type of nubeculosa). Originally described by Wiedemann from Java ; also recorded from Borneo. 118. Volucella discolor, Brun. Volucella discolor, Urunetti, llec. Ind. Mas. ii, p. (32 (1908): de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 276 (1908). (5 . Head : eyes not quite contiguous, black, facets small, uniform. Vertex, frons and entire face bright orange, bare. Face immediately below antenna) flush with the eyes, but from thence projecting well forward, forming a large squarish promin- ence, not reaching downwards much below the eye-level. Antennae on a barely perceptible prominence, orange, with orange plumose arista. Back and underside of head orange, a little orange-yellow hair below. Tliorax w holly uniformly bright orange, with close short golden-yellow hair on dorsum, changing to longer orange hair on the edge, on the posterior part and on the pleura?. Scutellum pinkish-orange, a little yellow hair round the sides. Ahdomen : 1st segment (hardly visible) dark coloured, remainder wholly shining black, with microscopic black pubescence. On each extreme anterior corner is a small bunch of nither shdit yellow hairs. Venter black, unmarked. Leys wholly bright orange, with short golden-yellow hair, which is a little longer on the coxjE. The tarsi very narrowly black between the joints. Wiwjs uniformly pale brown, outer half towards the anterior margin a little darker ; halteres bright orange. Length, 10 mm. Described from one perfect cT fi'om Sibsagar in the Indian 150 STRPIIID^, Museum collection. Dr. de Meijere records a d from Japan agreeing almost exactly with my description. 119. Volucella pelhicens, L. Miisca pellucens, Linnpeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. x. p. 595 (1758). Volucella 2^c-ll»(^ens, Verrall, Brit. Flies, Syiph. p. 490: auctt. var. Conops dnjaphihis, Scopoli, Kni. Carn. p. 35o (1763). Musca fera, Harris, Expos. Engl. Ins. p. 39, pi. x, fig. 2 (1782). Syiyhus jnitescens, Sclielleubei'g, Gen. Mouch. pi. viii, fig. 2 (1803). 6 2 . Head brownish-yellow ; frons but little produced, a little more brownish, with a little short black pubescence ; vertex black. Eyes with dense black pubescence in c? , bare in $. Antennae dull orange, arista orange, pubescent practically to tip. Trous in 2 with nearly parallel sides. Tliora.v shining black, brownish on humeri and for some distance along sides ; pubescence short, blackish ; some black bristles at base of pleurae, above base of wing, on posterior calli and margin of scutellura. Abdomen short- ovate, shining black, with brown and bluish reflections ; 2ud segment all yellowish-white except a narrow brownish median stripe, broadened at base, sometimes absent in 5 . Pubescence of abdomen very short though dense, following ground-colour, except along hind margin of 2nd segment, where it is black. Legs black, knees a little brownish-orange ; base of anterior tarsi more so; pubescence very short, black. Wings pale orange on about basal half ; a distinct blackish cloud across middle and at tip, the intermediate space darker, these darker marks fading gradually hindwards to the entirely clear hind margin. Squama? blackish- biown with orange margins and fringe ; halteres dull brown. Length, about 15 mm. The above is mainly abridged from Verrall's description of British specimens. One 6 in the Forest Zoologist's collection from Takula, Kumaon District, W. Himalayas. Distributed over all Europe and recorded from Ja])an, 120. Volucella basalis, Bnm. Volucella basalis, Bnnietti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 61 (190s) ; i, pi. xi, fi;,^ 11, abd., fig. 12, wing (1907). $ . Head entirely bright orange ; frons narrowing towards vertex, which is black; mouth-border brown; proboscis and extreme lower part of cheeks black ; eyes bare. The face is considerably produced into a large snout, which is cut away just below the antenna; ; antennae small, orange. Thorax moderately shining black, bare, sides black ; scutellum very dark brown, almost bare, except for a row of strong bristles near posterior ed^e. AJ>domen black, a little shining, almost bare; the basal half of the 2nd segment occupied by a large transverse livid yellow elongated TOLUCELLA. 151 spot, which is contracted in the middle hehind and does not reach the sides of the segment except at the extreme base, where it joins a hiroe livid spot on the same segment oF the venter. Lens all black and bare. Wings grey, yellow at base, a yellowish-brown suffusion from the centre of the costa reaching half-way to the posterior border, and a similar suffusion at the wing-tip extending inwards just beyond the subapical and postical cross-veins ; halreres yellow. Lencith, 16 mm. Described from one $ in the Indian Museum collection, from Mungpliu, Sikldm District. This species bears a considerable general resemblance to V. peUucens, L., of Europe, but in that species the wliole of the 2nd segment is livid yellow, this colour passing over the sides of the segment in its full width, whereas in hasalis it is narrowed to the extreme base of the segment ; also in pelhicens the sides of the thorax along their upper edge are always brownish- yellow, of which there is no trace in hasalis ; moreover, the scutellum in ijelluceus is bright tawny, whereas in hasalis it is nearly black. 121. Volucella ursina, de Meij. Volucellu ursina, de Meijere, Bijd. Dierk. xviii, p. 101 (1904). $ . Head shining bhick ; epistome also black, except for a yellow side stripe contiguous to eyes, reaching nearly to tip of epistome ; mouth-border narrowly yellowish. Frons with black pubescence. Antenjial 1st and 2nd joints reddish-yellow, the kidne^'-shaped 3rd joint yellowish-brown. Thorax yellowisli-brown, dorsum rather darker, with rather long and dense yellowish-brown pubes- cence. iScutellum honey-yellow, Ahdomcn blackish-brown, only the very short 1st segment yellow, with short though dense yellow and black pubescence ; on 2nd segment yellow pubescence predominates, particularly near the hind border, on the 3rd seg- ment black ; on this latter only a narrow cross-band, shaped like an inverted V, and the hind border are yellow-haired; 4th segment nearly all black-haired, ouly in front and at sides with a little yellow pubescence. Venter shining black. Legs black; coxte yellow, as are also the front and middle femora, with the exception of a clear-cut black longitudinal stripe on the apical half on inner side; all knees yellow. Wings at tip rather darker; with a blackish spot in middle of anterior margin which extends rather far towartls the base, but leaves the submarginal cell free, and does not extend behind over the 4th vein or distally over the anterior cross-vein. Length, 17 mm., of wing IG mm. Darjiling, 1 $ . ^'ery like trifasciata, Wied., but of a different colour. Also resembling yecWo^a, Big. 152 SYBPHID^. 122. Volucella ruficauda, Brun. Volucella ruficauda, Briinetti, Rec, Ind. Mus. ii, p. 61 (1908) ; i, pi. xi, fig. 13, wing (1907). (S 2 ■ Sead black; epistome well produced, shining black ; eyes densely hairy in S , distinctly hairy, but to a much less extent, in $ ; vertex crowned by a tuft of long bright yellow liairs ; eyes in $ separated by the narrow shining black Irons. Antennae ferru- ginous ; first two joints nearly black. Thorax black with black hair, dorsum covered with dense long bright ferruginous-red hair which also covers the bright ferruginous-red scutelluiu. Abdomen black with rather thick black hair ; posterior border of 3rd seg- ment and the whole of the 4th and 5th segments covered with yellowish-red hair. Venter entirely black with black hair. Legs slender, wholly black with short black hair. Wings pale yellowish- grey, a rather large brown irregular spot in the centre of the fore border, and reaching half-way across the wing; a brown suffusion along the recurrent portions of the subapical and postical (4th arid 5th longitudinal) veins and extending to the costa about the termination of the marginal cell. Between this suffusion and the outer margin the wing is darker grey ; base of wing slightly yellowish ; halteres black. Length, 14-15 mm. Described from eight S 6 and eight $ $ in the Indian Museum collection from 8ikkira. 123, Volucella lividiventris, Brun. Volucella lividiventris, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 62 (1908). Fig. 33. — Volucella lividiventris, Brun., head iu profile. S $ . Very near ruficauda, but distinct. The hair on the thoracic dorsum is distinctly grev, the tuft of hair on the vertex is greyish-white, while the venter has the 2nd and 3rd segments livid grey with unicolorous hair. A bunch of grey hair is found on each of the two basal abdominal segments at the sides, and the VOLUCELLA. ENBOIASIMTIA. 153 sides of the 2nd serous, a lilth; yellow pubescence dependent from hind margin. Ahdoinen like that of Chilosia, obconical, of live ol)vious segments, 1st nearly as long as 2nd ; moderately shining black, with short reddish- brown pubescence. Legs slender like those of Chilosia ; coxa) black, femora also black, but narrowly orange-brown at tips; tiI>iaB orange-brown, with a median black ring; tarsi brownish, middle pair yellowish. Wings brownisli-grey, a little darker apically nearly as far inwards as middle of discal cell; marginal cell widely 154 STKPHID^. open ; anterior cross-vein at one-third of discal cell ; 3rd vein nearly straight. Whole venation like that of Chilosia, though the tip of the 4tli vein is just appreciably recurrent: lialteres dull yellowish. Length, 11 mm. India : redescribed from the unique type in the Bigot collec- tion, which is in inferior condition but has the generic and specific characters sufficiently obvious. Subfamily ERISTALIN^. Antennae moderately long, pendent, arista dorsal, bare to plumose. Wings with anterior cross-vein at or beyond middle of discal cell ; 3rd vein with a distinct downward loop into 1st posterior cell ; marginal cell generally open except in Eristalis (s. lat.). Hind femora usually thickened and often with a distinct subapical dilatation or with a tooth-like process. This subfamily is of world-wide distribution, the two principal genera Eristalis and Helophilus (one or the other, generally both) having representatives in every quarter of the globe; but in several of the genera the species are very closely allied, and more- over often subject to considerable vai'iation, which makes a keen study of allied species a sine cpia nonior their certain identification. Even the European species of one of the largest genera, Merodon, are but imperfectly understood. The life-histories of some forms have been unravelled; the larvae, except those of Merodon, are usually of the "rat-tailed" type, as in the common Eristalis tenax. In some species the apical promi- nence in the larva forms a flexible tube capable of extension to several times the length of the body. Many species are excellent hoverers and nearly all are of general distribution, preferring sun- shine, open spaces in woods, flowering or sweet-smelling plants and bushes. One or two species of Helophilus extend to the Arctic regions. Tahle of Genera. 1. Marginal cell closed 2. Marginal cell open 5. 2. Hind femora toothed Priomerus, Macq., p. 155. Hind femora not toothed * 3. 3. Thorax broader than long ; scutellum abnormally wide ; a wrinkled space on frous above antennne Megaspis, Macq., p. 196. Thorax quadrate ; scutellum of normal shape ; no wrinkled space on frons . . 4. 4. Anal vein elongate, tip recurrent (much as in Milesi(i) ; loop of 3rd vein diagonally placed Korinchia, Edw., p. 224. Anal vein not elongate, often barely reaching margin of wing; loop of 3rd vein normal Eristalis, Latr.. p. 155. * Except in Megaspis crassus, Fabr. PRIOMEBUS. — ERISTALIS. 155 5. Iliud femora toothed below Mkuodon, Meig., p. 211. Hind femora thickened or not ; -without any prominent tooth or spine below . . ('•. 6. Anterior cross-vein much beyond middle of discalcell Azpkytia, ^\ alk., p. 221. Anterior cross-vein almost exactly at middle of discal cell < • 7. Body subfusiform {i.e., head, thorax and abdomen closely applied to one another) ; brilliant metallic blue or violet species, apparently bare though actuallv very shortly pubescent . . . . AxoxA, \V alk., p. 22J. Body not subfusiform ; non-metallic species , ■ , , . ,-.^q 8. Densely pubescent species Mallota, Meig-., p. 218 Bare species llKLorniLus, Meig., p. 201. Genus PRIOMERUS, j\Iacq. Priomerus, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Ins., Dipt, i, p. 511 (1834). Genotype, P.fasciatus, Macq., the original species. "Face prominent, a little concave below antennie ; epistome thick, descending some distance below eyes in profile. Eyes con- ticruoiis in 6 • Antenna? on a frontal projection, 3rd 30int oval, arista bare, dorsal. Abdomen depressed. Hind femora denti- culate. Marginal cell closed." , • , ^, Macqiiart attributes this genus to Serville, stating that it hast he facies of lldoxyhilus. Kertesz (Cat. Dipt, vii, p. 208, 1910) sinks Priomerus in Eristalis, but in my opinion the toothed hind temora entitle it to rank as distinct. V2.0. Priomerus fasciatus, M(tc([. Priomerus fasciatus, Macquart, op. cit. p. 612 (IS.'U). cj " Black. Face and front with grey tomentum ; facial bump black"; antenna) tawny, brown above. Thorax with green reflec- tions and three yellow longitudinal stripes; sides yellow. Hind border of scutellun. tawny. Second a))donnnal segment with a broad yellow band, interni|.ted in middle, 3rd and 4th segments each witli a straight whitish band. Base of tibia) whitish. " India. Serville's collection." Van der Wulp quotes the locality as East Indni. The species may be taken as n-iiuiring contirmation as Indian. Genus ERISTALIS, /^l2 (l*;^; j); Syrphus, Zetterstfdt (uec Fabr.), Ins. Lai.p., 1 ipt. p. •'• 1 '.^•'*^^- ,.„ Eristnliiius, l{.jndani, Nuov. Annal. Sci. Nat. Bologna, (2) ii, p. -io.i (1844). Eristaloida, id., loc. cit. 156 STRPHID.?:. Dolichomerus, Macqiiart, Dipt. Exot., Suppl. 4, p. 131 (1849). JEristahmyia, Rondaui, Dipt. Ital. Prodr. ii, p. 38, uota {Eristalomya) (1857J. *Siinoides, Loew, Ofvers. Kongl. Vet.-Akad. Furhaudl. xiv (1857), p. 382 (1858). Eriops, Lioy, Atti. Isti. Veneto, (3) ix, p. 743 (1864). Doliosyrphus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) ii, Bull. p. cxx (1882). Dalyosyrphus. id., op. cit., (6) iii, p. 228 (1883). Eristalodes, Mik, Wieu. Ent. Zeit. xvi, p. 114 (1897). Lathijrophthabnus, id., loc. cit. Genotype, Musca tenax, L. ; by Curtis's designation (Brit. Ent. 1832). Head as broad as, or a little broader tlian, thorax, approximately semicircular ; frons only slightly produced, always pubescent ; eyes contiguous in J (exceptions rare), wide apart in $, pubescent (in some species on upper part only) ; face with distinct central knob and moderately produced upper mouth-edge ; antennje normal, 3rd joint oval, with arista dorsal, either quite bare or Fig. Si.— Er/sfali.-< solifus, Walk., c? (left), $ (riglit). plumose on basal half. Thorax quadrate, densely but often inconspicuously pubescent ; scutelkim similarly clothed, frequently yellowish or translucent. Abdomen about as wide as thorax, ovate, subconical or rather elongate, generally with pale (usually yellowish) markings, side spots or bauds; pubescence of great variability. Legs simple, pubescence very variable, hind femora normally not incrassate ; hind tibiae usually, but frequently only slightly, curved. Wins, sp. n., p. 19o. 4. Hind tibite so curved as to appear broken, ciirvipes, .Sch., p. 19- Hind tibiie without sncli ap])earance o. 5. Abdomen all black; at most 1st segment more or less pale, or extreme hind margins of segments yellow or whitish . 6. Abdomen ne"ver all black; iletinite yellowish spots of some size always present, generally more or less like iLose of E. tena.r ; • ' • ^ , ^^ 0 "Winfs with a large brown suffusion m |.P- i"0- miaaie himnlayenm, Bruii., Wings clear albihasis, IJig., p. 1 <->9. 7. Basal lialf of hind femora orange hasijctnonitux, sp n., Hind femora wiiolly black, or tips only [p. l/o. pjile ^• 8. Considerably ]>nbe8ceut species, somewhat like K intrirdrim. Rasal pubescence (,f abdomen dense, yellow, apical LP-^'^- pubescence rtnl • • • iutricarioides, sp. n., Comparatively bare species, never like intricarius, generally more or less like tenax 9. * See note in Appendix. t Tijil. v. P:iit. H, p. 24L> (1U08). ; Rec. Incl. Miis. xi, p. 228 (1015). 158 STKPHID^. 9. A cross-baud of greyish pubescence on thorax , 10. Thorax without such cross-band 11. 10. Spots on 3rd abdominal segment in cJ triangular or oblong, placed on the anterior margin and reaching side margins ; in $ , spots smaller and narrower, but always on anterior margin, solifus, Walk., p. 172. Spots on 3rd abdominal segment {d 2 ) narrower, linear, not reaching side margins, placed transversely over centre [p. 176. of segment angiistimarginalis, sp. n., 11 . Epistorae conspicuously and conically produced siimdatus, sp. n., p. 177. Epistome only moderately produced .... arbtistonim, L., p. 179. 12. Eyes striped ' 13. Eyes never striped ; either spotted, irregularly marked or unicolorous .... 14. 13. Thorax yellow, with 4 conspicuous black stripes ; 3rd abdominal segment mainly or wholly black quinqiielineatus, F., var. Thorax dull yellowish - grey, with 4 [orientalis, n., p. 183. indistinct black stripes ; 3rd abdominal segment mainly yellowish tceniops, Wied., p. 186. 14. Eyes spotted, or with irregular dark markings 15. Eyes unicolorous 23. 15. Eyes in (5 contiguous (presumably so in tahanoides, in which cj is unknown) . . 16. Eyes in (S comparatively widely separated, sepxdchralis, L., p. 161. 16. Obviously black or seueous species 17. Black and yellow species (black and grey in tahanoidps) 19. 17. Abdomen uniformly osneous, without spots. tapMcus, Wied., p. 162. Abdomen with grey or whitish spots . . 18. 18. Abdominal spots obliquely placed obliquiis, Wied., p. 164. Abdominal spots transversely placed .... Icetus, Wied., p. 165. 19. Second, 3i'd and 4th abdominal segments all orange except for a clear-cut posterior margin and a median stripe : no arcuate [p. 180. whitish bauds present pohjchroviahis, sp. n., Second, 3rd and 4th segments never all orange, the markings never rectangular ; arcuate whitish bands niu'mally present 20. 20. Femora normally all orange or brownish- orange arvornm, Fabr., p. 181. Femora black ; tip generally more or less pale ■ 21. 21. Thorax and abdomen yellow and black . . 22. Thorax and abdomen whitish-grey, with black stripes aud bands, practicalh" no [p. 189. yellow present tubanoides, Jaenn., 22. Tarsi yellowish-white nearly to tips ; abdomen comparatively shorter, more [p. 187. ovate-conical quinqiiestriatvs, Fabr., Tarsi black, at most pale at base ; abdomen comparatively longer and narrower, more [p. 190. elongate-conical obscuritdrsis, de Meij., EEISTALIS. 159 28. Eyes with two distinct bands of dense, darker-coloured pubescence tenax, L., p. 173. Eyes without any such bands 24. 24. Wiujrs with a large, conspicuous brown [p. 1G7. spot in middle inaculijiennis, de Meij., Wings grey ; abdomen w^ith greenish sub- metallic spots ; eyes bare tiit/er, Wied., p. 163. AVings grey ; abdomen black, with trans- verse yellowish-grey bands ; eyes with obvious greyish pubescence on lower half ; almost a " furry '' species orientalis, Wied., p. 170, E. transpositus. Walk., pallineuris, Macq. (p. 160), and cognatus, Wied. (p. 175), are not included in the above table owing to no int'oruiation being available as regards the antennae. The l ype of transpositus is probably lost. The first two species have the thorax metallic, and transpositus possesses, in addition, a large dark spot in the middle of the wing; this spot is absent in paUhieuris. E. cof/natus, Wied., falls near tenax. E. mult i farms, Walk., is alao not included in the table as the hind femora are rather con- spicuously incnissated ; see remarks on p. 194. The several attempts wliich liave been made to subdivide Eristalis on account of the unwieldy number of its species cannot be considered successful ; as whether the markings of the eyes or those of tlie tiiorax be adopted as characters on which to effect the subdivision, by either method groups of species are created which are by no means homogeneous. iSucli groups in any case must be regarded at most as subgenera. If based on the eye- markings, ^7?«s the separation of species with plumose arista from those having this organ bare or nearly so, tiiese subgenera would be as lollow.s : — Arista distinctly plumose on at least basal half .... Eristalis, Arista bare or slightly pubescent. Eyes with longitudinal dark stripes * Eristalodes. Eyes with spots or irregular markings. Eyes contiguous m S Lathiirophthabnns. Eyes rather widely separated i7i r' Eristalinns. E^'es unicolorous, unmarked Eristalontijia. In the first place, since the species tenax, L., tlie universally accepted type of the genu.s, would under the above arrangement fall in the subgeiuis Eristalomi/ia, this latter name would have to be replaced by Eristalis, s. sir., whicli would necessitate i-enaming the subgeiniH with species possessing a plumose arista. Verrall abso- lutely refused to place the species tenax, L., in any other genus except Eristalis : but if the above subgenera were to bo * Stripes are iilwajs longitudinal, to wnuteviT part, of the body the terra niny be applied ; if tnuisverso they an; called /w//f/s (or transverse stripes). So far as n\j own writing.-* go, ilie.so ttTtns aro never used in any contrary sense. Measurements of the extent of contiguity of the eyes, -ire made from tlie extreme vertex to the extreme anterior pr.>.jecting margin of tlio frons, which overhangs the actual base of the antennje. Measurements of tlie width of tlic frons in the 2 are made on a line running through the base of the antenna;. In all such cases my measurements have been judged by the eye aloue. 160 SYRPHIDiE. regarded as genera, the tiiiie-liououred genus Erlstalls would thus be robbed of its universally accepted type-species. To avoid this the name Eristalis would, as stated, have to stand for the present EHstaJomi/ia, and the present subgenus Eriataiis (species with pubescent arista) would have to be renamed. Secondly, this classifi- cation is purely arbitrary, as all the subgenera so formed would embrace incongruous species, even when only the Oriental species of the genus are considered. A separation into species with the thorax longitudinally striped and those with no stripes would not be any better, for the same i-eason. The degree of pubescence or bareness ot" the eyes has no taxonoinic value, as it varies in the sexes of the same species, and is only useful occasionally in separating small sets of species. Under these circumstances I have felt justified in arranging the species in what appear to be natural groups, constructed admittedly on general appearance. For practical purposes the s^iecies may be rouglily grouped as follows : — 1 . Those with a metallic thorax : transpositus, liuUineuris. 2. iEneous or wholly black species : sepulcliralis, iaphicus, niger, ohliquus, Icetus, mdculipennis, himalayensis, alhibasis. 3. Kather densely pubescent species {intrlcarius-W^e) : orientalis, intricari- oides. -i. Species with the facies of E. tenax : soUtics, tenax, corpiatus, basifemoratus, anriustimarginalis, simulaius, arbustorum, polycJiromatus, arvoruni, o-lineatus, tceniops, o-striatiis, tabanoides, obscuritarsis. 5. Species with the facies of Ilegaspis, with short abdomen and a transverse thoracic band : curvipes, latus,suturalis. E. curvipes is placed in the last section on account of its trans- verse thoracic bauds. 126. Eristalis transpositus, Wallc. Eridnlis franspositHS, Walker, Traus. Ent. Soc. Lond., n. ser., v, p. 289 (1860). c^ 5 . " Bluish-green, shining ; head black in front, where there is white shining tomentum on each side ; antennae black ; abdomen bright cupreous at the tip ; tarsi black ; wings blackish on the fore half, limpid on the hind border. " Length of the body 7|-8i lines ; of the wings 16 lines. Burma." Tijpe originally in Saunders's collection, probably now lost, and no subsequent information seems available. The metallic thorax will separate this species and paUineurls fi'om all other Indian ones. 127. Eristalis pallineuris, JIacq. Eristalis pallineuris, Macquavt, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 46 (1842). (^ . '• Face with white tomentum and indistinct brown band. Frons in front with yellowish tomentum and short black hairs. ERISTALIS. 161 Antennae brownish-testaceous. Eyes bare. Thorax metallic green, with yellow tomentiim ; scutullum yellow, brownish at the base. Abdomen witii large contiguous yellow spots on each side, eiiiarginiitions shining. Peinora black, tibias yellow, fore and hind pairs brown at tips ; tarsi tawny. Halteres yellowish. AV'^iiigs clear, a little yellowish at base, veins pale; 1st basal ceil ex- tending to middle of discal cell. " From Bengal IDuvftucel]. Paris Museum." 1 have seen no specimen of this species, nor can I glean any information as to which subgenus it should be referred. 12«. Eristalis sepulchralis, L. (PI. IV, fig. 3.) Musca sejndchralis, Linngeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 10, p. 596 (1758). Muscn atra, Harris, Expos. Engl. Ins. p. 58, pi. xv, fig. 11 (1782). St/rjj/ius tristis, Fabricius, F]nt. Syst. iv, p. 303 (1794). c? 2 - IJ^fdd : S , eyes rather widely separated, frons from vertex rather rapidly narrowing to about half-way to base of antennae, below which point it widens again ; at its narrowest point it is about half as wide as at vertex and about one-ninth width of head at that part. Eyes with spots or irregular black markings and brownish-grey pubescence. Vertex and upper part of frons blackish with black pubescence, lower part with grey dust and pale yellow pubescence. Pace black, with grey dust and yellowish-grey to whitish pubescence ; central knob small, black, shining, bare. Anteunje black, base of 3rd joint often orange, arista bare. Occiput dark grey, with long blackish hairs behind vertex and grevish hairs on lower part. In 5 , frons with almost parallel sides nearly to antennje, thence gradually widening as does the face, both cpvered w ith yellowish-grey dust, leaving the ocellar triangle, a small spot in middle of frons, the small central knob, front edge of mouth and a small space between face- and cheeks, shining black. Pubescence black above antennae, yellowish on rest of frons, yellowish or yellowisli-grey on face. 3rd antennal joint generally more reddish than in J" and eyes less pubescent. 27iora.r black ; a pair of more or lefs distinct, sliort, narrow, gr«y, well-separated stripes from anterior margin, not reaching suture, and traces of darker longit\idinal stripes; humeri and extnMne lateral margins of dorsum for some distance, grey ; pleura more or less shining blackish. Pubescence of thorax denst-, yellowish-grey ; scutellum with a dull ajneous tinge and yellowish- grey pub(!sceiu"e. In $ , dorsum light grey with four suhnqual, equidistant, longitudinal, shining bhuk stripes from front to hind margin, often niore or less narrowed at the ends ; sometimes some greyish dust on upper ])art of sternopleura. Abdomen short, dull aeneous ; a large, deep black spot on 2iid segment from anterior mai-gin nearly to hint! n)argin, cut away deeply on eacli side, thus leaving a large jcneous triangle tilling each ouier third of the seg- ment; hind margin aeneous. A simihir, rather smaller spot on 3rd segment ; -llii segment with a small black spot at base. Pubescence 162 sykphiDjE. yellowish-grey, more whitish at sides, black ou hind margins of 3rd and 4th segments ; genitalia rather large, ronnded, mostly concealed, greyisli-black. Venter black, pubescence pale ; hind margins of segments narrowly orange. In 2 , abdomen feneous, dull on disc of 1st segment, on a large X-shaped spot on '2nd segment, and on a dorsal line on basal half of 3rd segment. Pubescence sliort and whitish at sides, yellow on disc but black on hind margins of 3rd and 4tli segments. Legs black ; knees and often base of anterior tarsi more or less orange; pubescence mainly yellowish, longest on basal two-thirds of hind femora, blackish on apical third ; short black pubescence on hind side of anterior tibife and on basal half of hind tibise. In 5 the orange colour is a little more extensive. Wings nearly clear, especially in 5 ; stigma very small, dark brown ; halteres and squamae yellowish. Length, 8-9 mm. Described from Indian Museum specimens from Kashmir and China, with additional notes from Verrall's description of British examples. Shanghai, l.v.1906; Hankow, 22-26.iv.l906 {Branetti). Widely spread in Europe. 129, Eristalis taphicus, Wied. Eridalis taphicus, Wiedemann, Aus.s. ZweiH. ii, p. 11)1, $ (18o0). Eristalis rideiis. Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mas. iii, p. 610, $ (1849). c? 5 . Head : eyes in S contiguous for less than half the dis- taiice from vertex to frons, front facets slightly larger than the rest ; vertical triangle and upper part of eyes with yellowish-grey pubescence. Frons and face with yellowish-grey tomentum, the former with longer yellowish liairs also, latter with inconspicuous very fine white hairs; face very slightly produced diagonally" for- wards and not at ail below eyes themselves in profile. Antennal prominence shining brown, upper margin sometimes bright yellow; antenna! 1st and 2nd joints black, 3rd reddish-brown, upper side black; arista bare, reddish-brown. Central bump shining black, bare, small ; mouth-border black, bare, except for a little grey dust in the centre. Occiput grey-dusted, extreme side margins shining white; bright yellow pubescence on lower part of head. In 5, frons barely one-tifth of head at vertex, sides parallel on upper part, gradually separating towards level of anteniue ; face also gradually widening to its lowest margin. Frons shining black, densely pubescent, covered witli j^ellowish-grey tomentum and rather dense concolorous pubescence. Face covered with white tomentum and pubescence. Thorcuv : dorsum grey, with four subequal, nearly contiguous, longitudinal, black stri])es, narrowed on anterior margin and often more or less united on hind margin ; whole surface with dense yellowish-brown pubescence. IScutelhim {ieneous,with dense yellowish-brown pubescence. Pleura moderately dark ash-grey, with pale yellowish-white pubescence. Abdomen shining seneous, minutely punctate, with dense pubescence, which is mainly brownish but more whitish towards and on sides and EKISXALIS. 163 auterior halt' of 2ii(l segment. Venler shining black, with whitish pubescence ; hind margins of segments whitish. Legs : coxse and femora shining black, with a little yellowish pubescence, tips of latter orange-brown ; tibiie with basal half yellowish, remainder blackish-brown, all with pale yellow pubescence ; tarsi blackish- brown, at least on upper side, middle pair (and sometimes fore pair also) with first tAvo tarsal joints brownish-orange. Whuis clear; stigma narrowly brownisli-yellow ; subcostal cell very pale brownisli-yellow ; halteres yellowish ; squanue and fringe whitish. Length, about 'J mm. Described from a short series in the Indian Museum from Karachi (CammiiK/). Lucknow, 4. A'i. 1908, on melon ; 21. i. 1898; Baroda, l.iv. 1909; Allahabad, 11. xii. 1905 (Ilowlett); Delhi, iii. 1913 (Ifowlett); Bombay, 21. iii. 1905; 2. iii. 1905, on sea- weed; Balnch'xstnn (Cleghorn). The ty\)e oi E. ridens, a 5 from Albania, is obviously conspecific with E. taphicus. Fnvthev speci- mens in the British Museum are from China and Corea, and (as i-idens) from South France, Monaco, Cyprus and India. L'giye 2 » from Egypt, in Frankfurt Museum. Though regarded by many authors as a variety of (mens, Scop., E. tapJiicns appears to be a valid species. The thorax is always obviously stri|:)ed, though often less distinctly in the o , whereas oiHCus has nominally a wholly neneous thorax, althougli in occasional individuals on close examination traces can be seen of a disposition to divide into four broad practically contiguous stripes. Other characters are a " reddish " spot on the anterior corners of the venter, but this varies from nearly white, through yellowish to reddish-brown or orange. There is also a whitish dust spot or a whitish reflection on the mesopleura, and a round, sometimes very conspicuous, similar spot on the sternopleura. The pale spots on the venter are present in apneas tiiough only whitish or yellowish, but the spots on the thorax are always absent in that species. The black stripes on a grey or whitish ground in Uiphicns ;ire as distinct in normal specimens as in any species of the groups with the tliorax striped, especially in the female; the}' are closer together in the male and might easily be confluent in individuals, but in such cases the greyish spots on the pleiu'ie should determine the species. One cf » however, in the British Museum from Albania is intermediate, as the grey spot is present on the sternopleuni but not on the mesopleura, and tiie dorsum of the thorax is just per- ceptibly though very narrowly divisible into four almost contiguous black stripes. 130. Eristalis niger, Wicil. i.| En'.sfii/in ini/cr, Wiedemann, Anal. I'Jit. p. .j8 ("182/5) : id., Auss, ZweiH. ii,'p. 18.'] (1830); de Meijere, Tijd. v. V.ni. W, ].. I'GO, cT dcscr. (190S). Eriiitalls bomhuitles, Walker. I'ric. Linu. Soc. Lonl. iv, p. ill* (IBGO). Eris/ti/is i)h.'nish-grey but more whitish towards side margins ; venter mainly shining black with a little whitish pubescence ; hind margins of segments grey. In 2 , the elongate transverse spots on side margins of 2nd seg- ment yellowish and translucent, with an overlying narrow grey spot on each, much as in 3rd segment in (^ ; these grey spots on 3rd and 4th segments broader and united, forming a very broadly ERISTALIS. 167 open, inverted V-shaped band, its centre just toucliing anterior margin of segment ; these bands in some specimens are barely broader than in d" and more yellowish-grey. Legs black ; all femora narrowly orange at tip ; basal halt" of anterior tibia? and base of hind pair narrowl}', orange ; 1st joint of foi'e, 1st and 2nd joints oF middle tar-;i, moi'e or less orange. Pubescence of legs pale yellowish. Wincis nearly clt^ar, a minute dark brown spot at inner end of the very small bro\\nish stigma ; halteres orange. Length, 6-8 mm. Described from a limited number of each sex. Ootacamund, S. India, 20-31. xii. 1912 {Fletcher); Mysore, 4000-5000 ft., 2-12. xi. 1912 {Fletcher); Pusa, ix. 1907 ; Katmandu, Nepal; Abu (i\'M/'se) ; Shillong, 10-12. x. 1914. Originally described from China. 133. Eristalis maculipennis, de Meij. FristalLs inaci(lipennis,Ae Meij. Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 2G1, cJ (1908). c? $ . Uead : in 6 , eyes bare, closely contiguous for nearly half the distance from vertex to base of antennae, leaving a narrow vertical triangle, black with a few black hairs, and reddish ocelli; frontal triangle rather prominent, shining black with black hairs ; face with median black stripe and moderately prominent blunt central bump, nearly bare, shining; rest of iace with grey tomentum and black hairs. Head barely produced below level of eyes even in front, so cheeks are practically absent, but this part has short whitish hairs. Antenufe dark brown, arista brownish at base, very little plumose at base only. Occiput blackish, no margin appearing beyond level of eyes. In $ , frons about one-fourth width of head at level of anteniue, narrowing gradually to vertex, dull black on upper two-thirds, lower third shining black. Tltorax dull brownish-yellow, dorsum more or less blackish with very short yellowish ])ubescence ; scutellum brownish-yellow with concolorous pubescence. Abdomen conical, longer tlian thorax, es|)ecially in $. In c?, brownish-yellow, rather shining; an indistinct curved narrow band, convex side in front, across middle oF 2nd segment; 3rd segment with a trace of a pale anterior margin, the remainder blackish-brown, as are the entire 4th and 5th segments. Pubescence yellowish on pale parts of abdomen and black on the back parts. Venter brownish-yellow, blackish in middle of 2nd segment and on most of the 3rd and 4th seg- ments, with a little pale pubescence. In $ , abdomen darker brown ; 2nd segment blackish towards all four corners, also 3rd and 4th segments posteriorly ; 5th all black. Venter mainly black. Legs all black with short black ])ubescence except for a little yellow pubescence on upper side of liiiid femora ; basal half of anterior tibi;e and extrenn; base oF hind |)air yellowish. Wings yellowish; stigma dark l)lackisli-brown, large; a large dark brown suftusion thence extending over anterior cross-vein, tip of 1st basal cell ami base oF 3rd posterior cell ; a similar suffusion 168 SYUPHID^. (apparently sometimes joined along the costa to the previous one) over tips of 1st, 2iid and 3rd veins; halteres brownish-yellow. Lengthy 14 mm. Described from 1 S , Tenasserim Valley {Doherty) and 1 5 , Margherita, Assam, the latter labelled by Bigot " ? exterus. Walk." A 2 in the British Museum from Mt. Dulangan, Mindoro, Philippine Is., oUOO ft., xi. 1895-i. 1896 {Whitehead). Judging from the description the species appears quite distinct from Walker's exterus. Type in the Hungarian National Museum. 134. Eristalis himalayensis, Brun. Eriatalis tirsinus, Bigot (uec Jaeimicke), Ann. Soc. Em. France, (5) X, p._215 (1880). Eristalis himalayensis, nom. nov,, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 70 (1908). 6 $ . Head : eyes wholly pubescent, but with an additional band of very dense dark brown pubescence running from near vertex down tlie middle of each eye to lower corner ; in S , eyes closely contiguous for a short distance ; vertical triangle nearly equilateral, with brownish ocelli and long blackish-brown hair; frontal triangle blackish, rather dull, but shining towards tip, wholly covered (except the more or less shining brown extreme Fig. 35. — Eristalis himalayensis, Brun., cJ. apical margin) with long black hairs. Face only slightly cut away below antenuie, anterior edge nearly straight, moderately shining black with yellow pubescence, which is nearly absent on cheeks and mouth-border and on the not prominent central bump ; lowest part of head descending barely below the eyes themselves in profile, but extended diagonally downwards to a distance of half their height. Antennae black, arista brownish, strongly plumose EIIISTALIS. 1<>*J on bas.al half to three-fourtlis. Proboscis black. Occiput blackish, with long brown liairs on upper margin, w hich disappear gradually towards side margins ; lower halt' with bright yellow hairs that gradually lengthen towards under side. Thorax blaclvish, a just perceptible greyish band along suture and traces of another on anterior margin. Dorsum, sides and tlie bright yellow scutellum with dense, long, bright yellowish pubescence. Abdomen a little longer than thorax, bluntly conical ; black with pubescence dense, short, and black except on 1st segment and anterior corners (more or less) of iJnd segment, where it is yellowish ; some yellowish hairs scattered over all the dorsum, and a weak fringe of them on hind margins of :^nd and 3rd segments, which margins may be just per- ceptibly pale. Venter blackish-grey, darker at tip ; pubescence yellowish, black towards tip. Legs black ; anterior knees narrowly antl about basal half of anterior tibias, also middle metatarsi, yellowish. Pubescence of legs generally following ground-colour, but rather long, thick, yellow liair on hind side of anterior femora, and yellowish-brown pubescence on anterior and upper sides of hind femora. Wings yellowish-grey ; stigma indefinitely dark brown ; a lai'ge yellowish-brown suffusion from middle of costa filling about the middle third of the anterior half of the wing and extending broadly and indefinitely along most of the veins; halteres and squamae yellow, latter with yellow fringe. Length, 15-18 mm. Described from a number of both sexes in the Indian Museum and other collections. 'Sikkxm {Kayvett •, de Niceoille); Darjiling, 9000-12,000 ft. (HurluH); Chitlong, Nepal; Naini Tal : Phagu, Simla District, UOOO ft. (Annandah ; Kemp)-, Tolpani, Gahrwal Disivict { Tgller). Apparently common along the Himalayas at about 5,000 ft. and upwards during most of the summer. Origin- ally described by Bigot from India. The name ursiaus was used bv .laerniicke for a Javan species (Abh. Senckenb. Natur. (ies. VI, p. 401, 18G7). 1."..'). Eristalis albibasis, Big. Eristcdis albibasis, liigot, Ann. See. Ent. France, (5) x. p. 215 (1880). 5 . Head : eyes sparsely pubescent, but with a little, longer, pale yellovvisii hair on lower part and a longitudinal i)and of dense dark brown pubescence as in hinudagensis ; fro)is nearly twice as wide at level of autenna)( where it forms rather more than one-tliird of the bead) as at vertex; moderately dark brovvn, shining, with vertex broadly a little darker, also a not very dislnu-t transv(^rse dai'ker liaiid across middle, all the frons bearing long hlackisli-browu ])ui)escence. Face a little lighter brown, shining, with rather spai-se yellowish hairs, descending diagonally below eyes for a distance e(|ual to about two-tliirds of tlicir height, but only slightly below eyes themselves in profile ; anterior margin slightlv curved, median bump not prominent. Antenna) black, arista plumose for two- thirds of its length. Occiput dark grey, with very narrow silvery 170 STEPHID.1;. margin, long brownish-yellow hairs on upper margin, and yellow hairs on lower margin ; but the hairs are shorter and disappear at the middle ot" the side margins. TJior-a.v practically as in liima- layensis. Abdomen dai'k brown, rather shining ; 1st segment Avhirish, broader than in himalai/ensis. Pubescence ot" abdomen very short, yellowish, much longer on 1st segment and anterior corners and sides of 2nd. Venter dark brown with a little pale pubescence. Legs yellowish-brown ; apical halt' of anterior tibiae, all the tai'si (except middle metatarsi) and hind legs, darker brown. Winr/s absolutely clear, stigma absent ; halteres and squamae brownish-yellow. Length, 11 mm. Described from one 2 i" the Indiau Museum, Simla, 7000 ft., 16. V. 1909 (AnnandaJe). Tliis is undoubtedly a valid species, though it bears a considerable resemblance to himcdmjensis, from which it is easily separated by the clear wings, greater depth of epistome below the eyes, and minor characters. The Uijye (in Bigot's collection), which I have compared, was described from India. 13G. Eristalis orientalis, Wied. Eristaiis orientalis, Wiedemann, Aual. Eut. p. 38 (1828) ; id., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 181 (1830) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 257 (1908). 6 5 . Head : eyes in d wholly with rather dense greyish pubescence ; closely contiguous for about one-third of the distance from verrex to antennae ; vertical triangle small, black, with black hairs ; frontal triangle considerably projecting, black, with long, rather coarse, grey hair ; face slightly cut away below antennae, thence downwards forming a gentle, not prominent, curve with central bump not obvious ; epistome not or barely descending lower than eyes themselves in absolute profile, and but slightly diagonally downwards and forwards ; the whole covered with long, rather coarse, grey pubescence; a median bare, shining black stripe with somewhat irregular limits. Antennae and the bare arista black. Occiput black, with greyish tomentum ; upper margin with black hairs, lower one with grey pubescence. In $ , fronsand face gradually widening from above downwards ; at level of antennae distinctly more than one-third width of head ; dusted with brownish-yellow, frons with rather dense, moderately long, blackish-brown pubescence, face with finer, pale yellow pubescence, leaving a rather broad, shining black, bare median stripe with ill- deiined sides. Thorax with nearly anterior lialf of dorsum brownish-grey, bearing yellowish pubescence; rest of dorsum moderately shining black with dense black pubescence ; sides of thorax ash-grey with yellowish pubescence. Scutellum con- spicuously orange with yellow pubescence. Abdomen black, slightly shining; 1st segment greyish with yellow pubescence; 2nd with a large, triangular, brownish-yellow spot on each side ERISTALIS. 171 covered with dense orange-yellow pubescence, the space between these spots bearing yellow pubescence, tlie rest of the segment dense black pubescence ; 'M'd and 4th segments with a broad band of dense yellow pubescence on anterior margins and a not very conspicuous jcneous band across middle of black part of each ; the black parts with dense black pubescence, but the side maigins of abdomen with yellow pubescence ; last segment shining black with black pubescence. A'enter pale yellowish on about basal half, narrowly grey at base, rest black, all witli ])ale yellow pubescence. Legs black, basal half of fore tibiae and about tliree- t'ourtlis of middle pair brown, pulvilli orange; hind femora distinctly thickened, hind tibise curved ; pubescence of legs mainly yellowish, but black on hind legs except on upper side of femora, where it is yellowish. Wiiir/s yellowish-grey, generally distinctly but irregularly brownish from stigmatic region to tip, also slightly at base ; balteres brownish-yellow. Lenr/fh, 12 14 mm. Described from a few examples from Sikkim in the Indian Museuu). Singla, Darjiling District, 1500 ft. {Lord CarmichaeVs collector). Originally described from a specimen from Java, in AVestermauu's collection, jirobably now in A'ienna Museum. 137. Eristalis intricarioides, sp. nov. o. Head: frons and face with straight but not parallel sides, gradually widening from vertex to lowest point of eyes, where the face is twice as wide as the frons at the vertex. Frons at base of antenna) about one-third the width of the head ; rather dull black, covered with yellowish dust (except just above antennjc) and long black pubescence; tip of frons shining brown. Face but little cut away below antenna, but thence considerably produced into a long blunt epistome with bluntly conical tip, descending a cousiderable distance downwards below eyes themselves in profile, but not extending forwards beyond base of antenna; : wholly black with n little grey dust and ratb(M- long shaggy yellow hair. Antenna; with 1st and 2nd joints blackish, -ird dull reddish-brown, arista brownish, strongly plumose on basal three-fourths. Eyes with rather dense brownish-yellow pubescence. Occiput greyish-brown with a little yellow hair ronnd margin. T/iora.r black with (a|)parenlly) inicrosco|)ic black tomentum, wholly covered (sides included) with dense brownish-yellow pubescence, with dai'kcr brown hairs intermixed ; pubescence paler or pleuric ; scutdlum dull orange- yellowish w ith only bright yellow long hairs. Abdomen, black ; sides of 2nd segment at base more or less greyish; 1st segment and base of 2nd except at sides, with long, conspicuous, pale vellow pubescence ; rest of abdomen apparently all covered with rich, long, dense, brownish-red ])Ubesceiu»'. A'enter hlackisii-grcy with (apparently ) a litt le sparse yellow ish hair, /.er/.s lilack, with ytdlow pubescence; some black hair on hind sideof ton- fV-mora. Wimfs palo grev ; stignia rtMlnccd tna small black s|)ot at tip of iinxiliary 172 SYRPHIU^. vein; an ill-defined but obvious yellowish-brown, ratlier narrow suffusion extending from stigma nearly to hind border ; halteres bi'ownisi). Lengthy 12 mm. Described Irom a 5 ft'om Sikkim (Kni/veU) ; in theliidian Museum. A furry, intriearlus-Yike species, easily recognised by the colours of the abdominal pubescence. E. inb-icar ins has not been recorded from India but might easily occur in the Himalayns. The two species may be differentiated thus. In intricarius the basal half of the tibise is yellowish, the 2i)d abdominal segment wholly black, the epistome distinctly shorter than the heiglit of the eyes. In my new species all the tibiae are wholly black, tlie middle metatarsi quite black ; the ground-colour of the base of the 2nd abdominal segment is grey, and the epistome is fully as long as the height of the eves. 138. Eristalis solitus, Walk. EristaliH solitus. Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Miip. iii, p. (j]9 (1849). Esistalis burhatus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Eat. France, (5) x, p. 214 (1880). (5 2 . Head in S with eyes closely contiguous for a distance about equal to the length of the frons, with rather long, dense, dark brown pubescence ; upper facets much larger than lower ones; lower half of eyes with small brown spots. Vertical triangle moderately large, black, with dark brown and long bright yellow hairs intermixed. Prons black, with blackish-brown, long, thick pubescence; lace black with yellowish dust; a barely perceptible median black line, sometimes absent, and pale yellow, moderately long pubescence which is almost microscopic in the black mouth-region. Extreme front edge of antennal prominence brownish-orange. Antennae black, arista long, feathered on basal half above and below. Occiput and cheeks ash-grey wilh pale yellow pubescence, which is long on under side of head, gradually- dying away at sides of eyes and becoming very long behind vertex. In 5 , frons and face gradually widening from top to bottom, forming rather more than oue-third of head at level of antennae. Erons with dense black or dark brown pubescence ; pubescence of face more w hitish than in S . Thorax blackish-brown ; a moder- jitely broad transverse stripe from side to side along suture, the anterior margin more or less narrowly, the hind margin rather broadly, and thn humeri, greyish. Pleuia? grey, scutellum brownish-yellow, whole dorsum, pleurae and scutellum with long, dense pubescence varying from bright yellow to brownish-yellow ; centre of Sfutellum bearing some black hairs intermixed. Abdomen: ground-colour maitdy black ; 1st segment grey ; 2nd with a pair of very large triangular spots occupying the major part of the surface, including whole of side margins except narrowly behind, their apices near together in the median line but never touching; liind margin of segment also narrowly yellow ; 3rd segment EllISTALlS. ITii mainly _yeUo\v on jiuterior halt", but witli a central black spot, ■which is more or less diamond-shaped, generally just touching anterior margin with its upper angle, while the lower angle is joined more or less broadly to the black hind part of the segment ; extreme hind edge of latter yellow. Hind niargin of 4th segment narrowly but distinctly yellow, orange- or reddisli-broun. Pubes- cence mainly following ground-colour, but brownish-yellow on 4tli segment and wholly yellow at tip. Venter yellowisli on basal half, with an indistinct median blackish stripe, hinder half black ; pubescence pale yellow throughout. In j , the triangular spots on the :2iul abdominal segment do not occupy quite so much of the side margins, and they mirrow i-apidly on the inner side, partaking more ot" the nature of elongate spots with parallel sides, broadening suddenl}^ towards side margins. The amount of yellow on the ^Jrd segment is much reduced and the black median spot in that part is broader and more irregular in shape. Legs shining black; tips of femora narrowly, tibiae on about basal half, a little more than half on middle pair, anterior farsi to a greater or less extent at base, yellow or orange. Pubescence pale yellow, but some short black hairs intermixed on black parts of tibiae and tarsi. Winris nearly clear ; yellowish at base and on costa ; stigma blackish- brown, and the surrounding surface of the wing has the faintest brownish-yellow suffusion in this region ; halteres yellow. Leiu/th, 11-12 mm. Described from a lai-ge series of both sexes in the Indian Museum, and in the Pusa, my own and other collections, from hilly regions in India, Jiurma, Assam, West China and Japan. Appirently conunon in the Himalayas throughout most of the summer; occurring at least at Himla as early as April (Nurse). The unique ti/jie cf of barlxdus in Bigot's collection is in wretched condition, but it is undoubtedly only soJltvs, Walk, Type in British Museum. i:j'J. Eristalis teuax, L. Muscii teua.v. Liniueus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 10, p. .")!)! (17.")S). Eristalis fi'ons nearly one-third width of head, shining black, with black and yellow hairs mixed. Back of head in both sexes with yellowish ])ubescence, longer on lower half. 2Vior«A' shining brownish-black, duller in front, pubescence short, tawny ; a tuft of paler hairs on ])ost-alar calli ; scutellum brownish-yellow, with concolorous pubescence. Ahdomen: (^ , 1st segnient black, 2nd and 3rd mainly brownish-orange ; a basal black band on 2nd segment, narrowing towards sides, not reaching side margins, joined by a median stripe to a similar band on hind margin leaving the extreme margin pale ; a similar pattern on 3rd segment, the basal band smaller, often absent, the hinder bnnd broader and broadly attaining side margins ; rest of abdomen black. Consider- able variety exists in the relative extent of blaclc and orange markings. In $ , the orange is generally confined to the 2nd segment, more or less encroaching on the 1st at the sides ; also the extreme base, the hind margin, and the sides anteriorly, of the 3rd segment are orange. Venter in both sexes yellowish-orange on basal half with an indefinite median dark stripe, blackish on hind half. Genitalia concealed. Le(/s black ; knees and basal third of fore and basal half of middle tibiae, yellow ; base of middle tarsi and basal half of hind tibiae often brownish or brownish-yellow ; hind femora sometimes brownish-yellow at base or up to basal half. Pubescence of legs yellow, abundant on hind femora ; coarse black hairs beneath apical part of hind femora. Hind tibios compressed about the middle, rather twisted, with abundant tawny pubescence, forming a ciliation on nearly all the hinder side, and with a longer coarse black ciliation on front side just beyond middle. Winr/s greyish, brov.nish on anterior half ; a small quadrate dark brown spot below tip of auxiliary vein, enclosing a small cross- vein ; squamae dull yellowish, thoracal pair with dense coarse yellowish fringes; halteres dull brownish- yellow. Lei)gtJi, 13-15 mm. The above description is mainly abbreviated from Verrall. Probably V the most cosmopolitan species of SyrphiDjE known, common almost eA^erywhere throughout the summer in the East. India ; Ceylon ; Burma ; Assam ; the Malay Peninsula and east- wards to Japan. I have taken it myself from Mussoorie to Yokohama, through the Straits and in China. It also occurs in Australia. The varietj^ campestrls, distinguished by the pale basal half of the hind femora, is almost as common in India as the typical form. I have taken il in both the hills and the plains, and as far east as -Shimonoseki, Japan. ERISTALIS. 175 14u. Eristalis cognatus, Wied. Eristalis coipiatus, Wiedemann, Anal. Eiit. p. 37 (I8"^y) • id Auss. Zweifi. ii, p. 180 (1830). ' '' d" . Ihad black ; epistouie orange-yellow with yellowish shiiniuer; face with broad black stripe and black clieeks ; frons witli whitish shininier, black in middle immediately above antenna3 ; latter brownish-black. Thorax black, grey-haired ; scutellum dusky yellowish. Abdomen black ; 2nd segment with a pair of welf- defined, yellow, elongate triangular spots, placed transversely, rather narrowly joined to tlie yellow hind margin of the segment, and extended at sides as far as Ist segment. Spots on 3rd segment not very hroad, only touching anterior margin for a short distance and distinctly separated from each other ; 4th segment with a narrow, barely visible, yellow streak tovvartis each side at base. Tip of abdomen black; venter black, 1st, 2nd and 8rd segments yellow, 3i-d with a pale brown spot in middle. L'.gs blackisli- brown, all knees yellowish ; basal half of fore tibiae whitish. Wings barely yellowish. Length, 13 mm. Described from Tranquebar. Schiner differentiates this species from his sinensis, wliicli comes from China. Both are near E. tenax, L. Tijj^e in Copenhngen Museum. 141. Eristalis basifemoratus, sp. nov. (PI. Ill, lig. 21.) $. Head: eyes with dark brown pubescence on front part only, separated at base of antennae by one-third the \^idtli of the head : frons slightly narrowing to vertex and face distinctly widening to lower margin oF eyes ; frons black, a little yellowish-grey tomentum on lower part; vertex with long blackish-biown hairs ; rest of frons with bright yellow pubescence ; extreme anterior margin brown ; face with yellowish-grey tomentum and bright yellow pubescence, except on a rather broad, shinins; black, bare, median stripe ; lower jjart of face also black. I'ace bluntly and strongly produced forwards and downwards in front, but descfending onlv slightly below eyes themselves in profile. Antennio blackish, arista brown, plumose on basal half. Occiput blackish-grey with whitish side margins and very short concolorons hairs; the usual dark browniMh-yellow, long pubescence on upper margin, and longer, softer, yellow pubescence o?i lower margin. Thorax dull blackish, sides similar, scutellum brownish-yellow, both wholly covered with dense brownish-yellow pubescence. Af>doiiH'u black; a lar'>-e orange-yellow triangular spot on each side margin of 2nd segnn-nt, exlending from anterior to posterior border, but well separated in the middle line from each otlier; extreme hind margin of 4th segment yellowish, rubesceiiee (^ap|)arently) wholly yellowish ; venter dark with some pale pubescence. Legs bhuk ; about basa 176 SYRPHID.^. half of hind pair, and tips broadly of all pairs, of femoi-a, orange ; basal half of fore and hind tibiae and basal three-fourths of middle tibiae, first two joints of anterior tarsi (except tips), yellow. Pubescence of legs practically all yellow ; some tiny black bristles on apical half of under side of bind femora. Wings pale grey, a slight brownisli tinge about the stigmatic region and the " cross- veins '*' ; halteres brownish-yellow. Length, 11 mm. Described from a single $ , not in good condition, in the Indian Museum. No locality is affixed, but it is certainly from India, and the pale base of the hind femora stamps it as surely a distinct species. But for this latter character, and for the ratiier more produced epistome and the head descending rela- tively rather lower th.an the eyes themselves in profile, this form might be regarded as the $ of qtiadristriatus, Macq. The Hrd abdonunal segment is obviously discoloured in the unique ttipe, and may or may not i-esemble that of quadristriatus, Macq. j 142. Eristalis angustimarginalis, sp. nov. 6 5 . Head : eyes closely contiguous for about half the distance from vertex to base of antennae, with dense, short, dark brown pubescence ; vertical triangle small, black, with black hairs ; frontal triangle shining black, in centre with yellowish dust at sides, wholly covered with long black hairs. Pace dull black, with black hairs in centre, grey-dusted and broadly covered at sides with Fig. .36. — Eristalis august imarginaUs, sp. nov.,hiiul leg, ^ . short yellowish pubescence ; central bump not prominent ; lower part of head descending only slightly either below eyes themselves in profile or forwards, blackish, with very sparse, pale, short pubescence. Antenna? with 1st and 2iid joints black, 3rd dark brown, arista brown, strongly plumose en bas;d two-thirds. Occiput blackish-grey, with slightly silvery margin on lower half in certain ERISI'ALIS. L77 liglits and with the usual occipital fringe of hairs, which is long and dark brown on upper margin, gradually disappearing towards sides, and yeUouish on lower margin. In 5 , frons with parallel sides tor a considerable distance from vertex, at wliich level it is about (jiie- iifth w idth of head ; wholly black with dense black pubescence : facial stripe a little more distinct than in (S . Thorax dull blackish-brow n witli a distinct though dull, moderately wide, greyish band across suture and hind margin, and a less distinct one on anterior margin ; sides dull yellowish-grey ; scutellum bright brownish-yellow ; the whole thorax and scutellum with dense brownish-yellow pubescence, with black hairs intermixed on darker parts ot" thorax and in centre of scutellum. Abdomen da.v\i blackish-brown; 1st segment yellowish-white with concolorous hairs; 2nd segment with a pair ot" brownish-yellow spots, well-separated in M)iddle line, elongate, transverse, narrow, with parallel edges except towards side margins, where they rapidly broaden to nearly the full width of the segment ; 3rd with a similar pair of spots, hut they are of uniform width throughout, not reaching side margins ; 4th with a moderately shining, transverse aeneous band, with parallel sitles, across niiildle of segment; 5lh wholly black; extreme hind margins of 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments orange-brow n, bare ; extreme anterior margin ot" 4th segment grey, quite bare. Pubescence of abdomen black except on anterior half of sides of 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments, where it is yellowish. Venter with about basal half yellowish, rest black, pubescence concolorous. Legs black, extreme tips of femora, basal halt of all tibia), and first two joints of middle tarsi, orange-brown. Pubescence uuiinly yellowish, but black on femora except on uj)per side, antl black on the black parts of hind tibiae ; also some black hairs intermixed on anterior tibiie. Whujs distinctlv yellowish- grey ; stigma reduced to a very small dark brown spot at tip of auxiliary vein; an indefinite darker brownish suflusion about centre of anterior half of wing. Leutjth, 14 mm. Described from the ij/pe 6 in the Indian Museum from Take- pum Mt., Chinese Frontier, JNT.E. Burma, 4000-5000 ft., xi. liJlO (C. W. Btehe) ; and the type $ in the Pusa collection from Shillong, ix. 1918 {Fletcher). A c? in the British Museum is from the lower ranges, N. Kliasi Hills, 1878 {A. ChenneM). This species bears a great resemblance to simnlaiiis, sp. nov., niuler which comparative notes are given. 143. Eristalis simulatus, sp. nov. (PI. L\, fig. 1.) cT 2 ■ llidd: in c? , eyes with pale yellowish pubescence and an additional longitudinal stripe of dense dark brown pubescence as in I'j. hi»i((h(>/eii.s-ift, closely contiguous for short space only (less than a (piarter of distance from vertex to base of antenna?), thence abruptly and w idely separated above and below, leaving an equi- lateral vertical triangle, llack, with brown oi- ruby-red ocelli and Jonir black liairs. I'^rons and face moderatelv shinin/pe) in the Indian Museum so named (but not described) by Bigot, and two further S 6 ii» very bad condition in Bigot's own collection, which, judging from the Indian Miiseuu) registered numbers that they bear, evidently form part of the same series. They are all' labelled simply " Calcutta." Of tl-.ese latter two d 6, one is an exact countei-part of the type, but the other does not appear to be conspeciiic. A 5 from Katihar, Purneah District, 15. vi. 1907 (/'rtiffO, may belong to this species. It has the frons and face gradually widening, at level of antennae nearly fr width of head; frons shining black, with brownish-yellow liaiis ; the abdominal l)lack bands and dorsal stripe are broader, tlie front part of the mesopleura and upper part of the sternopleura are grey-dusted. A $ :n the British ^lusenm from Dawnat Eange, Teiiasserim, 500-1500 ft., v-vi, 18i)l (Bingham), may be con- speciiic, but is much larger (10 mu).). lie. Eristalis arvorum, Fahr. { V\. IV, figs. 6, 7.) .Si/rpJtUfi arniinnn, l''!il)riciiis, Maiit. Ins. p. 3.35 (17S7). Eridalis arvorum, de Meijinv. 'I'ijd. v. l]nt. 11, p. 1247 (illOS). Erisfalis fiilvipcK, Macfjiiart, Dipt. Ivxot., 8iippl. i.]). ll'S (1840). Ju-isfa/is^ aiitidotw, Walker, List Dipt. I'.rit. Mus. iii, p. ("JG (1840). Eristalis (inticetm, Walker, List Dipt. Urit. Miis. ni. p. Ol'4 (184!)). Si/rj)/ins i/aadri/ini'fitan, iMibriciiis, op. cit, p. .■{•'!(> (1787). ^ ^Ii/sca traiies of miticetus, Walk., and anttdotus. Walk, (both males, from China), in the British Museum, are un- doubtedlv normal m-vorum. As noted years ago in manuscript by Major Austen, a d of fnlvipes, Macq., in the Bigot collection is identical, and agrees with Macquart's description. 147. Eristalis quinquelineatus, Fabr., var. orientalis, var. nov. (PI. IV, iigs. 8-10.) Si/rphus quinqiielineatua, Fabricius, Spoc. Ins. ii, p. 425 (1781) ; id., "Svst. Antliiit. p. 2:31)(1805). .. Eriknlis (luinqnelineatus , Wiedemann, Auss. Zweill. n, p. if^o ( 1 8:10) ; de iMeijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, \^. 245 ( 1 908). ErMahmyia paria, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (o) x, p. 118 (1H80). Eristalomyia zebrina, id., t. c. p. 222 (1880). S 2 . Head: m J, eyes bron/.r-brown, with rather dense dark brown ]nibescence on upper and front parts, and six narrow, irregularly outlined but approximately parallel, longitudinal dark strijies ; closely contiguous for nearly one-third of the distance from vertex to base of antenna;; vertical triangle equilateral, black with black hairs; frontal triangle with greyish-yellow toinentum, a little whitish towards sides and blackish in niKUUe, covered with long blackish-brown hairs; extreme anterior margin yellowish-brown! Face moderat-ly and obtusely in-odiiced, with grey toinentum and w^hitish pubescence; central bump rather small, obtuse, shining black, bare, the colour prolonged slight y upwards into a short median stripe. A nearly straight, moderately broad, longitudinal, shining black, bare stripe, pointed at upper 1 84 SYIlPHIDiE. end, on each side of the central bump, extending nearly from base of autenufe to jnst below level of central bump, below which latter is a transverse, very narrow, black line extending across the face nearly from eye to eye, with a second similar line just above the mouth-openijig. Lower part of head not or scarcely produced below eyes themselves in profile. Antennae dark brown, lower part of 3rd joint and the arista orauge, bare. Occiput with moderately dark grey tomentum, and some short grey pube- scence, which is longest behind the vertex, where it is yellowish, and on the under side, where it is whitish. In 5 , froiis about one- third of the head at level of antennae ; latter nearly black ; rest as in d . 'Thorax yellowish-grey with concolorous pubescence; dorsum with four approximately equal and equidistant, com- paratively dull, black stripes, the outer ones more pointed at each end ; all the stripes attainnig anterior margin or nearly so, but not attaining hind margin ; the two middle ones still more abbreviated behind ; at their hind extremity the ground-colour otten has a golden or bronze tint ; pleurae often with a more or less aeneous tinge. Scutellum brownish-yellow, somewhat translucent, with concolorous pubescence and a few brown hairs in the centre; about anterior half darker than the remainder. Abdomen black or blackish, a little shining, with a more or less aeneous tinge. In c? , 1st segment dull yellowish, a little shining; 2nd brownish-yellow, anterior and posterior margins blackish, the blackish colour on each margin extended in middle in the form of an irregular triangular spot, so that the two triangular spots nearly meet each other ; across middle of segment, a pale yellowish narrow band of uniform width, except that the middle of its hinder side is a little excised by the large black spot on the hind margin; 3rd segment a little yellowish-brown on anterior half, \^ith a pale yellowish band like that on 2nd segment, but not excised on hinder side; 4th segment with a narrow curved line extending nearly from side to side ; 5th segment very small, entirely black. In 2 , abdomen darker, the black colour more extensive ; 4th segment with the transverse curved baud as in S ; 5th segment larger than in S and. with a similar though smaller curved band. Pubescence of abdomen following ground-colour, but wholly pale yellow at sides. A-^enter yellowish with soft yellowish-grey pubescence; tip of abdomen more or less blackish. Legs mainly black or blackish-brown; anterior femora rather narrowly orange at tips (^distinctly less than a fourth) ; hind femora pale at extreme tip only, sometimes barely perceptibly so ; front tibiae pale on basal half, middle pair nearly to tips, hind pair narrowly at base ; first two joints of middle and hind tarsi pale. Pubescence of legs mainly yellowish- grey, but black on hind tibiae. Wings nearly clear ; stigma very pale yellow, small, its inner end with a minute dark brown spot at tip ot auxiliary vein. Length, 10-12 mm. Described from a short series of both sexes in the Indian Museum and elsewhere. Kasauli, 6300 ft., 13 & 15. v. 1908 ; ERISTALIS. 1 85 Theog, ] . V. 1907: Phagii, 90UU ft., 18-21. v. 191 0 ; «imla, 7000 ft., 16. V. 1909 (all tlie foregoing in the Simla Distrit-r, collected by Annandale 4' J^iurse) ; Naiiii Tal, 6o00-700o ft., 1908 {LJoyd); Ivousauie, Kumaon District, 6075 ft., vii. \^lA{Ti/t'er) ; Kurseoug, 5000 ft., 6. vii. IQm {Annandale) ; Sureil, 11-13. x. 1917 {Annan- dale 1^ Graveli/); Biinor, Unit. Prov., 15-22. i. 1907 ; Mv^ore, 4400 ft., 25. i"ii-29. iv. 1913 {Fletcher); Ootacainnnd, S. Iiidi.i, 20-31. xii. 1912 {Fletcher); Yereaud, S. India, 4500 It., 21. iv- 4. V. 1913. E. qiiiurjuelineatus, ¥., is recorded from South Europe, Africa, India, Ceylon and Java. It is readily dif^tingnished from all others in the group of species round arvoriim, F., by the striped eyes, the equally conspicuous median black facial stripe, and to a less extent by the shining black bare stri])e on each side of (he face. The latter character is present in ohscuritarsis, de Meij., but to a much less extent, often being nearly or entirely absent, whilst the median facial stripe is in that species confined to the small central binnp only. E. qidnquelineatus appears to be variable in the relative extent of black and yellow on the abdomen. The arcuate whitish band (usually present in several Indian species) on the 2nd, 3rd and 4tb abdouiinal segments is apparently normally absent on the 2nd segment in African specimens, though occasionally it is more or less indistinctly discernible, but it is nearly alwavs present in Indian examples. The 2iid segment is narrowly margined with black, and is dusted with whitish at the base in African specimens, \\hilst in Indian ones the black margin is absent and the whitish dust, replaced by a distinct cupreous tinge. The African form has the spaces between the stripes on the eyes spotted, which is not the case in Indian specimens, excejit occasionally and only towards the margins. The eye-stripes are normally three or four in number, in addition to the usually dark iinier and hind margins, but the number is variable; I have seen a specimen with ilve complete dark stripes in addition to the inner and hind margins. The British JNIuseum contains a long series of the African, i.e. tlie normal, form, showing considerable variability in most characters. Frititalonuiia jiaria, Bigot, is I'epresented in the liigot col- lection by three specimens in very bad condition, but their characters are sufficiently clear to prove it synonymous with Erutalis quim/uclineatas. One 2 is labelled " Ceylon," the other two (one headless, the head of the other crushed) bear no data. Bigot's description was drawn up from a J , and fits the insect very badly. An examination of his /'jHsifdomifia zehrina shows that this also is syjionymous with quiw/wlineatns. In tlu^ Cata- logue of Kertdsz, ridens. Walk., is ])laced as another possible synonym, but it cannot be so ; for though the ty])e of it (not now being in the British Mu'e in Wiedemann's collection. 149. Eristalis quinquestriatus, Fahr. (PI. IT, hgs. 11-1-i.) Syrjjhus quinquestriatus, Fabricius, Eut. Syst. iv, p. 289 (1794) ; id., 8yst. Antliat. p. 245 (1805). Eristalis quinquestriatus,^Xiedemam\, Auss. Zweitl. ii, p. 187 (1830) ; de Moijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 245 (1908). Eristctlis'resepus',\y{i\\ier, List Dipt. IJrit. JNIu?. iii, p. 625 (1849). Eristiilis quinqimrittatus, Macquart, Explor. Algorie, Zool. iii, p. 4(55, pi. iv, iig-. 10 (1849). Erista^omyiapicta,^^vgoi,i\^\l\. Soc. Ent. lM-ance,(5) x, p. 219 (1880). Syrphus meyncejjhalus , llossi, Mant. Ins. ii, p. 63, pi. v, tig. L (1794). cJ § , Head in c? with eyes unstriped but with minute black spots, especially on under side ; contiguous for a little greater distance than in (juinqnelineatus, P., finely and shortly pubescent on uppei' aiul front part ; the vertical triangle smaller. Prons and face with yellowish-grey tomontum (except on the face just below antennae, where it is whitish) and concolorous pubescence, but in some specimens some brow n hairs occur on upper parr of frons. No median strijie, but extreme anterior edge of central bump narrowly blacl;, with •Avery narrow stripe (almost a trace only) on each side, curved on U])per ])art ; lower part of head as in fjuiurjue- lineatus, iKit distinctly h\ss i)romincnt. Antenna} and bare arista all hrowmsh-orange, tip of 3rd joint narrowly l)]ackish ; rest as in qiiinqutlineatus S • In $ , frons one-third of liead at base of an- tetuiie ; eyes more spotted than in S «ind bare throughout, except for a very little pubescence on upjier side ; frons l)lackish towards vertex, and willi a brownish irregular transverse band just ai)ove middle; the whole frons with dark brown iiairs ; rest as in 6- Thorax nuud) as in ijiiiiiqiielineatun, but dnrsinn much more yellowish and the black stripes very shining ; pubescence very tine, 188 SYRPHID.K. less obvious when seen from above than iu quimiuelineatns. Dorsum in 5 (apparently) more \vhitish-s;re\' in ground-colour. AlxJomeyi : Ist and 2nd segments yellowisb, latter wirli a rather broad black band on liiud margin, enlarged triangularly in middle, where it extends forward beyond centre of segment ; 3rd segment yellowish with a similar black band (in some cases broader than that of 2nd segment) and an irregularly shaped black spot on middle of anterior margin ; 4th segment shiniiig black with a curved, dull yellow, transverse band with parallel sides (sometimes in the shape of a wide open inverted V) across centre of segment, its upper part generally touching anterior margin of segment ; in some spec'nnens this band is faintly present, though )iarro\ver, on 3rd segment also ; extreme margins of 2nd and 3rd segments, and also the part of 4th segment j^osterior to the yellow cross-band, more shining than the other black parts of the abdomen. In $ , the yellow parts on 2nd and Srd segments often more uniformly M'ide than in J ; the yellowish-white band on 3rd and 4th segments straighter, and a similar though smaller band on the 5th segment. Pubescence of abdomen almost wholly pale yellow, but blackish-brown on black parts of 2nd segment; in some specimens the pubescence of the 3rd segment is also a little brownish. Venter as in qtdnqtieUneatus. Leys iriuch as in quinquelineatus, but anterior femora with more black pubescence on upper, lower and inner sides ; all tarsi with 1st and 2nd joints wholly, 3rd basally, yellowish. Wings as in quhu/uelineatus. Length, 8-9 mm. Described from several of each sex in the Indian Museum and Pusa collections. Kousanie, Kumaon District, 6035 ft., vii. 1914 {Tlitler) \ Katmandu, Nepal ; 8ukna, base of Darjiling Himalayas, 2. vii. 1908 {Annandah) ; Calcutta, 18. ix. 1907 ; Jubbulpore, 1. ix. 1907 (Ntrrse); ^inngnlore (Cameron); Madhnpur, Bengal, 16.x. 1909 (Paiva); Cherials., Chilka. Lake, Orissa, '21. vii. 1914 ; Mangaldai, Assam, 16-18. x. 1910 {Kemp) ; Semarang, viii. 1905 {Jacohson) ; Sibolga, (Sumatra {teste de Meijere). Though closely resembling quinqvelineatus, Y., tiie present species is distinguished by the absence of dark stripes on the eyes. The narrow, bare, shining black stripes on the face are much reduced or absent, and the median facial stripe is also absent or reduced to a trace only ; the thoracic dorsum is more yellowish ( c? ) or whitish ( $ ), and the stripes blacker and very^ shining ; there is more yellow iu the 2nd and 3i'd abdominal segments, and the tarsi are more yellowish. E, quinqnevittatus, Macq., is probably synonymous with quinque- striatus, ¥., as it is said to have tlie eyes spotted. No special mention is made by Macquart of the colour of the hind tarsi : from the coloured plate these appear to be dark, whicli might make de Meijere's ohscuritarsls a synonym of Macquart's quinquevitfatus ; but judging by the breadth of the abdomen the latter is probably merely a synonym of the common E. quinquestriatns, Fabr. Sip'pJuis megacejihalus, 'Rossi,is evidently synonymous with E. qtiin- ERISTALIS. 189 questriatiis, and was dest-ribed in the same year. I liave accepted the latter name, as Dr. de Meijere has adopted it. LVistalomyia picta, Bifi;., represented by the solitary d ii/pe in very bad condition, is undoubtedly also this species. The tliorax is largely black owing to the very narrow interstices between the longitudinal stripes, otherwise the specimen exhibits no variation from the typical form. 150. Eristalis tabanoides, Jaenn. Eristalis fahaiioides, .Taeiiniclce, Abli. Senckeiib. Natmf. ties, vi, p. 40i', pi. xliv. fig-. 4 (ISGT) ; Hecker, Mitt. Zool. Mus. l^erlin, ii, p. 83 (1903); id., Zeitschr. Ilyui. Dipt, vii, p. 253 (1907). $. //(S«f? not produced below eyes ; latter bare, spotted. I'rons and face dusted with pale yellowish-grey, with concolorous pubescence which becomes whitish below antennae ; extreme front margin of frons orange. Antenna3 bi'ownisli-orange, upper part of 3rd joint blackish, arista orange, bare. Occiput dusted witli ash-grey, a little wliite pubescence below. Thorax wholly ash- grey ; dorsum with four shining black stripes of the ordinary pattern, equidistant, moderate!)' broad, all rather pointed in front and behind, the two median ones as long as the others. Hind corners of dorsum blackish. Scutellum dull orange, with brownish- yellow pubescence including some black hairs. Abdomen mainly black ; 1st segment whitish, 2nd more or less yellowish, for a triangular space at sides ; 2ud, 3rd and 4tli segments with a moderately broad, arcuate, ash-grey band, its ends at the middle of each side, where it is rounded off, the band extending forward to the anterior margin on 3rd and 4th segments and sometimes almost interrupted in middle on 2nd segment. The black ])ortion of each of tiiese segments is divided into a dead-black arcuate band just below the ash-grey one, and the remainder which is a^neous-black. 5th segment with basal half ash-grey, remainder shining black. Hind margins of 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments broadly a3neous. Pubescence of abdomen whitish on the grey i);irts and black on the black parts. Le^s black ; coxa? dusted with ash-grey ; tips of femora rather narrowly, basal half of fore tibiae, two-thirds of middle pair and one-third of hind pair, yellowish. Tarsi blackisii, middle pair orange on about basal half. Pubescence of legs whitish. HV/;//.? quite colourless ; stigma pale brownish-yellow, a minute blackish-brown dot at each I'lid ; squanue whitish, haltercs orange. Leni/tJi, ]ii-l I mm. Hes'crib'Ml from two $ 2 ^'rom Quetta, vi. 1002 (Col. ^'>|,■sr); and fiom others from various localities in Africa (Abyssinia, (iold Const, British East Africa, Uganda, Nyassaland). The J isslill unknown. The species appears to me valid, allhougli Bezzi (!Syrpliida3 of Ethiop. E"g. p. 84, 1915) thinks that it may possibly be a variety of qaiuquextridtus, F. (quiiir/Kcliin'Kttts, Bc/zi, nee Fabr.). It was discovered in Massowah, and is recorded also from Tunis. 190 si'rphid.t:. lol. Eristalis obscuritarsis, deMeiJ. (PI. IV, figs, 15-18.) Eridalis obscuritarsis, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 250, c? 5? , pi. vii, figs. 19, 20, abdomen c? $ (1908). S . Head : eyes broadly contiguous, bare, except for a little sparse pubescence on upper pai't ; black-spotted, upper facets only a little larger than lower; frontal triangle grey-dusted, black- haired, a shilling l)lack triangular space above base of antennae ; vertical triangle blackisli-brown with black hair; pale hair on occipital margin ; epistome dusted with greyish-white, with short whitish pubescence ; central bump small, shining black ; cheeks narrow, white-haired. Antenna) reddish-yellow, upper side darker ; arista I'eddish-yellosv, bare. Thorax shining black, with rather long vellowish hair; side margins broadly wax-yellow, in addition to three narrow, similarly coloured, longitudinal stripes which fade away posteriorly, not reaching hind margin. Scutellum honey- yellow ; pleurae metallic black', often obscured anteriorly by the grev dust. ^6cZo??iai dead-black with metallic blackish-green hind margins; on anterior segments the black colour is restricted through the very large yellow side spots ; 1st segment with only yellow side spots : 2nd practically entirely occupied by the spots, except on middle partof anterior and hind margins and on irregular, median, black, moilerately broad stripe; 3rd segment with a large vellowish quadrate spot on each anterior corner, these spots merging gradually hindwards in the brownish or blackish hinder part of the segmeut ; a broad median black stripe and a yellouish curved band across middle of segment, not reaching sides ; 4th se. 201. base 2>is cras^vs, Fabr., hind leg. line reaching from the stigmatic region across outer side of 2nd basal cell and thence across middle of anal cell to the alula. A narrow, dark brown, isolated streak from 2nd to 4th longi- tudinal veins, enclosing anterior cross-vein. Tiie brown colour is expanded for a minute space at tip of 2iul vein, and there is a minute dark spot over tip of 3rd vein. Thoracal squama? blackish, with broad hlackish-grey fringe. Length, about 12 mm. Described from a number of both sexes from various sources. A widely distributed Oriental species, recorded also from Celebes. TNIussoorie; ^Wdiww {KwjvcU \ de Niceville) ; Singla, 1500 ft. (ZorcZ CarmicliaeVs collector) ; Siliguri ; Buldana District, Eerar {Burhill); Bangalore (Cameron); Parauibikulam, Cochin State, 1700-3200 ft. {Gravely); Maddathorai andTrivandrum,Travancore ^{vde {Annan- dale) ; Goa ; Castle Eock, N. Kanara District ; Talewadi (all from the last three localities collected by Kern])); Mangaldai, Assam {Kemp) : Bibsagar {Peal) ; Eanchi {Imms) ; above Tura, 3900 ft., viii. 1917 {Ke7pp) ; Mormugao. MEGASPIS. 199 Mticquart erected the genus Dolichomerus for this species on account of tlie toothed hind femora and other characters, and 1 do not know uhy it sliould not he adopted. 157. Megaspis errans, Fair. Si/)-phus erranx, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. ii, p. 337 (^1787). Eristulis errans, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifi. ii, p. loo (1830). Eristalis varipes, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 46, pi. x, fig. 4 (1842). Eristalis amphicrates, Wallcer, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii, p. 623 (1849). Eristalis macquartii, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. x, p. 410. pi. vii, tig. 1 (1856). Megaspis errans, Brunetti, llec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 71 (1908). (5 $. Differing from argyrocephalus as follows: — Eyes in S contiguous for ii much longer dist.-ince and upper facets distinctly larger tlian lower ones. Facial bump orangu-yellow ; pubescence of frons and face more yellowish than white ; that on vertical triangle, however, dark brown. Antennte wholly orange, arista orange, quite bare. Ground-colour, including frontal callus and mouth- border, orange-yellow ; central bump normally covered by the pubescence, but space over mouth-border, and the strip thence on each side to eyes, bare, orange-yellow. Vertex broadly black with dense short blackish-brown pubescence. Thorax: dorsum practically all blackish, with suture on each side for a greater or less distaiice pale, |)artly dividing the black part; and as the anterior half is usually duller black than the hinder, or even greyish, there is in such specimens some resemblance to argi/rocej)hahis. Hind margin of dorsum broadly yellowish-grey, and anterior half with two rather l)road, approximate, median, short stripes which are always obvious when seen from behind but never conspicuous. Pubescence yellow on anterior and hinder parts, dark brown on black median part below suture. ^k/()»?eu brownish-orange; 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments each having on hind border a large blackish- brown triangular spot, filling one-third or more of the surface and extended more or less along hind margin. Kemainder of surface of 3rd and 4th segments aeneous, this colour extending occasionally also along hind border, thus isolating the dark triangular spot. Leys as, in arf/)/7'ocephalus except that the basal half, more or less, of hi ml femora is brownish-orange. Winr/s as in arffi/rocephahis. Lenijtli, 9-11 mm. This species and argyrocephahia are very closely allied, but the colour of the hind femora and the pretience or absence of pubes- cence on the arista will separate them with certainty. Described from a number of both sexes from various sources. Very common throughout the East. Sukna (Annandale) ; Pnsa ; Bangalore (c^. Cavieron); Trivandrum, Travancore ; Paranibikulam, Cochin State (Gravely) ; Coorg, S. India, 2!)-3(). iv. 1913; 200 Sl'EPHIDuE. Hadagalli, Ceylon, x. 1911; Margherita, Assam; Myingyan, Bunna, xi. 1893 ( Capt. Watson) ; Maymyo, Upper Burma {H. L. Andreives)- 8ibsagar (/Si. E. Paul); Peiiaug, 25. ii. 1908 (&'. Meade- Waldo) ; 8emarang and other Javaii localities ; Borneo, Sumatra and China. 158. Megaspis chrysopygus, Wied. Eristalis chrysopi/ijus, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag. i, p. 3 (1819) ; id., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 152 (1830). Megaspis chrysopycjus, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii. 2, p. 27, pi. vii, fig. 2 (1842) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. Ii, p. 240 (1908). Volucella auratn, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Ins., Dipt, i, p. 494 (18.34). 6 $ . Head : eyes in 6 very closely contiguous for nearly their whole length, leaving a very small, raised, ocellar triangle with dull red ocelli ; Irons and face black, finely punctate, the wrinkled space large and obvious, dull orange-brown. Antennfe blackish- brown ; arista dull orange, plumose above on basal half. Face with short yellowish hairs, rather deepl}" sunken immediately below base of antenuse and with a bare, shining, ratlier incon- spicuous, elongate central bump. Occiput black, the sides shining silvery -white, practically bare. In 5 , irons one-iifth the width of the head at vertex, widening gradually downwards, being about one-third of head at level of antennae; wholly black, finely punctate, face with a little almost microscopic whitish pubescence. Thorax black, minutely punctate ; pubescence black, very short and invisible except when viewed at a low angle. Abdomen shining black ; 3rd and 4th segments covered with short dense golden- or orange-yellow recumbent pubescence ; venter mo- derately shining, black. Leys all black, ■ with very short black pubescence; posterior tarsi and pulvilli, also front pulvilli, bright orange-yellow. A small spot of white pubescence at base of tibiae on front side of fore pair, on outer side of middle pair and on hinder side of hind pair ; hind tibiae rather flattened, with dense shaggy black pubescence on front and hind sides. Wings pale grey ; blackisli on about basal half up to the stigma, basal three-fourths of 1st basal cell, whole of 2nd basal cell and more than half of anal cell, with a slight extension embracing anterior cross-vein. Thoracal squamse large, blackish, with broad con- colorous fringe. Length, 15-17 mm. Described from two or three 5 $ from Sikkim {Knyvett) ; Shillong, 5000 ft., ix. 1917 (Fletcher) ; Sibsagar {S. E. Paid) ; Khasi Hills (Sladen ; Chennell); Bhamo Hills, Upper Burma, 4000 ft., V. 1916 (Macktuood). Occurs in Java, Sumatra and Siam. 159. Megaspis aesymnus, WalJc. Eristalis (ssp)mus, Walkev, List. Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii, p. G30 (1849). 6 2. Bead: frons in c? moderately prominent, shining black, with long dense black pubescence on upper part, the wrinkled MEGASPIS. 201 space above antenuoB very distinct, the space on each side of it yellowish-dusted, with yellowish-brown pubescence. Antennae dark brown, ari.sta with basal hall' orange, plumose ; rest black, bare. Eacial bump shining black, moderately large; rest of face with brounish-yellow dust and pubescence. Lower part of head and proboscis black. Occipital mnrgin on lower part rather shining white; a shining black, nearly bare space on cheeks. In $, frous rapidly widening from above downwards, at level of antennae wider than one-third of bead; vertex black, with dense, shoi't, black, still" pubescence; a black, moderately wide median stripe extends thence to the wrinkled space, which hitter bears similar pubescence. Upper part of frons (below the black vertex) with yellowish dust and concolorous pubescence, thence both ground- colour and pubescence become gradually more whitish to lower part of head; the shining black central bump is comparatively small. Thorax: ground-colour of" anterior part orange nearly to suture, the colour carried over shoulders for some distance down the pleurje, covered with short bright yellow pubescence; rest of dorsum black, with very short, dense, black pubescence. iScutellum similar; pleurae dull black or aeneous, more or less tinged with yellowish in humeral region. Ahdomen black; 2nd segment orange for about anterior two-thirds, this colour just reaching side margins of 1st segment; 3rd and 4th segments mainly dull black, but with a narrow orange band on anterior margin, widening towards corners ; hind margins rather broadly shining black, broader in middle; 5th segment all black. Venter black, 2nd segment orange. Pubescence of abdomen mostly black, but pale yellow on the orange-coloured parts. Legs black, with black pubescence. Wings pale grey, anterior half moderately dark bi'own, the colour approximately limited by the basal cells and marginal cell; about half the discal cell paler brown; 3rd vein very deeply looped and with a distinct, short appendix at tip of loop; halteres yellowish. Length, 12-14 mm. Described from a c5' and several $ $ in the British Museum from Borneo and Sumatra. Walker's type is in the British Museum in very bad condition ; it was described from " East Indies." The species requires conlirmation as Indian, and 1 do not believe it ro be indigenous. 16(J. Megaspis argyrocephalus, Mac cxterus, id., Ins. Saund., Dipt, i, p. 248 (18r)2). Musca sinensis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. v, p. 2872 (1790). S 2 • ffead : cS , eyes contiguous for a short distance; vertical triangle small, black, with dark broun pubescence; frons with black hairs on upper part and black and yellowish hairs mixed on each side of the wrinkled space. I'ace shining black, with gre}'^ dust forming a transverse band below antenna), and more or less grey dust on cheeks ; all these parts with yellowish-grey, moderately long, but inconspicuous pubescence; central bump bare. Antennae blaekish-brown, arista yellowish, basal half plumose (about 9 or 10 long hairs) above and below. Occiput black, mirrowly white- toinentose on side m;irgins, with brownisli-yellow hairs on vertical section and \\ bite pubescence on lower margin. In 9 i fi'ons at level of antenna? rather more than one-third the width of the head, narrowing towards vertex and a little wider on lower part. Vertex black with black pubescence ; yellowish at sides with yellow pubescence down to antenna?, leaving the median third down lo the wrinkled space black, with dark brown pubescence. Thoni.v : dorsum black, anterior margin narrowly yellowisli-grey, almost orange at and just behind shoulders; whole anterior half of dorsum covered with dense short yellowish-grey pubescence, hinder half with shorter and very dense blackish-brown pubes- cence, almost unnoticeable ; a bunch of scale-like, long, orange pubescence beliind shoulders, and a fringe of similar pubescence along lower margin of dorsum up to above and a little beyond wing-base. Pleura) yellowish-giey anteriorly, darker posteriorly, with a little pale pubescence throughout. Scutcllum black with very short and dense black erect i)ubesi'ence and a fringe of pale hairs on himl margin. Abdomen: 1st segment black, very short, bare except for a very little yellow pubescence towards sides; 2nd mainly yellowish, about the hind third (varying to less than a fourth) dark blackish-brown, deepest on hind bcn'der ; 3rd and 4th mainly i;lack, each with two elongate brownish-yellow spots, 204 SYRPHID.B. one ou each aiiterioi" coruer, these spots narrowest at tlieir inner ends, which nearly meet in centre ot' anterior margin. Pubescence of 2ncl segment agreeing with groimd-colour, that of 3rd and Ith segments wholly brownish-orange ; 5th segment black w ith yellowish-grey pubescence. Sides of abdomen with orange-yellow short pubescence. Venter yellowish, generally with blackish bands corresponding with tliose of the dorsum ; but varying to entirely pale yellowish except the blackish tip. Legs: femora all black, pubescence dark, except some pale yellowish pubescence on upper side of hind pair towards base. Tibise black, 1st pair pale on basal thn'd, 2nd pair on about basal half ; hind pair wholly black but with some white pubescence at tip on hinder side and a fringe of dark brown dense pubescence on rest of hinder side. Tarsi black, middle pair brownish-orange for more than basal half ; hind pair with orange-brown pubescence. Wimjs yellowisli-grey ; a dark brown suffusion over stigmatic region, extending from casta over base of submarginal and tip of 1st basal cell, slightly clouding anterior cross-vein and base of discal cell. Extreme base of wing dark brown for a short distance ; squamae dark brown. Lemjth, 12-14 mm. Described from a number of both sexes from various sources. Sylhet ; Sikkim {Knyvett, De JSiceviUe. Stoliczlca) ; Darjiling Dis- trict, 1000-3000 ft. {Lord Carmkhaers collector) ; Nilgiris, 3000 ft. (Andrewes) ; Sibsagar, X.E. Assam (S. E. Paul) ; Mazbat, Assam [Kemp) ; Dunsiri Valley, Assam (Godivin- Austen) ; above Tura, 3500-3900 ft., 15. vii-30. viii. 1917 (Kemjy); Lower Ranges, Ivhasi Hills, Assam, 1878 (Chennell, a long series of d" o , 2 $ in British Museum). Generally distributed through the East as far as Japan. The synonymy of Walker's four species, the types of all of which are in the British Museum, is due to Major Austen. E. andrctiinon is from Sylhet, exterus from India, no closer data being available. U. inamames was described from the Sandwich Is., and dutamu'f without record of locality. Genus HELOPHILUS, Meig* Hdophihts, Meigeu, Syst. Beschr. iii, p. 368 (1822). Elophilus, Meio-en, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 274 (1803). Dollcho(/iina, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 65 (1842). Lejops, Iloiidani, Dipt. Itul. Piod. ii, p. 33 (1857). Mesembrius, Kondani, t. c. p. 50. nota (1857). Anasirnt/ic, Scliiner, Cat. Syst. Dipt. Eur. p. 108 (1864). Eunierosi/rplms, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) ii, P>ull. p. cxxviii (1882), and iii, p. 228 (1883). Euvhimyia, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) iii, p. 226, and Bull. p. XX {Eurimyia) (1883). * For a table of, and notes on, the Oriental species, see Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 65 ct seq. ; also de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. Ii, p. 229 (1908). IIELOPIIILUS. 205 Eitnjvu/ia, Mik, in Eeck, Faun. v. Ilernsteiu, p. 528 {sep., p. 08) (1885). Ei/n'noniifia, Mik, Wieu. Ent. Zeit. xvi, p. ]15 (1897). l'/us-tyT[)p. 3. 3. I.L-iiptli U-ls niillini i>ts>f/»i.^, Walk., p. 207. Lf-n^'-tli '.t-12 niillini 4. 4. Middle ft'inora in ci" witli atootli helnw near ba.-i', and suddenly contracted at tip : 4tli abdominal sef,finent witli iin inverted, widely ojieii V-i">"'l<* • lieiK/nlcnsis, "Wicd., p. 20!>. Mi(klle Ifinora in J without tootli beh)w,aiid very {jfradually iiarmwcd in apical part; 4tli abdominal .• grey-dusted with black pubescence : tips of femora narrowly brownish-orange ; fore tibiae on more or less the basal third or half, niiddle pair on more than basal half, hind pair broadly at base, brownish-orange. Anterior femora with rather short black pubescence on upper and inner sides ; outer side nearly bare, but a fringe of long black hairs on lower part of outer side ; under side with long, dense, very bright yellow or orange-yellow pubescence. Hind femora on upper side w]th sparse sliort black pubescence ; outer side with dense long yellow pubescence ; lower and inner sides with very dense black long pubescence. Pubescence on anterior tibise generally black on inner and front sides, and yellow on outer and hinder sides ; hind tibiae with fairly long black or blackish-brown pubescence, very long and dense on outer side in S . Wings pale yellowish-grey ; squamse, fringe and halteres brownish-yellow. Length, 15-18 mm. Desci'ibed from a cS and $ in the Indian IVIuseum, the J from Mergui, Burma, the $ without record of locality. Whether I oi iginally identified it correctly as Doleschall's insignis or not, at anv rate the species here described is certainly synonymous with Walker's species of that name, which moreover takes precedence. I now think both forms are probably identical. A § from Borneo and one from Singapore, 19. i. 1896, below 400 ft. {&'. S. tlower). * Tlie description of the legs nuist be accepted with caution as the specimens are none of them in good condition. IlKLOl'llILUS. 209 both in the British Museum, as well as AValker's type $ , all agree exactly with tlie 6 and 5 described by me. //. alhiceps, van der Wulp, according to two 2 $ so mimed in the British Museum, may be identical, the only differeiici^s being that the spots on the 2nd abdominal segment are broader, more quadrate and rather more widely separated, and that t!ie insects are smaller. lO.j. Helopliilus beugalensis, Wied. (PI. V, figs. 1-3.) UrMalis benffaleiisis,Wiei.em-dnu, Zool. Mag', i, p. 3 (1819); id., Auss. Zweiti. ii, p. 167 (1830) ; de Mefiere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 2.33, pl. vii, tio-s. 13, 14, legs (1908); Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mas. ii, p. (J9 (1908) fi, pl. xii, figs. 1, 2, 3, J $ abdoinon (1907). Eumerosi/rphus indiamis, liigot, Ann. Soc. J<]nt. France, (6) ii, Bull. p. cxxviii (1882). 6 $. Head: eyes in S contiguous for less than one-third the distance from vertex to Irons (about 5 or G facets); upper facets distinctly larger than lower ones ; vertical triangle elongate, shining black above; a little yellowish-grey tomentum on lower part, the whole with black pubescence. Frons and face wholly covered with yellow tomentum and concolorous pubescence ; median black stripe on latter narrow; central bump small ; tip of small antennal prominence shining dark brown. Antennal 1st and 2nd joints black ; 3rd dark brown with bare brown arista. Proboscis black. Occiput black, side margins and lower side uith white tomentum and white pubescence ; yellowish tomentum and pubescence on vertex. In $ , frous one-sixth width oi head at vertex, w idening gratiually to 1 h times as wide at level of antennae, covered w^itb yellow tomentum and pubescence, but on the vertex tlie tomentum is more dark greyish and the pubescence black. Antennal prominence and antenna) shining orange-brown to blackish, with a little microscopic grey dust on 3rd joint. Thorax bright yellow^ with three longitudinal black stripes ; the median stripeslightly wider than the others, extendiiigfrom anterior border nearly or quite to iiind margin, not narrowed in front but generally narrowed i)ehind to a point ; outer stripes rather narrowly separated from the median one but narrower in front aTid behind, barely attaining anterior and hind margins. Pleurae yellowish-grey, slightly darker behind. Scutellum translucent yellow, a litrle darker at base. Whole dorsum, pleura; and scutellum with soft yellow pubescence. Abdomen: 1st segment black, remainder orange-yellow ; 2nd segment with basal and hind marginal black bands, broader in middle (former not attain- ing, latter attaining, the side margins), joined by a median black band of varying width which may sometimes be i)ractically absent; hind marginal band sometimes replaced by m(!rely a deeper orange than the ground-colour. 3rd segment with a depressed black tri- angular spot oil hind margin, reaching side margins and olten extended fornard in c(Mitre as a fine line as far as middle of segment. Puljescence on first three segments very short and P 210 SYKPHID^. fine, yellow on yellow parts, dark brown on black parts. 4th seg- ment with close yellow, yellowish-grey or orange tomeutum ; hind margin more or less moderately shining brown or blackish ; a bow-shaped or inverted V-shaped mark, which may be deep orange, brown or black, lies (tlie convexity forwards) across middle of segment ; space between it and the dark hind margin (wiiich latter is not always definite) darker than on anterior half of segment. Pubescence of 4th segment all yellow except on the dark parts. Yenter yellow with yellow ish pubescence, tip darker. Legs : coxse black, a little grey dust on front side of anterior pairs and on hinder side of hind pair, with a little pale pubescence. Eemora shining black, anterior pairs with tips narrowly brownish- orange ; middle pair in S with a small tooth near base and suddenly contracted at tip. Pubescence of all femora wholly yellow except some moderately long black pubescence towards tip on under side of hind pair. Tibiae black; about basal half of anterior pairs orange-yellow ; middle pair in S with a small swelling just before middle and slightly thickened towards tips; rather long yellow hair on outer and front siiles of fore pair ; pubescence very short on middle pair; hind tibite distinctly curved, with mainly black pubescence, but some yellow pubescence on basal half of outer side. Tarsi black, with black pubescence, middle pair more or less brownish-orange on basal half; a peculiar fan- like fringe of hairs with thickened tips at extreme base of hind metatarsi. Wings pale grey ; squamae yellow with yellow fringe ; halteres yellow. Lengthy 10-12 mm. Described from a number of specimens of both sexes. In two <5 c? in the Indian Museum from Calcutta, 21.iii. 1^07 {Brunetti), and Siripur, Sardu, North Bengal, 26. ix. 1910, and in two more ■ c? c? in the Pusa collection from Pusa, 14.viii.l907and 29. ix. 1910, the yellow spots on the 2nd segment are reduced to a semicii-cle by a large central black spot in each, also the 3rd segment is mainly blackish. The species is apparently widely distributed throughout India, as I have seen it from Katmandu, Nepal ; Calcutta ; Deesa, vi. 1897 {Nurse)\ Pusa, Ani. viii. ix. ; Banoalore ; yibsa>;ar, N.E. Assam {S. E. Paul). De Meijere records it from Java, and Kertesz (Cat. Dipt, vii, p. 250) gives " Southern Asia, Indian Archipelago." H. pili'pea, Dol., has been regarded as synonymous with this species, but I have withdrawn the name as I am not satisfied that it is identical. Bigot's type of Emnerosijrphus indianus is a S of hengalensis. 166. Helophilus quadrivittatus, Wied. (PL V, figs. 4, 5.) Eristalis quadrivittatus, Wiedemann, Zool. Maj^. i, p. 3 (1819); id., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 168 (1830) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Eat. li, p. 234, S $ redescr., pi. vii, fio;. 15, hind leg: (J908); Brunetti, llec. lud. Miis. ii, p. 69 (1908) ; i, pi. xii, figs. 4, 5, 6, abdomen 6 2 (1907). ITELOPIIILUS. — MEllODON. 211 d ? . Very much like bengalensls, but with several s;ooci s])ecific characters. In the S the e^'es gradually approach but at no point actually touch, nor is the frons linear tor even the smallest distance.. Jif^jwien mainly orange ; 1st segment sometimes \Aith centre of hind margin black ; 2nd segment witii a large triangular brown mark on base, not reaching sides but ol'ten drawn out hindwards, especially in S , into a narrow line or median stripe which may or may not reach a siii)ilar, more flattened, triangular spot on hind margin ; the latter spot also sometimes attains .side margins. 3rd segment with a similar flattened black triaiighi on hind margin, generally reaching side margins ; 4tli segment with apical half mainly black, the black colour broadest in centre, remainder with yellow tomentum, as has also the extreme hind margin. 5th segment with a Lirge, shining black, but not very conspieuous, triangle, its apex reaching nearly to base of segnient, on hind margin, remainder with yellow or yellowish-grey dust. Pubescence of abdomen wholl)'- yellow; genitalia shining black. Venter generally with basal half yellowish, apical half blackish. Ler/s generally as in hewjalensis, but the yellow in the anterior tibiae is rather more extensive, especially in the middle pair, and the yello^v pubescence rathei- brighter. In the J the middle femora are without any tooth below and not suddenly contracted near tip ; hind femora with a distinct comb-like fringe of short, stiff, black hairs on inner underside nearl}'' from base to tip; middle tibiae without any swelling before middle and not appre- ciably thicker at tip ; hind tibiae very suddenly narrowed near lip, forming almost a small tooth at point of compression. In $ , legs simple, generally as in hengahnsis. Lenr/th, 10-12 mm. Described from a number of specimens of both sexes, yiliguri ; Jubliulpore, viii. l!J07 {Nurse); Katihar( /-'aiw/) ; Pusa, 19 and 20. ix. 1915; Deesa, vi. 1901 (A^wse); Calcutta; Port Canning: Puri (Caunter); jMandalay, 2-4. ix. 1914 {Fletcher). Apparently widelv distributed in the plains of India; recorded also from the Aru Islands. The degree of contiguity of the eyes and the structure of the femora and tibiae will always distinctly separate the d d of benr/aJensis and quailrivittaivs. As regards the 5 2 > the more extended orange surface of the abdomen and the markings of ihe 4th segment are apparently the only distinguishing features, though these, especially the latter, are generally sullicient when once the two s|)ecies are clearly recognised. (ienus MERODON, Meii/. Merodon, M.'i-en. lUif,'. .Mug. ii, p. 274 (1803). Tif/ridimni/iti, JJijjrot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Prance, (t)) ii, Hull. p. cwi ( Tigridcmyia, 1882). fxEN'OTi'PK, Si/rphiiii davipes^ Fahr. {as curvipes, Fabr. ). by desig- nation of Westuood, 1S40. r 2 212 STRPHID-E. Head about as wide as thorax. Eyes pubescent, contiguous in (S for some distance, wide apart in 5 5 f^-ce slightly hollowed below antennae, central knob of modei'ate size, upper mouth-edge produced ; antenna? normal, 2nd joint ratlier long, 3rd oval, arista nearly basal, bare. Head pubescent. Thorax robust, slightly humped, lo))ger than broad, densely pubescent, as is always the concolorous scutellum. Abdomen varying in shape and nature of pubescence ; generally ovate or elongate. Legs strong, in J always with a process or processes on either hind coxoe, liind femora or hind tibiae ; the latter curved, generally somewhat flattened ; tarsi broad and flat; in $, legs simple. Wings comparatively sliort ; venation as in Helophdus. Life-historjj. That of M. equesiris, Fabr., which infests the bulbs of Nsircissi and allied plants, is well known, the species having often been bnnl (see also remarks under Eumerus,^. 248). Range. All the Old World. Only one species, J/, equestris, is known in the New World (North America), and it has un- doubtedly been introduced inadvertently in bulbs. Table of Species. 1. Thorax wholly unstriped interveyiieyis, Walk., p. 212. Thorax more or less distinctly longi- tudinally striped 2. 2. Abdomen conspicuously elongate, 1| times as long as thorax and scutellum. tuberculatus, Brun., p. 214. Abdomen elongate-conical, not much longer than thorax 3. 3. Larger sp., 20 mm. . vnricolor, Walk., p. 215. Smaller spp., 12-16 nun 4. 4. Thoracic dorsum witli three black stripes, the median stripe more or less sub- divided ^;«//?(/ms, Macq., p. 217. Thoracic dorsum with four black stripes of about uniform size albifasciatus, Macq., p. 218. 167. Merodon interveniens, Walk. Merodon interveniejis, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Loud, iv, p. 120 (1860). Tigridimnyia pictipes, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (G) ii, Bull. p. cxxi (Tigridemyia, 1882). Polt/dontomyia orientalis, Brunetti, Bee. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 74 (1908). (S . Head : eyes bare, unicolorous, black ; contiguous for a short distance only ; vertical triangle a little raised, grey-dusted, with stiff black hairs and yellowish translucent ocelli ; Irons and face whiti.Nh-dusted, former with brownish-yellow pubescence, latter with whitish pubescence ; cheeks nearly bare, rather shining brown ; facial bump nioderatel)' prominent ; a median, pale brown, ratlier shining stripe. Antennae orange-brown, arista orange, bare. Occiput greyisli, with short white pubescence on lower margin. Thorax dark brownish-grey, with rather dense yellowish pubescence, and some black hairs intermixed ; humeri dull MERODON. 213 browuisli-yellow. Pleura) nearly blackish-grey, with fan-shaped rows of yellow hairs on mesopleura, stevnopleura and ptero- pleura. "Sciitelhun brownish-yellow, with rather dense yellow pubescence. Ahdomen: 1st segment orange-yellowish-grey, a little yellow pubescence at sides, rest brownisli-orangv- ; 2nd, 3rd and 4th secments with two transverse blackish-brown bands on Fig. m.—Merodon intervcidcns. Walk., liciid in profile. each, those on 2nd segment a little arcuate, the others nearly straight, all placed a little behind anterior margin or a little in front of hind margin, leaving a rather broad intervening space between each pair of bands, the black bands varying a httle in width and intensity. Venter brownish-yellow, with darker marks. Genitalia brownish-orange, tip black. Leys brownish or F\g. W.—Merodoii in/ervciiiois, Walk., liintl rpinur aiui tibia. browuish-orange, upjjor side of anterior femora blackish ; anterior tibia; more or less blackisli in parts; middle jiair paler. Fore tarsi mainly dark brown, last joint paler; middle tarsi nearly wholly pale. Hind femora orange, above and below towards tips, and on apical half on inner side, blackisli. Hind libiic dark brown, hind tar,'*! brownish-orange, the colour apparently varying 214 SYRpniD^. in tlie legs witli the individaal. Pubescence of lepis pale yellow. Wings pale grey ; subcostal cell a little darker and a trifle yellouisli; thoracic squamae dull yelloAvisli, with a pale yellow fringe ; lialteres orange. Lerif/fh, 11-12 mm. Described from the ^T/j^t- J from Macassar iji tlie British Museum, and t\\o cJ d from Abu, Eajputiina (Ool. Nurse), in good condition. Tigridiamyia pictipes, -Big., and Polydontomyia orientalis, Brun., are synouymous. I'his is a very well-marked though not conspicuous species, easily recognised from all others by the two transverse black bnnds on each of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th abdominal segments, in conjunction with the strongly incrassated hind femora with a large yellow tooth helow at the base, the unstriped tliora-\ and tlie nearly clear wings. It is somewhat Eristolis-W^e in general appeai-ance. I have closely compared side by side the types of Walker's M. interveniens, Bigot's T. pictipes and my P. orientalis, and find them identical (all males) ; two other S 6 are also before me, collected by Cul. Nurse at Abu. " Polydonta orientalis'' was a manuscript name of Bigot's for a single specimen in the Indian Museum, and I described the insect as new without sufficient examination as to its validity. That description deals with the legs in greater detail, and maybe used to advantage in conjunction ■H'ith the present fuller one, as the specimen described shows a few variations from the typical form. Polydontomyia, Will, (of which Polydonta and IViodonta are two jireoccujjied synonyms) is a good genus, and quite distinct from Merodon by the eyes in the S being wide apart (4- or 1 of the full width of the head in the type-species, ciirvipes, Wied.). In '^ Polydonta orientalis" of Bigot (which therefore is not a true Polydontomyia at all), and in that author's Tigridiamyia p)ictipes, the eves are actually contiguous, though for a very short space only. Willistou (Man. N. Amer. Dipt., 3rd ed., p. 258) has suggested that both Polydontomyia and Tencliocnemis be merged in Pterallastes. 108. Merodon tuberculatus, Brun. (PI. V, fig. 9.) HelopMbis tuberculatus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 67 (1908) ; i, pi. xii, figs. 16, abdomen, 17, middle leg (1907). S ? . Head : epistome normally produced. Frous black, shining just above antennae, dull in the § from tlience to vertex. Eyes contiguous ( J ) at base of supra-antennal triangle, diverging gently to the vertex. Frons in $ moderately wide, narrower above ; face below antennae blackish or reddisli, with grey or yellow hair, antennae ferruginous-brown to black ; 3rd joint sometimes quite greyish ; first two joints with a few black hairs. Prons, vertex and back of head with short, stiff, wholly black hair. Thorax rather elonp-ated, yellowish, with three broad black long MERODOX. 215 stripes of equal width (median stripe abbreviated behind) placed close together, so that the yellow interuiediate space is very narrow ; dorsum covered with short yellow hair. Humeral calli brown, with yellowish hair ; posterior calli oval, distinct, shining. Sides of thorax blackish-grey with mixed tufts of brown, white and yellow hair ; scutellum yellow with yellow^ hair. Abdomen quite elongated, resembling that of a Jlilesia ; in c? , 1st segment very short, yellow ; 2nd tawny, with a thin basal black line produced downwards across the disc to a rather wide, very indistinct, blackish band towards posterior border ; rJrd segment with basal half tawny, apical half brown ; 4th segment similar, but only basal fourth yellowish; 5th segment uniformly rich brown. In the 5? the transverse bands across the hind parts of the segments are black instead of brown. In the J , the first three segments are covered with soft yellow hair, much thicker on 2nd segment ; this hair appears to be sparser in the $ . Legs black, knees of four anterior legs tawny ; all the femora much thickened in the 6 , but only the hind pair moderately so in tlie 5 . In the S , the hind femora bear a distinct tooth in the centre of the under side, and an erect fringe of l)right yellow hair on the upper side for three-fourths of the length from the base, the remaining fourth bearing black hair. Middle femora with a transverse ridge below near tip, followed by a small blunt tooth ; middle tibiae suddenly incrassated before the middle, with tw^o pairs of blunt teeth at base. Between middle and hind coxae are two contiguous, Lirge, conical, black teeth pointing hindwards. All the legs with short black pubescence, longest on femora and hind tibia?. Wings brownish-grey ; apical half, anteriorly, darker. Length, 19-25 mm. Described from 2^6 and 3 5» $ from Calcutta in the Indian Museum. Two S 6 in the Bigot Collection in very indifferent condition, without data. 16i». Merodon varicolor, Wall-. Merndou varicolor, Walker, I'roc. Linn. 8oc. Lend, i, p. 122 (18o7). (S $ . Head: in cJ , eyes closely contiguous For about as far as length of vertical triangle ; frons shining black with black hairs, forming the antennal |)rominence; a little short white pubescence on lower part of eyes in S . In J , frons just above antennaj nearly one-third of head, narrowing to half that width at vertex, very- dark brown with rather dense black pubescence : frontal promi- nence shining black with black pubescence ; face considerably cut away below antennal prominence, covered with pale yellowish tomentum ; a median bare dark brown stripe ; cheeks and mouth- opening shining brown, bare, clearly demarcated ; proboscis blackish ; antennal first two joints shining black, 3rd dull black, oval, arista brownish ; occiput black. Thorax -. anterior part down to the suture, the shoulders and pleura^, dark brown with 216 stephidjE. rather dense dark brown pubescence ; rest of dorsum dull yellowish, rather brighter towards hind margin, with four equi- distant, moderately narrow, blue-grey, not very distinct, sliort, longitudinal stripes, the two median ones not reaching hind margin; whole hinder half of dorsum and the wholly vellow scutellum with short yellow pubescence ; mefanotum shining black, dusted with yellowish-grey ; sternopleura and pteropleura yellowish, with pale hair, the colour gradually darkening to the brown upper sides of the thorax. Abdomen: 1st segment pale yellow with short pale yellow pubescence ; hind angles orange. 2nd segment brownish-orange, becoming brown towards sides, with an elongated diamond-shaped yellow spot in middle, placed irans- versely ; hind margin black, the colour not sharply defined, broader in middle. 3rd segment with about anterior half yellow, the colour broader in middle, sides and hind margin rather broadly black; rest of segment orange-brown. 4th segment similar to 3rd, the orange-brown part practically absent : 5th Fig. 41. — Merodon varicolor, Walk., hind leg. segment wholly black. The yellow and black parts of the abdomen bear concolorous pubescence I'espectively. Venter black with black pubescence ; base more or less brownish. Legs : coxae chestnut- brown, fore pair nearly wholly and hind pair in front with yellowish-grey {omentum ; femora chestnut-brown, fore pair more or less black at base and on outer side; hind pair practically wholly black except below for a short distance at tip ; these latter bear a distinct tooth below just beyond the base and an enlargement towards the tip without any actual tooth or spine ; tibife blackish-brown, more or less broadly paler at base and narrowly at tip ; hind pair thickened, curved, and with a recess about the middle to receive the enlarged under side of hind femora ; tarsi dark brown, merging into black at tips. All the legs bear uniformly minute pubescence throughout. Wings yellowish-grey, with a slight dark brownish suffusion about stigmatic region ; halteres brownish-orange. Length, 20 mm. MBRODON. 217 Described from 3 J J from above Tura, Garo llilJs, Assam, 3500-3900 t"t., 15. vii-30. viii. lUlT (Kemp); and i'roin a single 2 from Pesholce Spur, Darjiliiig (ii. ,S. Lister). All are in the Indian Museum. Walker's type (in the Eritisli Museum) agrees closely with the above description ; it is a cS from Sarawak. 170. Merodon pallidus, JIacq. Merodon pallidus, Mact[iiarl, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 70, pi. xiii, lig, 1 (1842). J 5 . Head : eyes black, shortly pubescent, contiguous in c? for one-fourth of the distance from vertex to upper angle of frons ; vertical triangle elongate, blackish, with pale pubescence. Frons and face covered witii rather long, silky, white pubescence, the underlying ground-colour of the face dull grey. Antennae brownisli-orange, proboscis black. Occiput \\hite-dusted and with short pubescence ; head not descending below eyes in profile. In 2 > fi'ons broad, sliglitly widening, at level of antennae nearly one-third of width of head ; face with nearly parallel sides ; frons with brownish-yellow, face with whitish, pubescence. Thorax yellowisli-grey ; dorsum with three raiiier wide black stripes of usual pattern, median one narrowly subdivided more or less distiiictly and widening gradually hindwards ; side margins of dorsum near wing-bases shining black for a short distance ; the median stripe i-eaching anterior n)argin, the outer ones shortened in front and narrowing hindwards, but all three reaching hind margin. Pleura} thickly covered with yellowish pubescence. Scutellum black, densely covered with pale brownish- yellow pubescence, which is conspicuous along entire hind margin. Ahdomen elongate-conical, dusty yellow ; 1st segment short, narrow, not easily visible, shining black. Indistinct orange markings in d , in the shape of a large inverted triangle on anterior margins of ^nd and 3rd segments and a similar triangle with its base on hind margins of same segments ; 4th segment aliiit)st a replica of 3rd; all these markings indistinct. A small black, median, transverse mark a little behind anterior margin of 2nd segment, joined by a short line to a similar nuirk beyond middle of segment. In $ , 2nd segment rathei- like that of 6 but with hind margin more broadly brownisli ; 3rd segment brown on anterior third, dusty yellow on middle third and blackish on hind third ; 4th segment dusky yellowish-grey, narrowly black on anterior corners and with a rather large oval black spot on each hind corner, placed clear of hind nuirgin and sides; 5tli segii.ent entirely black, a little grey-dusted towartis .-ides. Venter yellowish. Pubescence of abdomen very short, ]iale yellow. Li'fjs: hind coxae shortly and conicnlly produced hind- wards, hind femora well but not strikingly incra>sated. with a medium-sized tooth below near lip. Coxte and femora black, tips of latter narrowly black, rest orange-yellow ; tibia) more or leas 218 strphidjE. blackish towards tips, tlie colour forming a fairly definite sub- apical ring on hind pair. Pubescence of legs yellowish or white. Winr/s pnle grey, anteriorly pale brown for a short distance ; halteres pale orange. Length, 14-15 mm. Described from a 6 and 2 from Quetta, viii. 1902 and vi. 1903 {Col. Nurse), and from a S in the British Museum. A dusty- looking species wiiich cannot possibly be confounded wqth any other described herein. Originally described from Baghdad. Type in Paris Museum. 171. Merodon albifasciatus, Macq. Merodon albifasciatus, Macqiiait, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 71, pi. xiii, fig. 2, full insect, 2«, head in profile (1842). $ . " Face with whitish tomentum and pubescence ; no black band ; frons with yellowish-white tomentum and pubescence, and a green band in the middle. Antenna? with 1st joint black, 2nd testaceous (3rd missing). Eyes with a little grey pubescence. Thorax with yellow pubescence and tomentum forming five stripes *. Abdomat punctate, nearly bare, somewhat shining black. 1st segment black ; 2ud testaceous, with whitish tomentum, hind border with a black band widened in middle ; 3rd black with a nearly straight band of white tomentum ; 4th with a similar band which is a little bent in the middle f ; 5th all black ; incisions of segments white. Venter bare ; first three segments tawny, last two black. Legs: femora black, with W'hite pubescence ; front and middle pairs with tawny knees ; hind pair a little curved ; tibiae tawny, fore pair yellow at base, hind pair with a black median ring ; tarsi tawny. Wings a little yellowish, a short appendix on inner side of outer margin of 1st posterior cell, [3rd vein very looped.] " Indes Orientales." Length, 12 mm. Type in Paris Museum. The species requires absolute con- firmation as Indian. Genus MALLOTA, Meig. Mallota, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. iii, p. 377 (1822). Imatisma, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 67 (1842). ZettersteiUia, llondani, Nuov. AnuaL See. Nat. Bologna, (2) ii, p. 452 (1844). * Judging from Macqiiart's figure, the dorsum of the thorax is better described as yellowish with four longitudinal black stripes. t In the figure, the pale bands on the 3rd and 4th segments are shown distinctly angulate, especially that on the 4th, which in the middle nearly reaches the anterior margin of the segment, with its two ends nearly on the hind margin. MALLOTA. 219 Gexottpe, Syrjihus fuciformis, Fabr., by designation of Kondani, loc. cit. Allied to Merodon, but differing in the absence of any process below the bind femora, thongb a clump of bristles is present. Atiteume with :3rd joint deeper than long, placed on a prominence; face cut. away considerably below this ; central knob and upper mouth-edge moderately productKl. Eyes bare or hairy, geneivally coi\tiguous in d" in bare-eyed species, rather widely separated m forms with pubescent eyes." Abdomen short and rounded, or rather long with nearly parallel sides. Lei/gKs); tip ratlier pointed; 3rd vein deeply looped downward ; anterior cross-vein just beyond middle ot discal cell, oblique, curved. Range. The only two known species are Oriental. 17"). Axona cyanea, Bnin. (PI. \ , tig. 10.) A.vona cyanea, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 272 (191.j). S 2 ■ Head set closely on thorax. Eyes in S touching for a considerable space, chocolate-brown, upper facets distinctly larger than lower ones. Vertical triangle small, black, svith a little black pubescence ; ocelli red. Froiis rather prominent, brilliantly shining violet, with soft black hairs. Face brilliantly shining violet, distinctly prominent, cut away below anteniife and pro- duced over mouth-opening, provided on each side of the latter with a small blunt point. Mouth- parts concealed, blackish. Antennse blackish-brown, 1st and 2nd joints short, normal, with a few short bristles, 3rd rounded, dull, with basal brownish- yellow bare arista (the latter under high microscopic power being seen to benr a few pale hairs towards the base). Occiput black, hind border of eyes narrowly margined with grey tomentum. In $ , head nearly similar to that of cJ , the frons being one-fourth the width of the head, barely wider at level of antennae ; face moderately projecting, with two equal-sized bnmps, not extending l)eyond the antenual protuberance ; both frons and face are shining violet-blue. Ihora.v, scutelluni and abdonien shining violet-blue, all covered with short stiff black hairs. A'^enter dark with bla'-k i)ubescence. LegshXaak with violet-blue tinge; hind femora rather flattened and considerably deepened until just before the tip; no liristles or spines are obvious. Jlind tibiae barely curved and with a slight peculiar thickening in the middle. All the legs with short soft black ])ubescence, tarsi with a little goldon-brown pubescence on under side ; claw^s and pulvilli well developed. Wings clear, rather jjointed, iiiargiiuil cell almost closed on the border; anterior cross-vein immediatelv beyond th« exact middle of the discal cell, slightly sloping; 6th longitudinal (anal) vein continued almost to the wing-margin, nearlv straight. Alulae large, thoracic squanue rather large, dirty white with lather thick dark fringr ; halteres very small, brii^lil velloa-. Length, ^ I mm. Described tVom a single perfei-t J, Singla, Djrplinij. Api-il 224 SYEPHiD.*:. 1913, and a $ from the Darjiling District, June 1913; both specimens in the Indian Museum. A further $ from above Tura, 3900 ft., viii. 1917 {Kemp). This species has very much the appearance of a large CaUipliora. Tlie head, thorax and abdomen are closely applied to one another, answering to Walker's expression "body subfusiform " ; in his " wings acute " is another point of resemblance, and in the purplish-blue colour of the only species previously known, chnlcopyga, Wied., lies a final point of similarity with A. cyanea. Genus KORINCHIA, Edw. Korinchia, F. W. Edwards, Journ. Fed. Malay States Mus. viii, p. 39 (1919). GrENOTYPE, K. Jclossi, Edw., op, cit., p. 40*. Allied to Eristalis. Eyes bare, toucinng for a short space in S , rather narrowly .separated iji $ . Antennae set on a prominent tubercle, arista bare. Face consideral)ly hollowed out below antennte. Scutellum large, with very distinct, flattened margin. "Wings entirely covered with a microscopic pubescence; marginal cell closed as in Eristalis. The genus differs from Eristalis as follow s : — Head noticeably flatter ; abdomen more elongate ; hind femora but little thickened, without any trace of a tubercle on the under side near the tip ; the wings have the anal vein dis- tinctly recurrent at the tip, as in Milesia, and the loop of the 3rd vein projects diagonally downwards and outwards, while the last section of the 4th vein is rather noticeably curved outw^ards. Mange. Sumatra, Java, Siam, Southern India. Life-history unknown. 176. Korinchia rufa, Herve-Bazin. Korinchia rufa, Herve-Bazin, Bull. Soc. Eiit. France, p. 122 (1922). (S . Head: eyes uniformly black, touching for a short distance only; vertical triangle elongate, straight, brown, with reddish dust and some black hairs. Face pale brown with reddish dust ; a semicircular spot above the antennae, the facial bump, tip of mouth-opening and a median facial stripe from the lower side of the eves to the mouth-opening, are shining brown, j^utennal elevation large and prominent, with front margin pale; facial bump small but obvious, rounded, distinct from upper margin of mouth ; proboscis thick, dark brown. Antennae brown ; 1st and 2nd joints shining, with some black hairs, 3rd almost rounded, dull, with a light reddish dust ; arista long, reddish. Front part * By an oversifjlit the type-species was r.ot notilied. Mr. Edwards hiforijis le that it is K. Jdosai. KORINCUIA. 225 oE head rather bare, hiiulei' part brownish with short pubescence above, and longer and more i-eddish pubescence below. Occiput with reddish dust. Thorax slightly shining brown, with shining reddish pubescence, which is short on the disc and longer towards the sides ; a tuft of long, sliaggy, almost golden-red hairs on the supra-alar and post-alar calli. There are three indefinite, nearly golden-reil, dust-bands; 1st on anterior margin; 2nd before suture, quite obvious towards sides, nearly absent in middle ; 3rd rather indistinct, situated on hind margin. Ventral surface brown with redtlisli-grey dust atul pubescence. Scutellum wholly red, hardly darkened at extreme base, weakly Init obviously margined; scutellar pubescence entirely shining red. AJidomen long, broad, depressed, General colour brown, slightly shining, Fig. ii.—Koi-iiichia rufa, Ilerve-Bazin, $. with reddish dust. 1st segment pale brown, blackish at base with fine, short, reddish pubescence. 2nd segment slightly darker, especially in the median line, with an obscure brown band afc the base, interrupted in the miiklle, and not reaciiing the sides ; an oval black spot on each hind corner; pubescence reddish, short and dejjressed on disc, longer towards sides, erect, long and shaggy on anterior corners. 3rd and -Ith segments dark brown, nearfv black in the middle, with depressed reddish pubescence, longer at sides ; an oval blackish spot of black pubescence on each hind corner. llypopygium large, blackish-brown, with brown pubescencf^. Venter dark shining brown, margins of segments pale. Lc0, 61.'): but see also pp. 31, 248 of this present volume. q2 228 SYRPHIM5, 6. Proboscis very slendei*, euormously pro- duced, twice as long as the very pro- duced epistome ; latter 2 to 3 times as long as width of eyes in profile; vena- [p. 276. tion distinctly abnormal Lycastbis, Walk., Proboscis normal, never conspicuously slender nor extremely elongate; epi- stome very considerably produced (like [p. 280.. that of Rhim/ia) ; venation normal. . . , Ceiorrhina, Meig., 7. Densely pubescent species Braohypalpus, Macq., Inconspicuously pubescent species 8. [p. 275. 8. Thorax with conspicuous yellow markings [et Serv., p. 261. apart from those on humeri Temnostoma, St. Farg. Thorax without yellow markings ; or at most on humeri only 9. 9. Face not cut away below antennae; outer side of 1st posterior cell distinctly angled Eumerus, Meig., p. 248.. Face more or less distinctly cut away below antennae ; outer side of 1st pos- terior cell not angled as in Eumerus . . 10. 10. Face subcarinate ; hind femora con- [Serv., p. 244. spicuously incrassate Sy'RITTA, St. Farg. et Face not carinate ; hind femora much less conspicuously incrassate Xylota, Meig., p. 231. Genus MYIOLEPTA, Neivm. Myolepta, Newman, Ent. Mag. v, p. 373 (1838). Xylotccja, Rondani, Nuov. Annal. Sci. Nat. Bologna, (2) ii, p. 457 (1844). Leptomyid, Walker, Ins. Brit., Dipt, i, p. 254 (1851). XUoteju, Ilondaui, Archiv. Zooh iii {sep.), p. 9 (1863). Genotype, Musca luteola, Gmel., by original designation. Head short and broad, ratlier broader than tliorax ; eyes bare, contiguous in J for a considerable space, not very widely sepa- rated in 2 ; ^i^c^ hollowed below antennae, facial knob conspicuous in c5 ) the face retreating again below it before being produced over the mouth ; in § , the central knob absent, but the lower production of the face is somewhat cut away on its distal extremity*. Antennae with 3rd joint longer than broad, the nearly basal arista bare. Thorax rather strong and arched, narrower in front ; scutellum marginate behind ; both pubes- cent, without bristly hairs. Abdomen as broad as thorax, ovate. Legs rather strong, femora thickened towards tip, serrate below, especially hind pair, without any obvious tooth ; all tibiae slightly curved. Wings fairly normal in venation ; marginal cell widely open, 3rd vein nearly straight, anterior cross-vein a little before * See Verrall, Brit. Flies, Syrphidte, p. 573, tJg. 400, J, 401, ?, heads in profile. MVtOLEPTA. 229 middle of diseal cell, 1st posterior cell closed a little before wing- border, tlie last section of the 4th vein nearly straight for its apical three-fourths, Life-historij. A European species has been bred from decaying poplar and maple trees. Lundbeck (Dipt. Danica, v, pp. 486-7, ]916) considers that the larvse probably feed on the decaying substance in which they live, and that the insect hibernates in the larval stage. Range. Europe, India, North America, Chili. A very restricted genus. 177. Myiolepta himalayana, Brun. 31yiolepta honcdai/ana, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 233, pi. xiii, "tig. 12, head iu profile, fig. 13, wing (1915). cJ 2 . Head : c? , eyes bare ; contiguous for only a short space, leaving a rather small vertical triangle, which is shining black, with some yellowish-grey hairs. Sides of frons narrowly grey- dusted, whole of upper part of face also, that is to say, tlie part immediately below the rather conspicuously produced antennal prominence, which latter is shining black, its extreme frontal ■edge narrowly orange. Facial bump very large and conspicuous, Fig. -iG.—Mi/iolepfa himalayana, Brun., bead in profile. central knob distinct, not cut away below (in pro(ile), but mouth- opening less projecting; whole protuberance shining black. L^wer sides of face with a little grey dust, and a few stiff long hairs near lower corners of e3'es. Antennal third joint rounded, the whole organ pale vinaceous, with a hoary bloom, arista hare, orange at base. Back of head shining black, ash-grey behind lower part of eyes, where it is considerably developed, and bearing there a fringe of yellowish hairs. An arc of short bristly brownish-bla(;k hairs behind the vertex. In $ , frons, at level of 230 STKPHID^. anteunal prominence, one-third width of head; frons and face mainly shining hlack, but narrowly grey-dusted at sides, and with a little stripe of very short greyish pubescence along sides from cheeks to mouth-opening. A little grey hair in front of lower corner of eyes as in c? . Eye-margins present in both sexes as in Chilosia. Thorax and scutellum aeneous-black, with short yellowish-grey pubescence ; anterior margin of dorsum, including humeri, a little ash-greyish. A fringe of long yellowish -grey wavy hairs placed transversely in front of the wings. Abdomen blackish ; 2ud segment nearly wholly orange-reddish, the colour encroaching on base of 3rd segment, whilst in the 2 the posterior border is also reddish. Extreme tip of abdomen orange-red. Whole abdomen with shoi't greyish pubescence, which is a little longer at the sides. Venter blackisli, with grey pubescence, dull orange-reddish for a considerable space about the 2nd segment. Legs simple but somewhat strong, the femora having small spines below, towards the tips; black, with fairly dense greyish pubescence. Trochanters, base and tips of tibiae, orange-yellow ; under side of hind tarsi (of which the metatarsus is distinctly though not greatly enlarged) brownish-yellow, upper side of 2nd and 3rd joints brown in J . In cJ , first three joints of middle tarsi orange-yellow, as is the whole middle tarsus in the 5 . Exact limits of pale colour in tarsi probably variable. Wings pale yellowish-grey, stigma yellowish, subcostal cell, up to the stigma, brownish ; a barely obvious suffusion immediately before and below the stigma. Halteres pale orange. Length. 7-8 mm. Described from a S and a 5 in the Indian Museum from Matiana, Simla District (Dr. Annandale). It has been rather difficult to place the present species generi- cally in a satisfactory manner. It has every appearance of a Chilosia, even to the eye-margins, which are quite as distinct as in many species of that genus. But Chilosia should have no trace of pale markings, so that the almost wholly orange-red 2nd abdominal segment would exclude the present species from that genus. If it be regarded as belonging to the SYRPniNiE, it works down by Verrall's table of genera to Chrysochlamys, a genus which it is totally unlike in facies, in colour, in the shape of the closed 1st posterior cell and in the absence of the thoracic and scutellar bristly hairs. If the exact position of the anterior cross-vein is not regarded as an absolute chai-acter (and Verrall doubted its inviolability), the species under review becomes a Myiolepta, a genus which Verrall places in the Milesiin^, considering its affinities with Tropidia to be greater than those \\'ith the SYEPHi:*iE. He speaks of the genus as of " rather doubtful location." He says the femora are all swollen, and serrate near the tips below, but as Schiner gives the femora as simply "rather thickened" and there seems to be no further discrepancy, the present species is placed here. XYLOTA, 231 Genus XYLOTA, Melg* Xylota, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. iii, p. 211 (1822). lieliophilus, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 273 (1803). JEumerof, Meigeu, loc. cit. Eumerus, Meigen, Klass. i, p. xx (1804). Micntptoma, Westwood, Introd. Class. Ins. ii, Synops., p. 136 (1840). Gexotype, Musca segnis, L., by designation of Curtis, Brit. Eut., 1832. Head generally slightly broader thau thorax ; eyes bare, con- tiguous in 6 , widely separated in $ ; face hollowed below the moderate aiitennal prominence, upper mouth-edge distinctly produced, central knob absent ; antennae with 3rd joint rather large, round or oval, arista bare, sub-basal. Thorax oblong, fairly arched, aeneous ; scutelium ooncolorous ; both finely pubesceut. Abdomen narrower and much longer than thorax, rather flat, with nearly parallel sides. Legs strong; hind femora more or less thickened or lengthened, generally serrulate below; hind trochanters of c? often with a process or spine below ; hind tibia? more or less curved, sometimes ending in a distinct spur. JTrngs with the venation of the Milesiix.e ; marginal cell open ; 3rd vein nearly straight; anterior cross-vein at or beyond middle of discal cell, very oblique. Life-history. The earlier stages of some European species are fairly well known, the larvae living in rotting wood. See Lundbeck, Diptera Danica, v, p. 509 (191G). Mange. Europe, Xorth-East Asia, Orient, Xorth and South America, Australia. Table of Species. 1. Wings witli about apical half blackish .... dimidiata, s^. w.,^.'2Z2. Wiugs uniformly greyish or yellowish-grey . 2. 2. Femora mainly or wliolly orange ; anterior pairs always wliolly so 3. Femora mainly or wholly black 6. _ [p. 233. 3. Hind femora black except broadly at tip . . cupreiventris, sp. n., Hind femora orange, with a broad black median ring, and the tip black aumdata, Bruu., p. 234. Hind femora almost entirely orange 4. 4. Abdomen witli definite, yellow spots ornafa, Brun., p. 23G. Abdomen without detinite spots '"3. 5. Hind fi'niora almost wlioily orange, a blackisli median streak above; anlounal prominence shorter ; thorax with anterior part bearing golden-yellow jiubescence which is absent in the median line, giving the impression of a single longitudinal dark stripe ; more robust species ; abdomen _ [p- -'J' violet-tinged assametm's, Brun., * For a table of the Oriental speciea, seo Urunetti, Rec. liul. ilus. ii, p. 7U (1908). 232 sippniD.i:. Hind femora oranjife ; extreme tips black, and a median black broad ring, sometimes in- complete on inner and under side: antennol prominence longer; thorax with two Aery distinct stripes of golden pubescence ; less robust species ; abdomen blackish-ajueous with dull steel tinge . .- histriata, Brun., p. 238. 6. Thorax without trace of dorsal stripes of whitish or yellowish pubescence; Cbind tibiae bright jellow on more than basal half) mirsei, sp. n., p. 240. Thorax with two obvious dorsal stripes of pale pubescence, always visible from behind 7. 7. Body mainly cupreous, thorax distinctly so ; 2nd and 3rd abdominal segments shining brownish-orange, 4th aeneous ; (hind tibiae [p. 239. very curved) mironitens, Brun., Body black, with or without a deep blue or violet tinge 8. [p. 240. 8. Head not descending below eyes in profile . carhonaria, sp. n., Head very distinctly descending below eyes in profile 9. 9. Length 10 mm. ; hind femora normal .... ciiprina, Big., p. 241. Length 15 mm. ; hind femora laterally com- pressed on apical half peniciUata^ sp. n., p. 242. One other species, cequalis, Walk. (p. 243), requires confirmation as Indian. It was described originally from tlie " East Indies." M. o'tJiusa, Walk., is a Syrphine, and as the abdomen was missing at the time o£ description the name may well be dropped. 178. Xylota dimidiata, sp. nov. 2 . Hmd : frons at vertex one-fifth tiie width of the head, widening gradually to nearly one-third at level of antennae; aeneous with a slight greeji and cupreous tinge and short sparse pale yellow pubescence. Aiitennal prominence black, extreme tip orange ; antennae black, base of 3rd joint narrowly, and the arista, orange. Face yellowish, blackish along eye-margins with a white shimmer ; lower part of head and the proboscis black ; occiput black, margin grey-tomentose, practically destitute of pubescence. Thorax dull black, closely punctate, with a slight violet tinge ; a whitish-tomentose, shorr, elongate spot on anterior margin, placed on inner side of each humerus. Suture distinct, though not com- plete, with short \^■llite pubescence at ends and yellow pubescence towards centre, where it spreads out a little but is sharply interrupted in the median line. Sides of thorax dull blackish ; a little white tomentum on sternopleuras. Scutellum dull black. Pubescence of thorax and scutellum black, nucroscopic. Abdomen shining cupreous with soft, very short, white pubescence, which is most obvious on 4th segment and at sides of abdomen ; traces o£ a violet transverse band behind middle of 3rd segment; venter XILOTA. 233 much as dorsum. Leris: coxds black with a little white pubes- cence; rest of legs brownish-orange with a little white pubescence, which is a little longer on the back of the middle femora. Hind femora Mith a large black transverse spot btdow in centre, extending partly up each side and reaching on under side nearly from base to tip ; a few short spines below on apical half. Apical third of hind tibise black ; anterior tarsi, except metatarsi, and hind tarsi wholly, black ; latter with yellow pubescence below. Wings clear; apical liall: blackish anteriorly, the colour rathei" paler posteriorly and sharply demarcated across middle of wing in a line with bases of marginal and discal cells ; costal cell clear to tip ; halteres brownish-orange. Lengt/i, 10 mm. Described from a unique $ from the Pusa collection, from Duugagah, 8000 ft., Hazava District, 21-24. v. 1915 {Fletcher). Type sent to British Museum. SomeAvhat like assrimensis, but the diirk apical half of the wing, the conspicnoiis black streak below the hind femora, and the j^ellow pubesc-ence along the middle of the suture will easily distinguish dimldiata. 179. Xylota cupreiventris, sp. no v. 5 . Head : frons at vertex one-sixth the width of head, slightly broadening to level of antennae ; at vertex shining black, seneous below, with some yellowish-grey dust and bright yellow pubescence. Antennal prominence black above and at sides, shining, bare; its lower side and the face wholly covered with yellowish-grey dust ; cheeks and lower part of head bare, shining, dark brownish-black; proboscis similar. Antenn® rather dark brown ; arista orange, apical part black. Occiput with yellowish- grey dust and rather long soft white ])ubescence on lower part, and short yellow pubescence behind vertex. Thorax cupreous- violet ; suture rather prominent, with an extremely narrow whitish margin for some distance from sides. Dorsum with dense short orange-yellow pubescence, which in front or side view appears continuous, but when viewed from behind seems to show a median narrow s])ace devoid of pubescence except for an absolutely middle line of extremely fine yellow pubescence. Sides of thorax blackish, a little whitish ])ubescence here and there, yellow on hinder side of mesopleura. Scutellum concolorous, with dense short yellow ])ubegcence and a few isolated much longer hairs towards hind margin. Abdomen brilliantly cupreous when viewed from above, but deep shining violet-black when viewed from behind, with very short dense golden-yellow pubescence, which is, however, not at all conspicuous but is slightly longer and more obvious towards tip of abdomen. 2nd segment with an indistinct black median stripe, and .'-ird segment with a small indistinct spot in centre, both only visible if viewed from certain directions. Venter dark ■with a cupreous tinge and a little pale pubescence. Legs : coxae 234 SYRPHID^. and liind femora black, except tips of the latter, which are broadly yellow; rest of legs yellow; middle femora a little darker indefinitely at base and tip ; hind tibiae dark shining brown, paler at base ; hind tarsi a little browner above at base. Pubescence of anterior legs very short, whitish ; longest on hinder side of middle femora. Hind legs with short yellowish or whitish pubescence. Hind femora moderately and ratlier uniformly thickened and dis- tinctly compressed on inner and outer sides at tip, with a number of short spines in a double row below near tip. Winc/s very pale grey; stigma just perceptibly yellowish: halteres yellowish; squamae dirty white, margin brownish-yellow with long dark brown fringe. Length, 13 mm. Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Siireil, Darjihng District, 5000 ft., iv. or v, 1917 (A'ejjy)). A very beau- tiful cupreous species with deep violet reflections and somewhat resembling assame7isis. 180. Xylota anmilata, Bmn. Xylota annuhita, Brimetti, Rec. liid. Miis. ix, p. 270, pi. xiv, ligs. 11,15 (1913. S $ . Head : S , eyes contiguous for half the distance from the black vertex to the face ; frons a small ti-iaugle with very short grey pubescence below the space occupied by the reddish ocelli. I'ace black on upper part, yellow on lower part, wholly covered with yellow tomentum, except for the shining black upper side of the antennal prominence. Antenna) rather dark brown, shining, Fig. 47. — Xylota annulata, Bruu., abdomen. bare, a few short bristles on basal segments. Mouth-parts blackish- brown. Occiput blackish, a little sparse yellowish-grey hair behind the eye-margins. In $ , frons less than one-fifth the width of head at vertex, widening distinctly down to antennae, wholly black, with a little very short bright yellow pubescence which may (apparently) extend over the whole frons except perhaps towards XYLOTA. 235 the vertex. Thorax ctneous, with a little hronze reflection when viewed from certain angles; two median well-separated stripes of minute bright golden-yellow hairs from anterior margin nearly to scutelliim ; a little similar hair on shoulders, on hind corners of dorsum and at each end of the suture ; shoulders a little yellowish. Sides of thorax black, mesopleura yellowish-tinged with a little bright yellow hair. Scutellum dull jeneous-black, margin with a little very short yellow pubescence. Abdomen: 1st segment mainly yellowish, rest of dorsum black ; on each side of 2ik1 and 3rd segments a rather vague, subtriangular or semicircular, yellow, almost translucent, spot, extending nearly the length of the side margin, spreading inwaixls until only a rather narrow median black intervening space is left. 4th segment in S and 5 sliining aeneous, brighter in § (? individual variation) ; 5th segment in (S yellow ; both 4th and 5th segments in both sexes with a little Fig. 48. — Xijlota annulata, Bruu., bind leg. short bright yellow pubescence, of which there is also a little at the basal angles of the abdomen. The whole yellow part of the dorsum with minute yellow pubescence, of which a little occurs on the venter. Lerjs bright yellow, hind trochanters without process ; hind femora exceedingly incrassated (as in Syritta), with a broad black median band, widest on upper side, and a narrow black apical band ; below near tip bluntly carinate and enlarg^'d, with a ninnber of short blnck spines of difierent lengths ; hind tibiae well curved, entirely black; hind tarsi and tips of anterior pairs black. Winr/s pale grey, anterior cross-vein just beyond middle of discal cell and dislinctly sloping; stigma pale yellow, halteres yellow, squanne yellow with vellow fringe, Lenf/(h, 1 1 mm. Described from a c? from Singla, iv. 1!)13, and a 2 from Darjiling, 1000-3000 ft., v. 1912. Another specimen from above Tura, 3500-3000 ft., 15.viii-30. viii. ]9\7 (Kemp). The hind femora are much more incrassated than is normal in Xylota, but the species fits into this genus better than elsewhere. It might be placed in Syritta, to which its general resemblance is striking, but for the position of the anterior cross-vein. Types in Indian Museum. 236 SYRPniDJE. 181. Xylota oriiata, £run. Merodon ornatus, Brunetti, liec. Ind. Mas. xi, p. 232, pi. xiii, fig-. 11, abdomen (1915). S . Head : vertex wholly occupied by a moderately elevated feneous-blaek tubercle, bearing the three reddish ocelli. Frontal triangle small, black, with a little yellowish-grey tomentum. Eyes coutiguous for barely one-third of their total height, as viewed from in front. Whole under side of head yellowish, with wiiitish reflections, except the projecting face, which is sliining black ; the oral margin verj-- narrowly reddish-brown. Autenme pale brownish-yellow, the 1st joint the darkest, the 3rd with whitish dust and a pale yellowish, basal, bare arista. Proboscis blackish. Back of head a^neous-black, the upper ocular orbit with short yellow hair, the outer and lower ocular orbits with whitish hair. Thorax : dorsum dull reneous-black, mainly covered with short yellowish hair, which however takes a golden-brown hue where it forms two moderately broad dorsal stripes ; the yellow hair is a little more prominent below the broadly whitish shoulders, beliind > A ^ '^ '-> 3 Vj^^j^ilF ,';S^ ftjj , jLii^^^Y" glh, I'A mm. Described from one 5 in the Indian Museum collection, from Kohima, Assam. 238 SIRPHIDiE. 183. Xylota bistriata, Bnm. (PI. V, fig. 13.) Xylota bistriata, Brauetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xi, p, 235 (1915). S ? • Head : eyes in S practically contiguous for about lower third of distance from vertex to base of frons. Width of vertex about one-eighth tliat of head, vertex blackish-seneous with a little pale hair, tlie siwall ocelli distinct, reddish. Eyes in $ separated by a frons about one-eighth the breadth of the head, widening a little at base of antennae. Face and frons blackish, covered with yellowish-white tomentum ; antennae covered with 3'ellowish-grey dust ; arista black, base brownish-yellow. Occiput blackish-grey, with whitish dust ; some bright yellow short hairs along top of head, intermixed behind vertex with black ones. Ocular orbit with a fringe of short white hairs which are longest on under side of head. Thorax : dorsum greenish-aeneous, with short and rather thick bright yellow pubescence. A pair of well- separated pale median longitudinal stripes bearing short bright yellow hairs, becoming indistinct behind but just attaining the scutellum, which latter is also greenish-aeneous with short yellow pubescence and a fringe of short yellow hairs below hind margin. Sides of thorax blackish-aeneous, nearly bare; sternopleura and mesopleura with agre}' tinge and bearing some short j'ellow pubes- cence. Humeri apparently bare ; but if viewed from behind they are seen to bear some short yellowpubescence. Abdomen: blackish- aeneous with a dull steel tinge, whicli on the 2nd segment in the $ may occasionally show, seen from behind, a pale violet reflection ; basal segment a little darker; on hind margin of both 2nd and 3rd segments a large dull black (seen from behind) subtriangular spot, its apex reaching nearly to the base on the 2nd segment, but only to the middle on the 3rd segment. Dorsum of abdomen with microscopic dark hairs, sides with short pubescence, which is longer towards the base and is yellowish in the J and white in the $ . Genitalia in r^ globular, of a dull steel colour, with some yellow hairs ; ovipositor brownish-yellow. Legs : coxae aeneous, grej^-dusted ; hind pair with soft pale hair below. Anterior legs yellowish with short concolorous pubescence, which is longest on inner side of middle tibia> ; tips of middle femora narrowly brown. Anterior tibiae longitudinally streaked irregu- larly with brown on inner and outer sides, last tarsal joint brown. Hind femora considerably incrassate, brownish-yellow with a broad blackish -brown median band, sometimes incomplete on inner or under side, and the tips dark brown ; hind trochanters with a moderately long distinct black spine ; hind femora with an outer row of 6 to 8 black spines of moderate size on under side, gradually diminishing in length distally, and also at the tip an inner row of about four shorter ones of uniform length ; with a little long soft pale yellow hair on middle of under side ; remainder of hind femora with very short yellow pubescence, which is longest about the middle on the outer side. Hind tibiae XYLOTA. 239 considerably curved, ^yellow, with j^ellow pubescence, inner side mainly black ; hind tarsi blackisti-browu with pale yellow pubescence; golden-brown minute pubescence below. Wings pale grey ; subcostal cell pale yellow ; halteres pale lemou-yellow ; anterior cross-vein barely beyond middle of discal cell. Lenr/th, 11-13 mm. Described from 3 J c? and 3 $ 5 in perfect condition in the Indian Museum, from Parambiluilam, Cochin, 1700-3200 ft., 16-24. ix. 1914 (Gniveh/)- Talewadi, 3-10. x. 1916, and Castle Rock, 11-26. X. 1916, both X. Ivanar.i District (Kemp) ; KoUur Ghat, S. Kanara District. 3000 ft., 18-21. ix. 1913 ; iV. Coorg, IS. India, 29. v. 191S, on coffee flowers, " I. R. No. 54 " (Nnvcome). 184. Xylota auronitens, Bran. (PI. V, fig. 12.) Xylota auronitens, Bruuetti, Eec. lud. Mus. ii, p. 78 (1908). c5" . Head: vertex shining black, a few yellow hairs immediately above junction of eyes, which are contiguous for only half the ■distance from the frontal prominence to the crown of the head ; facets small, of uniform size, except for being a little larger where the eyes touch ; ocelli distinct, no ocellar prominence ; f rous shining blue-black, grey-dusted round the margins, with lower edge immediately above the antenna?, tawny ; cheeks and lower part of face blackish, with a brownish-bhie tinge, with whitish reflections in certain lights. Antennae reddish-brown, 3rd joint lighter, whitish-dusted; arista reddish-brown. Mouth and proboscis brown. Back of head grey, encompassed by a fringe of gold-yellow hair, which is shortest behind the upper corners of the eyes. Thorax : dorsum golden-brassy, with gold-yellow hairs, which are absent in the centre, giving an appearance, seen from behind, of a dark dorsal stripe. Humeral calli bluish-black with a few yellow hairs. Sides of thorax blackish, shining, with some scattei'ed yellow hairs. Mesopleura, pteropleura and sternopleura aeneous-grey, shining, with yellow hairs. Metanotum ioneous, bare. Scutellum brassy-gold, with rather close, moderately short, yellow hair. AbJomen: 1st segment aeneous, with a slight brassy tinge ; 2nd, tawny-brown, shining, posterior border a little blackish, the colour extending indeliuitely forward in the centre as a ])arri:d dorsal stripe ; 3rtl, tawny-brown, shining, posterior part blackish, this colour widest in the centre ; 4th, aeneous- shining, reddish-brown towards posterior border ; tip of abdomen reddish-brown. \'enter red-brown, black at base. The Avhole abdomen — dorsum, sides and venter — is covered with short, soft yellow hair. Legs : coxoj shining ajneous-black, hind pair with a slender spur, sides with yellow hair; femora iciii^ous, with soft yellow hair on upper and under sides, extreme tips tawny ; hind pair with a long row of distinct, fairly large, spines on outer under side, and a second, inner row of four similar spines ; tibiio and tarsi bright tawny with yellowish pubescence, apical lialf of 240 SYEPiiiD.i;. tibire blackish, especially in fore and hiud pair, the fore tibice bearing a fringe of long yellow hair on tlieir inner sides. Winr/s pale grey, mediastinal cell uniformly brownish-yellow; no distinct stigma. Halteres bright yellowish-red. Tegulse whitish-grey. Lewjth, 12 mm. Described from a single c? in good condition in the Indian Museum collection from Margherita. This species must be very near nifjrocenescens, Rond., but liis description of the abdomen does not quite agree, and he savs that the antenna? are black, whereas in auronitens they are bright reddish-brown. 185. Xylota nursei, sp. nov. gs dark tawny or pitchy, their thighs, shanks, and the first joints of the feet thickly fringed witli black hairs ; wings colourless ; wing-ribs, veins, and poisers tawny. "Length of the body G lines; of the wings 12 lines. East Indies." This species requires confirmation as truly Indian; the ^y^>« is not to be found, nor has the species been recorded since its ■description. b2 244 • SYRPHID^. Genus SYEITTA, St. Farcj. et Sew. * Syrilta, St. Fargeau & Serville, Encycl. Meth. x, p. 888 (1825). Coprma, Zetterstedt, Ins. Lapp., Dipt., p. 584 (1838). Xi/luta, VVestwood (nee Meigen), Introd. ii, Syuops., p. 130 (1840). Planes, Rondani, Archiv. Zool. iii («e/?.), p. 9 (1863). Genotype, Musca p'qnens^ L., by original designation. Closely allied to Xylota, from which it is distinguished by the anterior cro.«s-vein being placed at the n)iddle of the discal cell and perfectly upright. Face with a central keel. iSecond segment of abdomen projecting backwards at the sides, bearing a peculiar fringe of hairs at its most produced portion. Hind femora extremely incrassated, much more so than in Xijlota^, with short rigid spines below and often with characteristic markings. Life-lintory. The larva of S. pipiens, L., lives in horse- or cow- dung : the early stages of this species have been known for a long period (see Lundbeek, Dipt. Danica, v, p. 528, 1916). Terry (Proc. Hawaiian Ent. Soc. ii, p. 96, 1910) describes and illustrates the life-cycle of S. oceanica, Macquart ; oviposition in this species was observed to occur under the loose bark of a twig lying among rotting fruit and other decaying vegetable matter, and the larvae fed on a similar medium. Range. Practically \\orld-wide, tlie insects occurring almost anywhere amongst flowers and leaves, in hedges and fields ; the (5 d" are frequently seen hovering. The exact number of species of Sip-itta in the East is a moot point, but with a few exceptions all the numerous specimens examined by me may be embraced by three forms, which may tentatively be regarded as of specific rank, and may be separated thus : — Table of Species. 1. Hind femora with a moderately narrow complete orange ring at base ; a more or less iucomplt^e ring or sti'eak of varying width on under side near middle. Abdominal spots in c5' on L'nd and 3rd segments definitely separated by a moderately wide median black stripe jnpiens, L., p. 245. 2. Hind femora normally wholly black, but some- times very narrowly pale at extreme tip, and occasionally just perceptibly so at extreme base ; frequently with upper side practically wholly black, and basal half (or thereabouts) below brownish or orange ; with or without an additional streak at middle of under side (as in piplens). Abdominal spots in S on 2nd and 3rd segments normally united to form two com- plete bands, or at most the dividing black line is verv narrow or incomplete. (In specimens with entirely black femora the abdominal spots ■ [p. 246. are mcne widely separated.) orientalis, Macq., * For preliminary notes on Oriental species, see JBruuetti, Eec. Ind. Mas. i, p. 77 (1908). SYRITTA. 2-15 S. UiSering from orientalis only in tlie orange or pale browui-^li basal one-third to two-thirds of hind femora, tlie rest of which are black. Ab- dominal spots on 2nd and Srd seg-meuts in J often forming two unbroken bands ; when in the form of spots, the dividing black line much [P- ^'^'^ narrower than in pipiens riijifacies, liig-, In the 5 9 of all the species the abdominal spots are always more definitely separated than in the 6 6 • Dr. de Meijere ranks riififacies as synonymous with orientalis, and I have seen more than one intermediate specimen ; but if tliese two are considered a single species, then it is probable that all the forms recorded from theEast may be simply synonyms or varieties ol pipiens. /S". amhoi- nensis may possibly be distinct through the alleged dark rings on the anterior legs, but traces of such rings have been recorded in specimens of both j^U^^*^^^^ ^'^^ orientalis. S. luteinervis, de Meij., rests, as a species, wholly on the paleness of its venation. 190. Syritta pipiens, L. (PI. Y, figs. 14, 15.) Musca pipiens, LinnfBus, Syst. Nat., Ed. x, p. 594 (1758). Syritta pipiens, auctt. ; Verrall, Brit. Flies, viii, p. 612, figs. 41b, 417 ^1901). Enmerus indicus, Wiedemann, Anal. Ent. t). 33 (1824). Jiijlota indica, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 103 (1830). Xyluta 2)roxima, Say, Amer. Entom. i, p. 16, pi. viii, fig. 3 (1824). S $ . Head: vertical triangle elongate, blackish round the ocelli, lower part yellow- dusted, the whole with pale hairs; frontal triangle small, hardly produced, bare, dusted with yellowish- white. Eves in S contiguous for a moderate space, front facets larger than others ; frons in $ one-sixth width of head, linear above, slightly widening below, vertex shining black, below this a yellowish-white dust-spot, sometimes divided into tw^o, below this again a bare shining black spot, thence dusted with yellowish- white to antt-nnse, but the facial dust often white; a httle whitish or pale vellowish pubescence near the eyes. Antennre orange, sometimes brownish in $ , arista blackish, bare. Occiput black, \\ith a narrow white tomentose margin; this latter dis- appears in the neighl'ourliood of the vertex except for two short spaces whicli stand out rather conspicuously as elongate small white post-vertical spots. Thorax (\n\\ black; humeri and sides of dorsum as far as suture, and pleura;, wholly yeUowish- or whitish-grev ; traces of two short whitish stripes on anterior margin of dorsum ; posterior calli greyish. Pubescence very short aiursparse, adpressed, pale. Scutelluin flat on disc, slightly mar- gined at the tip, which bears a few tiny, inconspicuous bristles. Ahdomen dull black, Ist segment grey at sides; 2nd with a large yellowish spot on each side ; these spots have their inner sides C(mvex, and extend forward a little on tlie anterior corners, where the segment itself is much produced, and where it has nt its junction with the Ist segment a fan-shaped bunch ot 246 SYRPHIDJ3, outstanding white hairs ; hind mai'gin of segment black. 3rd segment with a similar pair of spots, but they are usually smaller and are more or less distinctly separated in J » always distinctly separate in 5 ; bind margin of segment wholly black. 4tb segment shining black, at each basal corner witli a small grey spot which extends some way do\^n the margin and continues over the side ; hind margin orange. All the spots in the 5 usually smaller and more wliitish than yellowish. Genitalia in J rather large, shining i)lack, basal section globular, uith minute white hairs but not grey-dusted. Legs: coxae whitish-dusted, hind tro- chanters shining black, with tiny spines; anterior legs mainly orange, upper side of femora, and tips of tibiae, sometimes blackish. Hind femora extremely incrassate, serrate below, the serration being on the apical third situated on a ridge ; three or four distinct small spines near tip ; generally shining black, orange narrowly at base, and with an incomplete orange streak or ring of varying width on under side about the middle. Hind tibiae black, base and a ring beyond the middle, orange ; tarsi orange. Legs in § more orange than in S • Wi)igs clear, subcostal cell and stigma pale brownish-yellow ; squamae and halteres pale yellow. Length, 8 mm. Described from a number of both sexes from various sources. This species is common and generally distributed in both hills and plams in India. I have taken it myself at Mussoorie, Dai'jiling and localities in the plains. Examples in the Indian Museum are fi-om Mussoorie, Simla, Naini Tal and Agra. A widely distributed species : Europe, Asia, Africa, Madeira and Canaries, North America. 191. Syritta orientalis, Macq. (PI. V, figs. 16, 17.) Syritta orieyitalis, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 76 (1842) ; de Meijeiv, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 224, S 2 (1908). Syritta illucidn, Walker, Proc. Linn. >Soc. iv, p. 121 (1860). Senot/asfer Itdescens, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. x, p. 410, pl.'xii, fig. 3(1856). ? Syritta amboinensis, Dolescliall, op. cit. xvii, p. 97 (1858). This species differs from S. jjipiens by the abdominal spots on the 2\\6. and 3rd segments being united to form respectively two complete transverse bands, or else sejmrated by an indefinite, very narrow, median black stripe on each segment. In many cases, however, this median stripe is distinctly present and complete, more especially in those specimens with wholly black hind femora, and this fact tends to break down the barrier between orientalis and inpiens. In specimens in which these median stripes are absent or very indefinitely present, the hind femora are orange or brownish on a considerable part of the under side up to the middle, where there may or may not be an orange streak as in pipiens; but the whole STBITTA. 247 upper side of tlie hind femora should theoretically be black, though as a matter of fact it is sometimes pale narrowly at ba^e or tip. or both. Two varieties of this species may therefore be accepted, but intermediate forms occur; one such form, with the abdominal spots united into two orange cross-bands, possessing hind femora with the basal half below orange, the upper side generally wholly black, or at most narrowly pale at base and tip ; and a second, more nearly typical form, with the abdominal spots separated almost as widely as in^?pieHs,and with practically wholly black femora. As "to the svnonvmy of the species cited above, there seems no reasonable doubt. "AValker's description of illucida has not a word in it that will not apply to orientaUs, his remark about the two white spots behind the vertex being almost conclusive proof of the identity of tlie two species, as the whitish margin of the occiput ceases on each side a little before the vertex and again :it the vertex itself, tlms isolating the two small white spots to which he •dludes *. S. amhoinensis difiers only in the anterior legs being ringed, and as specimens referable to both pijvens and oruntahs have sometimes obscure streaks or traces of such rings, Dolescha 1 s species is probably one of these forms with legs more darkly marked than usual. Dr. de Meijere sinks Senogaster lutescens as synonymous, and both the description and figure given by Doleschall support this view. In the Indian Museum are two c? 6 under the name ot laticincta, Big., a MS. name only. It is not certain whether both speciuipus were attributed by that author to this so-called species, but the example bearing the label in his handwriting is the variety of orientalis with cross-bands and partly orange hind femora, whilst the other example is the variety with wholly black temora, but possessing abdominal cross-hands as in the first variety. The second specimen therefore partakes of both varietal tonus anu serves to prove their specific unity. I have seen orientalis from Pusa, x. 1907 and :?0. ni. 1914; Chapra, Bengal; Katihar ; Kushtea, Bengal; Sukna : Calcutta; Port Canning ; Mergui. De Meijere records it from Singapore and Java. 192. Syritta rufifacies, Bl--5S. 4. Scntellnni with liind margin pale, coloured difierently from remainder and from thorax 5. Scutellum concolorous with thorax' 8. 5. Scutellum with conspicuous dense orange- yellow iiuliescence 0. Scutellum with grey pubescence (brownish- yellow in albifrons), concolorous with that of thorax 7. 6. Eyes bare : contiguous in cf for some dis- tance. No aeneous lavgo spots nt base of abdomen ; all three ])airs of spots very [p. 254. narrow and subequal. Length 12 nun... riifo'^ciitellatus, linin., Eyes densely pubescent. A pair of very large a;neous ,«pots on anterior corners of 2nd abdominal .segment, witli a ]»air of narrow greyish spots su])eiinipose(l there- on ; the pairs of .«^s,^Yalk., p. 257. Eyes approximate only in (j"? their point of approach angular. Antennaj distinctly elongate*; 2nd joint nearly as long as 3rd: 3rd much longer than broad, barely wider than 2nd. 4th abdominal seguient with a median very narrow stripe ex- tending to tip of abdomen ; the usual pair of spots nearly straight and perpendicular. [p. 258. Length o| mm piilvenilentus, sp. n., 8. Scutellum cupreous ; in contrast with black shining abdomen 9. Scutellum not cupreous ; not in contrast with either thorax or abdomen 10. 9. Thorax only sliglitly cupreous ; narrower, [p. 258. more slender species. Lengtli 5-6 mm. . halictoides, Brun., Thorax shining cupreous; a more thickly [p. 256. set species. Length 7 mm ceneithorax, Brun., 10. Thorax, scutellum and abiiomen distinctly shining blue-black. Lf-nglh 7 mm 11. Thorax, scutellum and abdomen dull black, barely shiniiig; without any bluish tinge. [p. 260. Length 8 mm._ nexvittatus, Brun., 11. Third antennal joint slightly pale on inner side. Abdomen shining seneous-black with white pubescent spots ; middle tibiae brownish-yellow on basal half and on inner side ; hind tarsi brown. Wings [p. 260. vitreous. Lengtli 7 mm perpensus^ Brun., Third antennal joint uniformly blackish. Abdomen deeper blue-black, with pubes- cent spots more distinct; middle tibia? and tarsi wholly orange ; hind tarsi more orange. Wings grey. Length 7 mm... ^jerpferw*-, Brun., p. 261. This table of species, though it does not by any means satisfy me, illustrates in a general uay the affinities of the species, with the exception of aneitlwrax. The four first species bear a con- siderable resemblance one to anotlier, by the tlrst pair of abdo- minal spots being larger than the others and more or less rounded instead of lunate. JE. rufoscutellatus, pulcherrhmis and ceneithor ax form a second group with a conspicuous, cupreous or aeneous thorax and scutellum, the latter with dense orange or yellow pubescence. The remaining species form a group with more normal markings, that is to say, possessing blackish or greyish bodies with three pairs of greyish curved or lunate spots placed * Longer than in any other species in this table. BUMERUS. 251 diagonally on the 2nd, 3rd and 4tb abdominal segments. Of these, 2n'Jt'^''ulentus is easily recognised by the elongate aiiteunse, whilst S(\vvittutiis separates easily from the remainder by its somewhat greater size. 193. Eumerus nicobarensis, Sch. (PI. VI, fig. 1.) Uianents vicobarentiis, Scliiner, Reise Novara, Dipt., p. 368 (1868). Humerus argyropus, i',niiietti {nee Doleschall), Hec. lud. Mu?. ii, Eumerus nepalensis, Brunetti, I!ec. Ind. Mas. xi, p. 240 (lOlo) ; nee Brunetti, op. cit. ii, p. 70 (1908). $. Thorax shining blackish-green, with two whitish, widely separated, longitudinal stripes in middle; pubescence short, shining gold-yellow. 8cutellum concolorous with thorax, hind margin deeplv outlined, roughly punctate, almost serrate. Abdo- men shining black, 2nd segment with two yellow spots occupymg nearly all the surface, nearly touching in middle but not reaching side margins ; 3rd segment with a whitish-yellow narrow curved band, interrupted in middle; 4th segment with narrow whitish oblique side spots. Venter cinnamon-red. Head sliining black; frons rather narrowed behind ; neighbourhood of antennoe and a space on upper half of irons with a white spot on each eye- margin. Antennae pale reddish-yellow, 3rd joint extremely large, round. Eyes pubescent. Legs shining black ; tips of front and middle femora, anterior tibiae and tarsi, basal half of hind tibiaa and hind tarsi except at base, reddish-yellow (but see below, last paragraph) ; hind femora very incrassate ; hind tibiae rather club- shaped; all tibiaj with glistening white pubescence. Wings rather deeply tinged with brownish -yellow, especially towards tip ; last section of 4th vein angularly bent, with a short appendix at outer angle. One ? : ^'icobar Islands. Length, 7 mm. Type presumably in Vienna Museum. The aboye is a fairly literal translation of Schiner's description* ; he notes the species to be near macrocerus, AVied., from China, but th'it the latter has an unstriped thorax and a-neous-green legs. He also iK.tes that .s^^Zcnr/ois, AVied., is much smaller and ditferently coloured. Four 6 6 and two $ $ (one headless) in the Indian Miisium agree very well witli Schiner's description. Assuming the identi- fication to be correct, the species differs from o«r»/Vo».s Wied., by (1) the absolute contiguity of the eyes for some distance in the 6 , (2) tlie infuscated wing-tip, (3) the undilated hind tarsi in the d , not even the metatarsus being thickened at all, and (4) the hind tarsi being wholly yellowish-white except narrowly dark at * This is Scliiner'H description only, iiolhiiif; liring ncUU-d from llie speci- mens presumerl by me to be tliis specit-s, except of course in tlie si.cceeding parugraph directly concerning these latter. 252 SYKPHIDJB. the base of the 1st joint. The spots on the 2nd abdominal segment do not nearly till the surface, but they vary in .size and in one specimen coine very near to fulfilling Schiner's words. In another specimen the spots on the 3rd segment are as yellow as the first pair, and in another specimen the 4tli segment is wholly shining black, without any trace of spots. The degree of infus- cation at the wing-tip also varies; in one specimen extending inwards as far as a line from the tip of the 1st vein to the outer side of the discal cell, while in another ( $ ) only the outer side of the 1st posterior cell is suffused. Mergui ; Margherita; Pallade, Travancore, 15. x\. 1908 (Aimcaidale). These specimens were in- correctly attributed by me firstly to arr/i/i-ojms, Dol.*, and subse- quently to my nepaIensisf,oi which the only spf'cimen known to me now is the type. The Sarawak specimen (Sibu, Sarawak, 2. vii. 1910 (Beebe)} referred by nie to nejyalensis and redescribed {op. cit.,p. 210) is also nicoharensis 5 . Length of the specimens examined by me, 5|-G| mm. I have subsequently seen further specimens of this species from Pusa, 14. viii. 1907, S. iii. 1908, and 17. iii. 1908, " under mango bark " ; Chapra, Bengal. 194. Eumerus aurifrons, Wied. (PI. VI, figs. 2, 3.) FAimenis aurifrons, Wiedemann, Anal. Ent. p. 32 (1824); de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, ]). 218, J § (1908). Eumerus splendens, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweitl. ii, p. 114(1830). d 2- Head: in c? , eyes slightly but definitely separated, wholly covered with dense bright yellow pubescence ; vertical triangle elongate, ground-colour shining black, with yellow tomentum and dense yellow pubescence which exter;dsover vertex also ; face ceneous-black, with yellowish-grey tomentum and yellow pubes- cence. Antennte bright orange, arista black, base orange ; 3rd joint very large, rounded lait often rather obtuse at tip. Occi- put black, varying from aeneous to cupreous behind vertex, with side margins of grey tomentum. JN'o black hairs on frons, on vertex or behind vertex in S ■ In 5 , frons barely narrowed at Vertex ; at level of antennre forming one-fourth the width of the head; shining blue-black with a large grey dust-spot on each side below middle, which spots generally unite and form a transverse band from eye to eye; a pair of similar dust-spots below vertex, contiguous to eye-margins. Ocellar space with dark brown pubescence ; vertical region aqueous witii greyish pubescence ; face with whitish pubescence. Rest as in ^ . lliorax and scutellum shinins ajneous, finely punctate, more or less cupreous- tinged in c? . Two widely separated narrow grey longitudinal stripes from anterior margin to well behind suture. A¥hole dorsum, scutellum (hind margin concolorous) and sides with * Eec. Incl. Mus. ii. p. 76 HSOS^. t Op. cit. Ti, pp. 239, 240 (1915). EU.MERr?. 253 rath(M- long bright yellow pube!«ceiice. In 2 , pubescence more whitisli. Abdomen shining blue-black ; finely punctate; 2iitl seg- ment with two large yelUiw spots ; 3rcl and 4tli each with a pair of narrow, slightly curved, greyish spots placed diagonally from middle of segment nearly to hind corners, their inner ends well separated, tliose on 4th segment generally rather smaller and perpendicidar. Normally the first pair of spots are yellow, the otiiers grey, but the middle pair are sometimes intermediate in colour. Pubescence yellowish-grey and more or less erect on spots and along sides of abdomen; hla(;k and depressed on black pai'ts. Venter mainly yellowish, black at sides and tip. Lcr/s mainly blade ; anterior femora rather broadly, hind femora narrowly, orange. Apical half of anterior tibiae blackish with orange tips, but the black colour sometimes reduced, especially in f , to an irregular, indefinite broad ring beyond middle; hind tibiae distinctly incrassate after the base, nearly basal half and ti[;s narrowly orange. Tarsi yellowish, hind metatarsi distinctly incrassate, black with orange tips; 2nd, 3i"d and 4tli joints rather short, very distinctly dilated in J to nearly double the width of the iiietatarsus,^ snow-white; 2nd and 3rd joints of about equal length ; 5th joint narrow, snow-white. Hind tarsi in 9 with only the metatarsi incrassate. Pubescence of legs mainly yellow ; black on black parts of hind tibise and metatarsi, but on inner side of hind tibiaj yellowish-grey, especially in $ . IVinr/s clear, iriilescent, no trace of iufuscation apically ; slignia varying from pale yellowish to yellowish-brown ; halteres yellowish to orange. Lewjth, 5-04 nun. Types in Co])enhagen Museum and Wiedemann's collection. Described from several of each sex in the Pusa collection, from Pusa, S. iii. 1908, found on gum-saturated earth; 17. iii. 1908, under mango bark; vi. 1916; 9. vii. 1907, on stable wall; 14.viii.l907; 17, 19 and 28.x. 1908; U.xii. 1915. AlsoChapra, Bengal (il7«c/iV»Jrie); Bombay. 11. x. 1912; Ceylon; Java. I have seen one 6 from Los lianos, Philippine Is. 195. Eumerus nepalensis, Brun. EiDiieius V('pale7isis, Bninetti, IJec. Ind. 3Ius. ii, p. 70 (1908) ; nee id., op. cit. xi, p. 240 (1916;. 5 . Head shilling black; eyes sparsely pubescent on lower part only; antenna; orange, 3rd joint large, rounded, upper margin blackish. Thorax dark shining asneous-black, with tawnv-grey puliescttiice on dorsum, and grey pubescence at the sides ; scutellum unicolorons, with soft, rather long yellowish-grey hair, posterior hordt-r with a fiat edge which is serrated above. yU>- domen shining hlack, with two u\al, obli(|ue pale spots on 2nd segment, their ends touching tlie jjosterior border of the se<,'ments near the side margin ; extreme posterior border of segments very narrowly tawny. On the 3rd segment are two smaller and 254 SYEPHID^. narrower spots similarly situated ; on the 4th segment, two hardly visible, pale green, similar spots with white liair. Sides and tip of abdomen with white iiair. Venter black, pale in centre. Legs black, femora fringed with whitish hair below, posterior femora with black hair on upper side; the basal half and tips of the femora, four anterior tarsi, tip of posterior metatarsus, and apical half of next joint, tawny-yellow ; under side of whole posterior tarsi with bright golden-yellow pubescence; four anterior tarsi with some white hairs at base. Wing.-i clear, iridescent, veins ■well marked, stigma brown ; tegulae and halteres yellowish. Length, 8 mm. Described from the unique tgj^e in the Indian Museum collection, from Chonebal, Nepal., Only the type-specimen is known *, and it is now in bad con- dition. Its principal difference from aiirifrons is the larger size, 8 mm. as against 5-6|, and the sparse whitish pubescence of the eyes as contrasted with the dense yellow pubescence in aurifrons. 196. Eumerus rufoscutellatus, Bnm. JSiwierus rufoscutellatus, Briinetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 269 (1913). (5 . Head : eyes absolutely bare ; contiguous for only one-fourth Ihe distance from vertex to antennae, rather suddenly separated above this space, forming a moderately wide frous which is black, with black hairs in the middle and bright yellow hairs on vertex and lowest part ; facets of uniform size throughout except those immediately in front ; frons flat, not at all prominent, yellowish- grey with bright yellow hair. AntenuDe large, rather dark brown, first two joints normally bristly; 3rd joint a little lighter on upper side, with microscopic grey tomentum, rounded above to tip, straight on lower side ; arista long, dorsal. Thorax violet- seneous, moderately shining, with moderately dense short brownish-yellow pubescence, and two widely separated grey tomentose longitudinal stripes from anterior margin toscutellum; also with a stripe along the transverse suture, but this is inter- rupted between the two longitudinal stripes. Humeral calli aeneous, with a little yellow pubescence. Sides of thorax blackish- aeneous, with a considerable amount of bright yellow hair on pleurae. Scutellum broad, violet-aeneous, covered with copious long bright yellow hair; hind border pale. Abdomen dark aeueous-black, not very shining, basal corners a little steel- coloured when viewed from certain angles ; a pair of diverging, narrow, elongate, grey, tomentose stripes on 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments, beginning approximately near base of each segment and extending nearly to posterior corners. Surface of abdomen with microscopic pale yellow pubescence, which is brighter and longer on hind margins of segments ; a patch of bright reddish- * See note under E. nicoharensis, p. 252. EUMERUS. 255 orange pubescence at basal corners oE 2nd segment. Tip o£ abdomen black-haired ; venter bl ickisb with a little sparse yellow pubesceuce. Le'js black; basal half and tips of aarerior tibi;e, and the anterior tarsi, brownish-yellow ; hind legs black, except knees, tips of tibiie and apical part of each tarsal joint. Alllegs with yellow pubescence, rather long on femora and tibite, especially on hinder and under sides ; hind tarsi considerably incrassate, with bright reddish-brown pubescence. Wmjs grey, stigma small, blackish; anterior cross-vein at two-thirds of discal cell, very sloping ; halteres yellow. Length, 12 mm. Described from a c? in the Indian Museum, in inferior con- dition through immersion in spirit, from Singla, Darjiling Dis- trict. A species conspicuous by its densely yellow-haired scutellum and its large size. 197. Eumerus pulcherrimus, Brun. Eumerus imlcherrimus, Brunetti, R%a. lud. Mas. xi, p. 243 (1915). $ . Head : frons one-sixth width of head, aeneous, darker on vertex, with a slightly greenish tinge in front, minutely punctured. Ocelli suiall, red, well separated from one another and from eye- margins. At each side of the frons, along the eye-margins, from the lowest ocellus to just above the antennae, a little yellowish poUi- nose dusting, which becomes white at level of antennae, where it merges in the white-dusted face covered with white liair. Frons cove'red with a moderate amount of light yellowish hair, which on the vertex is replaced by dark l)rown hair. Posterior orbits of eyes rather narrow, yellow-dusted, with bright yellow hair behind vertex. Eyes with dense short brownish-grey hairs. Antennae black, with a little hoary bloom, if viewed from in front; 3rd joint rather more squarish than in rufoscuteUaius ; arista black, a little pale at base. Proboscis dark brown. Thorax a-neous, with brilliant cupreous and violet reflections; a little (but con- spicuously) hoary below the anterior margin in front. Three very narrow wliite dorsal lines from anterior margin, not reaching posterior margin ; a transverse narrow whitish line on suture. Sides below shoulders yellowish-white with sliaggy yellowish- white hair. Humeral calli small, a-neous ; remainder of thorax below dorsum, grey. Scutellum very conspicuous, briglit shining cupreous with dense long reddish-orange hair and pale hind marr^in. Ahdomen aeneous-violet; a large triangular cupreous spot, with yellow hairs in front and with whitish liairs behind, oil each side of 2nd segment. In certain lights the sides of tlie abdomen towards the tip, and the whole of the last (4th ) segment a))pear more or less cupreous or aeneous. On the middle of each of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments are two greyish-white, narrow stripes, beginning in the centre of each segment, almost conti- guous, and extending diagonally to the posterior corners. AVhole 256 syrphid.t:. surface of abdomen nniforii)lj punctured, and covered with short depressed light yellow liairs, whicli are much thicker on List seg- ment. Venter dull liver-bi own. Legs: coxae blackish, with hoary bloom and greyish hairs. Anterior femora dull aeneous-black, a little brownish-yellow at base and tips ; a fringe of pale yellow hairs on under side ; hind femora considerably enlarged, distinctly seneous, covered with yellowish-grey hair ; brownish-yellow at base and tips. Anterior tibiae with basal half brownish-yellow, apical half or thereabouts, blackish ; tips brownish-yellow; whole tibiae with yellownsh-grey hair. Hind tibiae as aeneous as hind femora, considerably larger than anterior pairs, and covered \\ith much more hair. An+erior tarsi moderately briglit brown with vellowish-grey hairs ; hind tarsi blackish above with yellowish-grey hairs, bright i-eddish-brown beloM', incrassate to a normal extent. Wirtgs very pale grey; stigma small, dark brown; halteres pale yellow. Lei^tjtJc, 7 mm. Described from a unique 5 , in perfect condition in the Indian Museum, from Kurseong, 8. vii. 1908. A very handsome species, conspicuous by its cupreous and violet thorax, its densely orange-haired scutellum, the three pale longi- tudinal stripes on its thorax, the suture of which is outlined with whitish. Near aurifrons, Witd., and ulbifrovs, AValk., but dis- tinguished by the black antennae and orange-haired scutellum, 198. Eumerus seneithcrax, Bnm. Eumerus ameithoritx, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 244 (1915). S. Head: eyes contiguous for a comparatively short space only, with short white pubescence. Trons and vertex aeneous, showing various ti]its when viewed from different directions: black hair on lower part of frons, yellow hairs on upper part and on vertex. Pace dull blackish-grej^ with light tomentum which appears vellowish-white when viewed from above. Pace clothed with white hairs. Antennae wholly black, 3rd joint approximately oblong, with obtusely rounded tip. Occiput whitish-grey with a narrow^ fringe of whitish hairs round the margins, some yellow hair on the aiiieous upper ocular margin, w hich is moderately puffed out. In 2 i head almost punctate, sides of frons and face parallel almost to mouth ; pubescence black, long and dense on vertex, extending less densely to base of antennae, but replaced towards eye-margins by shorter yellowish depressed hairs. Face wnth whitish pubescence. Tliorax and scutellum shining aeneous, both rather thickly clothed with brownish-yellow pubescence: dorsum with a pair of widely separated whitish-tomentose stripes and traces of a very narrow median line of the same colour. Pleurae dull aeneous with a little greyish hair. Hind margin of scutellum concolorous. Ahdomen dull aeneous-black, 2nd, 3rd and 4th seg- ments each with a pair of whitish lunulate dust-spots of the usual EUMERUS. 257 size and sliape, placed diagonally; upper ends approximate to one another above centre of segment; posterior ends of 1st and 3rd pairs reaching side margins near posterior angles of segments; 2nd pair of spots not attaining margin. All the spots bear a little yellowish-white hair, which also occurs at the posterior angles of the segments and about the tip of the abdomen. The dark portions of the surface are covered with almost microscopic black pubescence. Venter ilull aeneous, with some pale yellowish hairs. Leys : femora ajueous-hlack, with rather tiiick yellowish pubescence on hinder and outer sides, and microscopic pubescence of the same colour on remainder of surface. Tibiae oeneous-black, rather broadly pale redtlish-hrown at base. Tarsi blackish, emar- ginations slightly reddish-brown ; hind metatarsi blackish on disc, reddish-brown towards sides and on under side. Winf/s grey, stigma blackish, inconspicuous; halteres pale yellowish. Lewjtli, 7 mm. Described from a single perfect c^ taken by Capt. Evans, E.E., at Simla in August 1914, and presented by him to the Indian Museum. Further specimens of each sex from Simla, ix. 1898 199. Eumerus albifrons. Wall: (PI. VI, fig. 4.) Eumerus alh(frons, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt, i, p. 2:^4 (18o2). Eimierus halictiformis, Brunetti, llec. lud. Mus. xi, p. 241 (1915). c? ?. Head: in J, eyes quite bare, touching for a short dis- tance only, the front facets a little larger than the others. Erons strongly punctate, shining black with greyish dust except for a space bearing the two upper ocelli a little below the vertex, and a space lower on the frons bearing the 3rd ocellus. Blackish hairs on the frons rather thickly placed. Face and the narrow occipital margin wholly dusted with ash-grey, the former with whitish hair. Antenna) rather elongate, blackish, 2nd joint wholly and the 3rd joint more or less, dull reddish-brown on the basal part. In the $ the frons is barely narrowed at the vertex, and at the level of the ajitenna? is equal to one-fourth the width of the head; the lowest ocellus is less far removed from the others than in the S ; the frons is moderately well covered Mith yellowish-grey hair. TJwra.v strongly punctate ; in ground-colour dusted with" bluish-grey, with four large blackish spots filling most of the surface, anterior ones more or less rounded ; two median dark stripes, leaving a grey intermediate space; pubescence whitish-grey; pleurae grey with whitish-grey pubescence ; scutellum c-eneous or cupreous, with thick brownish-yellow hair ; hind margin pale. Abdomen shining black ; on each of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments a pair of diagonallv placed, grey, lunule-like, barely curved spots, beginning almost ••ontiguous to one another in middle of segment near anterior margin, and extending to posterior corners, which they attain. Whole abdomen finely punctate. Venter dark. Leys: anterior s 258 STRPHID^. femora and tibiae black, both brownish-3'ellow at botli base and tip, the former with greyish-white hair behind, and the latter more extensively covered with similar hair. Hind femora con- siderably incrassate, feneous, covered with grey hair; hind tibiae aeneous, covered with grey hair ; knees and base of hind femora brownish-yellow. Anterior tarsi brownish-yellow with whitish reflections when viewed in certain lights ; hind tarsi brown, the metatarsi much enlarged, black, with yellowish-grey hair above and rich golden-brown pubescence below. Wings nearly clear ; stigma pale brownish-yellow ; halteres pale brownish-yellow. Length, 5 mm. Described from one S and one $ (types oE haUcfifonnis) from Puri, Orissa Coast, 1-5. viii. 1910 (Annandale). Also Coimbatore, S. India, 2000 ft., 8. viii. 1912; 18. viii. 1912 ; 19. ix. 1913; 17. iv. 1913; Kangra Valley, 4500 ft., iv. 1899. Ti/pe ( c5' ) of alhifrons in British Museum, without data; tyjyes of halictiformis ( cT $ ) in Indian Museum. The 6 type of Tialicti- formis agrees exactly with Walker's type, which is in good con- dition. 200. Eumerus halictoides, Bnm. (PI. VI, fig. 5.) humerus halictoides, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 242 (1915). c? 5 . Very near alhifrons, V,''alk., but certainly distinct. The differences are as follows : — Eyes with grey pubescence in $; the frontal triangle in the c? is distinctly yellow, with ^''ellow hairs, in complete contrast to the whitish face. The 3rd antennal joint is nearly oblong, rounded abov^e at the tip, instead of being broadly truncate ; the thorax is a little, but obviously, cupreous, with two widely separated whitish dorsal lines ; the hind margin of the scutellum is concolorous. The hind metatarsus is not greatly thicker than the rest of the hind tarsus and is longer proportionately than in halictiformis, in which the hind metatarsus is twice as broad as the other joints, and apparently flatter; lastly tlietibise and the tarsi are nearly wholly black except for the reddish-brown under side of the hind tarsi. The species is also slightly larger and more robust. Length, 5-6 mm. Described from a type d * from Darjiling, 2. x. 1908 [Brunetti), and a type $ from Simla, 9. v. 1909 (Annandale); both iu the Indian Museum, 201. Eumerus pulverulentus, sp. nov. (PL VI, fig. 6.) S $ . Whole body black (excepting the aeneous-green scutellum), distinctly punctate, very slightly shining. Bead: eyes in d nar- rowly separated at their angular point of nearest approach ; bare except for a little vezy sparse pubescence on lower part ; front facets much larger than the rest. Vertical triangle very large, * Of which the head is now missing. EUMERUS. 259 grey-dusted and with greyish pubescence. Ocelli wide apart, the two spaces occupied respectively by the anterior ocellus and the hinder pair being nearly bare and bearing bhick hairs, the inter- vening surface covered witli greyish dust. Face and lower part of head with snow-white touientuin and soft concolorous pubes- cence ; face separated from frons at nearest approach of eyes by a narrow but very distinct shining black bare band. Antennae dark brown or blackish; 2nd joint unusually loiig, tuo-thirdsas long as ^rd, bristly above ; 3rd elongate, much longer than in any other Indian species, three times as long as wide, tip obtuse, arista •dark. Occiput black, the ground-colour greyish in patches. Thorax black but ground-colour in considerable part dusty-grey, so as to leave, when the thorax is viewed from behind, two median stripes, two large spaces before suture and two behind it all blackish but of ill-detined shape. Sides of thorax very slightly shining black, grey-dusted and with a little grey pubescence. Scutellum rather dark aeneous-green, generally quite differently coloured from thorax and abdomen, but sometimes less conspicu- ously so ; hind margin distinctly greyish. Dorsum of thorax Avirh short, rather depressed, yellowish-grey pubescence, scutellum with similar but longer pubescence. Abdomen black, with a pair of barely curved grey elongate spots of the usual shape on 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments, diagonally placed, their upper ends nearly meeting towards middle of anterior margin, tlieir outer ends reaching hind corners, the second and third pairs united on side margins or along under side. A narrow median stripe begins at about middle of 4th segment and is continued to tip of abdomen; it is more conspicuous in $ , Pubescence of abdomen following ground-colour. Ler/s : coxae and anterior femora dark brown, tips of latter and sometimes base also, brownish-orange ; hind femora all greenish-black or aeneous, or sometimes with upper and inner sides more or less brown, exceedingly broadened vertically, with a row of short teeth on apical half of under side. Tibiae brownish or orange on basal half, blackish apically ; tarsi brown, metatarsi black ; pubescence of legs greyish or whitish. Wings nearly clear; stigma yellowish-brown; halteres brownish-orange. Lenr/th, 4-5.] mm. Described from two d 6 Ji'xl "ine $ $ from Pusa ; all bred, 30. iv. 1908, in stem of Euphorbia sp., " C. No. 696," and 5. vi. 1907, in stem of " fSig " (? Fig), " C. No. 535." Ti/pe d and 2 sent to the British Museum, cotype c? and 5 $ in the Pusa col- lection. One $ fi-om Abu (Kurse). This species is strikingly distinct from all others by the very elongate narrow antennae and by the median stripe on the 4th abdominal segment. The yellow- margined scutellum also separates it from the majority of the Oriental species. All the specimens are in inferior condition, but from amongst them it has not been difficult to diagnose the specific characters. 260 sy:i{PHiB.5:. 202. Eumerus sexvittatus, Brun. Eumcnts sexvittatus, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 245 (1915). 5 . Head black, rather dull ; vertex and upper part of frons with short black hairs ; ocelli small, dull, dark reddish ; lower part of: frons with yellowish-grey hair ; eyes with sparse white pubescence. Face, seen from below, whitish-grey, with whitish- grey hair. Back of head black, with a little sliort whitish hair on the eye-orbits. Proboscis black, reddish-brown towards tip. Antennse black, 3rd joint rather large, ovate, lower part white-dusied. Thorax black, rather dull, with very short yellowish-brown hair covering all the dorsum and scutellum, and extending over the sides below the shoulders ; no trace of fine longitudinal stripes ; sides blackish. Hind margin of scutellum concolorous. Abdomen black, dull, 1st segment only with a little aeneous tinge ; 2ud, 3rd and 4th segments with a pair of diagonally placed whitish elongate spots, each beginning near centre of segment, but well separated from one another, and reaching towards but not attaining hind corners. Abdominal pubescence black on the black parts and yellowish on the spots ; also towards upper corners of abdomen and at the sides. Legs black, with yellowish-grey or whitish-grey pubescence. Bassl half of anterior tibiae (and, appar- ently occasionally, the extreme tips of the femora) reddish-brown, the colour on the hind pair of legs much restricted ; middle tarsi reddish-brown, except towards tips. Hind femora greatly in- crassated as usual, hind metatarsi considerably incrassate. Wings pale grey, stigma brownish ; signs of a very slight brownish suf- fusion across the middle of the wing. Halteres yellow. Length, 8 mm. Described from one $ from Bhowali, Kumaon District, 5700 ft., October 1909 {Imms). In the Indian jMuseum. 203. Eumerus perpensus, Bnm. JEumenis perpensa, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xiii, p. 88 (1917). S 2 . Head : in J ,eyes with brown pubescence, closely contiguous for a distance greater than height of frontal triangle; vertical tri- angle black with a slight feiieous tinge and yellow pubescence; ocelli small, placed at lower extremity of triangle amid a little black hair. Frons and face with white tomentum, latter with white pubescence also. Occiput rather broad behind upper part of eyes, rather aeneous-black, but dying away at middle of eyes laterally. Antennae moderately dark, paler on inner side, 3rd joint approximately ovate, arista black. Mouth-parts brown. In $ , frons and face aeneous-black, seen to be grey-dusted when viewed at a low angle ; frons with rather dense dark brown and yellow hairs ; face with white pubescence. Thorax aeneous blue-black, shining, with two narrow whitish well-separated median stripes ending some distance before the scutellum ; latter wholly blue- black ; dorsum of thorax with yellow pubescence, that on scutellum, greyish. A little yellowish pubescence on anterior EUMERUS. — TEMXOSTOMA. 261 half of side margins of tliorax. Sides of thorax ocneous-black, with greyish pubescence, except for a fan-shaped row of briglit jellow liairs in front of tlie wing-base. Ahdomcn shining ceiieous blue-black with minute greyish pubescence, which is only obvious at the side margins and on the spots. The usual three pairs of sublunate spots placed on the hinder half of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments, only the latter pair extending over side margins. The spots ai'e of about equal widtii, the 3rd pair more indistinct; all are white-haired. J'^ach pair of spots begins at about the middle of t!ie seg'ment, and the spots are well separated at their inner upper ends, 2nd pair terminating a little further from the hind margin of the segment than the 1st, whilst the 3rd pair terminate still further from the hind margin than the 2nd pair. Venter more or less pale brown. Some longer pubescence at sides of 2nd segment. Legs mainly aeneous-black, sliining. Tips of femora rather narrowly, about basal half and inner sides of anterior tibitc, and base of hind tibite, also ti[)s of all tibise, brownish-yellow. Tai-si brown with pale pubescence, hind pair with gold-brown pubescence on under side. A double row of six small black spines below hind femora near ti]). Winrfs vitreous, iridescent ; stigma brown, small, distinct ; halteres brownish-yellow. LeiKjih, 7 mm. Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Phagu, Simla District, 18-21. v. 1916 (Annandale (J- Kemp). Simla, viii. 1898 (Ntcrse), 1 d . 204. Eumevus perplexus, Bmn. Eumerus perple.va, Brunotti, Rec. IikI. Mus. xiii, p. 89 (1917). $. Allied io pet-pensus^hwt showing the following differences: — Eyes witli weak brownish pubescence. Antennoe blackish; 3rd joint rounded, with greyish bloom, not lighter on inner side. Dorsal pale thoracic stripes apparently less distinct. Abdomen deeper blue-black and the white pubescence on tlie spots and sides of abdomen a little more conspicuous. Middle tibia) and tarsi wholly orange, latter a little obscure on upper side ; hind tarsi more orange than in perpensus. Winr/s distinctly grey. Described from a unique $ from Simla, 12-13. v. 1913 {Annandale). In the Indian Museum. Barely longer than jperpmsus, but a more stoutly built species, and apparently dis- tinct thouirh the differences are dilhcult to define. Genus TEMNOSTOMA, .S7. ly Verrall (Brit. Fiies, Syrph. p. ()2'.)) in his comparison of tliis genus willi its allies. No definite type seems to liavo been chosen. Verrall shows that Sphixea, Rond., is abiiolutely synonymous with Mi/csia, and the choice of a type appears to He between cnOironifvrmis and i^plcndida, with perhaps urvdia, Fabr., as a third. The older names suggested by some for the first two species, I decline to reco;;ni3e. 264 STEPHID.'E. Head semicircular, broader than tliorax ; ej^es bare, contiguous for a sbort distance in c5' , wider apart iu $ ; face hollowed below antennse, slightly produced over upper mouth-edge, truncate ; pro- boscis usually rather prominent, palpi extremely small ; antenufe moderately long, porrect, placed on a distinct prominence ; arista bare. Thorax large and robust, oblong, generally with yellow markings ; scutellum pellucid. Abdomen twice as long and about as M'ide as thorax ; only slightly arched, with yellow markings, generally cross-bands. Legs strong; hind femora lengthened, with a tooth-like process towards tip on under side. Wings Fig. 51. — MUesia sexinaculata, Brun., i^ . narrow, with the unusual chai-acter in this subfamily of possess- ing a closed marginal cell ; anterior cross-vein very oblique, placed far beyond middle of discal cell ; 3rd vein with a distinct, though generally shallow, loop into the 1st posterior cell; outer sides of 1st posterior and discal cells almost in a continuous slightly curved line ; anal vein almost recurrent. Life-history apparently unknown. Range. Europe, Asia, Africa, Orient, North America, Brazil. The home of this magnificent genus seems to be South Asia and the East Indian Islands. A few notes on some of the Oriental species were given by me in Eec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 248 (1915). Table of Species. 1. Abdomen with distinct pairs of spots; with or without additional transverse hands 2. Abdomen with transverse pale bands only ; never with pairs of spots 4. 2. Abdomen with three pairs of clear-cut yellow [p. 265. spots; no other abdominal markings se.vinacttlata, Erun., Abdomen with other yellow markinjrs iu addi- tion to three distinct pairs of spots 3. MILESIA. 265 5. Marliiiigs of 2ud and .'Jrd segments each con- sisting of a pair of large triangular anterior marlis and a ]>air of smaller triangular marks beyond middle ; 4th segment with four sub- equal spots, the two on each side more or less [p. 260. connected along the lateral margin macnlaris, Wied., Markings of 2nd segment consisting' of a very large pair of oblong-yellow spots nearly meet- ing in median line, and a broad yellow band near hind margin, so that the segment is nearly all yellow ; ord and 4th segments rather similar, but front spots much nar- rower, transversely placed on I'ront margin; the hind pale band very broad, produced for- [p. 268. wards triangularly in middle varief/ata, Brun., 4. Vertex conspicuously swollen verticalis, sp. n., A'ertex normal, i. e. nearly or quite flush with [p. 269. eyes 5. 5. Band on anterior margin of 2nd abdominal segment very wide, reaching to middle or beyond haltcata,\iexi.,\\.2~i2. This band very narrow, never tilling even a quarter of tlie segment * C. 6. 'Wings rather clearly divided at the spurious vein into a brown anterior half and a nearly [p. 273. clear hinder half ferruginosa, Brun., "Wings yellowisb-grey, gradually paling hind- wards 7. 7. Femora normally orange or orange-brown .... (/if/ns, Macq., p. 271. Hind femora black nearly to tip decora, sji.n.,]i.274. M. semifulva, de Meijere, is not included in the table, as I think that gigns, Macq., is a very variable species; it varies in botli body and legs from orange-brown to black, and in this case it would absorb the form semifulva. 200. Milesia sexmaculata, Brun. Mile^ia iiex7nac>d(ita, Biunetti, Itec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 248 (1915). S . Head : eyes touching for a distance equal to one-third of the height of the frons, which is yellowish, in the form of an elongate isosceles triangle with yellowish hair; the ocelli red, inciinspicuous. Eye-facets in front for a short s|)ace just per- CH])libly larger than the others. Face moderately jn-ojecting, with brow nisli-yellow tomentose dusting, becoming paler yellowish about the moutli, the latter black ; cheeks black. Occiput dark grey with pale yellowish-grey margin, with a row of short grey hairs behind the eyes. Proboscis black, shining, ])rojecting, two-thirds as long as the height of the head. Antenna? dull * If. as I 8us]iect. do Meijere's s/aiii/'u/va is synonymous with ffigof. Miicq., then the pale band must be defined ns reacliing to nearly onc-tliirtl the lengtli -of tlic segment from the front margin. 266 STEPHID^. ferruginous-brown with concolorous style. Tliorax: dorsum dull black; shoulders, aud a lateral stripe extending above the wings from shoulders to scutelluin, yellowish-brown; two dorsal median, rather thin, yellowish-grey stripes, a little dilated on anterior margin, and reaching nearly to posterior margin, on which latter is an indistinct yellow-tomentose streak. Scutellum shining black, with a distinct yellowish-brown posterior margin ; meta- notnm shining black. Surface of thorax and scutellum covered with yellow hair. Sides of thorax blackish, apparently with a yel- lowish spot on the mesopleurae ; stigmatic spots yellow\ Abdomen black, shining, 1st segment wholly black ; 2nd with a yellow transverse sublunate spot on each side near the base, and con- tiguous to side margin ; the two spots fairly widely separated from one another. On 3rd segment a nearly similar pair of yellow spots which are more elongate-conical in shape and similarly situated ; on 4th segment a pair of yellow, nearly tri- angular, spots similarly situated ; all six spots of about same size and colour. Abdomen with close black pubescence, except that over the spots, wliich is yellow. Venter black, yellowish at base of 2n(l, 3rd and 4th segments, the yellow colour forming two spots on 2nd segment. Legs bright brownish-yellow; anterior femora with a black streak above aud below on basal half ; hind femora considerably enlarged, with a conspicuous reddish tooth-like pro- longation on under side towards the tip ; black, except at tips, the reddish-brown colour more extensive on underside. All legs wirli short yellow pubescence, but hinder side of middle and hind tibiae with a \ery thick long fringe of bright yellow hair; (hind tarsi missing). Winr/s yellowish-grey, subcostal cell brownish-yellow ; haltei'es very small, yellow. Length, 23 mm. Described from a single S from Trivandrum, Travancore State : in the Indian Museum, received from the Trivandrum Museum. 207. Milesia ? macularis, Wied. Mileda macularis, Wiedemann, Anal. Ent. p. 34 (1824) ; id., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 107 (1830) ; Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 2, p. 82 (1842). $ . Head yellow, closely covered with bright yellow tomentura and minute concolorous pubescence ; frons at level of antennae about ^ width of head, narrowing at vertex to between | and 5 of this width ; vertical triangle brownish, a narrow brown stripe thence, gradually widening, to tip of antennal prominence and continued below anteiinte to mouth-border ; a short brown stripe from near lower corner of eye to mouth-border. Antennje brownish-orange, tip of 3rd joint a little darker, arista orange. Occiput yellowish ; margin with a little yellow pubescence. Proboscis and other mouth-parts orange-brown. Ihorax : dorsum I'eddish-brown, MILESIA. 2G: punctulate; liuiiieri yellow, rather prominent; two yellow-tonieu- tose, rather narrow, well-separated stripes, sliglitly broader anteriorly, from front to hind margin of thorax, with (extending from behind suture to hind margin) a black stripe on inner side of each yellow stripe ; the space between these black stripes brightly yellow-tomentose ; suture yellow-tomentose from side margin up to the longitudinal yellow stripe ; hind corners of dorsum yellow-tomentose. Pleura} all bright yellow; scutellum orange-brown, with hind margin distinctly yellow, narrowly blackish just inside the vellow margin. Pubescence of thorax very inconspicuous, apparently following ground-colour. Abdomen blackish with yellow marks, punctulate; 1st segment black, anterior corners distinctly, and anterior margin narrowly, pale. 2nd segment best described as yellow with a moderately broad median black stripe, and with a black stripe from middle of fore Fig. 52.— Milesia "i macular is, Wied., vnr., abdomen. border to each hind corner, also with hind margin black; thus leaving a large yellow triangle on each anterior coi'iier of segment and a pair of smaller triangles on middle part of hinder half of segment. 3rd segment exactly as 2nd. 4th segment yellow with a moderately broad median stripe, a very broad transverse band across middle, not reaching sides, and a broadly brown- orange hind margin ; thus leaving four elongate yellow spots placed transversely, the two on each side distinctly joined on the margin of the segment. 5th segment wholly brownish-yellow. Venter brownish-yellow ; hind margins of 2nd and 3rd segments brown. Pubescence of abdomen very short and inconspicuous, following ground-colour. Le(js : anterior pairs yellow; anterior tarsi black on upper side excei)t at base, but with a yellowish sheen in certain lights. Jlind legs yellow; hind femora with a dark brown streak on upper side, an indistinct brown ring in 26S SYBPHiD.!:. middle, and tips more or less brownish ; hind tibife with an indis- tinct brown ring in middle ; bind tarsi as front pair. Pubescence of legs very short and inconspicuous, yellow except on tarsi, where it is black. Winr/f! pale grey; anterior half yellowisb-brown, a little darker over tlie insignificant stigma and tlience nearly to tip of 2nd basal cell ; also a little dai-ker over base of 1st posterior cell. Hal teres yellow". Length, 15 mm. Described from a single 5 in the Indian Musemn from Singla, Darjiling District, 1500 ft., iv. 1913 [Lord CarmichaeVs collector). This specimen was referred by me (Kec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. !268) to macularis with some doubt, the discrepancies being tbe presence of the smaller yellow spots on the 2nd to 4th segments, and a different coloration of antennae and legs. I have now ventured to assume its identity with Wiedemann's species, which is re- corded from Singapore, Java, Sumatra and Borneo. A $ in the British Museum from the Ataran Valley, Tenasserim, iv. 1892 {Bingham), agrees closely with the Singla example. 208. Milesia variegata, Brim. Milesia varieyata, Brunetti, llec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 80, fig., thorax and abdomen, J (1908) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 229 (1908). S 2 . Head : vertex narrow, black, with black hairs ; a small 3'ellow triangle just above the juncture of the eyes, which are contiguous for only a short space ; frous and face bright lemon- yellow, with a broad shining jjlack stripe on each cheek ; frontal prominence blackish-brown. Antennae red-brown, 1st and 2ud joints with one or two strong bristles above and below towards the tips. Proboscis blackish-brown. Back of head grey, posterior orbit of eyes with yellow hair, longest below. In 5 > frons and face gradually widening, former at vertex less than one-fifth width of head ; both from pale to deep yellow, with a broad black stripe from \ertex to base of antenna. Thorax mainly blackish. Humeral calli with a small oblong spot below each ; proe-alar calli, meso-, ptero-, sterno- and metapleurae, also posterior border of tiioracic dorsum, bright lemon-yellow. Two yellowish-grey stripes, narrowed behind, extend from the anterior margin to the centre of the dorsum, where they meet two similar ones extending inwards from either pra-alar callus. Scutellum black at base, the posterior half yellow, with yellow hair; the whole thorax and scutellum covered with short, soft yellowish-grey hair. Abdomen: 1st segment shining black, yellowish towards each side in front. 2nd segment lemon-yellow with a very narrow black posterior border; a dorsal, clean-cut, rather narrow, black stripe extends more than half the distance from the base, when it meets a trans- verse narrow line, almost parallel with the posterior border, but curved forward towards the sides. 3rd and -Ith segments pinkish- MILESIA. 269 brown, with very narrow, black posterior borders, ajid a. shoit dorsal stripe, wliich immediately divides, and extejids to each side iu tbe shape ot" a loop, attaining the edge just before the middle of the segment; posterior half of 3rd segment blackish, the coh)ur extended forward in middle ; 4th segment narrowly black at ba^e. Genitalia nut conspicuous, yellowish-brown. AVhole abdomen covered with short yellow hair on the yellow parts, and short black hair on remainder, with rather long yellow hair at sides, and with a row of moderately long black hairs on posterior border of ith segment. A^enter yellow on basal half, with a blackisli, narrow, central line ; blackish on posterior half, entirely covered with light yellow soft fluffy hair. Letjs: fore coxaj shining black with soft yellow hair; posterior coxie apparently yellow, witli a black streak below, all covered with close long yellow hair. Femora orange-yellow, witl) a long black streak on under side ; hind pair with a diffused black streak above also, and bearing a moderately long orange-yellow spine below, near the tip. All femora with long yellow hair, with some short rows of black hair intermixed ; the hair being scarcest on upper side of anterior femora, and thickest on lower and inner sides of hind pair. Tibiae tawny- brown, the fore pair darker towards the tip, the middle pair much lighter, the hind pair darker ; all the tibiae with minute yellow pubescence, and with long yellow hair on the under side, consist- ing of a single shorter fringe on the fore pair, a long and a short fringe on the middle pair, while the hind pair are densely co\ered on the whole of the lower and inner sides. Tarsi yellowish-tawnj'-, with short yellow pubescence ; u])per sides blackish-brown. Wings pale grey, brownish along anterior margin, and having the slightest possible trace of a dark suffusion towards tip. lialteres, stems yellow, knobs red-brown. Length, 20 mm. The description is mainly from a perfect S in the Indian Museum from 8ikkim. S. second specimen from the Darjiling District, 1000-3000 ft. {Lord CarmkhaeVs collector) ; and de Meijere has seen the species from Sikkim, a single S in the Hungarian National Museum. A series of both sexes in the British Museum from the llunjit Valley, Sikkim, v. 1894 (Zi?»*f/- Juim); Kliasi Hills, Assam (Sldden); Assam (Bcuhjh'y) and the Domdami A'alley, Tenasserim, 27. viii. 1893 {Bingham). 209. Milesia verticalis, sp. nov. Sladen): Moolau, Burma, ii. 1892 (liint/hani); Bukit Kutu, Selangor {/i'ohinson). Described originally from Java, and also recorded from Sumatra. 272 SYEPHiD.i:. I believe tliis species varies from entirely oraiii^e-brown to practically all-blackisli with the margins of the thorax and tip of the abdomen oi-ange-brovpn, the latter condition being exemplified iu the Selangor specimen. 211. Milesia balteata, Kert. Milesia balteata, Kertesz, Terme*. Fiizet. xxiv, p. 414 (1901), Milesia himalnyensis, Brunetti, Hec. Iiul. Miis. ii, p. 82,(5 $(1908). c? $ . Head : d , vertex shining black, a very small grey-headed triangle just above junction of eyes ; frons and face blackish- grey, shining, with silvery reflections when seen from above ; frontal prominence dark brown ; antennse dull orange to dark brown. Back of head grey, posterior orbit of eyes with a little short greyish hair. $ , frons yellowish-grey ; a broad shining bare black stripe (occupying nearly whole width of frontal space) extending from vertex to frontal prominence ; lower part of face and cheeks shining black, nearly bare, without whitiish reflections, but with traces of a greyish stripe on cheeks. Thorax: ground- colour blackish, covered with close ferruginous-brown hair((5); or greenish-yellow tomentose, with greenish-yellow hair ( $ ). Humeral calli concolorous in c? , yellow, with yellowish hair in $ , with a small, oval, yellow spot below each of them. Sides of thorax dark grey, with a considerable amount of brownish, rough hair in c? ; in 5 barer, with a little sparse grey hair, and a stripe below wing-sections extending to the scutellum ; the latter is light brown in S and yellow in $ , in both sexes with yellow hair. Abdomen in J dark brown ; in $ shining metallic-blue ; in both sexes with a broad bright lemon-yellow band at the base of the 2nd segment, occupying more than half of it ; a very narrow yellow band near the base of the 3i'd segment in $ . Dorsum covered in S vvirh yellow hair mixed with black, l)ut wholly yellow on the cross-band ; hair on sides of abdomen brown, except towards base, where it is longest, yellow and silky. In 5 , dorsum clothed with yellow hair on cross-band, and minute black hair elsewhere, except at sides towards base, where it is thick and yellow, but shorter than in S ■ Legs black, shining, with some blackish-brown hairs on hind pair, and a not very strong black tooth on under side of hind femur near tip ( c? 5 ). Femora black, tips tawny ; some black short bristlj'^ hairs, mixed with yellow hairs, on lower side of fore pair; middle pair with long brownish-yellow hair above and below (much longer in d) ; hind pair in c? covered with long yellow hair on upper side, and longer brown hair on under side ; in $ , some short yellow silky hair on upper side, and brown hair below, which is neither as long or as thick as in d" • The fore tibia3 ( J $ ) are tawny, with a long black streak in front, extending from tip nearly to base ; in (^ there are minute blai-k hairs iu front, and longer black silky hairs behind ; in $ they are nearly bare, only a few short, black hairs -MILKSIA, 273 beiug present. Midille tibia) bright lemon-yellow ( J $ ), with sott pale yellow hair, which is very long behind, in the d; whereas in the $ they are almost bare, except forsome moderately long pale yellow hairs behind. Hind tibia? blackish-brown (darker ni ^ ) ; tips narrowly brown ( c? ), or this colour spread more or less over upper side towards tip ( $ ) ; in d" the hind tibijB have a tnnge of long and very thick dark brown liairs on the tront, outer and liinder sides, longest on the latter, whilst in the $ they have only very short black hairs, which attain to a short row of bristly hairs on upper side, and some moderately long silky brownish-black hairs on lower side. Tarsi blackish-browif, with short black hairs ; basal joint of middle pair pale yellow in $ above and below; under side of hind pair with gold-brown short pubescence. Wincfs pale grey, a little darker yellowish-brown trom the anterior margin to about the 3rd longitudinal vein. Halteres tawny. Squamie pale yellow, with long yellow hair Zenr/th, 13-22 mm. Described from a d from Assam (Sibsagar) and a $ from Sikkim, both in the Indian Museum collection in excellent con- dition. A furtiier series from Darjiling District confirms the characters of the species. Darjiling, 7000 ft., 31.iii 1894 (Bnufham); Sibsagar, Assam {S. E. Paul); Khasi Hills, Assam i^laden; Godwin- Austen) and Lower Eanges, 187S (Chennell); - ,^n}'^. ^'^^^^y^ Sikkim, V. 1894 {Bingham)--, S. Shun States, 4000 ft., XI. 1899 (5.Vta»0; Domdami Valley, Tenasserim, 2/.V111. Ibyd {Bingham). The identitv of mv himalayensis with balteata, Kertesz, was pointed out by de Meifere (Tiid. v Ent li p. 229, 1908). J V J ^H.n, 212. Milesia ferruginosa, Bnm. Mi/e.uaferruffmosa, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. i>68, pi. xiv, d 2 • ^^'(td rich shining yeUowish or vellowish-brown. in from Onari, Garhwal District, A¥. Himalayas, 11,000 ft., 21. vi. 1914 {Col. Tytler) and redescribed more fullv from several of both sexes taken by Col. Nurse in Kashmir, 8000-9000 ft., vi. 1901. Other specimens seen from Andarbon, Garhwal District, 11,000 ft., vi. 1914. '^'VP^ ( $ ) i" Indian Museum. A very handsome species and the largest known in the East. I am fully convinced that all the specimens referi'ed to represent but a single species in spite of the considerable variation in colour of the pubescence. The colour of the femoral pubescence does not always agree with that of the abdomen: e.g., of two J d" with mainly blackish abdominal pubescence, one has the femoral pubescence also wholly black but the other has it all yellowish. Avery interesting case of double mimicry appears in connection with this species. C. imitator itself closely resembles several humble-bees of more or less common occurrence in the Himalayas, and possesses the not unusual colour-pattern of a broad band of dense, long yellowish pubescence on the anterior and hinder thirds of the thorax, covering also the seutellum, and a similar broad band on the basal third of the abdomen, the tip of the latter being covered to a varying distance with dense bright orange-red pubescence, and the remaining surface bearing wholly black pubescence. Several humble-bees of South and Western Europe, Sikkim, Tibet and the Himalayan Region generally, possess this pattern of coloration. These are Bonihus vorticosus, Gerst., distributed from South Europe to the Pamirs ; B.pi/ropy- gus, Friese (variety of orientalis, Smith), from Sikkim; B.montanus, Lep. (variety of alticoJa, Kris.), from Sikkim and Tibet ; and the typical form of B. alticola itself from North and Western Eui'ope, represented in the British Museum from Switzerland, Armenia and Siberia amongst other localities. There is also a close resem- blance between C. imitator and the Syrphid liy L>/C(tstris austeni, sp. nov.* * Described in this voUiine, p. 279. CRIORRHINA. i^85 Besides the iniiiiicry of the bees by G. -imitator, it itself is closely resembled by a large (Estrid, PortscJiinslia przewaJslyi, Ports.* In size and coloration the CEstrid is almost indistinguish- able at a short distance from both the Criorrhivia and the Bomhi. 2\\). Criorrliiua vivida, sp. nov. 5 . l^ead : frons black, \\ ith face gradually \\ idening ; at vertex from | to \ of head, at level of antennas distinctly less than \ ; frons and upper part of face a little grey-dusted, but nearly bare and shining at vertex atid on a transverse space reaching from eye to eye at base of antennae. Frons with fine black iiairs, longer on vertex; long bright yellow post- vertical hairs ; ocelli conspicuous, ruby-red ; tip of frons orange- yellow. Antenn£e brownislr-orange, tip of 1st joint blackish. Epistome directed only moderately forwards, about as long as height of eves, shining dark mahogany-brown, bare. Proboscis black, distinctly longer than head. Occiput ash-grey, with short yellow and black hairs intermixed behind vertical nuirgin, and moderately long blackish-brown hairs on lower part. Thorax: ground-colour anteriorly grey, with yellowish-grey dust and bright yellow pubescence, followed by black pubescence; hind margin with yellow or orange-yellow pubescence; scutellum with yellow pubescence, all the pubescence long and dense. Abdomen'. ground-colour of 1st and of basal lialf of :2nd segment ash-grey, with i)ale yellow pubescence; rest of 2nd segment and greater part of 3rd black, witli concolorous pubescence ; rest of abdomen yellow-dusted, with orange-red pubescence which encroaches a little on 3rd segment ; all pubescence very long and dense. Venter shining black, with fine, whitish-yellow pubescence and black pubescence towards tip. Lerjs : femora black except the tips, which, with the rest of tlielegs, are orange-brown ; the tibiae rather darker, the tarsi rather paler. Pubescence of femora mainly black except some fine pale hairs on under side, that of rest of leg's almost microscopic. Win;/s very pale grey, just perceptibly suffused over divergeiu-e of 2iid and 3rd veins ; stigu)a pale yellow ; lialteres dull orange. Lenr/tli, lo mm. Described from a single {ti/pe) $ from Kashmir, vi. 1001 (Col. Nurse), presented to the British Museum. A 2 i'l the British Museum from N.W. India in bad condition may be identical, but the pubescence of the anterior part of the tiiorax is wholly black, the ground-colour of t'ue apical third of the abdomen is more orange- red than yellow, and the orange-red pubescenco is more extensive. Two j 6 in the same collection from the Eunjit Valley, Sikkiui, V. 1894 (C/»Y/7S. borealis. Fall., a European species, breeds in decomposing peat. lianye. Europe, Siberia, Caucasus, India, Nortb America. A well-marked genus, conspicuous by its plumose arista and its venation, TahU of Species. Central bump ou snout barely perceptible, practically absent himalayensis, ]3run. Central bump on snout long and obvious, but not conspicuous eristaloidcs, Brun. 223. Ssricomyia bimalayensis, Brun. Sericomyia hiiiKtlaymKis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 89 (1908); i, pi. xiii, figs. 0, full insect, 7, antenna, 8, hind leg (1907). 6- Entire froiis and lower part of head bright yellow, with some yellow hair immediately below eyes, at the sides of the cheeks, and on lower part of head behind; central bump barely perceptible; eyes comparatively rather small, contiguous for only the shortest space, facets vei-y small, especially on lower part, but with no distinct line of demarcation ; vertex very small, slightly raised, with a few black hairs ; a few blaek hairs also just above the antenn;p, which are rather small, black and plumose above and below. Thorax yellowish-grey, entirely covered with moderately thick yellow hair, which is longest at the sides and on the posterior border; dorsum cinereous, with short yellow pubescence, and black hairs in the centre, this pubescence being hardly visible from above. Scutellum tawny, with rather long yellow hair. Abdomen bright yellow with a black baud, indistinct in the middle, on the posterior borders of 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments ; the whole abdomen with minute yellow pubescence and some longer yellow hair" at the tip ; venter bright yellow. />^f/« tawny, with thin yellow hair; femora (except tips) brownish, hind pair nearly black; tips of tarsi brown. Winr/s pale grey, a dark brown moderately broad band from beyond the tip of the costal cell, reaching from the fore border to the upper part of the discal cell and the lower transverse vein. Length, 12 mm. Described from one (S fiom Sikkim in the Indian Museum collection. 224. Sericomyia eristaloides, Brun. Sericomyia eristaloides, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. viii, p. 167 (1913). $ . Head : frons barely projecting in profile beyond eyes ; face moderately swollen, snout elongate, central bump distinct but not conspicuous ; haustellum somewhat thick and long ; moutb-piirts SElllCOMYlA. 293 blackish ; I'i-oils, at level ot" antenna), }j widtli of head, narrow iuy consiilerably at vertex ; upper halt" barely sliiniug, black ; ocelli distinct, red, set on the surface of the Irons, enclosed by a slightly impressed line; lower half of frons with brownish-yellow dust. The whole frons with long soft black hairs, wliich towards and on the vertex become dark brown. Whole underside of head, and face from level of the antennte, yellovvish-pollinose, the central binnpdark brown (a little lighter in the centre), with a fairly wide black stripe on each side of it. 8ome black hairs towards sides of central bump, and a little short bright yellow hair on the other parts of under side of head, including the two black stripes. Antenna) without any protuberance ; a small shining rich mahogany-brown triangle immediately above and contiguous to their roots. 1st antennal joint shining black, 2nd nearly quadrate, viewed from in front, with a few stiti' black hairs, 3rd joint much wider than 2nd, twice as long, quite bare, dark reddish-brown, oval, with a little whitish dust on underside; arista long, yellow, plumose above and below, the upper rays distinctly the longer. Occiput ash-grey, nearly whitish on margins, which on upper half of head do not project bey^ond the margin of the eyes themselves, but which do so on the lower half, where they bear long w bite hair. Thorax dull brownish, barely shining, and with sides brownish-grey ; the whole rather thickly covered with yellowish- brown hair. Scutel- luiu brownish-yellow, paler on hind margin; dorsum with browu hairs at base which become yellow and longer towards the tip ; under side with a fringe of soft whitish-yellow hairs. Abdomen : 1st segment whitish-yellow, remainder blackish ; 2nd yellowish on anterior corners, 2nd, 3rd and 4th with an uninterrupted rather narrow yellowish band just before the middle and reaching the lateral margins or nearly so ; all the bands of the same width ; 5th segment entirely black ; some long, soft yellow hairs at tlie sides at the base. Surface of abdomen with very short pubescence concolorous witli the ground-colour; a fringe of very short yellow hairs on hind margin of each segment, most conspicuous on the 4th segment, and the extrc'me edges of the segments themselves, brownish-yellow. Genitalia consisting of a short cylindi-ical tube, from which emerge two oval brownish-yellow lamelhe. f.c^/s : coxie black. Fore femora black, with a yellow streak on hinder side, middle femora yellow, with a wide black streak on front side, hind femora with basal half i)rownish-yellow and apical half black; all the femora with a little pale yellow hair; the hind femora with a number of stiff black bristles of dilferent lengths below, on apical half. Tibia; mainly black, fore pair at base, and middle ])air at base and tip, yellowish ; hind tibiic black ; all tibia) with close pubescence, wliich is brownish-yellow on the front side of the fore tibiie, and whitish on the hinder side, where it is much longer ; hind tibiic with very short pubescence which is black in front and w hiti>h on hinder sidi'. Tarsi black or dark brown, with short tj;olden-yellow pubescence; hind pair with rich golden-brown pubescence below. Win'js pale grey ; a small 294 SYEPIIID^E. brownish-yellow infuscation in middle, extending from the costa and the brown stigma and reaching to the 4th longitudinal A^ein ; squamae and halteres brownisb-yello\^■. Length, 13 mm. Described from a single $ taken by Mr. S. Kemp between Eenging and Eotung, KAV. Frontier "of India, 2200 ft., 20. xi. 1911. A true Sericomijia with the general appearance of Eristalis. Type in the Indian Museum. Subfamily CHRYSOTOXIN^. Antennae porrect, elongate, arista normally dorsal, rarely with an apical style ; anterior cross-vein normally before middle of disc.ll cell ; marginal cell open. This subfamily, like the Milesiin^, is by no means a satisfactory one nor is its position, as such, at all well established. Originally Chri/sotoxnvi was included by Scbiner in the Chrysogastrin^, and, though the latter group is inadmissible as a subfamily, Verrall considered that Chrysotoxum would not be misplaced near Syr2')?ms and Xanfhoc/ramma. The value of both the position of the anterior cross-vein and the elongate or porrected nature of the antennae may be over-estimated, especially the latter. Table of Genera. Antenna? with a dorsal arista Chrysotoxum, Meig., p. 294. Antenrras with an apical style Callicera, Panz., p. 303. Genus CHRYSOTOXUM, Meig. Chrysotoxuvt, Meigen, lUig". Mag. ii, p. 275 (1803). Mulio, Fabricius, nee liatreille, Syst. Anthat. p. 183 (1805). GrENOTYPE, Musca licincta, L. ; by Latreille's designation, 1810, Head semicircnlav, as broad as thorax ; eyes pubescent, but in some cases indistinctl}' so, contiguous for a long space in J but well separated in 5 ; frons prominent, generally black with lateral yellow dust-spots ; face A'ery prominent, not at all cut away below the antennal prominence, descending perpendicularly and only gently curved outwards above upper mouth-border. Antennae long, placed in profile at the limit of the produced frons and upper limit of face, the three joints in many species roughly sub- equal in length ; in other species, 2nd a little longer than 1st, 3rd distinctly longur than 2nd ; 1st cylindrical, slightly wider at tip, 2nd rather similar but proportionately broader at tip, longer on lower side, both with bristly hairs, 3rd bare, roughly cylindrical, arista bare, sub-basal. Thorax roughly oblong, finely punctate, black with yellow side lines and spots, and a pair of rather indistinct greyish stripes on anterior part of dorsum. Pubescence fairly dense ; scutellum similarly clothed, yellow, base more or CURTSOTOXUM. 295 less black. Abdomen ovate or elongate-ovate, often well arched, finely puQctate, generally wirli a pair of curved yellow spots on 2nd to 5th segments. Legs simple, mainly yellow. Wings with venation of Si/rphits, but ^rd vein sometimes more inclined to form a downward bend into the 1st posterior cell ; alulae large. Life-history unknown, but it is suspected that the early stages are passed in rotten wood or in the diseased sap of trees. Range. Europe, Central and «outh Asia, Siberia, North Africa, Orient, North America, West Indies. Fig. G2. — Chrysofoxum baphi/rus, Walk, {scxfasciatum, Brun.), ?. A very well-defined and conspicuous genus of rather large flies, frequently black and with pairs of curved yellow spots on the abdomen. The long antenna), the yellow markings of the body, the nearly wholly yellow legs, the yellowish anterior portion of the wings and the rather faint greyish stripes on the thorax, with the typically Syrphid venation, combine to make the genus easily distinguishable once it has been recognised. The adult flies love the sunshine and are generally distributed in sunny spots, borders of woods and similar situations, though they are very seldom actually common. The relative lengths of the antennal joints are not given, as the diflferences do not seem to warrant their being regarded as of specific importance. Tdhle of S/H'cief!. 1. Abdomen with i'lid, ."lid and 4tli segments with a definite (though sometimes small or relatively indistinct) yellowisii triinigle on hind nnirgin, generally quite obvious and large, and always so on at least one or two segments 2. Abdomen without any of the segments bearing such a hiud marginal trianirle. . . 3 296 , SYKPHID^. 2. Second abdominal segment mainly yellow (as is whole abdomen), with a median transverse black line and a short vertical stripe above it joined to a narrowly black anterior margin bap?ii/rus,W a.\k.,^. 296. Second abdominal segment mainlj^ black, with two transvei'se, elongate, yellow, median spots, pointed at their inner ends ; . hind margin of segment yellowish or brownish-orange conve.vum,Bvun., p. 298. n^ 3. Pairs of yellow spots on 2nd to 5th seg- ments 4. Pairs of spots on at most 2nd and 3rd seg- ments 5. Thoracic grey stripes carried beyond sutnre ; scutellar spot well defined ; abdominal spots lemon -yellow ; femora wholly yellow ; wings with an obvious but ill- ^ defined blackish spot towards tip festivum, L., p. 299. Thoracic grey stripes ending at suture ; scutellar spot ill defined ; abdominal spots ochraceous ; femora narrowly black at base ; [p. 300. y Avings without trace of subapical spot. . . . fuscomarginatuvi, sp. n., 5. Fourth and 5th abdominal segments entirely black 6. Fourth abdominal segment with hind margin orange-brown ; 5th with a large orange [p. 300. spot qiiadrifasciatmn, sp. n., '' 6. Abdomen black ; 2nd and 3rd segments with a pair of nearly linear orange-yellow spots placed distinctly behind anterior margin ; scutellum dull yellowish with a blackish spot antiquii7n,W alk., p. 301. ^ Abdomen deep violet-blue ; 3rd segment sometimes with a pair of linear whitish spots on anterior margin, but these are generally absent ; scutellum brignt lemon- yellow without sign of a black spot .... violaceum, sp. n., p. 302. 225. Chrysotoxiim baphyrus, WaU-. Chrysotoxtim haphynis, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 542 (1849). Chrysotoaum indicum, id., Ins. Saund., Dipt, i, p. 218 (1852). Chri/sotoxiwi sexfasciatu7n, Brunetti, Pec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 89 (1908) ; i, pi. xiii, fig. 9, full ins. (1907). Chrysotoxum citroneUum, Brunetti, Pec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 90 (1908). li- grey dust-spots large, practically meeting tlie yellow face. Thora.v rather shining black, with rather conspi'iuous brownish-yellow pubescence, which is a little longer than in most species. Two grey dust-stri|)es on anterior margin reaching to about suture; a chrome-yellow spot on humeri, at ends of suture, above base of wing and on hind cornei-s, tlie latter spots practically united to 302 SYRPHID^. the concolorous yellow scutellum, whio.h Las onlj^ a trace of au elongate blackish transverse spot but bears obvious black pubes- cence. Plfuroe black, with a little obvious line pale pubescence, rather longer than usual. The usual spots on mesopleura and steriiopleura, the former vv'ith a contiguous sniall pre-alar spot. Abdomen black ; 2ud and 3rd segments each with a pair of trans- verse, narrow, linear spots distinctl}' behind anterior margin, well separated in the middle line but not reaching side margins, placed not qLiite in a straight line. Abdominal pubescence black, that at tile base brownish or yellowish. A'enter black, yellowish at base, 3rd segmenl with a pair of large transverse yellowish spots ; similar, smaller ones on 4th segment. Legs orange, front tibiae more yellowish ; basal half of femora blackish. Wings grey, rather yellowish-brown on about anterior third; blackish in stigniatic region and anteriorly on about apical half. Halteres and squamae orange. Length, 14 mm. Described from the type eiierally longer than) ."Jrd; 2nd rather short but nlways obvious, sometimes nearly half as longas.*3rd; the closed 1st posterior cell nearly always with a spin- on front margin. Michodom, .Meig.,p. 007. First joint of antenna? elongate, cylindiical, bnt shorter than in Microdon ; 2nd so minute as to be easily overlooked ; .'jrd much longer than 1st (o to 6 times as long fgen. u., p. 310. in the type-species) 1'aijamixogastkr, Geiuis MICRODON, Meirj.* Microdon, Meigen, Iliig. Mag. ii, p. 275 (1803). A'jfiriti.". I.atreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. xiv, p. 3o8 (1804). i'hiimophila, Mucquin-t, Hist. Nat. Ins., Dipt, i, p. 485 (1834). Diiiu'rnsj)is, Newman, Fnt. Map:, v, p. 372 ,1838). .Ursofdiiln, Wallver, I.i>t Dipt. Hrit. .AIus. iv, p. ll.-)7 (1840). U/,risfa.<, WaUo-r. Ins. Satmd., Dipt, i, j). 217 (18r)2). Omet/asi/rp/ius, Giglio-Tos, Boll. .Mu-<. Zool. e Anat. conip. Tnrinn, vi, no. 108, p. 4 (18J)1). Gexoxvi'i;. Musca mntabUis, L., by original designation. * For a li.st of tlio Oriental spocies, see Brunelti. Rcc. Ind. Miis. ii, ]}. 94 <19()8): also do Meijcre, Tijd. v. Eat. Ii, pp. I'J'J, 200, notes and a lable of 14 species (1908). .\2 308 SYHPHID^. Head about as broad as thorax, someuliat flaitened ; eyes bare, wide ajnirt in d' , still more so in 5 ; frons iu J geneially sligbtly narroxAed about the middle; face lounded, very ])ubescent, iiioutb- border not prominent ; antennae porrect, appir-ximate at base, 1st joint the longest, cylindrical, 2nd about one-fourfh as long as the 1st, broader at tip and longer on lower side, 3rd joint of irregular shape, longer tlian 2nd, but usually only as long as, or shorter than, 1st, upper side nearly flat, lower side gently rounded ; arista sub-basal, bare, somewhat thickened. :Z7ior«.rsubqiiadi'ate, arched, with rather dense pubescence ; scLitellum rather large, in many species with two blunt tubercles or sjdnes near tlie tip. Abdomen about as long as thorax, rounded, well arched and curved down- ward ; 4th segment in . Lar^'er species, 10 to 13 mm 7. [p. 313. 7. .Vbdomeii mucii broader than 1 borax .... fulvopubescens, s\). r\., .\bdomen not broader than thorax 8. [p. 314. 8. Wholly black species carhonnrins, sp. n., Not wholly black s])ecie3 ajnformis, sp. n.. p. 314. 9. Metallic species beilu.<<, sp. n., p. 310. Non-metallic species 10. [ p. 310. 10. Surface of wing with microscopic .scaL;s . . KquamipenniR, .sp. n., Surface of wing without trace , Brun., p. 317. 13. Thorax dark shining violet. . unicolor. Brun., p. 318. Thorax black avricinchis, Brun., [p. 318. The species of Microdon are in some cases closely allied, and as many specimens go greasy after a year or two unless quite thoroughly dried soon after ca])ture, it is difficult to identify these with certainty. Tiie blunt points or teeth at the bind corners of the scutelluui are easily overlooked. 234. Microdon contractus, sp. nov. 2. Head slightly but distinctly broader than thorax; vertex only slightly raised above level of ej'es ; latter rather dark orauge- brox^n with irregular black markings. Frons and face with parallel sides, at level of antennae forming nearly half width of head, former witii dense yellowish-grey jnibescence, latter with similar whitish pubescence, face gentl}' curved, moderately pro- duced. Antennae dark brown, 1st joint cylindrical, rather paler; 2nd about one-third as long as Lst, broader at tip; 3rd about li times a? long as 1st, much stouter, arista orange-brown. Occiput Avitb a slight deep blue tinge, prominent behind vertex, dying away at upper corners of eyes ; upper margin with short brownish-grey hairs ; sides and lower ])art with whitish pubescence. Thorax black, finely punctate, with greyish-white, rather ragged pubescence, which is a little more conspicuous along suture and much longer on jileuras and in front of aa ing-base ; humeri and liind corners a little brownish-orange. Scutellum small, hind iriargin rounded, with grey hairs; metanotum shining dark brown, bare. Abdomen finely punctate, dark brown, with a dull violet tinge; hind margin of 1st segment bare, very shining ; 2nd segment about twice as long as 1st, distinctly though not greatly narrowed at middle, basal half pale yellowisii, bare, \\ith a distinct rounded bunii3 in middle of anterior half. Pubescence of dark part of abdomen black ; at base of 2nd, 3rd and 4th seg- ments a rather broad band of greyish pubescence, which is invisible in certain lights. Venter with whitish ])ubescence. Legs orange, knees and about basal half of tibise ])ale lemon ; pubescence on coxse whitish, obvious, elsewhere on legs inconspicuous. Wings quite clear ; apical section of 4th vein turned up at a right angle and just slightly recurrent at extreme tip, a minute appendix at flexure; 5th vein well rounded at flexure and very recurrent. Squamae w hifish ; halteres orauge-yellow. Lengthy 9 nun. MICKODON. 311 Described from a unique $ from Deesa (Bombay Presidency), iii. 1897 (Nurse). Ti^ipe in British Museum. 235. Microdon conveniens, sp. no v. $ . Very near contractus but certainly distinct. Vertex more elevated, 1st joint of antennae blackish-brown (rest of antennas missing) ; eyes, dark coffee-brown. Legs orange, basal half of middle femora brownish, a narrow median brown ring on middle tibije; hind femora black for three-fourths of their length, hind tibiae with a narrow black ring ; traces of a dark ring on fore tibiae. Wings with the ultimate microscopic pubescence 8uflii:iently obvious just to darken the surface when seen under a strong lens. 4th vein with apical section straight and recurrent at an acute angle. Length. 9 mm. Described from a single $ from Assam, in the Britisli Museum. 236. Microdon stilboides, Walk. Microdon stilboides, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mas. iii, p. o38 (1849). S . Head metallic blue-green. Eyes separated at nearest point of approach by one-tifth of the head ; vertex and froiis with blackish-brown pubescence, face with whitish pubescence, in both cases moderately dense. Antennae black, set in a bare brown spot on face, arista brown. Occiput concolorous metallic, with a fringe of siiort pale yellow hairs. Thorax metallic blue-green, with dense pubescence, which appears black, green or yellow according to direction of view ; pleura with black pubescence. Scutellum with hind corners produced into two blunt teeth. Abdomen metallic blue-green ; 1st segment wholly purple ; extreme tip of abdomen for a small space orange ; pubescence black, almost microscopic, a litte pale yellowish hair towards tip. Venter purple at base, remainder missing; genitalia orange. Legs u)etallic purple ; femora with blue-green reflections ; pubescence of legs pale, inconspicuous. Wings pale brownish-grey; darker anteriorly to behind 3rd longitudinal vein; spurious vein very distinct, ending opposite tip of appendix in 1st posterior cell; a short appendix towards tip of 4th vein, apical section of latter sinuate. Alar squamse pale brown, with brown edges and fringe; thoracic squama; greyish-white with whitish fringe; halteres whitish. Ijtiigth, 12 mm. Described from Walker's Igpe, a, d labelled simply " E. Ind.,"' which usually means East India: in the British Museum. A brilliantly metallic, almost uniformly green s[)ecies with bluish reflections, and punctate. 312 SYEPHIDyE. ? 5 . Head : frons and face with parallel sides, former slightly narrower than latter, which is one-third of head, both blue-green with a narrow transverse purple line above antennae ; eyes, anteanse and occiput black; head with short brownish-grey pubescence. Thorax blue-green, with violet or purple reflections and short black pubescence: scutellum oblong, concolorous, the hind corners produced as two short blunt teeth. Abdomen coppery, with very short depressed yellow pubescence ; 1st seg- ment deep blue, with whitish pubescence ; venter bright blue, hinder part bright green ; ovipositor long, narrow, yellowish- brown. Legs blue-green, with stiff black pubescence and softer whitish pubescence on some parts ; pulvilli orauge-brown. Wings brownish as far back as 3rd vein, remainder grey ; halteres pale orange. Length, 13 mm. Described from a perfect 5 from Peshoke Spur, Darjiling District (LisUr), in the Indian Museum ; and a second damaged 2 in the British Museum from Sikkim (F. 0. Moller). A brilliantly metallic, punctate species. There seems every probability of the above being the $ of stilboide.'', in spite of the conspicuous difference of its coloration from that of the S ; metallic species are prone to this variation. It is a magnificent species, and the only one with an appendix towards the tip of the 4th longitudinal vein included in this volume. Dr. de Meijere recorded a 6 from Java. 237. Microdon metallicus, de Meij. Microdon metallicus, de Meijere, Bijd. Dierk. xviii, p. 98 (1904). J . Shining steel-blue ; upper side of thorax more violet ; upper side of body densely punctate. Antennas dull black, 1st joint as long as 2nd and 3rd together, 2nd only a quarter as long as 3rd. Epistonie with dense wjdtish pubescence. Eyes blackish- brown, facets of uniform size. Thorax above with short black pubescence ; scutellum with lighter pubescence, its hind corners produced into two blunt teeth ; spines with white pubescence. Sides of thorax nearly bare. Abdomen with very short dark pubescence ; anterior margins of segments towards sides with white hair-spots ; furthermore, the 3rd and 4th segments have two similar spots near the hind margin, those on the 4th segment larger. Two transverse impressions are found respectively between 3rd and 4th segments, and distinctly before tip of 4th segment. Legs black ; tibiae on outer side with dense short white pubescence. Wings clear. Length, 11 mn). ; of wing, 9 mm. Described by de Meijere, from Bengal, and stated to be near stilboideSy Walk. ; it differs from that species, inter alia, by having white hair-spots on the abdomen. MICROUON. 313 238. Microdon caeruleus, Bnm. Micrudon ccentleus, Brunetti, llec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 92 (1908). 2 . Frous nearly one-third width of head, shining blue-black with very sparse and short yellowish hair ; vertex forming a slightly raised triangle reaching almost to tlie base of the antennte, which are blackish-brown, with 3rd joint a little flattened, three or four times as long as 2nd, and with 1st nuR'h shorter than 3rd ; mouth-border pale. Thorax (mnch broken) violet -black ; scutellum concolorous, Mitli two short blunt but distinct spines. Abdomen deep violet-black, posterior Fig. 66. — Microdon ccsruleus, Brun., left antenna in profile *. borders of segments and tip of abdomen with whitish hair. Legs bright tawny-red, base of fore femora brown, middle femora and tibiae brownish-grey, base of hind femora and fipical half of posterior tibitc, brown. Winrjs pale grey, recurrent portions of 4th and 5th longitudinal veins almost straight. Lem/th, 5 mm. Desei'ibed from one $ from Margherita, ^\ssan), in the Indian Museum (the only specimen which I can now definitely refer to this species). 239. Microdon fulvopubescens, sp. nov. 5 . Hea'l : frons and face with almost parallel sides, at level of antennje more than one-third of head, finely |)uuctate, with black pubescence abo\e antenna? and yellowish-grey pubescence on the somewhat aeneous face. Eyes dull red ; antenna; black, 3rd joint nearly twice as long as 2ud, arista brownish. Occiput black, a little yellow pubescence on lower half. Thorax black, witii a distinct jeneous tinge and dense deej) orange pubescence. Pleurae and scutellum similar; scutellum with two blunt teeth. Abdomen much broader than thorax, black, with an aeneous tinge on greater part of surface, and dense, rather depressed, orange pubescence. Venter shining black, miiuitely punctate. Ler/s : coxae and femora black ; tibiae and tarsi dark brown ; a little yellowish-grey hair on coxae and close black pubescence on femora. Tibiae mainly with shore black pubescence, but it is yellowish-grey on front side of fore pair, outer side of middle pair, and both outer and hinder sides of hind pair. Tarsi with blackish-brown pubescence, hind tarsi with orange pubescence on under side. Win(/s pale grey. * Fig. 66 was drawn from a cf example, which, after further examination, I think may not be conspecific with the $ . In the latter the 3rd antcnnal joint is nearly llirce times iis long as tiio lind on the inner side and about four times as lonL' on tlie outer side. 314 SYRPHID.1'. veins hardly perceptibly and narrowly suffused with pale brown ; apical section of 4th vein considerably recurrent, nearly straight. Thoracic sqiiain;e orange with dark orange margin and fringe; halteres brownish-orange, clubs blackish. Lenyth, 13 nun. Described from a single $ from Ceylon, in the British Museum. 240, Microdon carbonarius, sp. nov. (5 §, Head: in J, frons slightly narrowed in middle, at which part it is less than one-third of the head ; face broader than frons, widening a little below; both frons and face shining black, finely juinctate \\\\\\ black pubescence. Eye-facets of equal size. An- tennae black, 3rd joint two and a half times as long as 2nd and as long as 1st. Occiput black, with a little black pubescence towards margin on lower part and beliind vertex. In $ , frons and face equally wide, with parallel sides ; distinctly wider than narrowest part of frons in cS . Thorax shining black, finely punctate, bearing short black pubescence ; seutellum similar, with two apical distinct spines at tip ; sides of thorax shining black with black pubescence. Abdomen in c? oblong, narrower behind, in 5 gradually narrowing from base of 3rd segment ; shining black, finely punctate ; 5th segment turned quite sideways to the left ; the large globular base of the genitalia conspicuous, brownish- grey, with brow nish-orange appentlages. $ genitnlia apparently normal. Venter black with black pubescence. Le(js moderately shining black, pubescent ; knees brownish-orange; tarsi with some yellow or browni-^h-orange pubescence ; pulvilli oi-ange. Wings pale grey; veins very distinct ; halteres orange ; squamae dirty white. Lemjth, 10 mm. Described from two c? c5' and three $ § in the Indian Museum from above Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 3500-3900 ft., 15. vii-30. viii. 1917, including type S ', ix. 1917, type $ {Kemp). This species bears a considerable resemblance to my unicohr, but the scutellar spines will immediately distinguish it. Tyj^^ c7 in the Indian Museum. 241. Microdon apiformis, sp. nov. o . Bead : frons a little narrower in middle, at that point much less than one-third of the head ; face a little wider than frons, gradually widening to lowest part ; frons and face moderately shining hlack with rather long bright chrome-yellow pubescence, both finely punctate. Antennal prominence very small, shining black, 1st and 2nd joints dark brown, 3rd black, two-and-a-half times as long as 2iid and about as long as 1st, tip obtuse. Occiput black, a little pale hair on lower part and behind vei'tex, middle margin nearly bare. Thorax blackish, moderately shining, finely punctate; side and hind margins, humeri and seutellum, rather translucent pale yellowish-brow n ; whole surface with short, close bright yellow pubescence. Seutellum with two distinct apical, brownish-orange, short, obtuse spines. Abdomen finely punctate ; MICRODON. ;}15 1st aiul 2iid segments almost anastomosed ; -ith segment nearly as long as 2nd and 3rd together; whole dorsnm jellow ish-hrouu, but .'Jrd more or less blackish towards sides and 4th wholly bhu-kisli except ill upper central part. Pnbesceiice oF abdomen following ground-colour; the yellow being longer, the black very short and dense. Hind part of 4th segment towards sides witli a Utile yellowish pubesc-ence ; 5th segment twisted to the left side; globular base of genitalia blackish, large, with yellowish-grey tomeiitum. A'^enter yellowish-brown willi a little moderaiely long, bright yellow hair. Leys: coxaj shining black with bright yellow pubescence; femora shining black, with sparse pale pubescence; a small orange space below at base ; tips orange. Anterior tibia; on front side of fore pair and outer side of middle pair mainly blackish ; hind tibia) entirely bhu k. All tibiae with thicker yellow ])ubescence than femora. Tarsi brown wirh yellow pubescence, hind pair darker on upper side with orange-brown pubescence below. Whigs pale grey, the microscopic surface bristles \ery minute and sligiitly depressed ; a barely jierceptible trace of sul- fusion OA'er outer sides of 1st posterior and disciil cells and tips of 3rd and 5th veins, llalteres yellow ; squaiiije dirty \^ bite. Li'wjth, \\\ mm. Described from two s- vein before first third of discal cell; apical section of 4th vein recurrent, with a small appendix at flexure ; r)tli vein almost recurrent, rounded at llexure. Jiamji'. 'I'he only known specifS is recorded from Assam. 1 J tfe-h is tori/ unknown. On my examining species of ]\Iac(puirt.'s genus Mixoijitsler in the British Museum from various regions, it became apparent that my ves/jifonn is is not congeneric; the differences lie in the structure of the anteniue and in the venation. In the various species (named and unnamed) of Mixogaster in flie liritish Museum, the 1st posterior cell often lias on its hinder side a 320 SYEPHID^. spur, which is frequently joined to the tip of the spurious vein ; this spur is wanting in some species, but when present it is never situated on the anterior margin of tlie cell, as is normally the case in Microdon. 249. Paramixogaster vespiformis, Brun. Mixogaster vespiformis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mas. viii, p. 169, pi. vi, figs. 8-10, wing, head, abdomen (1913). 6 . Head: frons about half as wide as the liead, with parallel sides, black, closely wrinkled ; the dull-red eyes are bare, and, seen in profile, do not attain either the upper or lower limits of the head. Face with short, bright yellow hair ; a narrow reddish- brown stripe extends across the frons, from eye to eye, imme- diately above the autennse. The vertex is gently curved, the Fig. 68. — Paramixognster vespiformis, Brim., head in front view. whole of the face quite flat. Antennas reddish-brown, absolutely bare ; 1st joint moderately long, elongate, 2ud very short (easily- overlooked), 3rd nearly six times as long as the 1st, elongate, slender, subcylindrical, very slightly thickened beyond the middle, Fig. 69. — Paramixogaster vespiformis, 33run., abdomen. and tapering to a blunt point; the whole antenna is as long as the distance from the frons to the tip of the scutellum; arista bare, comparatively small, curved, placed near the base of the 3rd joint ; this latter joint is bent backwards across the eyes as are tlie anteuuse in the Aculeate Hymenoptera. Back of head CElillNiE. 321 blackish, a little bright yellow hair behind the eyes. Thorax bright red, with a median black stripe about one-third the width oi; thedcrsum. Sides blackish, with a stripe of briglit yellow hair reaching from the end of the transverse suture nearly to the legs ; posterior margins of the dorsum with yellow hair. Soutellum black, covered with bright yellow hair. Abdomen: 1st segment narrowed immediately behind its base, black, its posterior border reddish-brown ; 2nd segment at base of sanje width as the tip of the 1st, but from its middle rapidly widening ; 3rd segment widening still further, the greatest width of the abdomen being at the junction of the 3rd and 4tli segments, after which the abdo- men rapidly narrows. The 2nd segment is black on the basal half, with a peculiar dirty milk-white stripe on each side of the median line; apical half of segment reddisli-brown, with a fringe of shori; bright yellow hairs on posterior margin. 3rd and 4th segments mainly l)lackish with very short bright yellow liairs; sides of the former distinctly but not conspicuously reddish-brown ; tip of abdomen simihirly coloured. Venter blat-kisli, wliitish at base ; genitalia orange. Ler/s : the coxaj are black ; remainder of anterior legs brow nish -yellow, the tibiae with some whitish reflections. Fig. 70. — ParamLvof/aster vei^fiformis, Bruii., wing. Hind legs black, knees brownish-yellow, and tips of tarsi yellowish; the tibia? and tarsi with minute white pubescence ; under side of hind tarsi brownish-yellow. Wiiujs pale grey ; stigmatic cell yellowish. There is a blackish infuscation at the tip of the wing, reaching from about the tip of the 1st longitudinal vein to just below the 3rd vein. The appendix in the 1st posterior cell is very distinct, llalteres bright lemon-yellow. LciKjth, barely 8 mm. ])f scribed from a single cf from Dibrugarii, Assam, 17-19. xi. lull (Aboi- pjxpedition, Kenij>). y\i/j>e in the Indian JNluseum. Subfamily CI'RlINiE. Antennin porrcct, elongate, set on a soniowiiat produced frons ; 3rd joint with an apical stylo; 3rd vein with a downward lou|) or angle into the 1st posterior cell, this loop often ending in the stump of a vein as in the Microdontinje ; 4th and otli veins not recurrent, but l)ent up at tip in tiie ordinary 8yrphid fashion ; 1st posterior cell closed nearly on wing-border, tip generally pointed. The Cbimin.k are a well-defined group of rather large, wasp-like flies, which also resemble to some extent the flies of the subfamily 322 SYEPHID^. CoNOPiN.E. The group consists mainl}' of the genus Ceria and its alleged subgenera. Though most of the species are tropical, a certain number extend to temperate regions. They are nearly always yellow and black elongated flies of moderate or large size, loviug the sunsliine, flowers and sweet-smelling plants. Genus CERIA, Fah: Ceria, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 277 (1794). Cerioides, Rondani, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (2) viii, p. 211 (1850) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 192, notes and table of species (1908). Sphiximo7-pha, Rondani, op. cit. p. 212. Sphyximorpha, id.. Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 55 (1856). Spiximorpha, id., op. cit. ii, p. 12 (1857). Genotype, Musca conopsoides, L., by universal acceptance *. Bead broader than thorax ; eyes bare, closely contiguous for some distance in 6 , wide apart m $ , in both sexes cut away sharply on inner upper angle in front ; lower part of frons produced soinewha.t, bearing the antennae ; face descending almost perpen- dicularly from below antennae, curving outwards to form the large obtuse lower part of head above upper mouth-border ; antennae long, porrect, placed on a slender elongate peduncle (Ceria) or Fig. 71. — Ceria javava, Wied., 5- directly on the frons {Sjjlilximorpha) ; 1st joint cylindrical, 2iid cylindrical, much narrower and considerably shorter, 3rd usually as long as or longer than 2nd, elongate-oval, the tip pointed and bearing a narrow pointed terminal style. Thorax elongate quad- I'angular, with yellow spots ; scutellum semicircular. Abdomen elongate, cylindrical, often punctate ; or narrowed at base, * I can trace no definite announcement of tills species as type, Fabricius in 1794 having mentioned no species, but coiiopsoides has always been accepted as the genotype. CERIA. 323 sometimes very considerably so (rec;illirtg that of a wasp), gener- allv with yellow (occasionally reddish) bands. Leys moderately long and strong; tibiic subelavate. Wings with ciiaracteristic venation; marginal cell widely open, 3rd vein with a distinct, more or less pointed loop downwards into the 1st posterior cell, from the tip of which a short stump of a vein projects some distance across the cell, \^ hich latter is more or less pointed at tip, closed near the wing-border; anterior cross-vein distinctly bevond middle of discal cell ; 4tli vein ^\'ith traces of an appendix at point of upward detlection. Range. AVorld-wide. Life-history. The larvae of the European C. conopsoides have been found in the sap of diseased poplars and other trees and in ulcers on elms. They are described as elongate-oval, flat below, arciied above, shagreened with small spines, with an anterior spiracular tubercle on either side near the hind margin of the i)rorhoracal segment, and with a posterior spiracular process more than one-third as long as the body. Each body-segment has on (^it her side two or tlu-ee warts, each bearing a group of hairs or spines, and towards the hind end the warts become long filaments, (aee Lundbeck, Diptera Danica, v, p. 588, 1916.) This genus consists of a good number of moderately large or quite large wasp-like flies with well-defined yellow or reddish markings on their black bodies. The genus is very easily recognised wiien once known. On the principle of continuity before priority I retain the generic name Ceria in preference to Cerioides ; and I am inclined to recognise Spliiximorplia, Hond., as a good genus, in spite of the existence of some intermediate species, of which, however, none are known from the East*. Table of Species. 1. No antennal petiole (Sphiximorpha, Roud.) 2. A very long and conspicuous ])etiole ( Ceria, V., .. V2 324 sriiPiiiD.i:. (b) Second abdominal segment short but very distinctly contracted basally or at about the middle ; at narrowest part at least j^ as wide as greatest width of abdomen, generally broader than this. Snd secjment ohvays shorter than 3rd. . 9. (c) Second abdominal segment very long and very slender, much less than \ of the greatest widtii of abdomen. 2nd sef/mm t alicays distiiicfh) longer than 3rd 1 1 . 6. Two siiort longitudinal yellow spots on thorax beliind suture 7. No such stripes behind suture 8. 7. A large, sulphur-yellow spot on eaeli side of 1st abdouiinalseginent; pale markings [p. 329. of thorax ;Mid abdomen sulphur-yellow. . dimidiatipennis, Brun., No spots on 1st aljdominal segment ; niarlv- ings on thorax and abdomen orange-brown brevis, Brun., p. 328. ^. First abdominal segment without a yellow spot Oil each side at base compacta, Brun., p. 329. First abdominal segment with a distinct 3'ellow .«pot on each side at base, often [p. 331. very large and conspicuous orncdifrons, Brun., 9. Two short, elongate, yellow stripes on [p. 330. thorax behind suture himalayensis, de Meij., No such stripes present 10. 10. Thorax with a spot at each end of suture, also an elongate vertically placed spot on either side on mesopleura ; all these spots yellow crux, Brun., p. 332. No such spots present fenestrata, sp. n., p. 333. 11. Two short, ebmgate yellow stripes on thorax behind suture 12. No such .stripes present . . 15. 12. A median, generally triangular, yellow spot [p. 333. between the post-sutural short stripes .. tritwtata, de Meij., . No .such median spot 13. 13. Orange-brown -species; (legs all orange- yeUuw, including coxte ; frons and vertex brownish-orange, without obvious calli) . ;)o/is^o7Vfes, sp. n., p. 335. Black-and-vellow species ; (legs always with distinct bhick parts, even if only hind coxae) 14. 14. Third and 4th segments of abdomen with peculiarly shaped markings patricia, sp. n., p. 335. Abdominal markings consisting only of the [p. 336. normal hind marginal bands tredecimjmnctata, sy>. n., 15. I'rownish-orange species ; wings j'^ellowish- [p. 337. grey with a distinct brownish spot at tip. eumenioidcs, Saund., Black species, generally with pale mark- ings ; wings grey, more uniformly iufus- cated on anterior half 16. 16. Body without pale mai'ks, except that the humeri and hind margins of abdominal segments are very narrowly brownish- yellow , , ohscura, Brun., p. 33>^. Body with yellow .spots on thorax, abdom- inal sea-ments with hind margins vellow . iavann, Wied., p. 339. CERIA, 325 25(1. Ceria fruhstorferi, dc Mcij. Ceria fruhsturferi, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Eiit. li, p. \W', pi. vii, tigs. 1, head, 2, 1st post, cell (1908). $ . A'ery near C-. obscura, liruu. Head very similar in form and colour ; epistome rather more prominent ; frons wiiolly bhick. Auteiinal petiole liardly noticeable, only the buMi|) pi-eseiit, ubicli, moreover, is rather shorter than broad; aiitennal joints relatively longer, 1st joint rather longer than 2ud, ord less than half as long as 2nd*, style very short, thick, black. Thorax: humeri black, scutellum without yellow margin, but with two oval spots forming a red, V-shaped figure in front of the margin. Abdomen with 2nd segment narrower and longer, its hind margin yellow, but the yellow band is interru[)ted in the middle; the shari)ly separated complex formed by the remaining segments is wholly black. Whujs with anterior half, especially the veins, browji-tinged ; the hind half is also soinewliat browni.sh, and the 5th vein narrowly infus- cated ; apical cell only slightly bent inwards on upper side. Halteres yellow. Legs blackish-brown, knees reddish. Lenr/th, 14 mm. t>ikkim, a single $ (Fruhstorfer). 'Type in Hungarian Museum. 251, Ceria fulvescens, Brun. Ceria fulvescens, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xi, p. 251, pi. xiii, lia». 20, thorax, 21, abdomen (1916). 6. Head: hinder orbit of eyes lemon-yellou-. The whole front part of the head lemon-yellow, exce[)t for a l)road median brown stripe, which extends to the mouth, and is enlaiged round the base of the anteiinoB into a diamond-shaped patch which occupies all the upper part, except for the i-ather narrow lemou- yellow border immediately contiguous to the eyes. The side corners of the diamond-shaped brown area just touch the eyes at about half their height, viewed from in front. The cheeks are wholly of a like brown colour, leaving abroad lemon-yellow space between them and the lower part of the median stripe. Ocellar triangle small, brown, lilyes closely contiguous for the short distance that they touch. Antenna) with 1st joint reddish-brown, or more nearly maroon ; 3rd joint brownish-yellow, lighter towards tip; style brownish-yellow at base, the remainder yellowish-white. Back of head more or less yellowish or brow nish- yellow, lliorax reddish-brown or ferruginous. Humeral calli lemon-yellow. There is a pre -alar lemon-yellow callus at each end of the transverse suture, and lenu)n-yellow coloured marks are placed as folhuvs: two faint short lines from the anterior margin which nearly meet, and short transverse similar marks ])laced longiiudinally along the transverse suture, one on each side of the middle; an elongate triangular mark on hind margin of dorsum, the base of the triangle coinciding with the margin ; a narrow sublateral streak towards each side near the wings ; a rather large * All exception to the rule in lliis yemiB. '626 sykphidyE. very clearly-cut mark on each of the meso-, sterno- aud nietapleurse, the first one approximately oval, the others roughly circular. Sciitellum reddish-brown, the ba.se and hind margin ral her broadly lemon-yellow; metanotiim reddish-brown. Abdo- men reddisli-browu or ferruginous ; a large triangular lemon-yellow spot on each side at the base of the strongly narrowed 2nd segment ; posterior margins of 2nd and 3rd segments yellowish, that of the 4th also indistinctly so. Venter reddish-brown, a small lemon- yellow transverse spot towards the hind margin of 2nd segment. Ler/s uniformly ferruginous-brown. Wivgs pale yellowish ; anterior half yellowish-brown, the colour filling the marginal cell and extending partly into the 1st basal cell. Stigma a little darker brown. Halteres with yellowish- white stems and reddish-brown knobs. Length, 18 irim. Described from a single 6 from Bhowali, 5700 ft., Kumaon District, W. Himalayas, vii.1909 (A. D. Imms). In Indian Museum. The uniform orange-brown colour of this species and the absence of antennal petiole separate it at once from all other Indian ones. 252. Ceria decorata, sp. nov. (S . Head : eyes practically but not absolutely contiguous, and for a short distance only ; vertex small, well raised, shiniug black, with rather dense, short greyish pubescence ; ocelli small, shining brownish, rather close together Frons and face uniformly bright chrome-yellow with a large black triangular spot, its apex at upper corner of frons, its base just below base of antennal petiole, the lower corners extended as a fine line to each eye-margin ; con- tiguous to this triangle a broad black median stripe on face, nar- row ed on each side just below the petiole, and narrowing towards tip of epistome. Antennas black, ord joint a little dusted with dull grey, style pale yellow. Cheeks entirely black with a little ragged grey pubescence ; occiput barely ]n-ojecting behind eyes, black, a little greyish pubescence on margins. Thorax black; a distinct, rounded, somewhat large, pale yellow callus on humeri, and at ends of suture, an elongate one on the mesopleura, and a large round one on the sternopleura. Scutellum pale yellow with a round black spot in middle. Abdomen very dark brownish-black. 1st segment yellow on outer third on each side ; 2ud with a broad pale yellow hind margin ; 3rd with similar hintl margin, to which is added towards each side an elongate spot placed longitudinally, its anterior end enlarged and reaching to about middle of segment : 4th segment similar, with a large patch of whitish dust on each side; 5th black, with dull yellow dust. Venter black; hind margins of segments pale. Legs mainly black or dark brown ; anterior femora yellow, a black streak extending over inner and upper sides of apical half of fore pair; another streak on front ■ side of middle pair extending a little upwards at base and tip ; CERIA. 327 hind femora bLirk, a broad yellow ring filling nearly tl>e middle third, incomplete on inner side. Winfjs yellowish-grey ; anterior half dowu to 3rd vein brown ; halteres pale yellow. Length, 15 mm. Described from a single d" in the British Museum, liangoon, iii. 1881 {Bingham). The peculiarly-sliaped elongate spots on the 3rd and 4th abdominal segments easily separate this species from the others in the SjMximorpha-^von^. 253. Ceria triaugulifera, Brun. Ceria trianyulifera, Bruuetti, Rec. Jnd. Mus. ix, p. 273(]91o). c? 5 . Head : eyes in jtler). 200. Ceria fenestrata, sp. \\o\. 2 . Bead black : a small, pale yellow, round spot on each side contiguous to eye-margins at level of base of antennae; and, beginning just below this point, an elongate curved spot on each side, extending from eye-margin to tip of epistoma, leaving a broad, black median stripe. Autennal petiole dark brow n ; antennae black, style of 3rd joint whitish. Occiput black, rather well developed behind vertex but not projecting behind middle of eyes at all. Thora.v entirely black ; humeri with di> black, with a little whitish dust ; narrowly brownish-orange between the upper two of ttie pleural yellow spots and also below wing-base. A lai-ge yellow spot at hinder end of sternum. .Scutellum yellow. Abdomen brownish-orange; 1st seg:nent yellow on basal half, rest black, the latter extending forwards in centre ; 2nd nar- rowly yellow at base, remainder with a rather reddish tinge; hind margins of 2nd, 3rd and 4th with moderately broad, well- defined, bright yellow bands, the minute black bristles in front of these hind margins causing the surface in that region to ajipear darkened; -1th segment indistinctly white-dusted about middle; a little whitish pubescence at sides of 2nd segment. Lei/s bright orange; basal half of hind feniora and of hind tibiae lemon- yellow, that of the anterior pairs also lemon-yellow but less distinctly so ; last two joints of hind tarsi dark brown. Whu/s pale yellowish-grey; anterior half, lo 3r(l vein, yellowish-brown, the veins a little more darkly sufl'uscd. Lenrith, \'A nnn. Descriiied from a single $ in the British Museum, from .Simla, V.1S97 (yarse). 263. Ceria patricia, sp. nov. c? 2. Head: eyes in J quite contiguous for a short distance; vertical triangle conspicuously elevated, extending hack somewhat, orange, with a central black spot bearing the ocelli and a slun-t 330 SYBPHID.!;. black stripe reaching thence to the hind margin ; a rather narrow median black stripe extending from upper angles of frons, encircling base of antennal petiole, to tip of epistome ; a very broad stripe on cheeks, leaving hinder part narrouly yellow. Antennae and petiole wholly black or dark orange-brown. Occiput narrowly projecting, but only behind upper part of eye-margins, with a short yellow fringe on the upper part and a white fringe on the lower part. In 2 , vertical region much elevated ; orange- yellow on either side on outer third, middle third black ; a black transverse band from eye to eye across middle of frons. Thorax black, with bright yellow spots placed as follows : a humeral one, rounded above, pointed below ; a sutural, rounded in front, nearly linear behind ; a pair of yellow dust-spots lying along middle of suture, their inner ends rounded, their outer ends fading to a point; an elongate stripe towards each side reaching from suture nearly to hind margin ; a niesopleural spot, oval, pointed below ; a ptei'opleural, subtriangular, and a sternopleural, rounded spot, A little very short whitish pubescence on dorsum, Scutellum black, with a broad yellow hind margin. Abdomen black ; 1st segment with a large yellow spot on each side ; 2nd more or less dark brown ( c? ) or orange-brown ( 5 ) ; hind margins of 2nd, 3rd and -Ith segments with a distinct yellow band, which on the 3rd segment turns forwards along either side for a short distance, then back towards the centre of tlie disc as an elongate spot. 4th segment similar to 3rd, the elongate side-spots larger; a pair of median spots present, roughly triangular, with their inner sides parallel and extended upwards in a short line. Legs mainly brownish-orange ; coxae black, base of anterior femora black for a short distance, biisal half of hind paii* pale yellow (less distinctly so in $ ) ; hind ])air with a black speck on basal half of their upper side in S ■, and a small black streak in middle of under side. Tibiae indistinctly blackish about the middle and tarsi blackish towards tips ; in $ , tibiae and tarsi wholly orange. Coloration of legs probably variable. Wings yellowish -grey, pale brownish- yellow as far as 3rd vein ; no stigma ; halteres orange. Length, 20 nnn. Described from one pair fron) Tavny, Tenasserim, Lower Burma, x. 1893 (^Bingham) ; in the British Museum. 264. Ceria tredecimpunctata, sp. nov. S § . Head : eyes in S closely contiguous for a short distance ; vertical triangle shining black, with dense brownish-yellow pubes- cence. Frons and face chrome- or lemon-yellow; a black triangle includes the base of the antennal petiole, and its angles are joined by line lines to the eye-margins ; there is a rather broad median black stripe on the face and a very broad black stripe on either cheek. Antennal petiole black; 3rd joint of antennae brownish, tip of style whitish. Occiput very narrow behind vertex, not CERIA. 33; pvojectiiis behind middle of eyes in profile, witli short, concolorous pubescence ; lower part of head with a little yellow pubescence. In $ , head more translucent yellow, vertex broadly black. Thorax black, with yellow spots on the humeri, at the ends of the suture, on mesopleura and sternopleura, and with a long post- sutural yellow spot towards each side ; scutellum black with a moderately broad yellow margin, which is narrowly connected by a fine yellow line with the base of the wing on each side. Abdomen black ; a yellow mark consisting of two contiguous spots on each side of 1st segment ; 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments with yellow hind margins ; some rather long, fine hair on 1st and 2nd segments at sides ; oth segment shining black, with black pubes- cence; rest of abdomen appearing dull, owing to tlie extreme density of the microscoi)ic bristles covering it. Legs mainly black ; nearly basal third of fore femora, a large oval spot on basal half of middle pair and about basal quarter of hind pair, lenion- yellow ; about basal half of anterior tibise more or less yellowish ; hind tibia; orange-brown below. Pubescence of legs pale yellow, inconspicuous ; a little more obvious on hind femora and on apical half of hind tibije. Wings pale grey ; anterior half moderately dark brown as far as 3rd vein ; halteres pale yellow. Letu/th, 15-16 mm. Described from 1 6, Salween Valley, Burma, viii. 1894 {Bing- ham), and 1 $ , Lower Kanges, Khasi Hills, Assam, 1878 {Chennell) ; both in the British Museum. The markings of the $ are i)alei- and more ochraceous tlian those of the d" • 265. Ceria eumenioides, Saand. (PI. VI, fig. 8.) Ceria eumenioides, Saunders, Trans. Ent. See. Lend, iii, p. 60, pi. v, ligs. 6, ff-f/, full ins. col., etc. (1841). Ceria apicata (" Bigot, nom. mtd")*, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 95 (1908). c? ? . Head transverse, slightly broader than thorax. Eyes in cJabsohitely contiguous for about half the distance from vertex to upper angle of frons, the upper facets oidy for a small space distinctly larger than the others. Erons and face pale to deep vellow, with a pale brownish-orange stripe on either side delimiting the cheek. Occiput wholly ycdlow, distinctly prominent behind vertex (the ocellar region obviously swollen and rather orange) but narrowing rapidly on each side. Antennae, Avith pedicel, entirely orange-yellow, varying a little in individuals. In $, eyes with rounded upper inner corners, separated by between :| and ^ width of head ; somptimes there is a pale orange stripe across upper part of frons. Thorax liglit redtlish-brown ; bright lemon-yellow calli on humeri, on ends of suture (extending as a very narrow line for a short distance across din-sum ), on mesoph-ura, sterno- pleura and ])teropleura ; the callus on the pteropleura is triangular * Apparently merely a MS. name of Bigot'a ia the Indian Museum coUeciion. 338 syepridjE. and fits closely to those on tlie steruopleura and mesopleura. 8cutelluin yellow, with basal part blackish ; the blackish area varies in extent from a very narrow basal portion to the greater part of the surface. Abdomen bright reddish-brown ; 1st segment very narrowly yellow at base ; 2nd very nari^ow for three-fourths of its length ; its hind margin has a distiuct yellow band : 3rd segment with a yellow band on the hind niargin, this band widen- ing towards the sides and narrowing again just before the extreme side margins of the dorsum ; 4th segment narrowly brown at base, remainder yellow-dusted with a distinct yellow hind margin, which spreads forward up either side of the segment as a large spot, leaving the extreme side margin wholly clear ; 5th segment very small, yellow-dusted. Legs brownish-orange ; front femOra with a long pale lemon-yellow streak below ; hind femora pale lemon- yellow on basal half. Wim/s yellowish-grey, deeper brownish- yellow on anterior half down to about the spurious vein ; tips of 2nd and 3rd veins, including the loop of the latter, distinctly and rather broadly suffused with dark brown. Halteres yellow. Length, 15-20 mm. Described originally from Northern India. The present de- scription is drawn up mainly from two § $ in the Pusa collection from Kohat, North- West Frontier Province, 7. v. 1916 {Fletcher), two $ 2 fi'oiw Matheran, Bombay Presidency, iii & v. 1899 (Nurse), and one $ from Chapra, Bengal {Machenzie). This species occurs also at Calcutta; at Abbottabad, Hazara District, 21. v. 1915 (Fletcher); and in Northern Bengal (Saunders Collection). Saunders's type, in the British Museum and in excellent pre- sei'vation, agrees closely with the above-described specimens. 266. Ceria obscura, Brun. Ceria obscura, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 94 (1908) ; i, pi. xiii, fig. 12, full insect (1907); de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. li, p. 196, pi. vii, tigs. 3, head, 4, first posterior cell (1908). c? 2 . Head : in c? , frons and face pale yellow, marked with a large black cross, composed of a broad longitudinal stripe extend- ing from upper corner of frons practically to mouth-border, and of a transverse, rather angulated band reaching from eye to eye just below the base of the antennal stem. Antennae black, with joints subequal, and the stem a little longer than the 1st joint. In 5 , frons and vertex wholly black, with a thin yellow V-shaped mark below the antennae. Thorax dull black, humeral calli tawny ; scutellum black, the posterior edge narrowly yellow. Abdomen black ; basal three-fourths of the contracted 2nd seg- ment brown ; posterior borders of 2nd and 3rd segments narrowl}^ jrellow ; 4th with a distinctly wider black border ; 5th black, small. Legs all dark brown, the outer sides of the tarsi with a little grey pubescence. Wings grey, dark brown from the costal border; the latter colour extends over both basal cells and to CEiiiA. 339 about halt"- way between the 3rcl and 4t]i longitudinal veins, and reaches to the wing-tip at the termination ot" tliese two veins. The lower half of the discal cell is tlius clear. Length, ]'2^ niiu. Described from one $ in the Indian Museuui collection, from Sikkim. De Meijere records a d' from the same locality. I ha\e seen examples from the liunjit Valley, Sikkim, v. 1894 (Blnc/ham) ; Tauiigu, bikkim, xi. 1888 [Biwjham) ; and from Assam. 267. Ceriajavana, Wled. (Text-fig. 71, p. 322.) Ceria javana, Wiedemann, Anal. Eut. p. 32 (1824) ; id., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 81 (1830). (S $ . Head black : in (5 , f rons and face pale to deep yellow ; a broad black median stripe runs from top of frons to mouth- border, and a transverse black band just below antennae reaches from eye to eye. In ? , vertex broadly black, cheeks wholly black in both sexes. Antennae black, petiole black or very dark brown, paler below ; 3rd joint brownish, grey-dusted, apical bristle rather long. Occiput black, with yellowish tomentum on side margins; narrowing above, with a continuous fringe of short white hairs and of yellowish and brown pubescence behind vertex. Thorax black, closely punctate, with indefinite traces of a yellow- ish tomentose median stripe, which reaches to the hind margin where it broadens and slightly divides. Conspicuous bright orange- yellow calli on humeri, at each end of suture, on mesooleui'a, pteropleura and sternopleura. Scutellura yellow, with a central black spot reaching from base to hind border, where it narrows considerably. Pubescence of thorax inconspicuous, very short, black; that of scutellum brown, very short ; frenulum very dis- tinct, pale yellow ; metanotum shining black, bare. Abdomen slightly shining black, closely punctate. 1st segment with two large yellow calli on each side at base; 2nd segment over four times as long as Ist,. extremely narrow and dark brown for three- quarters of its length, then black and suddenly widened ; 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments with thick, pale yellow to brownish-orange hind margins, which on 3rd and 4th segments respectively extend forwards at sides nearly to the middle of the segment. Pubes- cence of abdomen yellowish-brown ; there is a little soft, white, longer ])ubescence at the sides of the first two segments ; venter shiiiinglilack,with traces of yellowish bands on hind borders of 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments. Le;/s]>\ac\i or very dark mahogany -brown ; there is a l>.ng. bright yellow, well-defined streak on the lower surface of the tore femora and on the hind surface of the middle femora, these streaks in both cases reaching nearlv from base to ti|) ; on th(! inner and outtn* sides of the basal half of the hind femora the stripes are so large as to be only narrowly si-paiated. Pubescence of legs inconspicuous, geneiaily concolurous with ground-colour. IVings pale grey ; anterior half, down to just z 2 340 CONOPID^. behind 3rd vein, and including all basal half of 1st basal cell^ rather dark brown ; 5th vein narrowly sufluKed with brown up to base of diseal cell ; halteres yellow, tips of clubs dark. Length, 16-20 mm. Described from various 6 6 and $ $ in the British and Indian Museums. Darjiling District, 1000-3000 ft., v. ]912 {Lord Car- michael) ; Sukna, 500 ft., 2. vii. 1908 (Annandale) ; Sidapur, Coorg, S. India, 3000 ft., 29. iv. 1917 ; Margherita, Assam. Originally described by Wiedemann (ea; coll. Westermann) from Java, this species is also known from Malacca, Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo. Family CONOPID^. Head large, broader than thorax, bare, loosely attached by a narrow neck ; vertex inflated or vesiculose ; ocelli absent (CoNO- PiN^) or present (Myopin^) ; eyes bare, wide apart in both sexes;, epistome broad, perpendicular or slightly receding, descending often considerably below eyes; mouth-opening Inrge, with an oral bristle on each side; proboscis long or very long, thin,, usually projecting horizontally or downwards, geniculated at bas& Fig. 72. — Conops cryihrocefhalus, Fabr. only (CoNOPiNJE and Zodion) or also in the middle (Mi'OPinje except Zodion); labella very narrow and short; palpi varying in length and shape, cylindrical or clavate. Antennae porrect, 3-jointed ; last two joints often at a distinct angle to the basal one ; generally elongate, with a short apical style (Cois^oPiNiE) or with a style-like doi'sal arista (Myopin^). There is an inflatible ptilinum above the anteunse. Occiput inflated to a varying extent. coxopim;. 341 T/iorrto; comparatively short, subquadrate, nearly or quite bare, rarely longer than broad ; scuteilum semicircular. Thoracic squaiiue small. Abdomen 6- or 7-segmented, cylindrical, thinly pilose or bare, generally slightly curved downwards, usually narrower than thorax, sometimes much constricted at base; its tip is more or less clavate. Genitalia in 6 not very prominent, thread-like ; in 2 consisting of a large basal segment with apical processes, and generally comprising also a large shield-like organ on the under side of the -'jth segment*. Ovipositor in Dalmannia (not an Oriental genus) long ; in Stijlogaster extremely long and horny. Legs moderately long and stout, nearly or quite bare, of uniform shape except for ihe thickening of the femora in some genera ; tarsi furnished with two distinct pulvilli. Wings either comparatively long and narrow or of moderate width, in one genus {SUilomyia) cuneiform ; auxiliary vein and 1st and 2nd longitudinal veins straiglit or nearly so, ending between the middle of the costa and a point at about tliree-fourths of its length ; 3nl and 4th veins ending near apex of wing, diverging considerably beyond anterior cross-vein, converging towards their distal extremities, causing 1st posterior cell to be either narrowly open or closed on the wing-border or shortly petiolate ; subcostal cross-vein (in Coxopix.t. and in the genera Zodion and Pleuro- cerinella of Myopix.e) situated near tip of auxiliary vein, sometimes weak ; anterior cross-vein usually at about the middle of the very elongate discal cell, in some genera beyond the middle; posterior cross-vein erect or sloping; 5th vein forked (simple in Stglomifia), its upper branch meeting the discal cell near its base, forming the lower side of this cell aiid ending at the wing-border, its lower branch joining the 6th (anal) vein towards the wing-border; anal cell normally elongate, always closed and petiolate, sometimes very short ; anal angle of wing normally well d(;veloped ; alulse sometimes very large ; squamae either moderately large, small or rudimentary. Life-liistoru . In species in which this is known, the larvse are paraj'itic on adult be^s, wasps or Orthoptera. Williston states that in some cases the eggs are deposited on the hosts during flight, and that the larvic, when liatched, burrow in^o the abdomen. The adult Ct)NOPiD.T5 escape by passing between the segments of the al)domen of the host, and such an emergence from the body of a living bee has even been watched. One European species, Conops quadrifasciutus, De Geer, develops in tlie bee, Bombus lapldarins. Other hymenopterous genera acting as hosts of * Several authors liave confused I ho sexes, though Schiuer cieiirly dilTeren- tiaterl them, and I must plead guilty to having made tlio same error in my previous descriptions of species of this family. Moreover, liie shield-like organ has been erroneously referred by some authors to the 4th instead of the 5th segment. B42 coNOPiD^. Conops or PhysocejiJiala are Vespa, Odynerus, Osmia, IfaUctus, Fompilus, Sphex and Bemhex; Jllyopa breeds in Andrena aud Vespa ; Zodion in Hylcms ; Stylogaster is probably parasitic on ants {Kciton). The larvae are aniphipneustic, oval or pvriform, with distinct segments, wart-like antennae, mouth-hooklets strongly bent, and the last segment bearing two large round or renifoi'in stigmatic plates arched like a watch-glass; the pnparium is oval or barrel-shaped. Dr. de Meijere published comparatively recently* an elaborate paper on the biology of this family, and this work should be studied by those interested in the subject. Dr. P. Speiser also discussed the bionomics of the family in a paper published in 1910 t. The CoNOPiDiE are a restricted group of flies varying in size from moderate to rather small. They are of world-wide distri- bution, but, with the exception of a few species, occur sparingly. The CoNOPiNiE bear considerable resemblance to wasps and to the subfamily CEKiiNiE of Stepiiid^. They are mostly bare, or prac- tically so, while some of the Mtopin.^ are clothed with short pubescence. The insects of this latter subfamily are of more muscoid appearance, and by some recent dipterologists have been included in the MusciDJi, sensu latissimo. The genus Styloyaster, hitherto only recorded from Africa and South America, is less conopoid in general appearance but is, I think, allied to Zodion. In all the genera the species seem variable, and in many cases I have found it impossible to ascertain their limitations. Examples of a number of species, in perfect condition, collected by Colonel Nurse, have formed an important part of the material on which I have worked. Table of Subfamilies. Ocelli absent ; 3rd antennal joint terminating in a distinct, 2-jointed, apical style Conopin^, p. 343. Ocelli present; 3rd antennal joint normally ter- minating in a 2-jointed, dorsal, sometimes style- like arista (Pieurocerinella has a true 2-jointed style) Myopin^, p. 367. The first subfamily consists of larger species, generally of a more or less wasp-like appearance ; the representatives of the second subfamily have points of resemblance both with Conopinje and with Muscin^, with which latter family they have been sometimes incorrectly united. * Tijd. V. Ent. xlvi, p. 144 (1903). t Scliriften d. Physik-okonom. Ges. Kouigsbere, Jahreang 50, pp. 177-183 (1910). CONOPS. 343 Subfamily CONOPINiE. The two Oriental genera may be distinguished as follows :— Ffinora, especially liiud pair, suddenly incrassated towards base; tibi;\; more irregularly tliickened; anterior cross-vein situated at about two-thirds the len<:rth of the discal cell; basal segments of [och., p. 600. abdomen considerably narrowed • • . . PhysoCF.phat.a, Femora of uniibrm tlnclmess throughout; tibiai hardly irregularly thickened; anterior cross- vein at about the middle of the discal cell; basal segment of abdomen only slightly, or not at all, narrowed Coxops L. Genus CONOPS, L. Conops, Linnoeus, Fauna Sueciaj, p. 1907 (1761). Conopceus, Rondaui, Mag. de Zool. pi. 15:3, iig/2 (1845). Sphi.vusoma, Roudani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, ii, p. 223 (1857). Genotype, Conops ^fl a vI pes, L. ; by designation of Curtis. Head large, broader than thorax, bare, loosely attached by a narrow neck; epistonie perpendicular or slightly receding, descending at sides considerably below level of eyes ; eyes bare, wide apart in both sexes, vertex with a transverse vesiculose tubercle; ocelli absent; proboscis elongate, cylindrical, much longer than head, generally horizontal, bent at base; labella small and narrow. Thorax subquadrate, bare, often with well-defined yellow spots, especially on the humeri, on the posterior corners of the dorsum and near" the bases of the wings ; scutellum semi- circular. Abdomen elongate, cylindrical, G-seguiented, generally slightly curved downwards; base usually slightly narrowed, tip more or less clubbed. Genitalia in d small, thread-like, scarcely prominent. In the $ the genitalia comprise a large, obtusely conical piece with apical appendages, and are furnished with a large, curved, shield-like organ, which is produced from the 5th segment, but which (when the 4th segment is very short, as is often the case) appears to belong to the 4th segment. This shield-like organ is often present in the d si'^o, but is always comparatively small in tliat sex. Lcf/s comparatively strong, moderately long, practically bare, having" at most a little soft i)ubescence in certain species ; hind femora generally slightly longer and thicker than the others. 117 h^4- with the venation typical of the family; 1st posterior cell closed a little before the margin ; anterior cross-vein at about middle of discal cell and situated almost opposite, or just before, the tip of the auxiliary vein ; 2iid basal cell less than half as long as the 1st; anal cell long and narrow, (dosed distuictly before margin of wing. llanqr. World-wide. Life-histonj: see under heading oF the family. 344 coyopiD^. Conops is one of the earliest founded genera in Diptera, and is soon recognised by the collector by its wasp-like appearance, its long, rigid proboscis and antennae, and its peculiar venation. The species are of moderate size or even comparatively large. They usually exhibit a brown or black ground-colour marked with yellow or reddish spots and bands. The adult flies occur on flowers and in sunny spots, and are generally distributed. The species are sometimes closely allied and diflicult satisfactorilj^ to tabulate, and some little knowledge of the family is required to identify them with certainty. 2\ible of Species. 1. Wings quite clear claripennis, sp. n., Wino-s never clear 2. [p. 3-io. 2. («) Thorax and abdomen wholly black ; at most traces of whitish stripes on an- terior margin of former, and humeri pale {erythrocejphahis) ; or with golden - grey pubescent abdominal bands {pactyns) ; or with hind margins of 2nd and 3rd abdominal segments grey-dusted 3. {h) Thorax wholly orange-brown, abdomen entirely black with obvious black pubescence, much more conspicuous [p. 346. than is usual in Conops nigriventris, sp. u., (c) Thorax and abdomen having the faciea normal to Conops ; ground-colour mainly brown or orange (mainly black in nnnulosus), with yellowish, whitish or bhickish markings 4. 3. («) Wings abnormally broad, wholly black : body violet-black; abdomen barely narrowed at base ; pulvilli and claws [p. 347. orange erythrocephcdus , F., {b) "Wings of normal width, dark grey; body dull black ; abdomen much narrowed (for that of a Conops) just beyond base ; pulvilli and claws black ; 2nd and 3rd abdominal segments grey- [p. 348. dusted sepidchralis, Bruu., (c) Wings of normal width, grey with anterior half much darker ; abdomen with golden-gre}' dust-bands on hind margins of 1 st and 2nd segments in S and 5 > and also on 3rd and 4th in c5' pactyas, Walk., p, 349, 4. Thorax with 3 stripes omatus, Big., p. 350. Thorax never striped 5. 5. A pair of black dots on frons at the level of the anteimaj 6. Such spots always absent 7. coxops. 345 6. Antenna) brownish-orange, especially tlie 3rd joint; abdomen witiiout any black colour (except sporadically in individuals); basal half of wing yellowish, distal part grev or pale blackish, the colours divided vertically, always with a fairly obvious, [p. S-jO. large, darker, subapical cloud nubeculosuSy Big., Anteunfe wholly black ; abdomen mainly black, hind margins of segments dusted with golden-yellow in S ■, reddish-orange on 2nd to 5th segments in $ ; wings dark brown from costa to 3rd vein, with 1st posterior cell more or less brown, the line separating the shades being hori- zontal ammJosus, Big., p. SolJ. 7. Antenufe orange or yellowish ; metanotum brownish-orange, yellow-dusted; anterior half of winir pale brownish or blackish ; [p. 3o;5. abdomen without red ground-colour .... intermedins, sp. n., Antennas almost w-holly black ; metanotum wholly black; anterior half of wing dark brown to 3rd vein, also 1st ])osterior cell ; hind margins and sides of 3rd and 4th [p. 353. abdominal segments distinctly red rufofasciatus, sp. n., C. testaceiis, Macq., though Indian, is excluded from the tahlo because the description of it is very inconipk^te. Judging irom the description this species should fall into section G, but actually it may be a PhysocephaJa, 2G8. Conops claripennis, sp. nov. 2nd and 'dvd. segments in J with a yellow-dusted baud; tip of abdomen yellow-dusted in c? , grey-dusted in $. Tibiae a little blackish towards tips. "Wings darker grey, other- wise the apparent "spurious" vein and other characters are as in the normal form. Lengthy 1h-^'h i, tig- 7 (1843). 6 2 . Head orange or orange-yellow wirh silvery-\^hite rellec- tions ; lower part of frons, antennal prominence and antennae, black or blackish; proboscis with basal half reddish-brown, apical half black ; a small conspicuous round black spot on each side of frons at level of antenna), contiguous to eye-margin; i'ig. 73. — Conops crythro- cephaluf, F., ^ genitalia. Fig. 74. — Conops crythro- eepholus, F., $ genitalia. occiput orange with whitish reflections. Thorax black, with white-dusted dorsum; biniieri dull orange with whitish reflections; pleurae black with general silvery-white reflect ions and a broad silvery-white stripe from behind humeri to middle coxa?. A/idumen violet-black, last segment in (J white-dusted; genitalia eon- colorous, genital shield in $ very large, black. Legs black or dark brown; coxie witli more or less whitisli reflections; anterior femora rcddish-lirdw n or orange-brown, except narrowly at tips; tarsi in certain lights seen to be covered with moderately dark 348 CONOPID^. brown pubescence. Wings wliolly blackish-brown, violet-tinged, slightly paler posteriorly; halteres relatively small, black. L-UKjth, 10- Lo mm. Described from a long series of both sexes from Pasa, Bengal ; 20. iv. 1905; 1. viii. 1U07 (on rice); 21. ix. 1907; and from Chapra, Bengal (Mackenzie); common in both these localities in September. Deesa, (Nurse). Co\omho (Terburij). Lashio, Upper Burma, 3000 ft., 23-24. viii. 1914 (Fldcher). The locality ap- pended to the original description was simply " India orieutalis." A striking species, from its practically wholly black colour and very broad black wings, 271. Conops sepulchralis, -Br»?i. Physocephala sepidc/tralis, Brinietti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 498 (1912). d . Jlead wh(jlly black except the face and under side, which are bright chrome-yellow, the colours sharply delineated in a line across the base of the antenufB. The extreme under side of the head, below the eyes, and the mouth and the proboscis are black, the proboscis extending barely beyond the epistoma. Antennae entirely black; 2nd joint two-and-a-half times as long as 1st; 3rd elongate, with a 2-jointed style, the first joint cup-shaped, the second pointed ; the 3rd antennal joint together with its style is about two-thirds as long as the 2nd joint; seen from in front and below, the 3rd joint is a little greyish on the inner side. There is a very dull, dirty yellow, subtubercular oval area, most obvious from behind, on the vertex. Thorax with scutellum, Fig. 75. — Cono'ps sepulchralis, Bruu., profile of bead. metanotum and sides, wholly black. Ahdomen wholly black ; 1st segment with a few stiff black hairs at the sides ; 2nd segment distinctly contracted (about half as wide as the 3rd and 4th segments), dull yellowish-brown on hind margin and a little grey- dusted at the sides ; 3rd segment with hind margin barely whitened, and with a little grey dust at the sides behind ; remainder of abdomen black, bare; genital organs small, black. Legs very dark reddish-brown, nearly black ; coxte black ; hind pair, seen from behind, brilliantly shining silvery-white ; the silvery -white colour extends to a considerable degree across the posterior part of the inetasternum ; anterior coxa3 silvered to a less extent; femora with a broad black median ring filling two- coNOPs. 349 thirds ot" their length, thi^ iniddlo pair with distinct but short hhick hairs behind ; tihi;e ilatteiied behind at the tips, where they exhibit silvery retlectioiis when viewed from above; tarsi black,, piilvilli (jrey below, Wiur/s dark grey; anterior part from costa to 3rd longitudinal vein more or less darker brown, varying in intensity in different parts; halteres yellowish-orange. Leiu/th, 14 mm. Described from one c? (not $ ) from the lAishai Hills, Assam (3600 ft.), 14. iv. ( ? 1909). In the Indian Museum. Though originally described under the genus Physocephala, this species is probably better referred to Conops, on account of the entire absence ot any thickening of the hind femora, and the position of the anterior cross-vein at the middle of the discal cell. The strong basal contraction of the abdomen is a character o£ Phi/soci'phcda, but one which is, I think, of minor importance, and the species may be considered as to some exteut intermediate between the two genera. 27i'. Conops pactyas, Wall: Conops pactyas, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. iv, p. 255 (1852). 6 2 . Head: frons black, a little reddish-brown above the black anteunal prominence ; eye-margins narrowly gilded ; face and lower part of head orange, with (seen from above) golden-grev leflections; proboscis blac-k, nearly twice as long as head; antennpe black, a short orange streak on apical half of under side of 3rd joint ; occiput orange-yellow, mainly black in centre. Thorax wiiolly black, sliglitly dusted with golden-yellow on hind margin of dorsum and hinder side of metanotum ; metapleurte dusted with yellowish-grey. Abdomen black ; a broad golden dust-band on hinder half of 1st and 2nd segments, on 3rd and 4th also in c? ; oth in (S considerably dusted with golden-yellow; Gth segment reddish-brown at tip and grey-dusted ; genital shield very large and long, front side reddish-brown, inner side black. Legs: coxse black with whitish reflections; hinder side of hind pair reddish-brown ; femora either orange-brown (tvpe) or black, in the latter case with about, apical half of hind pair and greater part of under side of all pairs, orange-brown : tibia; brownisli-orange, a little darker towards tips, with brilliajit silvery reflections on outer side ; anterior tarsi black, hind pair dark brown ; i)ulvilli and claws bright yellow, extreme tips of latter Idack. Wimjs grey, anteriorly moderately dark blackish- brown, this colour being delimited posteriorly by the 3rd vein, but including the 1st posterior cell except its hinder side; lialteres dark brown. Length, 13 mm. liedescribed from the iype $ from Java in the Ih-itish Museum and a second $ from Lashio, Upper iJurma, 3000 11., 23-24. viii. 1914 (FhtcJter). The femora of the latter ex«m|)le are much n)ore blackish than those of thety[)e, and the outer sides 350 COKOPID.15. o£ its diseul and 1st posterior cells are more nearly in a line. A S in the British MusHura from Darjiling, iv. ] 901 [Binr/ham), is almost certainly of this species and possesses golden dust-bauds on the 3rd and 4th segments. There is also a 5 from the Ivhasi Hills in the British Museum, and a 5 in the Indian Museum from Talewadi, near Castle E-ock, N. Kanara District, 3-10. x. 1916 273. Conops ornatus. Big. Conups ornatus, Bigot, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, xvii, p. 211 (1892). " 2 • Long. 15 mill. Antennae reddish, last segment a little paler; proboscis blackish; face reddish with pale shining yellow reflections ; two small black spots on frons near eye-margins. Thorax redtlish, disc with three broad blackish stripes ; scutellum reddish ; pleurae concolorous, with some silvery dust reflections ; halteres pale tawny. 1st segment of abdomen blackish ; 2nd moderately broad, elongate, reddish ; 3rd and 4th blackish, nar- rowly bordered with reddish ; the rest reddish, but the 5th and 6th in the middle at the base blackish ; the last three segments with golden-yellow dust reflections on each side. Legs reddish, tips of tibipe broadly, and tarsi wholly, blackish ; outer side of all tibipe with brdliant silvery reflections. Wings wholly pale tawny, tip broadly suffused with blackish. Vertex and frons not at all inflated ; proboscis much longer than head ; femora not at all thickened. "Two specimens, Mahe, India {M.Em. Descliamps)."' J udging from this description, and particularly from the mention of the two black spots on the frons, this species might almost be identical with Bigot's nubectdosiis, but the three broad blackish stripes on the thorax should be a good distinguishing character, and the insect is also decidedly larger. 274. Conops mibeculosus. Big. (PI. VI, fig. 9.) Conops nuhecnlosus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) vii, p. 86 (1887). S $. Head', vertex, frons, antenual prominence and occiput In-ight brownish-yellow ; face and rest of lower part of head bright pale, almost golden, yellow, wlrh a vivid yellow, pale yellow or yellowish-white shimmer when seen from above; the colours of the frons and face are sharply delimited at the level of the autennte (when viewed from above), at which point on each side, contiguous to the eye-margin, is a small, very distinct, round, jet- black spot. Mouth-opeaing more or less brownish-yellow; proboscis when not extended about 1| times length of head, brownish-yellow or reddish-brown, with basal half and tip black. Antennae brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown, 3rd joint orange with con- colorous 2-iointed style, extreme length of joint nearly as long as coNors. 35 1 that of the :2iid ; the 2iul joint lias minute hlack bristles. Inner orbit ot" eyes with extremely narrow golden-yellow or yellowish- white margins, margin ot" occiput of similar colour. lliorax reddish-brown with whitish reflections in certain lights; a litlie yellowish or whitish dust or a whitish reflection on inner sides ot" humeri, posterior corners of dorsum, base of wing, upper part of metanotumand, indistinctly, over pleurae ; metanotum generall)' blackish behind. Ahdomcn yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, only slightly narrowed at base; 1st segment with yellowish- white dust ; 2nd with golden-yellow dust at sides ; 3rd and 4rh subequal in length, nearly wholly brown with a more or less blackish patch in the middle, or sometimes with an irregular blackish basal and suba|)ical band; 5th segment very short, 6th longest of all, both normally covered with golden-yellow dust, but the 5th is sometimes brownish at the base. There are some tiny black bristles on sides of 1st segment, on sides of 2nd at base, and on sides (at base) of 4tli, 5th and Gth segments. Venter uniforuily brownish-yellow. Genitalia in c? normal; in 5 the large con- colorous shield-like organ on the under side of the 5th segment is black and apparently ribbed on the inside, and bears long fine hairs ; ovipositor large, oval, shining, concolorous, with minute black bristles, the 2nd joint very small, witli small appendages and black hair. Legs bright orange-brown, with minute black bristles ; coxae "with golden-yellow or yellowish-white reflections; outer sides of all the tibiae and dorsal side of hind tarsi with a very bright, yellowish-white, shimmer; anterior tarsi wholly black froui base to tip, hind tarsi brown below; piilvilli ami claws yellowish-wliite. Wituia yellowish; about the distal third is to a very variable extent and intensity brownish, this coloration somcr times forming an almost definite large spot, at others barely darkening the wing; the brown colour sometimes extends over the hinder part of the wing; in some specimens the whole of the "wing is almost uniformly dark brown. llalteres yellow or brownish-yellow. Lengthy 9-1-t mm. l^ijp(- in the Bigot collection, from Ceylon. Rndescribed from about thirty specimens in good condition, and agreeing closely with the type, from Pusa ; 30. viii. 1907; on grass, 29. ix. 19U7; 6.x. 1915; Chapra, Bengal (.l/«c/i-YHZte) ; Rangoon, vi. 1897 (Bingham), a typical $ . A specimen in the Pusa col- lection from Pusa (ix. 1907) has the wings quite clear, with a short ap|)endix on the inner side of the outer margin of the discal cell, and the 3rd antennal joint is as long as in interimxlins. In all other respects, except that, the golden abdominal bands are not (|uite so conspicuous, it resembles the typieal form. .\ not her specimen {6, in tlic British Museum) from Ilarigalli, (."eyion, 2. vii. 1892 ( J'e/Vy/tn/), has the wings entirely rather dark brown, but it agrees in all the other specific characters with IIk; ty|)ical form, and it has ju^t a trace of the subapical darker chmd on the wing. 352 CONOPIDiE 275. Conops annulosus, Big. Conops annulosus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) vii, p. 36 (1887). S 2 . Head varying from brown to orange-yellow ; vertex and frons generally dark brownish-orange or deep brown ; face with glistening silky golden sheen when viewed from above. Antenn?e wholly black (ist joint dark brown and 3rd joint orange at base in type); a black dot on each side of frons, as in nnheculosus. Proboscis entirely black'. Occiput blackish, witii golden-vellow margins; brownish-orange betiind vertex, and often with a trans- verse band ot: bright golden-yellow dust in the same region. Thorax: dorsum black; humeri and hind corners brownish- orange ; there is a small golden-yellow dust-spot on each side behind the anterior margin and contiguous to the humerus, and the inner hind corners of these spots are more or less quadrate ; the brownish-orange colour of the dorsal posterior corners is con- tinued for a short distance along each side towards the base of the wing. Pleurse more or less blackish, with a little whitish dust present, but not forming a vertical stripe. Scutellum bi-ownish- orange ; metanotum rather shining black, its upper margin appearing gold-dusted when seen from behind. Abdomen black ; in S , 1st segment with somewhat bristly black hair at sides, hind margin indistinctly pale yellowish ; 2nd to 5th segments broadly dusted with bright yellow on hind margins, the bands being variable in width, but generally broadest on 2nd and 3rd seg- ments and more clearly defined there ; 6th segment entirely yellow-dusted, except that it is narrowly black on the anterior margin. In § , the yellow dust-bands are broad and distinct on 2nd and 3rd segments, less so on 4tli ; the ground-colour of 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments (viewed from behind) is distinctly red, while the golden dust-bands ai'e sometimes visible only in front. Legs bi'ownish-orange ; coxae white-dusted; hind femora a little blackish at base; tibite with a white shimmer; tarsi black, often brownish-orange above at base ; pulvilii and claws orange-yellow, tips of latter black. Pubescence of legs inconspicuous, black, short, bristly. Wings grey ; from costa hindwards to 3rd vein dark brown, the 1st posterior cell also is brown down to an apparent " spurious vein"; halteres bright yellow. Length, 10-12 mm. Eedescribed from the type S (which is labelled as a $ ) from the Moluccas in the Bigot collection ; three 6 d Jind one 5 from Simla, viii-ix. 1898 {Nurse) ; and a specimen from the Khasi Hills {Sladen), all in the British Museum. In this and one or two allied species there is a fold in the wing, slightly darkened, which produces the same appearances as does the " spurious vein " in Syrphid.e. coxops. 3n3 276. Conops inter medius, sp. nov, 6 . Very like miheculosns but quite distinct. The two black spots on the fions, so conspicuous in that species, are absent and there is usually a hlackisli thin median stripe on the frons from the vesicular vertex to the actual base ot" the anteniiie. Proboscis 1| to 1| times as long as head, with only the extreme tip and occasionally a short streak on upper side at base, black. 3rd anteunal joint (with style) nearly as long as 2iid, distinctly longer in proportion than in nuheculosus. Pleurae with a vertical, pale golden-yellow or yellowish-white, distinct, rather broad stripe extending from just behind humerus to a point in front ot middle coxa. Hind part of metanotum concolorous, never black. Abdo- men with 2nd segment almost entirely gold-dusted, excepting at the base and along the median line to about the middle of the segment ; 3rd and 4th segments with posterior halt' to three- fourths or more, gold-dusted, the brown ground-colour extending along the median line to a variable distance. The brownish colour in the wings takes the form of a longitudinal darkening to the extent of about half the wing's length, rather than that of an indefinite distal spot. In all else as in nuheculosus. The absence of the black frontal spots and the presence of the white stripes on the pleuras are the ])rimary characters of differentiation ; the secondary ones being the black frontal stripe, the almost entirely red proboscis, the entire absence of black on the metanotum and the diiferent dis- tribution of gold dust on the abdomen. Length, 9-11 mm. Described from a few S c? from Pusa, 23. iii. 1914; 27. iii. 1908 ; 18. iv. 1905; ix. 1907 (t>/pe) ; Cliapra {Maclcenzie). Ti/pe sent to the British Museum by Mr. T. 13. Fletcher; cotypes in the Indian Museum and my collection. This species is in appearance inter- mediate bi'tween C. nuheculosus, Big., and P/iysocephuIa aui-antiaca, sp. nov. It also considerably resembles Pliysocepluda mundn, Brun. The 3rd antennal joint is distinctly longer in C. infermedius ; the sides of the face are gilded, not silvery : the femora, even the hind pair, are not in the least incrassated; the basal abdominal segments, even in the c^ , are much wider than those of F. munda $ ; ancl the anterior darkening of the wing extends to the tip of the 3rd vein, being delimited hindwards by this vein, and filling about the anterior half of the 1st posterior cell, or sometimes tlie whole of it, and (more distinctly) the discal cell, the colour fading away graduallv hindwards. In P. vinnda the colour ends distally at the tip of the 2nd vein and does not encroach on the 1st posterior cell. C. intermedins is altogether a more robust insect. 277. Conops rufofasciatus, sp. nov. (^ 2 . J/ead above antenna) brownish-orange, horizontally wriukled; face pale yellow, shimmering golden when seen from 2a 354 CONOPID.E. above. Anteuiipe with 1st and 2nd joints black; 2nd about 1^ times as long as 1st ; 3rd (to tip of style) as long as 2nd ; dull reddish-orange, black above; style black, distinctly 3-jointed, 1st and 2nd joints thick, annular, 2nd a little larger than 1st, 3rd pointed. Proboscis black, reaching the level of the tip of the 2nd antennal joint. Occiput brownish-orange, with in- conspicuous black pubescence, paler behind vertex, with some whitish reflections. Thorax black, with traces of whitish stripes on anterior margin ; humeri and broad side margins brownish- orange ; scutellum brownish-orange, hase considerably blackened ; pleurae black, with an indefinite whitish shimmer when seen from above; metanotuin black. Abdomen black; sides of 3rd and 4th segments ratlier broadly, and their hind margins (also that of 5th) narrowly, reddish or brownish-orange ; tip of abdomen rather reddish in J , the reddish colour probably variable in extent ; 5th segment very narrow above in 5 . Pubescence black, verj- short, longer on 1st segment. Legs rather dark brownish-orange ; coxse mainly black, except on lower part of fore pair, the front side of which is glistening white when seen from above ; femora black on moi-e than basal half; tibiae a little blackish at tips and glistening white on outer side; tarsi black, pulvilli yellowish- white, cla\\s brownish-orange with tips black. Wiiir/s grey, A^'ith rather dark blackish-brown coloration from the anterior margin down to the 3rd vein, and also filling the 1st posterior cell and thence extending towards the margin of the wing ; halteres orange- yellow. Length, 10-11 mm. Described from a c? and $ in the British Museum from Simla, viii-ix. 1898 {Nwse). The reddish-brown ground-colour of the abdominal segments is the principal distinctive character of this species, which may be recognised rather easily after some acquaint- ance with the Oriental members of the genus has been obtained. 278. Conops testaceus, Ilacq. Conops testacea, Macquart, Dipt, Exot. ii, pt. 3, p. 9 (1843). "Testaceous, costal margin of wing with a short brown band. Long. 4-41 lines, § . '• i'ace yellow, tawny at sides ; frons, vertex and antennap tawny, 3rd joint of latter rather short, tip blackish. Tiiorax testaceous, metathorax with grey dust. Abdomen: first five segments w ith yellow or whitish hind margins ; the three first testaceous ; 3rd with a brown spot on each side before the tip ; 4th and 5th blackish above ; 6tii yellow or whitish. Legs tawny, anterior coxae blackish in front ; tibiae with basal half yellow. Wings with a brown costal band which widens and ends abruptly at the tip of the marginal cell. " One specimen, Bengal {M. Duvaucel); one specimen, Pondi- cherry. In the Paris Museum." This description agrees to some extent with that of my inter- medins, except for the rather short 3rd antennal joint, which is PHYSOCEPHALA. 355 longer in intermedius than in any Indian species known to me. The abrupt termination of the dark band on the wing, however, is more characteristic of P/ii/socephala than of Conops. Genus PHYSOCEPHALA, Sch. Physocephala, Schiner, Wien. Ent. Monatscbr. v, p. 137 (1861) Genotype, Conops rvfipes, i"'abr. ; by original designation. Though forming a natural group by a combination of char- acters, Physocephila is undoubtedly very closely akin to Conops, and a certain nnmber of species, even when valued by all the characters combined, may be said to be intermediate. Probably Fig. 70. — Wings of Physocephala. a, P. nnnida, Bnin., J. b, P. aurantiaca, sp. nov., $ . c, P. iiursei, sp. nov., cf . d, P. orgcntifera, sp. nor., $. e, P. diffui'a, sp. nov., vnr. f, P. diffusa, normal form. g, P. tcnella, Big., var. li, P. tenclta, normal form. the best single means of differentiation lies in the strui'ture of the femora, whicli in Conops are usually ol unitorm tliickness throu"-hout, or at most thickened gradually and rt'gularly, but which in I hysocephala are (particularly tlie hind pair) thickened 2a2 356 . CONOPIDiE. irregularly and suddenly towards the base. Secondary but fairly constant characters are : the greater narrowness of the basal part of the abdomen, especially of the 2iid and 3rd segments, which are often considerably elongated and cause the abdomen to resemble that of a wasp ; the proportionately greater length of the 2nd autennal joint, which is often much longer than the 1st and 3rd together ; and the position of the anterior cross-vein, which is nearly always placed well beyond the middle of the discal cell. All the other features are plastic, and vary in different species independently of one another. Conops sepulcliralis and Physocepliala mvnda are species more or less intermediate between the two genera. Range. Practically world-wide. Life-Mstori/ : see under heading of family, p. 342. Turning to the differentiation of species, this genus has offered as many difficulties as have been encountered in any case dealt with in the present volume. Owing to the variability of every available character, except perhaps that of the inci*assation of the hind femora, it has been impossible, even with all the species before me at once, to frame any table of species that would cover all the individual forms. Wide allowances must therefore be made on these grounds : and the identification of a single specimen of any one of the closely-allied sjDecies is often quite impracticable, even to anyone fairly conversant with the genus, unless authoritatively named specimens in good condition are available for comparison. Table of S2iecies. 1. Wing with dark band extending to tip of 3rd vein, even if fainter or nearly absent just before its end 2. Wing with dark band ending at tip of 2nd vein or at a short distance beyond it, always at some distance from tip of 3rd vein 7. 2. First basal cell brown ; basal half of 1st posterior cell brown ; discal cell with its base and part of its front and hind sides, brown 3. First basal cell clear; basal half of 1st pos- terior cell brown ; (discal cell may be slightly suffused at base) 6. 3. Hind femora always with a broad black band hicolor, sp. n., p. 357. All femora wholly orange 4. [p. 358^ 4. Discal cell wholly brown uurantiaca, sp. n., Discal cell clear 5. 5. Third abdominal segment entirely orange- brown (at most the extreme hind margin [p. 359., is blackish) nigrofasciata, Brun., Third abdominal segment about eqnally divided into red-brown, black, and gold- dusted portions riifescens, sp. n., p. 3G0. piirsocEPiiALA. 357 6. Wiiig-baud dying away frradually at tip ; apical segineui of 3rd veiu distinctly sutYused ; thorax with three short blackish stripes, nearly contiguous. Length 14 mm. nursei, sp. n., p, 300. "Wing-band continuing dark brown to tip of ord vein ; thorax witli a median blackish stripe, sometimes indistinct or [p. 361. absent. Length 8-10 mm arrjentifera, sp. □., 7. Wing-band dying away gradually at about tip of 2ud vein munda^ Bruu., p. 30L "Wing-band ending truncately, generally clearly demarcated 8. 8. Fourth and 5th veius not basallyinfuscated, nor the inttn-vening space 9. Either 4th or oth vein infuscated, or both, or the intervening space 11. 9. Antennaj wholly black atricumis, sp. u., p. 363. xVntenna) mainly orange or brown 10. [p. 363. 10. Thorax wholly black aimuUfera, Bruu., Thorax browni-h-ycllow or orange-brown . calopus, Big., p. 364, 11. Hind femora Avholly orange diffusa, sp. n., p. 365. Hind femora with a broad median black ring tc-nella, Big., p. 366. 279. Physocephala bicolor, sp. iiov. (PI. YI, fig. 10.) S 2 • Head varying from rather pale yellow to orange-yellow ; vertex sometimes wholly black, the colour extending in the middle irregularly forward nearly to base of antennae, or carried down- wards for a short distance on each side of face ; sometimes the vertex and upper part of the frons only are more or less brownish. There is a narrow, black, distinct stripe on tlie face just below the antenna) ; the latter are dark brown or black, 3rd joint more or less reddish or orange on basal half below, sometimes 2nd and 3rd joints almost wliolly reddish below ; 2nd joint 2| to 3 times as long as 1st, 3rd joint (apart from style) more than half as long as 2nd ; style three-jointed, with second joint produced on inner side and 3rd joint small, thus causing the antenn.'e to appear as if bisected at the tip. Occiput, moiitli-opening and lower part of head black or dark brown, also the proboscis, whicli is fully double the length of the liead. I'hora.v: dorsum mainly black, punctate, with very tiny black bristles ; side margins, humeri and scutelluin distinctly, and hind margin and posterior corners less distinctly, brownish-orangt; ; pleune black, except that the parts below tiio humeri and behind the wing-base, also an exceedingly narrow vertical stripe immediately below the wing-base, are brownish-orangH ; metanotum black, upper edge often more or less orange. There are some indefinite whitish reflections on pleurie. Abdomen: 1st segment black; lind brownish-orange, more or less broadly blackish in middle; iiril black, rather narrowly brownish- orange at base and on hind margin ; 4th and r)tii mainly black, 4th more or less broadly l)ehind, and oth more iiarrowly, dull orange; 6tli generally similar to 5th. On 2iid, 3rd, 4th and 5th 358 CONOPIDiE. segments there is a whitish reflection on the extreme hind margin, varying in width and distinctness. Pubescence of abdomen con- sisting of short bristly black bairs, uniformly distributed. Pale colour in abdomen sometimes almost reddish. Legs orange-brown, varying a little ; coxae black, with whitish, sometimes silvery, reflec- tions. At least hind femora always with a broad black median I'ing ; similar, though generally less conspicuous or interrupted, bands are sometimes present on either fore or middle legs, or on both ; in some specimens the dark bands are quite absent. Tarsi a little darker. Wings grey; anterior half blackish-brown, the colour limited hindwards by a narrow streak along the hinder side of the discal ;'cell, filling only the basal half of that cell, the basal half of tlie Ist posterior cell and the anterior part of the distal half of that cell, and ending on the wing-margin at the tip of the 3rd vein. Halteres yellow. Length, 15 mm. Described from 5 c? c? and 2 $ $ in the British and Indian Museum collections. Seudim Spur, Sitong, Darjiling District, 4600 ft., 22-28. x. 1917 {Aunandale Sf Gravely), type S ; Sui'eil, Darjiling District, 5000 ft., iv-v. 1917 {Kemp); Kousanie, Kumaon District, W. Himalayas, 6075 ft., 24. vii. 1914, type $ ; Simla, viii-ix. 1898 {Nurse)-^ Nepal ; Kliasi Hills, 1878 (Chmnell) ;. Cherrapunji, Khasi Hills, 3000-5000 ft., 16. v. 1905. Tyj^es in Indian Museum. A species vei'y well marked by its almost wholly black and, " red " coloration and the broad black band which is always present on the hind femora, though it may be present or absent on the other legs. 280. Physocephala aurantiaca, sp. nov. cJ 2 ■ Head wholly orange, sometimes a little darker on lower part of frons and antennal prominence ; mouth-opeuiug more or less pale yellow; proboscis 1^ times as long as head, bright shining brown, tip black. Antennse yellowdsh-brown, 3rd joint sometimes bright reddish-orange, two-thirds as long as 2ud joint (measured along the under side, which is much longer than the upper). Occiput orange, margin with bright golden-yellow shimmer. Thorax wholly bright brown, dorsum more or less blackish ; humeral region, posterior mai'gin of dorsum and meta- pleura with conspicuous bright golden-yellow dust; metanotum bright brown, upper margin guld-dusted ; a silvery-wbite stripe runs on each side from just below the humerus along the hinder part of both mesopleura and sternopleura, meeting the middle coxa. Scutelhim concolorous, brown. Abdomen: 2nd segment and basal part of 3rd considerably contracted in c? , slightly less so in $ ;, ground-colour bright reddish-brown, 1st segment mainly covered with silvery-white dust, of which there is a narrow band also at the junction of the 2nd and 3rd segments ; posterior border of PnvSOCEPHALA. 359 3rd and more than liinder lialf of 4th, also the oth and 6tii wholly except sometimes at base of former, with bright golden-yellow dust. Venter and genitalia concolorous, shining brown. L&js uniformly orange-brown ; basal half of tibiae more or less pale yellow; tarsi witli black bristles. All femora with sligiit whitish reflections; iiind coxa) and outer sides of all tibias conspicuously ilusted witli silvery-white. Witu/s with more than the anterior half rather dark brown, though more yellowish basally ; the deep brown colour extends distally to the tip of the 3rd vein and fills the basal half of the 1st posterior cell ; wliile brown of a less deep shade fills the discal and 1st basal cells, and extends indeKnitely over the base of tlie 3rd posterior cell. Halteres brownish-yellow. Length, 13-14 mm. Described from several J c? from Chapra, Bengal {Maclcenzie) , and 1 $ from lladagalli, Ceylon, x. 1911 ("on flowers"), iu the Pusa collection ; also 2 2 § from Beeravalli, Btdlary District, Ceylon, 10. viii-10. ix. 1913. Cotypcs in my own collection. 281. Physocephala nigrofasciata, Bmn. riujsiicephala niyrofdAciata, Eruuetti, Ree. Ind. JNIus. vii, p. 497, pi. xxxvii, Ugs. I'i, 16 (1912). i5 . Head entirely orange-yellow ; 3rd antenna! joint blackish- brown ; proboscis fully 2i- times as long as head, black ; nearly all the upper half of the occiput is orange-yellow. Thorax: dorsum black; humeri and middle of hind margin with conspicuous bright yeiloiv dust; pleur;e mainly orange-brown, a little blackisii on lower and hinder paits; scutelhun orange-brown; metanotum black, orange-brown above, hypopleura with bright yellow dust. Abdomen orange-brown; 1st segment blacUish at base; 4th and 5th black on basal two-tbirds or more; hind margins of all segments from 1st onwards more or less distinctly, but narrowly, dusted wiLli yellow or yellowisli-grey. Legs wholly orange-brown ; 00X33 black, with some whitish reflections; outer sides of libiai with rather conspicuous yellow dust. iri»f/.s grey ; anterior half from costa to 4th vein blackish-brown ; this colour fills the basal half of the 1st posterior cell, where it is limited rather sharply, but fades away somewhat on the costa between the tips of the 2nd and 3rd veins; basally it spreads slightly into the discal cell. Halteres orange-brown. Length, 13 mm. Kedescribed from the original ////*f, a uni(|ue J in tlie Indian Museum. Koygar, Central Asia ( i'(o7.v/)u< h'.vpedilioii). Though this species has not so far been taken within the limits of i}ritish India, it is included here, as it m;iy very possibly occur iu Northern India; also it would be liable to be overlooited unless incorporated in a general work with otlier mend'ers of the geuus. 360 CONOPID^. 282. Physocephala rufesceiis, sp. nov. (PL VI, fig. 11.) c? 2 • J^^fK^i brownish-yellow to pale yellow ; antennae orange- brown or orange, style short and blunt ; fovete sometimes blackish, occiput black but extensively yellowish behind vertex ; proboscis black, over twice as long as bead. Thorax orange-brown, with a large central, dorsal, quadrate, blackish spot, reaching the anterior margin (possibly this is due to discoloration); humeri and a small space in middle of hind margin dusted with golden-yellow ; pleuras with a very small yellow dust-spot on lower part ot niesoj)leura and upper part of sternopleura ; hypoplenra con- spicuously gold-dusted*; scutellum orange-brown; nietanotum black. Ahdornen: 1st segment blackish; 2nd segment and basal third of 3i-d segment, orange-brown ; middle third of 3rd segment and about basal half of 4th and 5th, black; hinder part of 3rd segment, renuunder of 4th and 5th, and all 6th, dusted with Yellowish or yellowish-grey. Lags brown-orange, coxa? more or less blackish, with a little whitish dust or shimmer; about basal half of all tibiae more or less lemon-yellow ; pulvilli pale yellowish. Wings grey ; dark brown from the anterior margin to the 4th vein, though the costal cell is a trifle paler; the brown colour is limited distally, though not sharply, at about the tip of the 2nd vein and the middle of the 1st posterior cell, but is continued fanitly along the costa to the tip of the 3rd vein, which is dis- tinctly suffused. Hinder side of discal cell narrowly brown, the base indistinctly so. Halteres brown-orange. Length, 10-11 mm. Described from the tijpe S in the Indian Museum from Kash- mir, 19)5 (//. T. Pease), and two c? d and ihe ty^M § from the same locality, 5000 ft., v. 1901 {Col. Nurse). 283. Physocephala nursei, sp. nov. c5' . A'ery near aurantiaca, Brun. Dorsum of thorax with three blackish stripes of the usual pattern ; trie pleural stripe is of gold- yellow dust, and is much broader and more conspicuous; the hypopleurae have equally conspicuous gold dust, as has also the upper half of the metanotum. Wing-band rather dark brown, delimited distally just beyond the tip of the 2nd vein, and filling the basal lialf of the 1st posterior cell ; tip of 3rd \ein slightly infuscated ; 1st basal and discal cells, also remainder of u ing, clear. Length, 14 mm. Described fi-om t\\o ^ 6 ■ Qnetta, vi. 1902 (Ntirse). Ti/j^e presented by Col. Nurse to the British Museum. The specific distinctness of this insect rests on the thoracic stripes and the less extent of the brown colour in the wings; especially in the 1st basal and the discal cell being quite clear, both of them being brown in aurantiaca. * In the type ^ the gold dust marks have almost entirely faded away. niTSOCEPnALA. '361 284. Physo3ephala argentifera, sp. iiov. d ?. Head wlioUy orange or yellowish-oiMiig-' ; antennge a little darker, their 3rd joint often bright reddisli-or.mge above and much darker, neai'ly black, on a[)ical half of under side; it is two-thirds as long as the 2nd joint (measured along the under side); proboscis black, sometimes very dark brown in middle; occiput orange, margin with a whitish shimmer. Tliorax bright brown or reddisli-brown ; dorsum sometimes with a median blackisli stripe, generally with whitish reflections, especially on hind margin, inner sides of luimeri and upper part of the conco- lorous metanotuni, which latter is sometimes dusted with yellowish- wliite, but mainly black behind ; humeri dull orangri or brownish- yellow ; there is a whitish or silvery-white ])leural stripe as in many other species; scutellum orange-brown; there is a con- spicuous golden-yellow dust-spot on each hypopleura, the two connected by a band of similar colour across the upper part of the metanotum. Abdomen orange-brown, only slightly contracted at l)ase; 2nd segment with silvery-white or yellowish-white dust at base and also (interrupted in middle) on hind margin ; 1st segment sometimes with a black patch, occasionally wholly black; 2nd segment with or without a long median streak : 3rd segment varying from wholly brownish to having more than the hinder half blackish ; 4th segment varying from wholly brown to having the anterior half blackish ; 3rd and 4th segments with hind borders moderately broadly gold-dusted ; apparently the 5th and 6tli segments are in normal cases wholly gold-dusted. 7/tv/s orange ; tibia? paler yellow on basal half ; anterior coxae more or less, hind ])air brilliantly, sliining with sihery-white dust ; anterior tibia? with brilliant silvery-white reflections on the outer side, but these are much less conspicuous on the hind tibi;o ; tarsi blackish towards tips ; pulvilli orange. Wlng^ g'"ey ; anterior part blackish- brown from the costa to the tip of the 3rd vein (thongji the costal cell itself and the tip of the submarginal cell are a little clearer), also as far hindwards as the 3rd vein ; the dark colour also extends over the basal half of the 1st posterior cell, but is rather sliarply delimited distally, though in some specimens the wing is a little paler towards the tip. Ilalteres orange. Leiif/th, 8-10 nnn. Described from a few sjiecimens from Chajira, Bengal, ti/pe c? {Madcnzie); Allahabad, 8. x. 1905 and Hi. x. 19;>5, (ifpe $ (Jfotv- lett); Pusa, 4. ix. 1908, and two S c? without data. T>/pe sent to the British Museum by Mr. T, M. Fletcher, cotypes in tlie Pusa collection and my own. A conspicuous character of this species is the gold dust-band across the u]iper ])art of tlu^ metanotum, joining the gold-dusted areas on the hypopleune. 285. Physocepala munda, Bmn. Conops 7nu)i(hi.i, IJnuu'tti, lice. Iiid. .Miis. vii, p. 490 (1912). c? 2 . Ifead i)ale lemon-yellow ; frons about half width of head ; vertex well detined, sub-tumid; cheeks with silvery reflections; 362 COKOPIDiE. antennae bright orange-brown, tip of 3rd joint sometimes blacliish ; 2nd joint twice as long as 1st ; proboscis brownisli-yellow, tip black, barely twice as long as bead; occiput blackisli, witb a brilliant wide gold dust-stripe on the side margins. Thorcuv orange-brown, with humeral region and area towards bind margin of dorsum dusted witb golden-yellow, as the whole dorsum appears to be when viewed from in front. Pleurae concolorous, with a silvery or golden-yellow dust-stripe from edge of dorsum to hind margin of sternopleura; scutellum orange-brown; meta- notum and liypopleura richly dusted witb golden-yellow. Abdo- men bright orange-brown, hind margins of 1st and 2nd segments whitish- or gold-dusted, more obviously so towards sides ; 3rd and 4tb segments broadly gold-dusted towards bind margins, remaining segments wholly dusted witb gold. Pubescence very sliort and inconspicuous. Legs bright orange-brown ; coxae witb silvery- white reflections ; basal half of tibiae lemon-yellow, outer side with glistening golden-yellow reflections. Wivgs clear; costal cell pale dirty yellow; the blackish band hetween the 1st and 3rd veins extends distally to about the tip of the 2nd vein, dyirg away there ; halteres pale yellow. Levgth, 12 u)m. Eedescribed from the type $ (not J as originally stated) from Puri, Orissa Coast, 6-13. xi. 1910 {Kemp), a second $ from Babghai, near Puri, 16-20. viii. 1911 {Annandale d- Gravely); Deesa, iii, viii, ix, x, & xi. 1901 (Nurse); Quetta, iii, viii, & is. 1901, and v. 1902 (^'^urse). Type in Indian Museum. This species is coloured clean yellow and orange, and is principally distinguished from all others by the dark band of tlie wing dying away gradually instead of being more or less sharply delimited distally. F. munda is somewhat intermediate between Cono])s and PhysonphaJa, as the anterior femora are not incraseated, though 1 he bind cnes are appreciably so, and the anterior cross-vein is distinctly beyond the middle of the discal cell; both of these characters are more indicative of the latter than of the former genus. A variety of this species has the 3rd antennal joint black except at the base, where it is reddish-orange. The dorsum of the thorax is wholly dusted with grey; the grey dust extends to all the margins, and includes the humeri, scutellum and meta- notum, though there is a trace of a median dark stripe on the anterior half of the dorsum in the 6 . The pleura? bear a broad, conspicuous, whitish-grey stripe. The wing-band in the d dies away, exactly as it does in typical mnnda ; but in the $ it ends in an almost truncate form (though its limit is not very sharply defined) at the tip of the 2nd vein, but just enters tlie top corner of the 1st posterior cell. Length, 12 mm. Described from a c5' and $ taken by Col. Nurse at Quetta,. viii & y._1902 respectively. Ihe c? was presented by him to the British Museum. A seccnd $ specimen is intern:ediate between the normnl form and this variety. PIITSOCEPHALA. 36'd 280. Physocepliala atricornis, sp. nov. c? . Very inuch like P. adojnis. Big. Jt differs by lia\iiig the 2nd and 3rd aiitennal joints wholly black, wliile the 3nl is rather dark brown ; occiput with a broad transverse black stripe ; nieta- notuni rather light brown, dusted with pale golden-yellow; abdominal segments not bordered with orange, but with a little pale yellow dust, the last segment being wholly dusted with pale golden-yellow ; and the tarsi brown, not black. The black band on the wing does not even encroach on the 1st basal cell, much less on the discal, and the wing is wholly dark from the costa to the posterior limit of the band, /. e. the IJrd longitudinal vein. The dark colour also fills the basal half of the 1st posterior cell : moreover, it extends along the costa to beyond the tip of the 2nd vein, but is thence rather shar|)ly delimited. This difference in the longitudinal extent of the baud is perhaps the best specific character. Le7i(/tJi, 8 mm. One c? in the Pusa collection, from Lahore, Punjab, 20. iv. 1 908, sent bv Mr, T. B. Fletcher to the British Museum. 287. Physocephala annulifera, Brun. Fhysocep]i(da annitliferc, Brunetti, Rec. Tiid. ^Iiis. vii, p. 498 (1912). rf . Head deep yellow, slightly reddish above antennae, slightly livid on vertex; a large black triangular maik on frons, apex downwards, the base incurved. Antenna) dark reddish-brown; tips of 1st and 2nd joints a little pale below, 2iul joint minutely pubescent. Proboscis light shining brown, about twice the length of the head, tip shining black. Eyes bright chestnut-brown, posterior margins silvery-white tomentose. Back of head brown, livid towards vertex, lliorax w holly dull black ; humeral calli and sides of thorax with a very little whitish dust, Scutellum and metanotum dark brown. Abdomen dark brown, lighter on 2nd and base of 3rd segment, these parts being much contracted; 3rd, 4th and 5th segments with a moderately wide gold-dusted posterior border ; 6lh segment gold-dnsted on dorsum. Genital ap- paratus somewhat w ithdrawn ; consisting of a large upper globular piece, a pair of claspcrs (apjiarently), and a narrow intermediate organ, all dark brown, shining and baie. 'I"he wlu-le abdomen bears miiuite black hairs. Le(is: coxai black, dusted with silvery- white; lemora red(lisIi-l)rown, hind pair somewhat thickened in basal half, and with apical iialf darker; tibia; leddish-brown, with silvery-white dust; fore [)air darker; j)osterior pairs attenuated towards base; hind pair lighter in colour on basal half: tarsi dark l)ro\vn. All the legs are microscopically pubescent. Wim/s almost clear; a blackish colour extends along the costa from the base as far as just beyond the tip of the 2nd longitudinal vein ; this colour reaches posteriorly as far as the 3rd longitudinal vein, where it sharply terminates, but is continued into the basal half 364 coxopim:. of the L«t posterior cell, the outer edge of the coloured part being perpendicular hut Avithout a clear-cut limit. The ]st posterior cell is closed some distance before the border. Anterior cross-vein just beyond centre of discal cell, which is just half as wide at base iis at distal end. Halteres blackish. Lenrjth^ 8 ram. Described from a single S (not § as previousljr stated), origi- nally in good condition but now somewhat damaged, iu the Indian Museum collection from Margherita, Assam. 288. Physocephala calopas, Big. (PI. VI, figs. 12, 13.) Conops calopus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) vii, p.!33 (1887). Phy&ocephdlu (juadrata, Bruuetti, Ilec. lud. Mas. ix, p. 274, pi. xiv, tig. 6(191.3). 6 5 . Head yellow or brownish-yellow ; frons distinctly over one-third width of head, sometimes irregularly infuscated Avith black ; antennse browni;^h-yello\v to orange, 3rd joint often bright reddish-orange, especially below, tip generally blackish; mouth- opening more or less blackish ; proboscis black, twice as long as head; occiput black, broadly yellowish behind vertex, with side margins silvery. Thorax brownish-yellow or orange-brown; r gre3'-dusted hind margins; 6th dark brown or blackish, wholly but lightly dusted with grey. Legs : coxae varying from orange- brown to blackisl), hind pair with a silvery shimmer. Eest of legs orange or orange-brown ; hind femora with a broad black median ring occupying nearly tlieir whole length ; hind tibiae blackish on about apical third ; hind tarsi more or less blackish throughout, anterior tarsi blac-kish towards tips. All the tibite are rather lemon-yellow basally, and they all have a silvery-white shimmer on the outer side. Wings pale grey ; the dark band is blackish or dark brown, and extends hind wards to the 3i'd vein, the colour in normal specimens being rather sharply delimited at the tip of the 2nd vein and barely entering the 1st posterior cell ; some- times it ends distinctly beyond the tip of the 2nd vein, and in these cases it also fills nearly all the basal half of the 1st posterior cell. Lengtli, 7^-9 mm. Almora, Kumaon District, 5500 ft., 27. ix. 1911 (Paiva); Deesa, iii & xi. 1899, and ix. 1901 ; Quetta, v. 1902; Abu (all these collected by JShirse) ; Sukna, base of Uarjiling Hills, 2. vii. 1908, c? 2 in cop. (Annandale); Singla, Darjiling District, 1500 ft., iv. 1913 {ty2>^ of quadraia) ; Pashoke, Darjiling District, 2000 ft., PUYSOCEPHALA. 365 vi. 1916 (L, C. Bartless). The species was originally desci-ibed from Poiidicherry. i'i/J)(i of culopiis in IJigot's collection, that ot" quddrata in the Indian Museum. lledesi-rilied from sevt-ral of both sexes, which seem referable to this species, from various sources. The exact limits of the dark wiug-band are uncerrain, and the species appears variable in the coloration of the antenna) and of some other parts of the body. Bigot has unaccountably mistaken the 1st pos^terior cell for the discal, both in this and otiier species ; this is shown by his remark (referring to calopns) that the wing-band ends " about opposite the middle of the discal cell, of uhich it also covers the base." 289. Physocephala diffusa, sp. nov. (S $. Head yellow; vertex dull yellow and tumid; sides of frons orange-brown, this colour extending some distance down the face, with a narrow darker line on each sside of the deeply sunken foveas, which latter are pale yellowish with a dark broun streak on the lower part of each. Proboscis dark brown, black at base and tip. Antennae bright orange-brown ; 3rd joint, apart from style, barely half as long as 2nd, its tip darker. Occiput yellowish, each side with an irregular brown patch, these patches being connected by a transverse stripe ; hinder part of eye-margins dusted with pale golden-yellow. Thorax brownish-orange with dusty whitish reflections; dorsum rather darker, with traces of a median blackish stripe on the anterior margin ; scutellum con- colorous; metanotuu) black, gold-dusted; pleural brownish-orange, with a silvery-white side stripe extending from in front of the wing-base to tlie middle coxa; metapleura? with conspicuous golden-yelh)w dust. Abdomen orange; 1st segment darker brown on the dorsum and with the hind margin white-dusted; 2nd segment narrowly white-dusted on the hind margin and more broadly so at sides towards apex ; 4th and 5tli with basal half more or less dark brown ; hind border of 3rd, remainder of 4th and otii, and whole of the 6th, dusted with gold. Leris: coxae blackish, anterior pairs with slight whitish reflections, hind pair conspicuously dusted with yellowish-wliite ; femora orange; tibia) pale yellow at base, their outer sides shining, dusted with yellowish-white; tlie hind pair are distinctly brown towards the tips; tarsi orange, brownish on up])er side, with black bristles. WiiKjs grey ; a dark brown band on anterior margin to a little beyond ti|) of 2nd vein (varying with the individual), generally rather sharply delimited opposite posterior cross-vein; the band ta is much thickened basally and is orange, with the jiliform tip black. Proboscis mucli longer thau in most species. Thorax : dorsum black, the slight depressions delineating the various parts more or less greyish-dusted ; side margins and ])leurie orange-brown, with whitish or silvery reflections ; scutellum black. There are fairly strong bristly hairs on the side margins of the dorsum and the hind margin of the scutellum, while the remainder of the surface has short bristly pubescence ; pleura) bare except for some bristly hairs on the sternopleura. Abdomen orange-brown with whitish reflections, and with a more or less- interrupted dorsal black stripe composed of a series of fairly large black spots, one in tlie centre of the front margin of nearly every segment ; indefinite bands of yellowish-grey dust on basal margins of hinder segments. Pubescence of abdomen short, black, bristly. Legs orange-brown, with whitish reflections ; femora with two median black bands and generally one subapical or apical band ; anterior tibiae with three and hind tibicc with four similar black bands ; tarsi to the apex, uith pulvilli and claws (except tips of latter) orange-brown. Pubescence of legs black and bristly, softer on femora (very short on upper side of middle pair), and in the tibia) denser on the black rings. \Vi7ir/s pale grey, with anterior [)art, and the remainder here and there, darker; there is a conspicuous darker grey si)ot of seme size in the nearly clear 1st posterior cell ; squamae milk-white ; halteres orange-brown. Lenr/th, S mm. Redescribed from a J and $ taken in co)>. by Col. Nurse at Quetta, iii. 1903, and in perfect condition. This European species is recognized with ease by the peculiar dark grey spot in the 1st posterior cell, together with the conspicuou.-ly ringed logs ami the two spots on each side of the occiput. 298. Myopa dorsalis, Fah-. Ntfopa (lorstilia, Fabricuis, Ent. Sj.7 (1701) ; Schiuer, Faun. Austr. i, p. 386 (1862). (S $. Head: vertex and upper jmrt of frons brow nisli-orange ; vertical triangle blackish ; ocelli dark brown ; frons towards 380 CONOPlD.i;. antennae becoming more yellowish, witli a little greyish reflection at sides; rest of head pale orange-yellow with indistinct whitish reflections. Antennae deep orange, including the short thickened arista; 2nd joint as long as 1st and 3rd together. Occiput orange- yellow, broadly dull brown behind ; vertex with a little bristly pubescence; proboscis black. Total height of head double tluit of eyes. Thorax orange-brown, dorsum distin(!tly blackish, the colour extending to the anterior margin ; mesopleurae and sterno- pleurae with uniform whitish i-eflections ; scutellum orange-brown, with four fairly strong black bristles on the hind border, and some smaller bristles ; metanotum shining black. Abdomen orange- brown, with whitish dust and silvery reflections towards sides ; 1st segment mainly blackish on dorsum. Pubescence of abdomen composed of fine, stiff, black hairs. Legs orange-brown to tips of tarsi ; coxae with silvery-white reflections ; a black streak on upper side of fore femora ; hind tibiae darker at apex on inner side ; pulvilli pale orange, tips of claws black. Wings yellowish- grey, more yellowish at base ; lialteres pale orange. Length, 10 mm. Eedescribed from a single <^ in the Britisli Museum from Csehtelek, Bihar [Hon. M. C. Rothschild). A moderately common European species. 299. Myopa nigriventris, sp. nov. S . Head bright yellow, deeper and more orange :)n frons and upper part of occiput; two triangular brown marks (with their apices towards the vertex) near the upper angles of the eyes ; a blackish transverse streak on frons just above antennfe ; proboscis blackish-browMi ; antennae, including the arista, orange, though the closely-set bristles on the 2nd joint make it appear brown ; frons and occiput distinctly pubescent ; there is one post-ocellar bristle. Thorax chestnut-brown, whole dorsum pubescent, black except at side margins ; greyish dust reflections on hind margin ; whitish reflections on humeri and pleurae, especially on lower part of sternopleura ; metanotum black. Abdomen black ; 2nd segment reddish-brown towards sides, and a little white-dusted on the hind margin except in the middle; tip of abdomen dark reddish-brown, a little grey-dusted. Legs orange ; coxae, especially the 1st pair, with whitish reflections ; femora with a broad median black ring, which leaves the tips and more or less of the base pale, and is much narrower on the under side; there is a subapical black ring on the tibiae, more or less interrupted ; upper part of outer sides of all the tibiae with whitish reflections ; pulvilli and basal half of claws orange, apical half of the latter black. Wings yellowish- grey, costal cell more yellowish ; halteres orange. Length, 7 mm. Described from the type r? from Mnssoorie, ix.l916. Ti/jye sent by Mr. T. B. Fletcher to the British Museum. Two other d 6 from Kashmir, 5000-6000 ft., iv-v. 1901 (Mirse), have the MYOPA. 381 black femoral ring reduced to a moderately broad subapical oiie^ otherwise they agree very closely with the type. 300. Myopa testacea, L. Comps testaceiis, Linnpeus, Syst. Nat., Ed. xi. 2, p. 1006 (1759). Mi/opa testacea, Scliiner, Faun. Austr. i, p. .^86 (]8(52). 6 2- Head: vertex bghter or darker brown, often paler in middle, with some bristly black hairs ; frons brownish-yellow or orange; rest of bead pjile yellowish, with a little coiicolorous pubescence on margins ; there is a fair-sized, dark brown, elongate spot on each side of the frons, extending over the upper part of the face towards the eyes, and another just below it, near the eye- margin, xlntenna; orange-brown. Thorax : dorsum black ; s'ide margins and pleurte dark orange-brown, with whitish reflections and a httle greyish dust on the sternopleur£e and other parts; scutellum rather dark brown ; metanotum shining black. Pubescence of whole thorax black. Abdomen mainly^reddish- brown or orange-brown, sometimes a little blackish at base; with yellow-grey dust-bands occasionally present on hind margins of 3rd and 4th segments, and the tip of the abdomen generally similarly dusted. Abdominal pubescence black. Lec/s yellow isli- brown or orange-brown ; an indefinite black subapical band ou femora; two more or less distinct narrow rings on hind tibia), dividing the limb subequally ; tips of claws and pubescence of legs black. Wings moderately dark grey, a little yellowish basally ; anterior cross-vein distinctly but narrowly suffused; squanuxv whitish ; halteres yellowish-brown. Eedescribed from two d" d taken by Col. Nurse in Kashmir, 5000- 6000 ft., V. 1901, and from European examples of both sexes. This is one of the commonest European species of Conopid.i:, and is recorded also from Norihern Africa. 301. Myopa cincta, Fabr. Myopa cincta, Fabricius.Ent. Syst. iv, p. 399 (1794) ; Wiedemann, Aus3. Zweiti. ii, p. 246. _ " Slightly smaller than M. fen-ufjineus *. Antenna) ferruginous, tip pointed; frons vesiculose, white with a black spot on each side. Thorax obscurely testaceous; abdomen testaceous, with three very indistinct whitish bands. Legs testaceous; tipsbjack; tibiae rather shining silvery. Habitat in East India: Dr. Koenig." I have not seen this species, nor lias any author apparently recorded it since its discovery. Judging by the expri'ssion that the tips of the antenna) are pointed, this should be a distinct species, otherwise it might be merely a synonym of testacea, L. * = Sicua ferrugineus, L. 382 coKOPiDiE. Genus OCCEMYIA, Roh.-Desv. Occemyia, Robineau-Uesvoid}', Dipt, en v. Paris, Myop. p. 50 (185:3). Melanofioma, Ilobineau-Desvoidv, op. cit. p. 44 (1853). Oncoynyiu, Loew, Berlin, ent. Zeitsclir. x, p. 41, no. 73, nota (1866). ThecopJiora, Roiidani, Dipt. Itai. Prod, ii, p. 235 (1857). Genotype, Myopa atra, Fabr. ; by designation of Coquillett (1910). Head hai-dly broader than thorax, loosely attached. Epistome somewhat receding; in middle and at sides impressed, projecting distinctly below level of eyes ; cheeks short, always shorter than the longer diameter of the eyes ; eyes wide apart in both sexes, bare ; ocelli present ; proboscis thin, extremely long, bent at base and in middle, horizontal, prominent, slightly bristly, with very small labella ; palpi short, cylindrical, bristly ; antennae elon- gate, porrect, with first two joints bristly ; 1st joint short, 2nd and 3rd generally at an angle with the 1st, distinctly elongate, spatnlate; 3rd as long as, or shorter than, 2iid, oval, bare, with a stvle-like dorsal arista. Thorax snbquadrate with rounded corners ; scutellum semicircular. Abdomen elongate, at base moderately narrowed, curved, arched on upper side, flat below. Genitalia in S barely prominent, genital shield in $ large and • distinct. Legs of moderate size and length, femora slightly thickened, hind pair slightly longer than the others, finely bristly. Wings with venation of the type normal in ConopiBjE ; 1st pos- terior cell always open; anal cell nearly reaching margin, witli long petiole. Range. Europe, North America and the Orient. Life - hist org un k' n o w n . The iniagos are compact, grey, little flies, and nearly bare. They are found on flowers and bushes. The two Indian species may be distinguished by the colour ■ of the legs, which are mainly black in atra and yellowish in Jlavipes. 302. Occemyia atra, Fabr* Myopa atra, Fabricius, Spec. Ins. ii, p. 469 (1781). Occemyia atra, llobineau-Desvoidy, Dipt. env. Paris, Mj'^op. p. 58 (1853). cJ 5 . Black, covered with ash-grey dust. Upper part of Irons blackish, lower part orange, the two colours blended in the middle ; face and cheeks yellowish or yellowish-white ; occiput shininf black, with grey dust except on upper part; the stiff hairs on the head all black, longest on upper part of frons and vertex. * For a full bibliography and the mnnerous synonyms of this species, see Becker in Kertesz, Kat. Palaarkt. Dipt, iv, p. 2G8 (1905). (ESTRlD.i:. 383 Antennae dark reddish-brown or blackish-brown, a little paler at base of the 3rd joint. Tliere is a pair of more or less distinct, moderately wide, dust stri|)es on the thorax ; humeri distinctly grey-dusted. The i^rey dust markings of the abdomen are more distinct towards the sides and on the hind margins of the seg- menls ; genitalia shining black. I^sgs in the first Indian specimen dark brown, nearly black, basal half of hind femora yellowish; pubescence of legs soft, black, rather long on femora. In the second Indian specimen all tlie legs are a little yellowish at the base. AV^ings very pale grey, a little yellowish at base ; halteres orange. Length, 5 mm. Described from two Indian specimens, the first in good con- dition, from between Phagu and Kufri, Simla District, 8000- ''MOQ it., 21.x. IdlQ {Annandale c|- Kemp); the second specimen from Simla, 7000 ft., 9. v. 1910 {Anmindale). This European species is very variable, especially in the coloration of the legs. One of the above specimens has the 2nd joint of the antenna) barely longer than the 3rd, though, according to Schiner, it should be decidedly longer. 303. Occemyia flavipes, sp. nov. Differing from atra by having tlie antennte dull orange-brown witli tip of 3rd jonit blackish. Thorax with a narrow dorsal median stripe extending nearly from the anterior to the hind margin ; there is an outer stripe on each side which spreads some- what round the inner side of the humerus ; a ratiier large blackish spot on each side in front of the wing-base and extending over the hinder corner of the dorsum, and a smaller one in the middle of the hind margin ; all these markings are rattier ill-detined. Legs mainly orange-yellow ; tips of femora above, tibiae except at base, and tarsi wholly, brownish. Length, 4-5 mm. Described from two $ 2 from ]Mahableshwar, Bombay Presi- dency ; in tlie British Museum. Tbe 2nd autennal joint is only very slightly longer than the 3rd. Family (ESTRID.E. Head rather closely set on thorax, either broader than, as broad as, or rather narrower than, thorax; generally much more prominent in front than tlie somewhat small bare eves ; often vesiculose and beset with wartlike blotches oi- dark pimples; epistome or lower part of head nearly straight or slightly n.'ceding, very broad, slightly pubescent or bare; eyes wide a|)art. in both sexes, sometimes rather swollen; frons broailer in front than behind in 6 ; three distinct ocelli. Moutli-opening very small ; 3§4 (ESTRID^. proboscis rudimentary or siiiall, rarely prominent ; palpi small or rudimentary. Antennte short, three-jointed; first two joints very short, cylindrical or cup-shaped, 3rd rounded, oval or lenti- cular, with bare dorsal arista : the antennae are seated in a distinct, rounded, oval or inverted lyre-shaped cavity, which is often divided by a median ridge, the frons generally forming a conspicuous and prominent ridge along the upper side of this cavity. From the antennal cavity to the mouth-opening runs generally a median fur-naw of greater or less width. Thorax oblong or oval, little longer than broad, with a distinct suture; scutellum semicircular. Abdomen either short, in which case it is oval or cylindrical, or else moderately elongate, in "which case it is generally conical; ()-segn)ented ; genitalia in J concealed ; in 5 rather prominent. Fig. 81. — GastropJiihis equi, L., $. Leys moderately long, rather slender ; often, especially hind pair, elongate ; femora at base and tibiae in middle often rather thickened, latter sometimes cylindrical ; two distinct pulvilli. Wiuys with characteristic venation, intermediate between that of Stuphidje and MusciD.i: ; surface wrinkled ; 3rd longitudinal vein always simple, 4th vein running straight to Ming-border {Gastropliilus) or more generally comerging apically towards 3rd ; anterior cross-vein at about middle of discal cell ; the latter cell is generally present, formed either by the presence of the discal cross-vein or by the upturned apical portion of the 5th vein ; 6th (anal) vein generally, 7th vein sometimes, present, often indis- tinct ; anal cell short, generally indistinct. Thoracal squamae either very large, or small and long haired, in either case covering the hal teres. Life-history. The family was monographed by P. Brauer in 1863, and the genera were reviewed by A. Ban in Wytsman's ' Genera Insectorum ' (Fascic. 43, 1906). There have been many (ESTKID.'E. 385 important recent contributions to a knowledge of the life-cycle, but these do not seem to have been as yet gathered into any one work. The lit'e-histories are very varied and sometimes highly complicated. The larvae live either in the nostrils, throat or stomach, or under the skin of the back of mammals, frequently of ungulates and pachyderms, leaving the host wlien full grown to pupate in the ground. The flies of those species that pass the larval state in the stomach of Gastrophilus, etc. lay their eggs on the h'.iirs of their hosts, usually on the knees, fetlocks or shoulders, whence they are licked off by the animal, thus passing into the body. Tiie young larvae affix themselves by hooks near the head to the walls of the stomach, feeding probably not on the tissues but on the secretions caused by the irritation due to their presence. When fully grown they pass out with the dung. The sheep bot-fly (CEstrits) is said to be viviparous: it places its young larva) just inside the nostrils of the animal, and the sub- sequent larval development occurs in the frontal sinuses. Cepha- lomyia lives in the nostrils of the camel. Of the forms that cause tumours under the skin the best known is ll>f/>0(lenna. It forms tumours or warbles on the backs of cattle. The eggs are laid on the legs or, more rarely, on the flanks, and the larvie migrate by way of the gullet and diaphragm, or sometimes via the neural canal, to the tissues beneath the skin of tlie back. When nearly full grown they can easily be picked out of the warbles by hand. The imago appears for only a brief period. A new species of tliis genus, H, crossii, occurs in India. Ifypoderma occasionally attacks man, and cases of human parasitism have been recorded in Cephenomtjia and Gastrophilus. The most frequent human parasite in the family is the Xeotropical Dernintohia, wliich also attacks dogs and other carnivores, ungulates and rodents ; in this genus the eggs are attached by the parent fly to the bodies of mosquitos {Janthinosonia), or possibly also of certain AxTHYMTiiD.E which attack vertebrates, and so are carried to the hosts in whose bodies the larvae are to undergo their develoiiment. Cuterehra, also an American genus, forms warblns under the skin of mice aiul other rodents. The larvje of (Estrid;e have transverse rows of horny hooks or bristles on their bodies. They also possess month-hooks, and those forms which live in the stomach of the host attach themselves to the stomach-wall by means of these mouth-hooks, and cannot be dislodged even by the passage of food or by medicinal purges. In temperate climates the winter is passt^d, at least in some species, in the pupal stage. Notes on (EsTRn)/"E in India are given in ' Indian Insect LifV,' pp. 651-1 (1901J). also bv Col. J. W. Yerburv, Journ. Bombav Nat. Hist. Soc. xiii, pp. 683-0 (1901), and by'Col. C. (>. Nurse, op. clt. liv, p. OOU (1902)*. Col. Yerbury has also drawn attention * Secnrrnin Ih'Idvv. p. 391. 2c 386 (ESTEID^. to the reference in Colonel James Tod's " Annals and Antiquities of Eajasthan " (Book iv, Chap. 27 ; 1st ed., vol. i, p. 722, 1829) to the killing in Eajputana of an antelope, which, when stripped of its hide, was found to have its whole carcase covei'ed with large white maggots. Col. "Yerbury thinks that the ffistrid in this case may be the same as that described by Brauer (Mon. ffistr. p. 163) as infesting in great numbers an antelope (Antilope dorcas, Pall.) captured near Damascus. This insect seems to be known only in the larval state, though it has been thought to be a species of Hypoderma, and a footnote to that effect is given in Dr. William Crooke's recent edition of Tod's book (Oxford, 1920 ; vol. ii, p. 834). See also remarks below, p. 396. TaUe of Gemra. 1. Apical section of 4th vein running straight to wing-border, never bent upwards ; 1st posterior cell therefore wide open ; discal cell present or [p. 396. absent ; squamte small Gastrophilus, Leach, Apical section of 4th vein always bent upwards towards tip of 3rd vein, leaving 1st posterior cell narrowly open or closed : discal cell always present ; squaniEe very large 2. 2. Second antennal joint conspicuously trilobed Cobboldia, Brauer, p. 391. Second antennal joint never trilobed . . 3. 3. First posterior cell narrowly open .... Hypodebma, Latr., p. 394. First posterior cell distinctly closed or even petiolate 4. 4 Cheeks in profile much less deep than height of eyes ; antennae placed in a large single cavity; 3rd joint small, nearly globular, arista conspicuously thickened at base 5. Cheeks in profile much deeper than height of eyes ; antennfe placed in separate cavities, the intermediate space flush with the face; 3rd joint large, lenticular, outer edge irregular, [p. 402. arista slightly thickened at base .... Poetschinskia, Semenov, 5. Venation extended distally to the normal distance ; outer sides of 1st posterior and discal cells parallel with hind margin of wing CEstrus, L., p. 387. Venation shortened distallv, extending barely beyond three-fourths of the wing's length; outer sides of 1st posterior and discal cells at right [p. 389. angles to longitudinal axis of wing . . Cephalomyia, Latr., (ESTEUS. 387 Genus (ESTRUS, L. CEstrus, Linuteus, Sj'st. Nut., Ed. x, p. 584 (1758), and Ed. xii, p. 969 (1767). Gexotype, CEstrus ovis, L. ; by designation of Cui'tis. Head large, semicircular, broader than thorax; frons wide in both sexes, slightly curved, vesiculose on each side, the puffed up part extending downwards, gradually narrowing to lower margin of eyes, leaving a depressed elongate triangle in middle of frons ; anterior margin of frons overhanging antennal cavity ; the latter comparatively shallow, the median ridge low or rudimentary ; under side of head bare, swollen. Autennre short, ord joint longer than 1st and 2nd together, subglobular, with long bare dorsal arista ; a median shallow groove from antennal cavity to mouth-opening; proboscis rudimentary, bifid and flat at "tip, slightly prominent ; palpi short, globular ; eyes half height of head, small, bare ; three distinct ocelli. IViorax oblong, a little longer than broad ; scutellum large, semicircular. Abdomen as broad as thorax, comparatively short, egg-shaped or cvlindrical, obtuse at tip, with some fine long hair on venter and at apex ; genitalia in both sexes sometimes hidden, in some species prominent in J, \vith two globular knobs; in other?, tlie ovi- positor in the $ lies in a groove. Legs comparatively weak, of moderate length, hind pair barely longer. Wings in rest parallel, lying against the sides of the body ; thoracal squamos very large, bare. Range. Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia. Life-histofii. Larva cylindrical, narrower anteriorlv, convex above, flat below ; 1st segment small and very short, mouth-hooks large, directed downwards ; antenna? short, blunt, cuticular, wide apart at base, with two apical, ocellus-like, chitinous rings; body with two rows of tubercles on each side. The eggs or youuf* larva; are laid in the nostrils of sheep, goats, or antelopes ; the larvae develo|) in the frontal sinuses, and when fully developed they fall to the ground and jiupate under stones or in crevices in the earth. The perfect insects are moderate sized and nearly bare, with silvery-white retiections and black or dark coloured i)imple-like spots that give them a pied or spotted appearance. They are extremely inert and settle freely on walls in proximily to slieej)- stalls, whence they are easily captured by hand. 304. (Estrus ovis, L. (Jislrus ovin, Linn;eus, Faun. Siiec, 2nd ed. p. J 7.34 (17(31). lEsfrus ofijiii.'!, Fischer, Diss. Observ. do (]'].>eipz. iii, iil. -J, lit>s 1-5(17«7). QUatnis misdlis urinns, Nimian, Tijdskr. v. d. Vetensk. iv p 1,3;? pi. i, fij:.L'(I850). (Kslrus orig, liraucr, Mon. (l-^slr. p. 151, i)l. iii, lio. l pi, ^ji fig. 10(1803). 2c2 388 (ESTMD.i:. (3 $, Head: frons varying from dull j'-ellowish to yellowish- brown, apart from the broad median stripe ; vesiculose, wrinkled, with numerous, irregularly placed, small, shallow pits which are black at the bottom ; ocelli large, shining black ; a median longi- tudinal wrinkled brownish stripe (varying in shade) extending from the blackish ocelhir spot to the lower margin of the frons, which latter projects over the antennal cavity ; this cavity (which, in conjunction with the median furrow running from it to the mouth-opening, may be described as shaped like an inverted lyi'e) is of moderate depth, pale, almost livid, yellow. First two antennal joints pale yello\^ish, 3rd subglobular, black, with yellow dorsal (nearly basal) black-tipped arista. Lower sides of frons extending more narrowly to lower corners of eyes, yellowish- white with small inconspicuous pits, of which the bottoms are not black ; whole of lower part of head orange-yellow, varying in individuals to nearly whitish ; occiput whitish, vertical margin yellowish ; an irregular row of black bottomed pits along its entire upper margin. Head bare excei)t for a few whitish hairs on frons and some yellow ones on lower part of head. Thoraa; yellowish-grey, paler on humeri and sides; whole dorsum, and that of scutellum also, with very numerous small black tubercles or pimples, those on the scutellar mai'gin being the largest, and each bearing a bristly hair, while the majority of the remainder bear each a pale yellow hair, curved backwards ; some pale yellow pubescence on humeri a-.id pleura? and to a rather less extent aLmg sides of dorsum. Abdomen whitish-grey with irregular blackish blotches, and almost silvery-grey reflections in certain lights ; whole surface covered with minute, black, pimple-hke spots, each bearing a single hair; some fine yellow hairs at sides and towards tip of abdomen, irrespective of the black spots. Venter whitish- grey, with smaller and less numerous similar black spots and more numerous fine hairs than dorsum ; genitalia concealed. Legs orange to yellow; coxae with grey shimmer and long soft pale liairs ; feirora rather swollen at base and with soft pale hairs ; tihife and tarsi with short black bristly hairs and some rather longer soft pale hairs; pulvilli and claws orange, the latter black- tipped. Wiiirjs nearly colourless ; veins yellowish or yellowish- brown ; halteres yellowish, concealed below the very large, whitish, bai'e thoracic squama>. Lenr/th, 11 mm. Described from a few examples in indifferent condition in the Pusa collection: Pusa, 2 & 4. viii. 1909, on sheep; "remained sitting in tube, 13. ii. to 4. iii. 191U"; iv. 1907 "in native quarters, on wall"; 14. viii. 1914, " on wall"; 12. x. 1909, "in head of living kid " ; "A. H., Case no. 811," 10. x. 1912 ; Chapra, Bengal ; Larpore, Saran District, Bengal, Distribution almost world-wide : the insect is widely-spread in Europe; recorded also from Asia, Africa. North and South America, and Australia. CEPIIAT,OMTIA. 389 Genus CEPHALOMYIA, Latr. Cephileniifid, Latreille (tMneud. Braiier), Fain. Nat. lie^irj Aufiu. p. 497'(18i)5). CepJialenii/ia, Macqnart, Dipt. I'iXot. ii, part .", p. 2o (1843). Iltad vesiculose ; froiis in J narrower lliaii in $ ; cheeks narrow; liinule broadl}^ lunate above, narrowing gradually down- wards towards montli-border. Fovese well developed, broadly separate; anleinia) very small, 1st and 2nd joints cnp-shaped, 3rd lenticular, sHgiifly curved on inner and upper sides ; arista rather long, bare. Eyes separated; 3 ocelli. Epistoine broad in front; cheeks swollen, vesiculose; mouth-opening shallow. Proboscis rudimentary, flat and bifid at tip ; palpi small, globular. Thorax nearly quadrate. Abdomen short, tip trniicated. Lexfs short, simple. Wimis ratiier smail, longer than abdomen ; auxiliarv vein ending just l)efore middle of wing, 1st vein at middle or just; beyond, 2nd at about three-fourths the length of the wing ; 3i*d vein upturned at tip, ending a little beyond tip of 2nd; 4th upturned at tip rather abruptly, strongly bisinuate, closing 1st posterior cell and ending in the 3rd vein just before its tip ; anterior cross-vein at about middle of discal cell, slanting outwards: discal cell eloped by presence of discal cross-vein; 5th vein becoming suddenly weaker at tip of discal cell but running straight though weakly to wing-margin; aiial cell dis- tinct, as long as 2nd basal ; anal vein bej^ond tip of anal cell very weak ; squama) large. liam/e. The onlv species now left in this genus extends over South Europe and North Africa, and occin-s in India. It has also been bred at Aden by Col. Yerbury, who moreover states {in Hit.) that it occurs in. Palestine and Mesopotamia. Life-ldstory. The larva is said to live in the nasal organs of TvLOPOUA (camels) and Cavicorxia (buffaloes), but Dr. Bau doubts the authenticity of the latter statement. The larva is broader in front than behind ; mouth-hooks large, directed down- wards ; between them is a small swelling; antenna) wide apart at base, shortly conical, situated near tlie mouth-hooks, with an eye- like, chitinous ring at tip. There are four semi-globular warts above and near the antenna) ; similar, often indistinct warts towards sides of segments. Seizments with a girdle of large, soft, conical, thorny warts. Stignuitic jilates placed in a nari'ow depres- sion of the last segment, Innate or kidney-shaped, with the false stigmatic opening let into the i?iner side of the plate. I'upa very convex above, concave below ; posterior stigmatic plates hidden. 305. Cephalomyia maculata, Wifxl. (Kitnrs imirulatuK, Wicdoiiiann, .Auss. Zwoiil. ii, p. 2")<> (IB-'JO). CEstrns lihj/rufi, Clark, Trans. I^inn. Soc. Lniulou. xix, ]). 9.3 (1843). C't'/i/ictloini/ia maculuta, IJrauer, Mon. (Estr. p. I(i3, )il. ill, ivs. 4, pi. vii,'tijr. 9 (I8f;3). ? (J''.ifnis titilldior, Clark. E?sav on Rots, Su}i|il. ii, pi. ii, (i:r. 22 (116). 390 (ESTRID^. 6 2. Head: frons and face ^vitll nearly parallel sides, gradually narrowing from above downwards, more than half the width of the head in the d , much broader in the $ ; upper pai't best described as dull greenish-grey, having on each side tliree rather bright, orange-brown, elongate spots narrowly outlined with whitish-grey ; vertex and post-ocular margins brownish- orange; ocelhir spot black; ocelli distinct, black; lower part of frons pale grey with two (or perhaps three) small orange- brown spots on each side, contiguous to eyes; a broad median stripe (slightly wrinkled longitudinally) extends from the ocellar spot (where the stripe divides and gradually disappears on each side before attaining the vertex) to the antenna! cavity; this stripe is blackish on its upper half and brownish-orange on its lower half ; anterior margin of frons not in any way elevated into a ridge above antenual cavity ; latter pale livid white, deep enough to contain the antennae wholly, with a high median ridge; face and cheeks wholly pale livid white ; antennae with first two joints very small, pale yellowish ; 3rd globular, bright orange- brown, with coucolorous dorsal, nearly basal, arista ; a very narrow groove runs from the lower part of the antennal cavity to the mouth-opening ; occiput very concave, blackish, with margins orange-brown : whole head entirely devoid of pubescence. Thorax with dorsum mainly rather dark chestnut-brown, having four black longitudinal stripes, interrupted at suture : the two median stripes nearly reach the anterior margin, but the outer stripes are shortened in front ; margins of dorsum broadly yello\\ ish-grey ; whole dorsum more or less dusted with golden-yellow : scutellum very large, bluntly triangular, chestnut-brown, with a large round black spot on each side ; a few very short black hairs are present on the humeral region and about the bases of the wings ; sides of thorax yellowish -grey or brownish-grey with some longer golden pubescence. Ahdomen* short, narrower than the thorax, cylin- drical with obtuse tip ; ground-colour silvery-white, 2nd segment with large, irregular, sinuate, blackish spots ; 3rd segment with a few such spots situated laterally in front and with some on the hind border, so that the latter appears alternately silvery-white and black ; rest of segments clear silvery-white ; 5th segment broad and round ; 6th small, sickie-shaped ; venter silvery, less spotted. Lecfs : coxse apparently grey, with little greyish or yellowish hair ; rest of legs orange or brownish-yellow with two broad but interrupted blackish bands on the femora and two broad, bands on the tibiae; femora with softer and longer pubescence below, tibiae and tarsi with a little shorter yellow pubescence and tiny bristles towards the tips of the tibiae and of each tarsal jointf. Wings nearly colourless, pale brownish-yellow ; venation * Tlie abdomen is discoloured in tbe specimen described herein, so the description of this part of the insect is drawn from Brauev's Monograph. t Braiier's description of the legs gives two dark rings on the femora, but they are by no means definite on the specimen lierein described ; they would be better defined as a narrow, interrupted basal ring and some long, broad streaks on the apical half. CEPKALOMTIA. — COBBOLDIA. UUl as stated in generic diagnosis, upturned apical part of 4th vein closing 1st posterior cell, strongly bisinuate and narrowly or deeply suffused, the colour extending to the tips of the 2nd and 3rd veins and the costa ; anterior cross-vein narrowly suffused ; a minute bhack dot at the tip of the vein which closes the discal cell. Length, 8 mm. Described from one specimen in the Pusa collection, from the nostrils of a camel at Sohawa, x. 1913. One J and two $ $ in the British Museum, bred from larvce sneezed from the nostrils of a Bactrian camel in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, agree very closely, but have the frons and upper part of the head more orange. For distribution see under the genus. Some very interesting notes on this species as a parasite of the camel are given by Col. Terbury and Col. Nurse (Journal Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. xiii, p. 683 ; xiv, p. 009 respectively). Tiie larvae when about full grown are squeezed out of the nostrils by the camel, usually in February or March, and they then pupate in the ground. They may easily be bred in small pots or similar receptacles with a few inches of earth, sawdust or leaves, the emergence of the imago occurring about ten days after pupation. Larvae of this species are not uncommon at stations where camels are numerous, but the adult lly seems to be only very rarely seen in a wild state. It has been bred by Col. Yerbury at Aden and by Col. Nurse at Quetta. Genus COBBOLDIA. Brauer. Cobboldia, Brauer, Denkschr. Ak. Wiss. Wien, Ixiv, p. 262, pi., tigs. 1-18 (1897). Head nearly as broad as thorax. Eyes rather small, bare, with all facets of uniform size, small, Frons in both sexes broad, linear, nearly half the width of the head in S , over half in $ , flush with eyes on vertex, flat, very large and prominent in front, sloping gradually to base of antennae. Head in prolile descending below eyes for a distance equal to about half their length ; face restricted almost to the cheeks through the extraordinary size and depth of the fovea;. Antennas set below the slightly projecting front margin of the frons ; 1st joint very small, apparently annular; 2nd moderately large, irregularly cup-shaped but with the margin forming three distinct lobes; 3rd joint large, com- paratively thick, oval ; arista bar« ; ])roboscis short, cylindrical, with the sides of the groove fused together at the base, produced at the apex above into a stylet-like upper lip, to which the semi- circular labella flt closely beneath. Occiput iu)t extendeil behind eyes in profile. The whole head is bare except for a little soft pubescence on the vertex and on the under side, and a few Hne hairs on the frons. Thorax almost broader tiian long, slightly arched, slightly narrower in front, with anterior corners rather angular; scutelluni semicircular, of moderate size. Abdomen 392 (ESTKIBvB. about as loug as thorax and scutellum togethei*, as wide at base as widest part of thorax ; oblongo-conical, moderately arched, composed of four obvious segments of about equal length, with apparently a hidden 5th segment in d" (apart from the genitalia, which are concealed) and a definite 5th segment in $ . Legs of moderate size and rather slender. Wings transversely wrinkled ; auxiliary vein ending at about middle of wing; 1st, 2nd and 3rd veins ending at about equal distances from each other, the latter a little before the wing-tip; ]st posterior cell open; anterior cross-vein at a little before middle of discal cell, and much before tip of auxiliary v'ein ; 5th vein running weakly to wing-margin; 2nd basal cell and anal cell subequal, both very short ; 6th and 7th veins distinct, not reaching wing-margin. Alulae large, conspicuous, alar squamae comparatively small ; thoracic squamse very much larger, wrinkled. The above is partly abbreviated from the very voluminous description by Brauer, and partly drawn from a S and $ in the British Museum. Life-history. Bred from larvae from the alimentary canal of the Indian elephant. Range. India (C. elepJianiis) : probably also Afi'ica, as larvae of one or two species, the adults of which are not known, but which are believed to belong to this genus, have been found in the African elephant (for references, see Ban, ' Genera Insectorum,' Fascie. 13, p. 9). 306. Cohboldia elephantis, Cohhold. Cobholdia elephantis (adult), Brauer, Denkschr. Ak. Wiss. Wien, Ixiv, p. 260, pi., fig-s. 1-18 (1897). Gantrophilus elephantis (larva only), Cobbold, Jouru. Linn. Soc. London, Zool. xv, p. 333 (1881) ; id., Trans. Linn. Soc. (2) ii, Zool. p. 246 (1882). Cohboldia elephantis (larva onlv), Brauer, Wien. Ent. Zeit. vi, pp. 217-223, pi. iii, figs. 1-6 (1887). S $ . Head neaidy as broad as thorax, prominent in front ; frons and face receding gradually, both with nearly parallel sides, about half the width of the head ; bright red-orange, bare except for a few fine hairs at sides of frons ; at vertex barely above level of eyes : with some whitish reflections on head generally ; ocellar triangle small, black, placed on extreme vertex, with a little short black hair; ocelli dull orange, small and inconspicuous. Antennae wholly bright red-orange, 1st joint extremelv short, annular, almost hidden by anterior margin of frons, 2nd approximately cup-shaped but with irregular outline, 3rd oval, about 14 times as long as broad, with a rather short, black, basal arista, which is orange at the base. Foveae very deep, pale yellow. Mouth- opening and the shining proboscis black. There are some short black hairs on the lower part of the head. Occiput black, with short black bristly hairs, a little orange behind vertex and on C'OBIJOLDIA. 393 lower part. In $, the frons slightly wider tliuii in the c5' , Tliorax a little narrowed in front, shining hlack, finely punctate and with fine bristly haix's directed backwards ; suture distinct ; posterior corners of dorsum well developed ; scutellum of medium size, rounded, covered with black pubescence; pleurse with long, fine, black hairs. Abdomen at base as broad as tliorax, slightly Fig. 82. — Cobholdia clephcmiis, Cobbold, profile of head. narrowing to the rounded tip ; a little longer than thorax, wholly shining black, finely punctate, with similar pubescence to that of the thorax. Venter black, creamy-yellow round the genital region and at the tip. X^r/s black ; pubescence short, black and incon- spicuous except on the femora, where it is of moderate length. Wings very dark brown, wrinkled ; auxiliary vein ending at about Fig. 83. — Cobholdia elcphantis, Cobbold, left antenna : a, profile; h, front view. middle of costa ; 1st, 2nd and 3rd veins :ill considerably approxi- mated, ending at about eqiuil distances from each other, the 3rd at a little l)efore tlie wing-tip ; anterior cross-vein much before tip ol' auxiliary vein, placed ratlier before middle of discal cell ; 1st posterior cell distinctly open; last section of 4th vein curved inwards a little and with a sharply rounded angle at the llcxiire ; discal cell with outer side bisinuate, its anterior margin much shorter than hinder side of 1st posterior cell; 5th vein not 394 (estriDjE. reaching wing- margin ; 2nd basal and anal cells subequal ; anal and axillajy veins distinct, not reaching wing-margin. Alulae conspicuously milk-white, standing erect when the wings are folded. The comparatively small alar squamae and the very large thoracic squamas are milk-white, with pale yellow margins and a microscopic fringe. Halteres dull yellowish, with darker knobs. Lengtli, 15 mm. Eedescribed from a perfect c? and 9 in the British Museum, presented by Dr. P. Brauer. They were bred in the Zoological Gardens, near Vienna, from larvae passed by an elephant which had recently arrived from Bangalore, South India. Genus HYPODERMA, Latr. Hypoderma, Latreille, Fam. Nat. Kegue Auim., p. 507 (1824). Head genei'ally broader than thorax ; vertex rather flat ; frons slightly but broadl_y prominent; cheeks very narrow, vesiculose ; autennal fovese separated by a narrow ridge. Antennae very short, reposing in grooves (fove^e) ; 1st joint small, 2nd bowl- shaped, almost encircling the nearly globular 3rd joint ; arista bare, generally thick, short, rarely long and thin. Mouth-opening small, proboscis membranous, straight, withdrawn ; palpi absent. Thorax nearly spherical. Ahdome^i generally narrower than thorax ; 5th segment in c5' triangular, curved ventralwards ; last ventral segment before the genitalia bilobed, showing two flat, broad shields ; ovipositor in $ 4-jointed, telescopic. Legs long and slender ; tibiae thin, slightly curved and a little thicker about the middle ; pulvilli very large. Wings : apical cross-vein ])resent, more or less in a line with tlie posterior cross-vein, which latter is parallel witii the hind border of the wing. Eange. Europe, Asia, Africa, North Aujerica, Life-history . T^he larvae form warbles under the skin of the back in the horse, in oxen and deer, antelopes, goats and other animals. See also p. 385. 307. Hypoderma crossii, Patton. Jiypodenna crossii, Pattoii, Iiid. Journ. Med. Res. x, p. 574, pis. xxx, xxxi and text-iigs. 1-4 ( (^ and § adults, wing, larva, and per- forated goat-skin; (1922). d . Length 11*5-12 mm. General colour olive-green with grey, brown and golden hairs. Head 4 mm. wide ; eyes large, some- what approximated, inner margins converging towards vertex and diverging towards face ; upper and middle facets larger than lower facets ; ocellar plate elongated, shaped like an isosceles tri- angle with apex downwards ; frons covered with light brownish hairs ; ptilinal suture well marked, forming a wide slit, its lower edges uniting and coalescing with the ridge which separates the antennal pits ; cheeks dirty grey, covered «'ith light grey hairs ; antennal pits widely separated, shining black, as is also the upper KTPODERMA. ;395 surface of the e|)istouie, which foi-ins a large, heart-shaped plate, covered with short grey hairs ; 3rd segment of antennae shining black, large and appearing globular (somewhat shrivelled in the specimens) ; arista arising from the upper and outer surface, directed outwards and downwards, narrowing to a rather blunt apex, bare, its basal portion stout ; proboscis not visible, and no traces of palpi ; lower part of face broad, elongated and thickly covered with light grey liairs. 'Jliorax a little longer than broad; ground-colour dark brown with two somewhat indistinct narrow black stripes, better marked in front of the suture, converging slightly in front and diverging a little towards the suture : behind the suture the stripes are broader and end about half way to the scutellum ; mesopleura covered with long greyish-yellow hairs forming a conspicuous tuft ; dorsal surface of thorax covered with short dark brown hairs but without any black shining tuberosities as in the c? of //. diana; scutellum prominent, bifid, its extremities forming prominent shining black bosses, with a tuft of bright orange hairs between them. Abdomen: the true 2nd segment is black, without any hairs ; first ajiparent (true 8rd) segment 1'omm. long, thickly covered with long golden liiiirs, prominent on upper surface and at sides ; 2nd apparent (true 4th) segment about as long as the apparent 1st and sparsely covered with hairs ; 3rd apparent (ti'ue 5th) segment luirrower and clothed with similar hairs ; 4th apparent (true 6th) segment smaller and hidden under a])parent 3rd ; external genital armature concealed. Ler/s long ; femora dark brown, broad and covered with light and dark brown liairs, their apices light brown ; tibia3 more slender, similar in colour and also provided with hairs, with two rather short black bristles at tlie sides of the inner surface of the lower end, which is lighter brown in colour ; tarsi light brown, 1st seg- ment equal in length to the three succeeding segments together, the two apical segments darker in colour; claws black, long, curved and markedly pointed ; pulvilli well developed. Wings dark yellow with numerous ribs along the posterior border ; venation shown in text-tig. 1 (Patton,o/). cit.) ; anterior cross-vein thickened, forming a dark spot with a short a])pendix on each side ; 4th longitudinal vein with a very short, upwardly-directed appendix just in front of the discal cross-vein ; a clear line nnis outwards from the outer appendix of the anterior cross-vein ; tiiere is a minute light spot on the costa just before its termination ; halteres brown : squamae well developed, large, greyish-yellow. $ . Length 12 mm., including the partially extended ovipositor. General colour light olive-green with brown and golden hairs. Hcml : eyes widely separated ; frons nearly twice the width of the eye; inner and posterior margins of eyes meeting at a point about level with the lower end of the ocellar plate, which is heart-shaped; ocelli amber-coloured: frontal strijic reddish- brown, narrow, widening just above antftiuue ; parafrontalia dark grey with yellow pubescence and brown hairs ; ptilinal suture as in c? ; 3rd segment of antenn;e larger than lliat of (i' , black, 396 (ESTRID^. deeply set in a pit, disc-shaped ; arista arising from upper aud outer side ; epistonie pale yellow with light hairs ; elieeks :ind face covered with long silky hairs. Thorax dark hrown ^ith four very indistinct hroad black stripes separated by lighter stripes, otherwise similar to that of the male ; mesopleura with :i similar tuft of liairs ; scutelluiii less bifid than tliat of S , its two extremities not forming such prominent bosses; the tuft of orange hairs between the ends is smaller. Abdomen with ochra- ceous spots in middle of sides of first three npparent segments, giving the dorsal surface of the abdomen a tessellated appearance : 4th apparent segment dark olive-green ; all the segments covered with light and dark brown hairs, better marked at the sides ; ovipositor stout, black, without any apparent segmentation ; legs light brown, much lighter than in (5; femora with basal Iwo- thirds dark brown, apical third light brown ; middle and hind feraera with onl}^ the apical third dark ; tibice liglit brown ; 2nd, 3rd and 4th tarsal segments with a small dark spot at their apices. Winys similar to those of S except that there is no appendix to the anterior cross-vein and the 4th longitudinal vein ; halteres and squamse as in S . Tiie above description is taken from that of Major Patton, with some slight verbal alterations, and changes in the terminology of the wings, made to bring it into conformity with the rest of this volume. Major Patton gives figures of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the nearly full-grown larva and adds notes on the early stages, suggesting the possibility of the imago laying her eggs on the long hairs on the goats'sides andof the larvae entering the skin directly, without passing through the mouth and gullet. Captain Cross stated that he never found any eggs on the hairs of the legs of the goats. This species was previously referred to by Major Patton (Bull. Ent. Res. xii, p. 248, 1921) as possibly H. hovis, from the skins of goats in the Punjab. In " Indian Insect Life," p. 653 (1909), the genus Hypoderma is said to be a suspected liabitant of Western India, from the Punjab as far south as Gujerat : and warl'les are also said to have been seen in Bengal cattle, but almost exclusively from the hills. See also remarks on warbles in antelopes {ante, p. 386). Originally described from three S 6 find one $ bred from larvae obtained from warbles in tlie skins of goats from the JheluMi District, Pinijab. In tliis district a very high proportion of the goats have warbles. Types and paratypes in Major Patton's collection. Genus GASTROPHILUS, Leach. Gastrophilns, Leach, Mem. Wern. Soc. Edin. ii, p. 508 [Gasferophilus) (1817). Gastrus, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. iv, p. 174 (1824). Bnleromyza, Eondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, ii, p. 20, noia (1857). GASTROrHILTTS. 397 Genotypk, (Estrns equi, Clark ; by designation of Curtis. Head rnthev short, sometimes distinctly narrower than thorax, seniiglol)ul:ir, vessiculose; cheeks putted up, thinly haired; eyes rather .small, hare, wide apart in both sexes : t'rons generally with a median impresstd line ; three distinct ocelli ; antenna? seated in a single heart-sh;iped cavity, bisected by a median ridge; first two joints very small, 3rd oval, compressed, projecting heyond the cavity, arista dorsal, bare; mouth-opening small, rounded; pro- boscis A-ery rudimentary ; palpi small, short, globular; a median impressed line extends from the antenual cavity to the mouth- opening. Thorax oval, short, gently curved ; thoracal squan)a3 small, long-liaired. Abdomen variously shaped, genei'ally oval or subconical ; in some species much broader than thorax. Genitalia in J inc()nspicuou8, in $ sometimes small, generally prominent, elongate, often conspicuously so, curved under the alxlomen, differing in shape and size according to the species ; apical part of ovipositor cylindrical, grooved on upper side. Legs moderately long, comparatively slender ; pnlvilli large, claws slender. Wings with characteristic venation ; 4th longitudinal vein nearly reaching border of wing, quite straight; 1st posterior cell widely open; discal cell as long as or hardly longer than anterior basal cell, in some species open ; anal cell short. liani/e. Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Life-histor)/. The larva lives in the stomach of the horse or other EQUiD.i:, passing out with the dung when mature and pupating in the ground, under stones or in holes in the earth ; the insects live some months in the larval stage; the pupa takes the form of a contracted larva. The larva is pointed at the front eiul ; the 1st (cephalic') segment is provided with two large moutli-hooks ; the 3rd to the 12th segments possess rows of spines or hristles on the front borders. The perfect insects are sometiuu^s found in mnnhers on bare mountain-tops, or in high towers or trees, but are usually unconimon ; they are usually moderately or densely pubescent, furry species and are, especially in the hot sun, very rapid on tlie wing. (J. tqui is easily known by the smoky band, sometimes in- distinct, across the middle of the wings, which in G. nasalis are quite clear. G. pecorum may be distinguished by having the discal cell wide open, this cell being closed in tlie other two species. 308. Gastrophilus equi, cJarl-. (PI. VI, (ig. 14.) Q^dnts equi, Clark, Trans. Liim. Soc. Lond. iii, p. l.'2(i, pl. xxiii, tips. 7-!) (1797). CEKh-iis hovis, LinnaRus, Faun. 8hhc. ii, p. 1730 (17fil). (Estruii {utestinalis. He (Jeer, Ins. vi, p. 291.1)1. xv,li^.s. l.'^-19 (1770). Giatrns hfcmorvJwidalis, Gnielin (nee Linnajus), Sv.st. Nat. v, p. L'HIO (1788). (lutnis giisfn'ctis, Srlnvnl), Die (Ivstrnciden, p. .31 (1840). ^ (E^tnis tnitifo/x's, Palhis, Itin. i, App. p. 47o (1779). Ct^trics bewjalensis, Macqnart, Dipt. Exol. ii, i)ait 3, p. L'5 (1843). 398 oESTRiD.i;. d $. Head as broad as thorax; froDS measured across middle of eyes, rather more than half width of head, distinctly narrowed ou upper and widened on lower part, pale yellowish or yellowish- white, with two broad lighter or darker brownish-yellow stripes generally filling most of tbe surface except more or less narrowly on the eye-margins, on a space round the ocellar spot, a very narrow median line (sometimes absent) and a semicircular space above tlie antennal cavity; whole irons covered with fairly short, pale yellowish pubescence, the upper half of the darker stripes often with dark brown or nearly black | pubescence. Ocellar spot rounded, black, with moderately long, pale pubescence ; the ocelli distinct; cheeks and lower part of head pale brownish-yellow, with shorter, pale yellowish pubescence. Antennae set in a deep, yellowish-white cavity, which is divided into two spaces by a narrow median ridge ; 1st and 2nd antennal joints more yellowish, with yellow bristly hairs, 3rd joint more brownish, arista cou- colorous, long. Occiput brownish-yellow ; eyes bare, black ; sides ot: head below eyes nearly as deep as vertical height of latter. Tliorax : ground-colour brownish-yellow, centre of dorsum always much darker, varying from brown to nearly black ; humeri yellowish, the whole dorsum covered with dense brownish-yellow pubescence varying in shade, often brown in centre of dorsum and pale yellow towards sides and over humeri, where it is longer and almost scale- like. Scutellum concolorous with doi'sum, with dense erect pubescence, of which that on the margin is dark brown and conspicuously erect. Sides of thorax concolorous, with long bushy, almost scale-like pubescence. Abdomen brownish- yellow, generally with small darker spots, of which three are usually found at base of each segment except the 1st, thus forming three more or less obvious dorsal rows ; whole dorsum \\ ith bright yellow, rather short, somewhat depressed, pubescence. Grenitalia in d inconspicuous, concolorous ; in $ considerably elongate, conspicuous, darker brown, with a few pale hairs. Legs uiiiforn)ly brownish-yellow with short yellow pubescence ; 2nd, 3rd and 4tli tarsal joints much shorter than 1st and 5th. Wings grey, veins pain brownish or yellowish; a pale smoky, indistinct band across middle of wing, and two smaller, roundish spots, one just beyond tip of 2nd longitudinal vein, the other over, or just before, tip of 3rd; hind margin sometimes just perceptibly darker. Length, 12-16 mm. Described from over forty specimens in the Pusa collection, all females except three. Lahore, 29. x. 1909, 1. ii. 1909 ("horse, caught from Suria infested area'"); Dellii, 26. vii. 1912 ; Eawal- pincli, 19, 22 & 21. x. 1911 ; Batala, 1. ii. 1909 ; Gurdaspur, 25. X. 1909; Shahabad, 2. xii. 1908; Purneah, (i, H) & 12. ix. 1908; 12. X. 1908; Shahjalianpore, 3. xii. 1908; Bhagalpur, 10. iv. 1908. One specimen from Seistan, Persia, " from liorse, uncommon," 3. x. 1906. Also occurs over the greater part of GASTuopniLUs. 399 Eui-ope, North Africa, Xorth America and at the Cape of Good Hope. Life-history. Larva 11-segineuted, all except the last two seg- ments with a double row of liorny bristles. The $ imago hovers almost perpendicularly in the air, and barely settles as she deposits an egg on one of the hairs of the host, to which it adheres. Four to five hundred eggs are known to have been deposited on a single horse, generally inside the knee or on the fetlocks, but alwavs only on those parts of the body that the horse can reach to lick. After four or five days on the hairs, the slightest application of heat and moisture is sufficient to cause the larva to emerge*. When transferred by the animal's tongue to the mouth and thence to the stomach, they affix themselves to the inner membrane by two small hooks, and are believed to feed on the secretions caused by their presence, A hundred have been found in a single horse. Form bengalensis, Macquart. I can i)erceive no difference between the Indian examples described above, aud typical eqid in the British Museum and from other sources, except that the colour is generally ])aler yellow. Macqnart's only two specific characters (of bengalensis), " 3rd antennal joint brown '' and " abdomen without dorsal spots," are not reliable, the antenna; being variable in colour, whilst the irregular rows of brownish marks, often forming bands, at the bases of all the middle segments, though nearly always present and very distinct in specimens with the pubescence somewhat worn, are sometimes quite absent. Van der Wulp also considered benr/cdensis as a synonym of equi. This pale form {bengalensis) is represented in tlie British IMuseum from widely separated localities: Bareilly, 19(»5 [Major E. Jennings); India (Bomba)/ Nat. Hist. JSor..) ; Chaman, Kojak Pass, Afghanistan, 28. vii. ISSCi, "at mess, 11 p.m." {Col. Ch. Swinhoe) ; Mesopotamia; Cy])rus ; and several localities in South Africa. 309. Gastrophilus nasalis, L. (Estrns nasnlis, Linmeus, Syst. Ed. Xat. x, p. 590 (17o8). (Kstrus veteriniis, Clark, Trans. Linn. 8oc. Lend, iii, p. 1528 (1797). CEstnis salutif'cni.s, Clark, Etsay on Lots, p. ;3;j, pi. i, tiog. -JQ 27, :};i-46(l8ir>). Oastrus clarJdi, Lcacli, Eprob. Ins. p. 2 (1817), and .Mem, Wern. Soc. ii, p. o(J8 (1818). Gastrus juincntnrnm, Meij^eii, Syst. Beschr. iv, p, 179 (1824). frastrus snluidrin, .Meifrcn, op. cit. p. 17(1 (1824), CFMrus duDdcmilis, Schwab, Die (I'^straciden, pp. 35, .37 (1840), (ra»(nts nif/rifi(!i, Zettcrstedt, Dipt. Scand. iii, p !)S1 (1844). Gastrus aubjacens, Walker, List Dipt, Brit. Mus. iii, p. tl87 (1849). * Even tlic moistened palm of tiio hand is, arcordiiig (o Ciark, siiflii-iciit to liatch tlieui easily. 400 (ESXKID.'E. (S $ . Head as broad as thorax ; iu J , frons, measured along middle line of eyes, slightly less than one-third width of head, distinctly broader above than below, brownish-orange, as are also the face and underside of head; all wholly covered with bright golden-yellow, moderately long and dense pubescence ; ocellar spot blackish, wilh golden-yellow pubescence; first tuo joints of antennte yellowish, 3rd reddish-brown, as is also the anterior margin of the frons, overhanging the antennal cavity; occiput brownish-orange with concolorous pubescence ; eyes dark chestnut- brown. In 2 5 frons distinctly less than half width of head, narrower above and broader below, brownish-orange, as are also the face and lower part of the head ; eye-margins broadly, antennal cavity and a small semicircular space above it, livid yellowish- white, almost translucent. The whole head, including the brownish-orange occiput, with sparse, short, yellowish hairs ; ocellar spot brownish, rounded, with a few short yellowish hairs, with a narrow black transverse stripe behind it on the vertex ; in all else as in the c? • Thorax in c? wholly brownish-orange, covered with dense, long, bright orange pubescence ; scutellum similar, lower margin conspicuously bare. In 2 , moderately shining black ; humeri, posterior calli and parts of pleurae darker brown, all with dense yellowish-grey, almost greenisli-grey, pubescence ; some blackish-brown stiff pubescence on each side of dorsum just behind suture and a fan-shaped bunch of long grey pubescence on either side behind posterior calli. Scutellum dark iDrown, with brownish-grey pubescence and a quantity of very erect strong blackish-brown pubescence on hind margin. Abdo- men as broad as thorax, narrowed (especially in 5 ) towards tip. In c? , first two segments blackisli (possibly, though apparently not, discoloured), remainder moderately dark shining chestnut- brown ; all covered with rather dense, liright orange pubescence, which is considerably paler on 1st and 2nd segments. Venter concolorous, and with pubescence similar, but developed to a less degree. In 5, moderately shining, very dark mahogany-brown, nearly black ; sides of segments more or less chestnut-brown ; basal segment with moderately dense, rather long, pale yellowish- grey pubescence; remaining segments with shorter, sparse, depressed, whitish pubescence; venter mainly dark brown, \^'ith ratiier long yellowish-grey pubescence ; genitalia shining reddish- brown. Legs in S brownish-orange ; femora blackish except at tips, with longbrownish-orange pubescence, except on upper sides, where the pubescence is very short ; tibiae with fine yellow hairs, shortest on inner side ; claws and pulvilli yellowish-orange, tips of former black ; anterior metatarsi not so long as, hind metatarsi a little longer than, remaining four joints together. In $ , coxse and trochanters reddish-brown to brownish-orange, sometimes more or less blackish in front, with bristly black hairs intermixed with more numerous, yellowish-grey, longer hairs. Femora dark brown, except rather narrowly brownish-orange at base and tip ; GASTROPHILUS. 401 fore pair with sparse, nioilerately long, grey pubescence on inner side, dense, shorter, grey pubescence on upper, and dense, sh(jrt, black pubescence on outt^r, side ; posterior femora with mainly yellowish-grey or brownish-grey pubescence, longest on hinder side of miiklle pair. I ibitt! and tarsi brownish-orange, former a little darker towards tips ; pubescence mainly yellowish, some stiff black hairs on upper side of tarsi (and also in one specimen towards tips of hind tibia) on inner side); metatarsi as long as remaining four joints together, 5th joint about as long as 2nd ; fore tarsi relatively shorter. Winr/s pale grey, nearly colourless, veins brownish-yellow ; alar and thoracic squamae whitish, with pale yellow borders, latter with a long fringe of whitish hairs. Lew/ch, 13-14 mm. Describr^d from a single d from Austria, and three 5 ? i'^ the Indian Museum from liuwalpindi, 25.x. 1913, 15. x. 1911 and 19. X. 1912. In the iiritisli ^luseum are examples from Kuala Lumpur (Federated Malay States), 1910 (Dr. A. J. Stanton), from England, Siberia, ISJacedonia, Nova Scotia, Januiica and Cape Colony. It occurs in most of Europe, and in North America. The biology is discussed by Brauer, Mon. (Estr. p. 89. The conspicuous difference of appearance in the sexes is remarkable, but; the species is easily distinguished from G. equi by the black femora and clear wings. 310. GastropMlus pecorum, Fabr* CEktrus pecorum, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 230 (1794). Gastrophilm pecorum, Schiner, Faun. Austr. i, p. 391 (1862). Head. J : frons almost flush with eyes on upper part and only slightly prominent below; at vertex barely one-lift li the linear diameter of the head, with almost parallel sides for a short distance but slightly widening at the extreme vertex ; lower part very rapidly widening to about half the width of the head at the level of the antenntc ; irreguhu'ly coloured, mainly brown with yellowish and grey parts, wholly covered with long and moderately dense, bright yellow pubescence ; ocelli ])ale yellow ish-white, large, close together but not contiguous, on extreme vertex ; extreme anterior margin of frons yellow ; head extending below eyes for a distance equal to about height of eyes, yellowish, under side wholly covered with long and dense, very bright golden-yellow pubescence, wliicli extends as a thick fringe round the eye-margins and over all the dark grey occiput ; antenna; entirely orange- yellow, with yellow pubescence, arista black ; eyes quite bare. In $, frons at vertex much more than one-third width of head, rapidly widening to much more than half width of head at level of antenna;, the pubescence much shorter and sparser and more * For a number of synonyms, 8eo Kert&z, Kiit. Paliiarkt. Dipt, iii, p. ."iOT (1907). 2n 402 cESTiiiD.i:. brownish than in d" ; face and lower part of head more brownish tlian in (S , pubescence much shorter and less dense; antenuse also more brownish. Thoy-axhiack: humeral space clearly defined, pale yellowisli ; whole surface, including sides, covered with long and dense, bright yellow pubescence, which is slightly darker on the dorsum and more brownish on the scutellum ; some nearly whitish pubescence between scutellum and wing-base. In $ , pubescence much shorter, and greenish-grey in colour. Abdomen honey-yellow, with long and dense, pale yellow or golden-yellow pubescence, extending unbroken over sides and venter, though through it the emargiuations of the segments are distinctly visible. In 2 , abdomen wholly black ; pubescence very sparse, almost absent except for an obvious band of yellowish-white hairs across middle of 2nd segment; venter in 5 black, with numerous small wart-like bumps. Legs in cJ pale brownish-yellow, with rather long and thick, bright j'ellow pubescence on under side of femora ; tibiae and tarsi with very short, mainly black, stiff pubescence. In 5 , femora black or blackish-brown with yellowisli under sides ; tips more or less narrowly yellowish ; rest of legs as in 6 . Wings dull grey, vaguely darker in middle for a distance from anterior margin, also about the tip (in one 5 , wholly pale brownish-gre_y) ; alulae strongly developed ; squamae dirty white, with narrow yellowish margins and a little Avoolly whitish fringe ; halteres brownish-yellow. Length, 10-13 mm. Redescribed from two pairs in good condition in the British Museum. Not uncommon in Europe ; fi.rst obtained in India by Col. Nurse, who bred examples at Deesa, xi. 1899, from pupae passed by a horse, the imagines emerging about fifteen days later {Col. Nurse). Meerut, N.W. India, S $; bred from pupae dropped August 27th (the flies emerging Sept. 13th, 1901) by a Chinese mule of unknown origin, but used in Tientsin Transport Lines by the Chinese Expeditionary Force and shipped to India in July. Several other specimens from the same source were obtained but were destroyed in transit to London (from notes by the donor, Lt. G. A. Hawlcs). The life-history is dealt with by Brauer, Mon. CEstr. pp. 78, 79 (1863). In fresh specimens the dense pubescence is often fox-red, and the thoracic band of black pubes- cence is often indistinct, especially in the 5 . G-enus PORTSCHINSKIA, Sememv. Portschinskia, Semenov, Eev. Russe Ent. ii, p. 52 (1902) (nom. nov. for Microcephalus, Schnahl, prseocc). Microcephahis, Schnabl, Deutsche Ent. Zeit. xxi, p. 49 (1877). GrENOTYPE, Microcephalus loewii, Schnabl ; the original species. Body robust, entirely without strong bristles. Head much narrower than thorax, small ; frons rather narrow in J , broader PORTSCllIXSKIA. 403 in 2 5 fl'i't, with linear (loewii) or diverging (przewalsJci/i) sides ; three ocelli. Eyes small, bare, facets of uniform size, with a very di.stincfc shining smooth margin round lower half. Anteimai small ; 1st joint hardly visible, 2nd bowl-shaped, broader above than below, rather irregular ; 3rd joint llatly biconvex, oval heart- shaped, irregularly sinuate in outline ; arista thickened basally, ratlier long, bare, placed on the sunken, lenticular flattened space on the outer side of the 3rd joint (loewii), or on tiie inner side of the outer part of the 3rd joint {przewalskyi) *. Face triangular, flat, not projecting beyond base of antennae; cheeks greatly developed, wrinkled, extending downwards to a distance fully equal to height of eyes, distinctly sunken in middle, jjrojecting a little hindwards on lower part. Mouth-opening small, triangular ; proboscis and palpi rudimentary. Thorax very thick, weil curved, almost broader than long, much narrowed in front ; scutellum of medium size, semicircular. Abdomen shortly-ovate, as broad as thorax, thick, well curved, 4-segmeuted (loewii) or o-segmented {j>rzewalslcyi) ; genitalia concealed. Legs moderately long and strong, hind pair rather longer; all femora thickened at base {loewii) or hind pair only (przavalshyi) ; hind tibiae narrowed at base. TI7/(/ys : 1st longitudinal vein ending a little beyond auxiliary vein ; 2nd long, parallel to and rather approximate to 3rd, ending a little before the apex of the latter (which in its turn ends appreciably before the wing-tip), very slightly curved. Anterior cross-vein opposite apex of auxiliary vein (pi-zewalski/i) or distinctly beyond it (loeivii), and at middle of discal cell ; 1st posterior cell closed on wing-border (loewii) or shortly petiolate, its outer side nearly parallel with the hind margin of the wing ; 2nd basal and anal cells subequal, sliort ; 5th vein reaching margin of wing; 6th becoming very weak in its last section but attaining the wing-margin. All the veins distinct except the 6th. Alulae small, with rounded tips ; alar squamae small, thoracic squamic mucli larger, both pairs with a distinct margin, the latter pair dis- tinctly wrinkled. liuHf/e. Central and .Southern Europe, Northern and CVnti'al Asia, Himalayas. Lifc-histori/ unknown . This genus was established by Schnabl for Microeej>haliisi loewii, a new species from the neighbourhood of Jenisseisk, West Siberia, and he noted its affinity to Ilj/poderma. Since the generic name was preoccupied in Reptilia, C'oleoplera and Diptera, the genus Avas renamed by Semenov. Brauer considers the genus f to be related to Hypoderma, Cepludomyia Viwii Gastropldlus. Five species are known. * In /'. przcw(dskyi tlic [Jrcl antennal Joint is invaginated attbe tip, tlio ari.ita being placL'd on tlio inner side of the outer fdgc, iit about its middle, t Sitzungsbcr. Ak. Wiss. Wien, civ, p. 581) (1895). 2u2 404 CESTEID^. 311. Portschinskia przewalskyi, Ports. Microcephalus przexvahhyi, PortscLinskv, Horre Soc. Eiit. Ross, xxi, p. 9, pi. i, rig. 7 (1887). c5' $ • Head much narrower than thorax ; upper part of frons nearly linear ; at point of nearest aoproach to the bare, chocolate- brown eyes it is about one-seventh the widtli of the head, thence widening gradually downwards ; frons wholly dull black, with red-brown, rather fine and long pubescence towards sides ; ocellar tubercle extending hindwards to extreme vertex, but the Fig. SL—Portschinskia przeviuhJcyi, Ports., front view of head. shining brown ocelli are only moderately large, and placed well forward. Pace deeply wrinkled, black, receding gradually from base of antennae; the deeply siniken cheeks, which are sharply demarcated in almost keel-like fashion fi-om the face, reach downwards to a distance equal to more than the height of the eyes, and extend somewhat broadly hindwards ; space in the Fig. 85. — Portsckiiis/da przewalskj/t, Ports., antennas: a, jirofile, inner side : b, half profile. median line just below antennas shining black, bare; two con- spicuous though narrow and approximate ridges run from below the antennae nearly to the mouth-opening, and are more or less reddish in colour; hinder part of clieeks with darker, red-brown, rather long and almost shaggy hair; there is a small, slightl}^ wrinkled, shining bare space above the antennae. The latter dull orange ; 1st joint wilh a few sliort black and yellowish bristles of I'OIITSCIIINSKIA. 405 various lengths, 2ikI wiUi longer, red-brown or yellowisli bristles, 3r(l very broad and thick, about twice as high as long, deeply excavated af tip, and on side margins in profile, the red-brown arista being set in this apical caviby. Occiput black, with red- brown pubescence. Thorax: ground-colour shining black, wholly covered with long, dense pubescence, which is pale yellowish or bi'ownish on the anterior third, the luuneral region, the iiind corners broadly, and rather narrowly on the hind margin ; and which is black on the remainder ol" the dorsum. Seul^eilar pubescence dense, pale yellowish, that of pleurtc mainly similar on niesopleura and steruopleura and dark brown on remainder. yl6(^»uH entirely black. In S , with dense pubescence, which is yellowish on 1st and 2nd segments and black on 3rd, with a yellowish hind marginal fringe to latter ; 4th, 5th and 6th wholly covered with bright orange-red pubescence. In $, pubescence black on the whole of 3rd segment, on base and hind margin of 4th and on about middle of 5th, rest of the surface with orange- red pubescence. Venter black ; pubescence long and dense mainly black but yellow ish at sides of 2nd segment, and orange, red at apex of abdomen. Legs: coxa? and femora black, with long, deu'^e, rather ragged hair on under side ; fore femora with such hair on hinder side also; tibia) and tarsi dark brown, with moderately long red-brown pubescence ; apices of tarsi black ; pnlvilli and claws black. Wvnrjs pale yellowish-grey ; whole surface wrinkled ; venation in accordance with the generic diagnosis ; alar squamae moderately dark grey with a blackish fringe and a conspicuous dark brown margin ; thoracic squama) paler grey, wrinkled, with a similar margin but no fringe. Length, 18-21 mm. Kedescribed from two 6 6 and one 5 in the Indian Museum collection from Andarban, Garhwal District, AV. Himalayas, 11,000 ft., vi. 1914 {Col. Tgtler); also from one d in the British Museum from Sikkim, vii. 1804 (Col. Bingham). Originally described from a specimen taken " on the crest of the Burchan Budda" [a mountain range in Koko Nur, North Tibet] "at an absolute elevation of 14,000 ft." This is the species referred to in my original description of Criorrhina imitator as the large Kchinomi/ia-Wke fly whicli mimics that Syrphid. On being shown to Major Austen, it was imme- diately recognised by him as the CEstrid PortscUinskia przewahl-gi, Ports. The general resemblance between the Criorrhina, tlie (Estrid and several species of BomhuH frequenting the Himalayas and adjacent regions, is very striking*. The generic and specific reference, and the above particulars are gleaned from notes made bv Major Austen some years ago in the British Museum collection. He also remarked its resem- blance to the species of Lycastris (tlien nndesciibed) which 1 have had the pleasure of naming after him {ante, p. 279). * See note under Criorrhina imitator, ante, p. 284. ATPENDIX. Family PIPUNCULTD^. Genus PIPUNCULUS, Lair, {ante, p. 4). The following four species, described in 1903 from Ceylon by Dr. K. Kertesz, were unfortunately overlooked. I have had no o]iportunity of examining the types or other exaujples, and the descriptions are therefore translated from the original. Judging by the key at the beginning of Kertesz's paper *, it seems that P. becJceri has the stigma on the costa of the wing coloured (" Fliigelrandmal gefarbt "), and should therefore fall under section 1 of the table on p. 5 of the present volume ("stigma present ") ; while the other three species {cEueiventris, shv/alcnsis and angustijunnis) have the stigma " uncoloured '^ (" Miigelrandmal ungefarbt "), which may mean that tiiey should be placed under section 17 of the table (" stigma entirely absent"). Pipunculus heckeri, Kert. Pipuncidus hecheri, Kertesz, Ann. Mus. Hung, i, p. 46G (190.3). J . Head : vertical triangle shining black ; frons grey-dusted ; epistome nearly parallel, very slightly narrowed below, with a silvery-white shimmer. 1st and 2nd antennal joints blackish- brown, 2nd with some microscopic bristly hairs on upper side ; 3rd pale brown, pointed below at apex and silvery-white ; arista black, the thickened base brown. Occiput grey-dusted. Thorax with dorsum slightly sliining, black, as is also the scutellum ; shoulders yellowish-grey ; pleurae grey ; hind margin of dorsum and hinder part of the metanotum, viewed from behind, grey. Abdomen black, feebly shining ; all the segments grey through- out their length at the sides ; 1st segment with grey anterior margin, 2nd segment with a grey dust ring ; on the 3rd and 4th segments the grey dust extend from the sides only a little over * And from the first three of the following descriptions : in the fourth (P. a?iffust/j?ev')i7s} notliing is said as to presence or absence of the stigma. APPENDIX. 407 the dorsum, whilst on the oth segment it is more extended. On the anterior margins of the 3rd, 4th and 5th segments linear impressions, with a small callosity in the middle, are visible ; on the 5th there are also two round depressions behind the linear impression. The hypopyginin is comijosed ol' two unequal pieces asyiumetrically placed together ; it has neither cleft nor impression, occupies the whole breadth of the abdomen, and has nearly tlie form of a hemisphere. Ler/s : coxa), and femora to extreme tips, black; tibire on basal fourth and extreme tip blackish-brown; femora and tibiae grey-dusted ; hind femora shining on inner sides ; middle femora on apical half of under side armed with small spines ; tarsi yellow, the last joints brownish. Wings rather brownish ; stigma yellowish-brown, about 5 shorter than the 4th costal segment ; both together 1| times as long as the 5th costal segment; anterior cross-vein placed rather before the tip of the auxiliary vein and in the first third of the discal cell. ITalteres ■with stem whitish, clubs brown, dark brown at apex. Length, 3*6 mm. ; wings 3"3 nnn. Two cJ J , Colombo, 28. ii. 1902. I^'/P'i in. Hungarian Museum. Pipunculus aeneiventris, Jurt. Pipunculus ceneicentris, Kertesz, Ann. Mus. Hung, i, p. 468 (1903). cJ . Head : vertical triangle small, shining black ; frons black, with a white shimmer, except on a median longitudinal space ; epistome \\\t\\ parallel sides, black, with silvery-white shimmer ; antennae blackish-brown, 2nd and 3rd joints shimmering white ; upper side of 2nd joint with only microscopic bristly hairs ; 3rd joint beneath with elongated tip ; arista black, the thickened base of its 2nd joint elongate ; back of liead black, with grey dust. Thorax : dorsum black, appearing dull from the microscopic grey dust ; shoulders brownish-yellow ; pleura) a little shining, with here and there some shimmering white spots; scutellum shining black; metanotum with whitish-grey dust. Abdomen metallic dark green, shining, with scattered, black, microscopic pubescence. Hypopygiun) small, blackish, with sparse grey dust and an elongate cleft on the right side. Legs: coxa; black, hind pair siiimmering white on outer sides, the other pairs hidden by the rest of the legs ; femora black to extreme tips, grey-dusted ; hind pair shining on inner side, and fin'nished with small spines on apical half of under side ; tibia), except at base and tip, black, uniformly grey- dusted ; tarsi yellow, last joint lu'ownish. Wings very faintly brownish; costal stigma absent; 3rd costal segment half as long as the 4th, both together shorter by half than the oth ; anterior cross-vein ])laced rather before tip of 2iid vein, and at middle of discal cell; 3rd vein sinuate at tip. llalteres greyish- yellow. Length, 3-5 mm. ; wings 2-7 nuu. One J, Colonilto, 25. ii. 1902. Tgjye in Hungarian Museum. 408 APPENDIX. Pipunculus siugalensis, Kert. Fipunculus singalensis, Kert^sz, Ann. Mus. Hung, i, p. 469 (1903). S. Heaxl: vertical triangle black, shining, shimiuering silvery- wliite behind ocellar bump ; frons black, bearing silvery-white toiueiitum, which is absent on a median bare stripe reaching from base of antennae to about middle of frons, this stripe being pointed at its upper end; epistome with parallel sides, shimmering silvery-white ; antennae brown ; 2nd joint microscopically bristly haired, ijrd joint yellow, with tip drawn out beneath ; arista black, indistinctly two-jointed, the 2nd joint spindle-shaped and thickened at base ; occiput black, with white retiections. Thorax'. dorsum black, shining, without whitish dust ; shoulders brownish- yellow ; pleurae grey-dusted, the sternopleura and metapleura more especially shimmering silvery-white ; scutellum shining metallic green ; metanotum shining silvery-white. Abdomen shining metallic green ; 1st segment, also the small hypopygium, with greyish-white dust, the hy|)opygium with a small oval opening on the right side. Legs : coxae and femora blackish-brown to the extreme apex ; middle and hiud femora furnished on apical half of under side with microscopic spines ; tibiae on basal fourth and at the extreme tip, blackish-brown ; tarsi yellow, with last joint very slightly brownish. Wings narrow, barely tinged with brown ; stigma absent ; 3rd costal segment half as long as 4th ; both together half as long as 5th ; anterior cross-vein placed opposite the middle of the 4tb costal segment, and rather beyond middle of discal cell ; 3rd vein slightly sinuate at tip, Halteres yellow. 5 . Prons deep black, shining, slightly wider than lower face, with sides parallel ; both frons and lower face shimmering silvery- white ; a silvery-white shimmering spot is also present behind the ocellar bump. Antennae paler and more yellowish. Thoracic dorsum with dust more greyish-brown. Abdominal segments greyish-dusted towards sides ; last segment with an impression on front and hind margins as well as at the sides. Hypopygium small, without any furrow, although the last segment has in its middle a shallow furrow which extends nearly to the full breadth of the segment. Ovipositor straight, as long as the hypopygium. In all else as in the S . Length, 2-5 mm.; wings 2*4 mm. A single pair, Colombo, 28. ii. 1902. Tgpes in Hungarian Museum. Pipunculus angustipenuis, Kert. Pipunculus anyustipennis, Kert6sz, Ann. Mus. Hung, i, p. 470 (1903). c? . Head : eyes narrowly separated by the extremely narrow frons, which is shimmering silver)^- white on its lower part and shining black on its upper part ; lowei" face with parallel sides, shining black with silvery-white reflections; basal antennal joints APPENDIX. 409 blackish-brown; 2ncl joint with very short bristly hairs on upper side; 3i-d joint brownish-yellow, with tip soiiiewtiat elongate, bowed in front * ; arista indistinctly two-jointed, slightly thickened at base : back of head grey-dusted. Thorax : doisuni blai-k, dull, grey-brown t : pleur.-e grey-dusted; scutellum shining black: metanotuin and hind margin ot thoracic dorsum with silvery-white reflections. Abdomen o]\\e-hvo\yu, only the 5th segment black ; 1st segment white-dusted, the sides in certain lights with silvery- white reflections. Hypopygium rather large, without furrow. Legs yellow ; femora, to extreme tips, black ; tibife with a median dark ring ; last tarsal joint brownish ; femora and tibiae whitish- dusted : hind femora shining on itnier side. Wings rather brownish, very narrow, especially at the base ; 3rd costal seg- ment only one-fourth as long as the 4th ; both together nearly as long as 5th ; anterior cross-vein placed opposite middle of 3rd costal segment, in the first sixth of the discal cell. Halteres yellow. Length, 2 mm. ; wings 2*2 mm. One (5 , Colombo, 28. ii. 1902. Tyj^)e in Hungarian Museum. Family SYRPHID.E. Genus PARAGUS, Lntr. (ante, p. 30). The followino; species has to be added to the Indian Fauna. Paragus tibialis, Fin. t Fipiza tibiolis, Fallen, Dipt. Suec, Syrph. p. 60 (1817). Par(«iiis tibialis, Schiner, Kaun. Austr. i, p. 257 (186l') ; ^'errall, Brit. Flies, Syrpli. p. 150 (liJOl). Paragus politiis, \Viedemes (Oestrus), 397. antiquum (Chrysotoxum), .301. Ants, mentioned, 95, 309,342,371. Apiiid^ or Aphides, mentioned, 31, 70, 99, 113. Aphritis, 307. apicalis (Chilosia), 43. apicata (Ceria), 337. apiccnotata (Baccha), 122. apiformis (Microdon), 314. Apis, mentioned, 307, 315. appendiculatus (Pipun- cuUis), 7. arbustorum (Eristalis), 157, 179. arbustorum (Musca), 173, 179. A LPII A I5ETICAL 1 N I) K\. 417 Airtophila. 24, -227.289. arcuaius (Si/rpkiii>), 2'J'J. argantifera (Pliyso- cepliala), 361. argentipes (Eumerus), 415. argent isegmentata (Ver- ralli.i), 22. argyrocephalus{Eristalis), 201. argyroceplialus (Mega- spis), 201. arqi/ropus {Eumerus), 251. armatus (Pipunculus), mentioned, 23. arvonmi (Eristalis), 165, 181. arvoriim (Syrpkus), 181. Asarcina, 29, 63. AsarJclna, 03. Ascia, 24, 30, 105. aseiifovinis (Spbegina), no. asilica (Criorrhina), 280, 288. asilicus (S//rphiis}, 280. assaniensis (Xylota), 237. assimilis (Syrphiis), 1)4. Afemnocera, 144. afra (Miisca). Ifil. ff/ra (M?/opa), 382. atra (Occemyia), 382. atratus (I'aragus), 33. atriooriiis(Physocephala), 363. aurtns (Cephalops), 21. aiiraiitiara (Fliyso- cepliala), 353, 358. aiirata (Korincliia), 415. aura fa {VoliiceUa), 200. aiiriciiictus (Microdon), 318,415. aiirifroris (Rmneriis), 252, 415. aun.iiilens (Xylota), 2.30. aiisteni (Lvoastris'). 279, 284. Axona, 155, 222. Azpeylia, 155. 221. Bacca, 113. Bacciia, 24, 20. 113. liacchina. 113. Bacha, 113. balte.ata (Mihvsia), 272. halteala {Musca), 82. baltoatus (Syrphus), 82, 413 b;ii)livrii3 (Clirysotoxuiii), 2"JG. barhnUts (Erhfalis), 172. basalis (Voliicella), 150. ba.sifeiuoratus (Eristalis), 175. beckeri (Pipunculus), 400. bellu.s (Microdon), 315. Bembex, mentioned, 342. bengal ensis (llelopliilusX 209,414. beng;ilensis (ffistrus), 307, 399. bengalen.sis (Sphsero- phoria), mentioned, 100. biciiicta (Musca), 294. bicinctum (Chryso- toxura), 294. /ucolor (Miilio), ,30. bicolor (Parngns), 35. bicolor (Physocephala), 357. bicolor (S//7'phtts), 35. bi fascia (Azpeytia), 221. binotata (Ehingia), 131, 414. bipunctata (Musca), 299. biroi (Pipunculus), 9, 12. bispinosa ("Spbegina). 107. bistriata (Xylota), 238. boinbiformis (Arcto- phila), 289. bombiformis (Syrphus), 289. bomboides (Eristalis), 163. Bonibus, ))]entioned, 25, 105, 135, 145, 278, 279, 281, 284, 341, 405. bomJiylans (Milesia), 26J. boinbylans (Temno- stonia), 261. bonibylans (Volucella), 135, 145. boreal is (Sericomyia), 292. bovis (Hypoderma), 396. boi-is ((Esh-us), 397. /In/cliymyia, 280. Bracliyopa, mentioned, 25. ■ Brachy palpus, 228, 275. braiht/plcrus (Syrphus), 97.' bracliVfttomn (Ascia), 106,411. brovirostris (Qrapto- mvza), 138, 414. brovis((Vi-ia), 328. brevis (Pi|)unculu.s), 7. buccafa (Cuiiopa). 377. bucL-ata (Myopa), 377. C!BruIeus'(Microdon), 313. Callicera, 294, 303. Cailiphora, mentioned, 224. calopus (Conops), 364. calopiis (Phvsocephaia), 364, 307.' (koncrania, 144. Campeneura, 39. campestris (Pipunculus), 4, campestris (Eristalis), 173. campestris, var. bimalay- ensis (Pipunculus). 11. campestris, var. of Eri- .stali.s tenax, 174. Campineura, 39. Camptoneura, 39. canabina (Musca), 82. carbonaria (Xylota), 240, 415. carbonarius (Microdon), 314. carinthiacus ( Syrphus), 72. Cartosyrphus, 41. Catabomha, 66, 78. Cenoyaster, 144. Ccphalemyia, 389. Cepbalouiyia, 385, 386. 389. Cephalops, 3, 4, 21. Ceplienomyia, 385. Ceria, 24, 322. Cerii.v^, 26, 27, 321, 342. Cerioidcs, 322. ce^'lonicus, var. of Conops claripeunis, 346. Ciialarus, 1. 2. 3. cbalcopyga (Axona), 222. chalcopyf/us (Eristalis), 222. clialybeus (Pipunculus), 15. Chrilusia, 41. Cbilosia, 24, 25, 28, 41, 46, 230. C'hriohyiia, 280. Cliry.sDeblainys, men- tioned, 230. Cliry.soga9ter, 28, 39. CIlIUVSOCiA.STItl.V.K, 294. ch n/sopi/qus ( Eristalis), 190, 200. olirv.'iopvgiis (Megaspis), 190, 200. CiruYsuToxiN.K, 27, 294. Ciu-ysotoxum, 24, 294. 2e 418 ALPHABETICAL INDEX. Chi/iiiopJ/ila, 307. Oicadiila, mentioned, 2. ciliatus {Plaiychirus), 54. cincta (Myopa), 381. cincta (Rliingia), 130. cinctella {Scava), 84. cinctellus (Syrphus), 84, 413. cinerea [Myopa), 373, 374. cinereo-seneus (Pipun- culns), 12, 16. cinereum (Zodion), 373, 374. citriniini (Xantlio- granuna), 95. citrofasciatuni (Xanllio- gi-amnia), meutioiied, 95. citron ellum {Chry&o- toxum), 296. claripennis (Conops), 345. claripennis, var. ceyloni- cus (Oonops), 34(5. clarkii (Gastrus), 399. clavi'pes (Merodon), 211. clavipes {Syrphus), 21 1. clunipes (Musca), 106. chinipes (Sphegina), 106. Cobboldia, 386, 391. O0CCID.E, mentioned, 113. coeviiteriorum (Chryso- gaster), 39. cognatus (Eristalis), 175. conimunis (Eris/aJis), 186. conipacta (Ceria), 329. complexa (Stylogaster), mentioned, 370. confrater (Syrphus), 92. ConopcBus, 343. CoNoi'iD.E, 2. 26, 340. CoNOPiN.E, 32], 340, 341, 342 343. Conops, 342, 343. conopsoides (Ceria), 322, 323, 330. conopsoides (Mvsca), 322. fonsiniilis (Syrphns), mentioned, 72. contractus (Mierodon), 310. conveniens (Mierodon), 311. convexum (Chryso- toxum), 298. Coprina, 244. cornutus (Lycastris), mentioned, 279. orollee {Scava), 85. corollse (Syrpl)us), B5. coromandelen.sis ( Syr- phus), 97. cothonea {St/rphus), 47, 52,410. ■ crahroiiif'ormis (Milesia), mentioned, 263. cranapes {Syrphus), 92, 94. crassipes (Eristalis), men- tioned, 414. crasmis {Bolichomerus), 197. crassus {Eristalis), 197. orassu.s (Megaspis), 197, 414. Criorriiina, 24, 26, 228, 278, 280, 405. crossii (Hypoderma), 385, 394. crux (Ceria), 332. Cryptineura, 39. Crypfonenra. 39. cupreiventris (Xylota), 233. cuprina (Xylota), 241. currigaster (Helophiliis), 206, 414. cui'vipes (Eristalis), 192, 412. curvipes {Merodon), 211. Ciiterebra, 385. cyauea (Axona), 223. cyanea (Psilota), 38. cyatieus {Syrphus), 54. cyathiger {SyrpMis), 50. Cynorrhina, mentioned, '281. Dalmaunin, mentioned, 341. datamns {Eristalis), 203. decora (Milesia), 274. decorata (Ceria). 326. decoraia { J^oluceUa), 147. Deineches, 280, 281. dentata (Criorrhina), 286. depila {Chilnsia), 41. Dermatobia, 385. diaphana {Didea), 63. Didea, 24, 29, 56. Dideoides, 29, 57. diffusa (Piiysocephala), 3(>5. Dimeraspis, 307. dimidiata (Xylota), 232. dimidiatipeiniis (Ceria), 329. dioctriseformis (Pleuro- cerinella), 368: discolor (Volucella), 149. dispar (Bacclia), 115. distinctus {Syrphus), 90. dives fBracliypalpus), 276.^ dives (Xantliogranima), mentioned, 95. DrxiD.E (mentioned), 67. doleschalli (Callicera), 304. doleschalli {Helophilus), Bolichogyna, 204. Dolichomcrus, 156, 199. Doliosyrphus, 156. Dolyosyrphus, 156. doriiB (Milesia), men- tioned, 274. Doros, mentioned, 24, 127. dorsalis (Myopa), 379. dryaphilus {Conops), 150. dubium (Melanostoma), 48. duodecimnotata, var. of Graptomyza longiros- tris, 140. duodenalis ( CEstrus), 399. Ecliinomvia, mentioned, 405. Eciton, mentioned, 342, 371. eggeri (Micrndou), 309. elegaiis {Baccha), 124. elepliantis (Cobboldia), 392. clephantis ( Gastrophilus), 392. ellenriedcri {Bidea), 64. elongata (Baccha), 113. elon(/atus {Siji-phts), 113. Elnphilus, 204. Endoiasimyia, 135, 153. Entcromy::a, 396. Episfrophe, 69. equestris (Merodon), 212. equi (Gastrophilus), 397- equi {(Estrus), 397. ericetorum (Asarcina), 63. ericetoriim {Syrphus), 63. Eriophora. 280. Eriops, 156. Eriozoua, 30, 103. Ekistalin.e, 27, 154. Eristalimis, 155, 169. Eristalis, 25, 26, 154, 155, 159,411. Eristalis, 41. ALPUABETICAL INDEX. 419 Eristalodcs, 156, 159. Erhtaloides, 155, 15!). eristaloides (Malluta), 219. eristaloides (Sericouiyia), 292. Eristalomyia, 156, 169. crrans (EHstalis), 199. erran.s (Megaspis), 199, 414. crrans (Sj/rphun), 199. erjtlu'oceplialiis iConops), 347. crythropij(jus {Syrphus), '97. eumetiioides (Ceria), 337. Eumcros, 231. Eumeros^l/rphus, 204. Eumerus, 25, 2G, 228, 248. Eumerus, 231. Eurhimyia, 204. Eurhinamallota, 280. Eicrhi/nomallota, 28U. Eurimyia, 204. Eurinomyia, 205. Eurymyia, 205. excisus, Tar. {Syrphus), 87. cxiyuus (Pipunculics), 3. extensus (Pipuneulus), 13. exterus (Eristalis), 203. Fairmairia, 377. }alkx(Bacclia), 117, 413. tasciata (Didea), 56 fascial a {Eristaiis), 186. fa.sciata, var. of Khingia laticincta, 133. fascial us (Eristaiis), iiien- tioned, 185. fasciatus (Priomerus), 155. fascipeiinis {Syrphus), 64. fene.strata (Ceria), 333. • ./era {Musca), 150. J'erruyineus { Conops) , 376, 377. ferriigineiis (Siciis), 377. ferrugiiiosa (Milesia), 2(i3, 273. /estiva {Musca), 299. festivuin (Olirysotoxum), 299. fllicoriiiH (ripui:cuUi8), 12, 15. flavescpiis (Bombus), mentioued, 279. Jlavircps (Syrphus), 87. flavipes (Cliilosia), 41. flaviped (Conops), 343. Ilavipes (Micrudoii), 317. flavipes (Occemvia), 383. Jlavipcs (Syrphus), 41. tlavociuelus (iPipim- euliis), 8. fla vofusciatus (Eristaiis), 203. flavohirta (Li/castris), 278. flavonotata (Grapto- inyz;i), 137. fldvopuHclala (Daccha), 126. Formica, mentioned, 309. friihstorferi (Ceria), 325. fuciforniis (Ifallota), 219. fact for mis ( Syrph us), 219. fiilvescens (Ceria), 325. iidvifacies (Sjrphus), . ^^• fidvipes (Eristaiis), 181. fulvupiibescen.s (Micro- don), 313. furcatus (Pipiincidus), mentioned, 8. fiiseipes (Pipunuulus), mentioned, 2. fuscomarginatiun (Clirj- sotoxum;, 300. fuscotibialis ( Syrphus), 97. fusciis {Conops), 173. yasfricus { (Eslrus), 397. Gastropljilus, 385, 386, 396. Gastrus, 396.' gigas (.Milesia), 271. ylossata {Xiphophero- myia), 'llfi, 279. Gonirhytichus, 377. gracilis (Kliinobaccha), 127. 128. Graptomvza, 21, 134, 135. gratiosa (I5acclia), men- tioned, 127. grisoocinctus (Syrphus), 77. griseuni (Zodion), 375. grossa (Cliilosia), 46. liicmorriioidalis (Bom- bus), mentioned, 105. h(C'inorrhoidalis { (Esirus), 397. halictiformis ( Eumerus), •2bl. lialietoides (Eumerus), 258. Halictus, mentioned, 26, 31, 342. Haustellia, 377. Heliophilus, 231, 280. llelophilus, 154, 155, 204. hepaticolor( Pi pun cuius), mentioned, 18, 20. lieringi (Pipizella), men- tioned, 37. Heringia, 3(5. Hcrynyia, 36. liimalayaua (Myiolepta), 229. himalaycnsis (Ceria), 330. himalayonsi.s (Eriozona), 105. liimalayeiisis (Eristaiis), l(i8. himalaijensis (Milesia), 272.' liimalayensis (Serico- n.yia), 292. liimalayensis, var. of Pi- punculus campestris, 11. liinialayen.sis, var. of Plat ycliir lis manicatus, 53. liirticincta (Chilosia), 4.5. /( oloserice us { Pip u?iculus), 3. hortorum {Eristaiis), 173. IlyliEus, mentioned, 342, 373. hi/prrhiirca (Scceva), 47. livpudcrma, 385, 386, 394. iliucida {Syrifia), 246. Imatisma, 218. imhellc (Musca), 299. imitator (Criorrliina), 283, 405. iiiiiiiiamcs {ICristaiis), 203. incisuralis (Syrphus), 63. iiuliana (Eudoiasimyia), 153. 420 ALPHABETICAL INDEX. indiaiia (Spli£eropliona), 102. indiaii'us (Eumero- gyrphub), 209. indica (Clirysogaster), 40. indica (Ortboneura), 40. indica {Pipizella), 33. indica {Xylota), 245. indicum ( Chrysotommi), 296. indicus {Etimerus), 245. iudicus (Paragus), 33, 410. ivfirmus {Syrphus), 64. inflata (Volucella), men- tioned, 145. infuscatiim {Chryso- to.Tum), 299. iusignis (Helophihis), 207. intenuedius (Conops), 353. interrupta (Criorrliina), 287. interveniens (Merodon), 212,414. intestinalis ( (Esirus), 397. intricarioides (Eristalis), 171. intricarius (Eristalis), mentioned, 172. Iscbiodon, 29, 95, 97. Iscbyrosyrpbns, 30, 65, 67. Jantbinosoma, men- tioned, 385. javana (Ceria), 339. javana (Spbieropboria), 95, 100, 413. javanns (Syrphus), 100. jeddona( Volucella), men- tioned, 151. jumentorum ( Gastrus), 399. keinpi (Dideindes), 59. klossi (Ivoriiicbia), 224, 226. E:orincbia,154,224,415. lacerus (Paragus), 35. lait-ns (Eristalis), 165. Lageuos}'rpliiis, men- tioned, 65. lajndarius (Bonibns), mentioned, 145, 342. liq)po7ia (Musca), 291. Ia)>pona (Sericomyia), 291. Lcibio'pihlhicus, 66. Lasiopthicus, 66. Lasioptieus, 26, 29, 66. Lathi/rophtkabnus, 156, 159. laticincta (Ebiugia), 132. laticincta, var. fasciata (Ehingia), 133. latifasciatus (Syrplius), 87. latimaculatus (Lasio- pticu.s), 68. Litus (Eristalis), 192. Lejops, 204. Lejota, 41. Leptumyia, 228. lihycus {(Esirus), 389. limpidipenni.* (Pipun- culiis), 20, 21. linearis ( Volucella), 147. lineolcB (Musca), 179. Liogaster, 40. lividiventris (Volucella), 152. loewii (Microcephahis), 402, 403. loewii (Portscninskia), 403. Lonchopalpus, '611 . longicornis ( Syrphus), 97. longirostris (Grapto- myza), 140. longirostris, var. diio- decimnotata (Grapto- myza), 140. lucorum (Leucozona\ mentioned, 69, 104. luniger (Syrpbus), 68, 86. litnulaius (Syrphus), 67. luteinervis (.Syritia), 245. luteipes (Pijiunciilus), 18. luteola (Musca), 228. Inteola (Myioleptn), 228. lutescens (Senogaster), 24(i. luteus (Pai-agus), 35. Lyeastris, 24, 134, 228, "276, 405. macquartii (Eristalis), 199. macrocerus (Eumerus), mentioned, 251. macropod.a (Sphegiiia), 111, 112. macropoda (Spbe^ino- baccba), 111, 112. macularis (Milesia), 266. maculata (Baccba), 119. maculata (CepiialonTvia), 389. maculai'us (Q^sirus), 389. maculipennis (Eristalis), 167. maculipleura (Syrpbus), 91, 95. major (Pinunculus), 10. Mallota, 155. 218. manicatus (Platycbirus), 53. manicatus (Syrphus), 53. manicatus, var. bimalay- ensis (Platycbirus), 53. megacepihalus (Syrphus)^ 187, 197. Megaspis, 154, 194, 196. Mclanusoma, 382. Melanostoma, 26, 28, 29, 46. Melithreptus, 99. Mfilitrophus, 99. mellifica (Apis), men- tioned, 315. mellina (Musca), 46. mellinuin (Melano- stoma), 46, 51. mentbastri (Spbairo- plioria), mentioned, 100. Merodon, 25, 154, 155, 211. Mesembrius, 204. Mesophila, 307. nietallicus (Microdon), 312. Micraptoma, 231. Microcephalns, 402. Microcera, 4. Microdon, 23, 24, 25, 26, 307. MiCItODONTIN.E, 26, 307. MicrorhiJicKs, 261, 280. Milesia, 227, 263. MiLESiiN.E, 27, 226. mirabilis (Piijiinculus), 19. Mixogaster, 24, 307. Mongomioidcs, men- tioned, 67. monochceiiis (Syrphus), 47. ALPHAUKTICAL JNUEX. 421 inontauus (Boiiibus), nieiitioiied, 284. montamiiii (Zodion),375. iMOutici.la (Korinchia), nieiitioned, 226. Mullo, 30, 31, 36, 294. iiiultifarius (Eristalis), 194, 414. luunda ( Pliysoi'opliala), 353, .•!i')6, 361. mundus {Si/rphus), 92, 94. MusciD.E, mentioned, 20, 342, .367, 378. mussitans (Arctu;)hila), mentioned, 2V)1. miitabilis (Alicrodon"), 307, 308. mntabilis {Musca), 307. MYCEToriiiuD.E, men- tioned, (■)7. Myiolepta, 27, 227. 228. Myolepfa. 228. Mjopa, 342, .368, 377. Myupdla, .377, Myopitia, 377. Myopi.n.1.:, 26. .340, 341, 342, 357. nasalis (Ga-tropliilus), 399. nasalis (CEsfnts), 399. nasalis ooinus {CEs(rus), 387. nasutus (Syrphus), 97. natalensia {Syrphus), 97. ncctarea (Sliisea), 82. neciurinus (Syrphus), 82. Kcoascia, 105. nepalensis (Enmenis), 2.")3. nepalensis {Eumerus), 251. nifobareiisis (EumeruB), 251. niger (Eristalig),163,414. nigricosta (Baceiia), 118. nigrinianus (Timiio- stoniaj. 262. nigripes, var. of Grap- tomyza vcntrali.s, 143. niijritus {Gastrus), 399. nigriveiitris (Conops), 34(;. nigriventris (Myopa), 380. nigfoii-iiea (Chilosiaj, 45. nigrosenesceiis (Xylota), iiiOMtioned, 240. nigrofaaoiat.i (Pliyso- cepliala), 359. nigronit-eiis(l'ipunculus), 17. nitens (Pipunculus), 21. noctiluca (^Pipiza), men- tioned, 37. novtB-guinecB {Meli- ihreptus), 97. nubcculosa ( Volucella), 147. nubeculosus (Conojis), 350. nuhilipennis (Bacclia), 116,41.3. uursei (Ph3'soucpliala), 360. uursei (Xylota), 240. obliquus (Eristalis), 104. obscura (Ceria), 338. obscurata ( Eristalis), 103. obscuritarsis (Eri.stalis), 188, 190, 414. obscuriis {Pipunculus), 3. oceanica (Svritta), 244. Occemyia, 308, 382. Ocyptanuis, mentioned, 113, 127. Odynerus, mentioned, 342. CEsTRiD^, 26, 383. CEstrus, 385. 380, 387. Olbiosyrpluis, men- tioned, 07. Otnegasyrphus, 307. Oncomyia, 382. opalina (Volucella), 146. opiniius (Syrphus), 88. (;rientale (.Uolanostoma), 48, 410. orientalis (Bombu.s), mentioned, 284. orientalis (Eristalis), 170. orientalis (Mallota), 219. orientalis {Polydontu- myia), 212. orientalis (Stylogaster), 372. orientalis (Syritt.i), 246, 415. orieniulis (Syrphus), 48. orientalis (Teucliomerue), 414. orientalis, var. of Eristalis quinquelinoatns, 183. oriuita (Milesia), mcn- tif)iied, 203. oriiata (Xylota), 2.30. oriiatifrons (^Ceria), 331. oniatum (Xantlio- gramiiia), mentioned, 95. ornatus (Conops), 350. ornatus (Merodon), 23(). ornatus {Syrplms), 94. Ornidia, 144. orsua (Syrplius), SO. Ortboneura, 27, 28, 40. OuTiioPTEUA, mentioned, 341. Osmia, mentioned, 342. ovata (Dideoides), 57, 60. ovinus ((Estrus), 387. ovis ((Estrus), 387. oxyaoanthjB (Criorrhina), 281. pactyas (Conops), 349. pallidus (Merodon), 217. pallineuris (Eristalis), 160. Palpada, 155. Paragus, 26, 28, 30, 227, 409. paralleli (Musca), 179. Paramixogaster, 307, 319. Par/ielophilus, 205. paria {Eristalomyia), 183. patricia (Ceria), 335. pecorum (Gastrophilus), 401. pecorum {(Estrus), 401. pedicellata (Baccba), mentioned, 127. pedissequua {Musca), 94. pedium (.Melanostoma), 47, 52, 410. pedius {Syrphus), 47,52. pelluceits {Musca), 145, 150. pellucens (Volucella), 145, 150, 151. pendula {Musca), 205. pendnUis (llelopbilus), 25, 205. penicillala (Xylota), 242. perpensus (Euinerus), 200. perplexus (Euraerus), 261. pfciffen {Syrphus), 97. Phalangus, 36. I'hurosia, 377. Piivsocephala. 342, 343, 3(5, 355. Pliytoiiiyiu, meutioned, 196. picta {Eristalomyia), 187. picta (.Myuj)a;, 3/9. 422 ALPHABETICAL INDEX. Pictinia, 377. piciipes ( 2 'igridla my la ) , 212. pilipes ( Ca rtoayrph us), 43. pilipes (Chilosia), A'o. pilipes (Helopbilus), mentioned, 210. jnpicns {Musca), 244, 246. pipiens (Sjritta), 244, 245. Pipiza, mentioned, 26, iiO, '67. Pipizella, 28, 36. Pll'UNCULIDyE, 1, 26, 406. Pipunculus, 1,2,3,4,406. Hanes, 244. planifacies {Melano- s(omu), 50. planifacies (Syrpkus), 50. Platycheiriis, 52. Platychinis, 24, 27, 28, 2'J, 52. PiiATYi'EziDiE, mentioned, 2. Plesia, 46. Pleuroeerinella, 341, 367, 368. plumbella(VeiTallia),22. plumbicineta (BaceJia), 121. plumbiventris (Chilosia), 44. podagrica (Ascia), 105. podagricus (Syrphus), 105. polistoides (Oeria), 335. politus (Parac/us), 409. polycliromatus(Ei-istalis), 180. Polydouta, 214. Polydontomyia, 212, 214. Ponipilus, mentioned, 342. po7-cina (Musca), 173. Portschin>kia, 3S(i, 402. Priomeriis, 154, 155. Prothechus. 4. proxima {Xylota), 245. przcwalsJci/i {Micro- cephalus), 404. przewalskyi (Portschin- skia), 285, 403, 404. Psilota, 28, 38. Psylogaster, 46, 69. Pterallastes, 214. Pterocera, 144. Ptychoproctus, 369. pitlchellus {Platychinis), 64. pulcberriinus (Eiunerus), 255. ptUchriccjis {Heluphilus), 186. pulcliri Irons (Baccha), 117, 122. piilverulentiis (Euniei-us), 258. punctifer (Eris/.alis), 186. Purpurella, 377. jnitescens {Syrphus), 150. pyrastri (Lasi(jpticus), 25, 66. jjyrastri {Syrphus), 25, 66. pyi'opygus (Boinbus), mentioned, 284. quadrata ( Physocephala), 364. quadriCasciatiim (Cliryso- toxum), 300. quadrifasL'iatus (Conops), mentioned, 342. quadrilineaUis (Syrphus), 181. quadristriatus (Eristalis), mentioned, 176. qiiadristrigatus(llyla3us), mentioned, 373. quadrivittata {Eristalis), 210. quadrivittatus (Uelo- philus), 210, 414. quartarius (Pipunculus), 19. quinquelineatus (Eri- stalis), 183, 187-8. quinquelineatus {Eri- stalis), mentioned, 189. quinquelineatus {Syr- phus), 183. quinquelineatus, var. orientalis (Eristalis), 183. quinquestriatus (Eri- stalis), 187, 189, 191. quiiiquestriatus{Syrphus), 187. quinqucviftatus {Eri- stalis), 187. quiuquevittatus (^Ji'* pLus), 81. remotus (Syrphus), 78. Ehingia, 24, 25, 30, 129, 227. Rhinobaceha, 30^ 127. Ehyngia, 129. ribesii {Musca), 69. ribesii (Scceva), 16. rihesii (Syrphus), men- tioned, 25, 90. rideiis {Eristalis), 162. robinsoni (Koi-iiichia), mentioned, 226. robusta (Baeoha), 120. rostrata {Co7io2)s), 129. rostrata (Ehingia), 129. rostratus {Syrjihus), 63. rufa (Korinchia), 224. rufescens(Pbysocephalaj, 360. ruficauda {Eriozona), 104. ruficauda (Volucella), 152. ruficaudus (Microdon), 317,-115. rufifacies (Syritta), 247. rujipcs { Conops), 355. rufipes (Mallota), 220. rufipes (Piiysoeephala), 355. rufiventris (Paragus), 34, 413. rufiventris (Pipizella), 37. rufocincta (Pipizella), 37. rufofasciatus (Conops), 353. rufoscutellatus (Eu- merus), 254. sackeni (Callicera), 306. sulutaris {Gastrus), 399. salutifcrus { (Estrus), 399. salviw {Asarcina), 63. salvice {Syrphus), 63. sapphirina (Baccha), 122, 414. Sccsva, 47, 69. scitule {Musca), 82. scitulus {Musca), 82. scripta { Musca), 99. scripta (Sphserophoria), 99. scutcllare { Crysoto vum), 299. scutellaris (Azpeytia), 221, 222. scutellaris (Ischiodon), 97, 101, 102, 413. scutellaris {Sc(sva), 97. scutellaris {Sphcero- 2)}ioria), 95, 97. scutellaris {Syrphus). 97. segnis {Musca), 231. ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 423 segnis (Xyluta), 231. seleniiica {Catahomba), 67. selenitiens (Lasiopticus), 67, 87. seiuicincrea (Rhingia), J34. semifulva (Milcsia), 271. sepulcbralis (Coiioj):?), 348, 3i)(l sepiilchiMlis (Eristalis), 161, 201-). scjiulchrdlis (Miisca), 161. sepulchralis {I'hyso- cephala), 3-18. serarius (Syrphiis), 73, 413. Sericoinyia, 27, 227, 291. Sericomi/za, 291. serratus (Mu/io), 31. serratiis (Paragus), 31, 413. sexfasciatum ( Chryso- to.vu/ii), 296. sexmaciilata (Milesia), 2H5. sexinaculata (Rhingia), 13). Pexnotata (GraptouiTza), 142. sexvit.tatus (Eiiincni.s), 200. Sicus, 3ti8, 376. signata (Volucella), 140, siniioides (CriorrlMna), L'{S2, Siinoides, 156. siiiiplicipes (Arctopliila), 289. simnlalns (Erislalis), 177, 414. sineii.sis (iM'istalis), men- tinned, l7o. s/Mf ?;.s7s {Mi(.sca), 203. singalensis (Pipixneuliis), 408. sivse (Ischyrosvrplius), 06. solitns (Eristalis), 172. 8olstiti:ili3(01irvs. Splii/X'Pa, 2()3. Sphi/ximorpha, 322. Spiloniyia, mentioned, 2(5. SpLximorpka, 322. spleiidens {Eumerus), 251, 252. splendens (Sijrphus), 97. splendida (Milesia), 263. splendidus (Si/rphus), 263. spurius {Cepludops), 3. spurius (Chalarus), 3. spurius {F I pun cuius), 3. squami))ennis (Micro- don), 316. stilhoides (Microdon), 311. slrigala (Pipi^a), 248. strigatus (Euuicrus), 248. sli/lala (Coiiops), 369. stj'lata (Stylogaster), 369,371. Stvlogasler, 341, 342, 307, 369. S/i/loiiii/ia, 341, 369, 371.^ suhitneus (Pipuneulus), 12. suhjaceiis (Gaslrus), 399. snmatranns (Microdon), mentioned, 318. suturalis (Eristalis), 193. si/lvalicus (Erislalis), 173. Syritta, 24, 228, 244. SYItlMIID.K, 2, 23, -109. SvKiMiiN.K, 25, 20, 27. syrplioides ( i'^riozona), 103. si/rphoides (Scara), 103. Svrpims, 24, 25, 20, 28, ' 29, 69. Syrplius, 155. labanoides (Eristalis), 180, 189, tjvniala (8i)lia'roplniria), mentioned, 1(10. t:iMiiops (Eristalis), 180. l(B>i iopus ( Erista lodes), 186. taphicus (Eristalis), 102. Temnocera, 144. Temnostoma, 228, 261. tenax (Kristalis). 154, 156, 157. 173,411. tenax {Musca), 156, 173. tenella (Physocepliala), 366. teiiellus {Con ops), 360. tenuis (Spliegina), 111. terrestris (Boinbii.s), mentioned, 145. testacea (Myopa), 381. testaceus (Conops), 354. testaceus {Conops), 381. testaceus {Paragus), 35, 36. Teuclioenemis, 214. Teuchomerus, 414. Thaninotettix, men- tioned, 2. Thecophora, 382. tibialis (Paragus), 409, 413. tibialis {Pipizu), 409. tigerina (Dideoides), 62. tiqerinus{Ischyrosyrphus), '02. Tigridianiyia, 211. tinctipcnnis { Baccha), 119. tiuctuvittata (Gi-apto- myza), 139. Tii'Ui.in.E, mentioned, 07, 370. titillaior { (Estrus), 389. topiaria {Scaua), 70. topiarius {Syrpkus), 70. torridus {Eristalis), 186. tortuosa {Eristalis), 103. torvus (Syrplius), 70. tranquebarica {Musca), 181. transpositus (Eristalis), 100. transvcrsus {Megaspis), 201. transversus (Pipuneulus), 13. Iransver8us(8yrplui8), 79. trodeciinpunctatu(Ceria), 330, Trentepolilia, mentioned, 67. triangulifera (Baeeba), 124. 414. triangulil'era (Ceria), 327. tricoloripes (Spliegina), 109. 424 ALPHABETICAL INDEX. trifasoiata (■Volucella), 147. Triglyphus, mentioned, 24. triligatus (Si/rphus), 82. trilimhatus {Syrphux), 92, 94. trilineata (Dideoides), 62. trinotala (Ceria), 333. Triodonta, 214. tristis {Syrphus), 161. tristriata (Spbegina), lOS. trochanterlca (Ischiodon), 97. Tropidia, mentioned, 230. tuherculaius {Brachy- palpus), 275. tuberculatus (EunieruB), 248. tuherculaius (Hclophilics), 214. tuberculatus (Merodon), 214. fi/pica {Amrcina), (53. Ubristes, 307. urabrosa (Baccha), 110. uuicolor (Microdon). 318. uniformis (Pipunciilus), 14. univittatuin (Melano- stonia), 50,411, 413. univittatus ( Sprphus), 50. ursina (Volucella), 151. ursinus (Erisialis), 168. valgus (Brachj palpus), 275. valgus {Syrphus), 275. vallestris(Bombus), men- tioned, 279. varicolor (Merodon), 215. variegata (Milesia), 268. varipes (Eristalis), 199. velutiiius {Atelencura), 3. ventralis (Graptonij^za), 135, 143. ventraiis, var. nigripes (Graptomyza), 143. Verrallia, ], 3, 21. verticalis (Milesia), 269. Vespa, mentioned, 25, 342. vespiet'orniis (Bacclia), mentioned, 127. vespilbniie (Teiiino- stoma), 262. vcspifurmis {Mixoqastcr), 307, 319, 320. " vespiforniis (Paraniixo- gaster), 307. 320. vetcrinus {(Exirus,, 399. vilis (Eristalis), men- tioned, 414. violaceum (Cbryso- toxnm), 302. virens (Mulio), 36. viridgenea (Sphitro- plioria), 101. viridaureits ( Sz/rpltia^), 82. vitripennis (Syi-phus), mentioned, 90. vivida (Crioi-rhina), 285. Volucella. 24, 25, 26, 135, 144. VoLUCELLINiE, 27, 134. volucclloides (Aa-ona), 222. vorticosus (Bombns), mentioned, 284. vulgaris (Conops), 173. vulpinus {Eristalis), 173. Xantbogramma, 29, 67, 92, 94. Xilofeja, 228. Xiphophcrom yia, 276. Xylota, 24, " 25, 228, "231. Xijlola, 244. Xyloiceja, 228. yerburyi (Ciu'ysoloxnni), 304. -ehrlna {Erisfalomyia), 183. Zciicrstcdfia, 218. Zodion, 340, 341, 342, 367, 368, 373. zonalis {Eristalis). 2()3. soiialis (Syrpkus), 203. zonatns (Megaspis), 203, 414. zovaius {Syrphus), 203. PRINTED BY TAYLOE AND FRANCIS, BED LION COUllT, FLEET STREET, E.C. EXPLANATION OF PLATE L PlPUNOULID^, StRPHID^. Fig. 1. Pipunculus major, sp. nov., antenna ; p. 10. 2. „ subceneus, sp. nov., antenna; p. 12. 3. ,, transversus, sp. nov., antenna ; p. 13. 4. „ chalyheus, sp. nov., antenna ; p. 15. 5. „ uniformis, Brun., antenna ; p. 14. 6. Paragus serratus, E., head in pi'oflle ; p. 31. 7. „ ,, scutellum. 8. „ indicus, Brun., head in profile ; p. 33. 9. Pipizella riifiventris, Brun., head in profile ; p. 37. 10. ,, ,, abdomen. 11. Plaiychirus manicaius, Meig., var. Jiimalayensis, Brun., [head in profile ; p. 53. 12. „ „ abdomen, 6 . 13. „ albimanus, E., front leg, 6 ; p. 54. 14. Melanostoma orientaU, Wied., abdomen, c? ; p. 48. 15. Didea fasciata, Macq., abdomen, $; p. 56. 16. Dideoides ovata, Brun., abdomen, ^ ; p. 60. 17. „ „ abdomen, §. 18. Asarcina ericetorum, E., abdomen; p. 63. 19. ISijridivs halteatus, Be Geer, abdomen (typical) ; p. 82. 20. ,, ,, var. alternans, abdomen. 21. „ cinctellus, Zett., abdomen; ip. 84. Diptera, Syrphidse, &c. Faun. Bi'it. India. Plate 1. A liagchi li- A. rkowdhary ilel. INDIAN PIPUNOULID/E AND SYRPHID/E. EXPLANATION OF PLATE 11. SyRPHIDjE. Eig. 1. Asarciiia ericeforum, F., abdomen, cf ; p. 63. 2. Lasiopticus seleniticits, Meig., abdomen, S ; p. 67. 3. ,, latimaculatus, sp. nov., abdomen, d" ; p. 68, 4. „ ,, abdomen, § . 5. Syrphus albostriatus. Fin., abdomen, cJ (normal)'; p. 72. 6. ,, ,, abdomen, d (var.). 7. „ „ abdomen, $ (var.). 8. ,, „ abdomen, $ (var.). 9. Dideoides Icempi, sp. nov., abdomen, ^ ; p. 59. 10. Syrphus griseocinctiis, sp. nov., abdomen, S ; p. 77. 11. „ serarius, "Wied., abdomen, c? (var.); p. 73. 12. „ „ abdomen, c? (normal). 13. „ ,, abdomen, 2 (normal). 14. „ „ abdomen, $ (var.). 15. ,, remotus, sp. nov., abdomen, $ ; p. 78. 16. „ quinqnevittatus, sp. nov., abdomen, $; p. 81. 17. „ confrater, "Wied., abdomen, cf ; p. 92. 18. ,, coroUce, F., abdomen, 5 ; P- 85. 19. ,, latifasciatus, Macq., abdomen, § ; p. 87. 20. Xanthogramma citrimim, sp. nov., abdomen, cS ; p. 95. Diptera, SyrphidiE, &c. Faun. Brit. India. Plate II. 1 "^ D. Bagchi tomiiza ventralis, Wied., var. nigripes, Brun., [abdomen ; p. ]43 18. ,, 7?rti/o/ioiato, Brun., thorax and abdomen [p. 137 19. ,, angustimarginata, sp. nov., head in pro- [file; p. 141 20. EriStalis suturalis, sp. nov., abdomen, 2 ; p. 193. 21. „ hasifemoratus, sp. nov., head in profile, $ [p. 175 Diptera, Syrphidas, &c. Faun. Brit. India. Plate III. D. liaiiclii.t A. ih»ii;lh