THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

THE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA,

CEYLON AND BURMA.

PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR INDIA IN COUNCIL.

EDITED BY A. E. SHIPLEY, Sc.D.Cantab., HON. D.Sc. Princeton,

HON. LL.D. Michigan, F.B.8. ASSISTED BY GUY A. K. MARSHALL, HON. D.Sc. (Oxon.), F.Z.8.

DIPTERA BEACHYCEKA.

VOL. I.

BY

E. BRUNETTI.

LONDON: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STKEET,

CALCUTTA :

THACKER, SPINK, & CO.

BOMBAY: THACKER & CO., LIMITED.

May, 1920.

I'RINTKD BY TAYLOR A N' D FUANCIS, RED LION COURT. Fl.KKT STHKET. LO.VPON.

PREFACE.

OWING to the war, the difficulties of communication, and the loss of ships coining from the East, there has been an unusual delay in the issue of the present volume, and it has unfortunately been found impossible to incorporate in it certain corrections which the author wished to make. Further, owing to the difficulties under which publishers and printers now labour, it was felt by the Editor necessary to publish Avithout further delay.

Another difficulty which has arisen in the preparation of the volume is due to the fact that the MS. ran to a far larger volume than the Indian Government contemplates, and it was therefore reluctantly decided to publish the following families : Stratiomyidse, Leptidjr, Nemestrinidfe, Cyrtidee, Bombyliidce, Therevida?, Scenopinidse, Mydaidse, Empidoe, Lonchopteridac, and Platype/idse ; leaving the remainder, i. «., the families Pipunculida?, Syrphidse, Conopidse, and Oestridse for a second volume. This proceeding is, I gather, against the wishes of the author, but no other solution of the difficulty appeared possible.

A.E. SHIPLEY. 1st May, 1920.

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

Page Order DIPTEBA 1 Suborder BR ACHY CERA .. 1 Fain. 1. STRATioMYiixas .... 17 Subfam. 1. Pachyyastrinte .... 19 1 Pachvo-nster Mq 20	P 2 Eudmeta Wied	age 41 42 43 48 44 44 45 46 47 47 48 4!) lit 50 52 52 58 58 55 56 57 57 58 59 (iO 60 61 68 64 65 65 67 67 68
1. maiginHta, Fabr 2. brunnea, Meij. 3 flavida Brun ....
1. longispinus, Brun 4. Epnippiuin, Latr 1. bilineatum, Fabr 5. Negritomyia, Big 1. macnlipennis, Macq. .. 6 Ruba Walk
1 annulipes Brim	21 21 21 22 23 24 24 24 24 25 26 26 28 28 29 29 30 31 32 32 33 33 34 36 37 38 30 40
2. Zabrachia, Coq 1. albipes, Brun 2. annul! femur, Brun 3. Monaoantbomyia, Brun. . . 1. annnndalei, Brun
1 infl.-ta Walk
7. Clitellavia, Mg 1. hen-.inopla. Wied 2. bistriata, Brim
1 felderi Brauer	8. Lasiopa, Brittle 1 . villosa, Fabr.,\&\\ hima- layensis, Brun 9 Oxyceva Mq
5 Wallacea Dol
1. argentea, Dol 6. Acanthina, Wied
1. sicjnnta, Brim
2. argeiitibirla, Brun 7. Craspedometopon, Kert. . . 1. frontal a, Kert 8 Tin da If 'afk	2. albomicans, Brun Subfam. 3. Stratifmtyintc .... 1. Cvphoniyia, Wied 1. indica, Brun
1. javana, Macq 9. Evaza, Walk.. 1 flavipes Biq
2. Stratiumyia, Geoff. 1. barcai Walk 2. mioropilosa, Brun 3. fulvescens, Brun 3 Odontomyia, Mq
2. bipars, Walk 3 indica Kert
10. Ptilocera, Wied 1. fastuosa, Gerst 11. Strat.iospbecomyia, Brun. . 1 variegata, Brun
1. cyanea, Brun. . . .
2. rufoabdominalis, Brun. . 3. pulcherrima, Brun 4. minuta, Fabr
Subfam. 2. Clitellariinee I. Hermelia, La.tr 1. Iseta. Meii. .
5. rubrithorax, Macq 6. kashmirensis, Brun. . . 7. dorsoang-ulata, Brun. . .

VI

SYSTEMATIC IKDEX.

Odontornyia (con.). Page

8. soleimis, Walk 69

9. lutatius, Walk 70

10. transversa, Brun 71

11. viridana, Wied. 72 j

2. nigrieornis, Brun. .

3. unicinctus, Bnm. ,

Subfam. 2. Arthroceratinte

Page . 105 . 106

. 107

Suh 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Sul 3. Su 1. Fa Su 1	fam. 4. Sargince .......... Ptecticus. Lw ....	72 73 75 75 76 77 77 78 79 80 81 81 82 83 84 84 85 85 86 86 87 88 88 89 90 91 92 92 93 93 94 95 96 96 98 98 99 100 104 104 105	1. Desmomyia, Brun	107 107 108 109 110 110 111 112 112 114 115 115 116 117 118 119 120 120 121 121 122 122 123 124 125 126 126 127 128 131 131 132 133 133 134 135 135 136 137 137 138 138 138 139 140 140 141
1. thereviformis, Brun. . . 2. Pararthropeas, Brun 1. thereviformis, Brun. . . Subfam. 3. Coenomyina 1. Coenomyiodes, Brun 1. edwardsi, Brun
1. longipennis, Wied
3. aurobrunneus. Brun. . . 4 wulpii Brun
5. apicalis, Lw
7. australis, Sch	Subfam 4 Le tin*
8. cingulatus, Lw., var. ceylouicus, Bnm Sargus, Fabr 1. gemmifer, Walk 2. metallinus, Fabr 3. mactans, Walk Chloromyia, Dune 1. sapphirina, Walk Brachycara, Thorns	1. Atrichops, Verr 1 . calopa, Brun 2. lanopyga, Brun 3. limbata, O.-S.
4. int frmedia, Brun 5. metatarsalis, Brun / 6. cincta, Brun
7. caerulescens, Brun 2. Atherix, Mg 1 labiata Biq
1. ventralis, Thorns
1. vitripennis, Dol	3. Suragina, W«lk 1. elegans, Karsch | 4. Macellopalpus, Big 1. f ul v id us, Brun 2. fascipennis, Brun 5. Leptis, Fabr
1. flaviventris, Wied 2. calopa, Bnm )fam. 5. Berina Beris, Lair 1. geniculata, Curt "1. annul ipes, Brun Chlorisops, Rond 1. tibialis, My Allognosta, O.-S. 1. vagans, Lw 2. assamensis, Brun )fam. 6. Xylomyince Xylomyia, Rond l'. flavipes, Dol 2. calopodata, Biy 3. nigricornis, Brun m. 2. LEPTID^E . .
1. apicipennis, Bnm 2. discoidali^, Brun 3. imicolor, Brun 4. triangulata, Brun 6. Chrysopilus, Macq 1. marmoratus, Brun 2. albopictus, Brun 3. ornatipennis, Brun 4. luctuosus, Brun 5. flavopnnctatus, Brun.. . 6. opalescens, Brun 7. humeral!*, Bnm 8. segmentatus, Brun 9. cochinensis, Bnm 10. birmaneiisis, Brun
12. similis, Brun 13. magnipennis, Brun 14. flavopilosus, Brun 15. yerburyi, Brun 16. albobasalis, Brun 17. insularis, Sch.
bfam. 1. Xylophityince Rliachicenis, Walk 1. bicolor, Bnm
18. ferrugiDosus, Wied.

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

Chrysopilus (con.). 19 unicolor Brun	Page 141 3 frmtnliis Vnhv	Page 181
20. atigma, Brun 21. latus, Brun 22. sordidus, Brun 23. alternates, Brun. . . . Fam. 3. NEMESTRINID.S: . . . 1. Hirmoneura, My 1. annandalei, Licht. . . . 2. basalia, Licht 3. opaca, Licht	. 142 . 143 . 143 . 144 . 144 . 147 . 149 . 149 . 150	4. chrysolampis, Jaeii. . 5. flaviventiis, Dol. . . .	.. 182 183
6. ceuomaus, Rvnd. . . . 7. aurautiaoa Guer.	.. 185 186
8. sphinx, Fabr 9. suft'usipennis, Brun. 10. semifuscata, Brun. . 2. Exoprosopa, Mncq. . . . 1. flavipennis, Brun. . 2. flammea, £run. . . . 3. lar, Fabr.	.. 187 .. 188 .. 188 .. 189 ... 192 .. 193 . . . 194
4. cingulata, Licht 5. brunnea, Licht	. 151 . 151
4. pennipes, Wied. . . . 5. latipennis, Brun. . . . 6. lateral is, Brun. 7. annandalei, Brun. . 8. maculiveutris, Brun. 9. stylata, Brun 10. insulata, Walk. . . . 11. puerula, Brun 12. bengalensis, Macq. . 13. brahma, Sch 14. niveiventris, lirun. . 15. vitripennis, Brun. . 16. vitrea, Biy 17. basifascia, Walk. . 18. alex.m, Walk 19. semilucida, Walk. . 20. auviplena, Walk 21 albida Walk	... 197 . . . 198 .. 198 .. 199 .. 200 .. 201 .. 203 .. 205 .. 206 .. 206 .. 207 .. 209 .. 210 .. 211 .. 211 212 .. 212 212
6. ochracea, Licht 7. austeni, Licht 8. coffeata, Licht 2. Trichopsidea, Wesf.w. . . . 1. duhrni, Wand 3. Atriadops, Wand 1. javana, Wied.	. 151 152 . 152 . 153 . 153 . 154 . 355 155
4 Ceylunia, Licht
1. magnifica, Licht Fain. 4. CYBTIDJE	. 156 . 157
Subfam. 1. Philopotina 1. Philopota, Wied 1 viridaenea. B'run	. 158 . 158 . 159
Subfam. 2. Panopints 1. Pialea, Erichs 1. auripila, Brun Subfam. 3. Cyrtina 1. Lasia, Wied 1. aurata, Brun 2. Pterodontia, Gray	. 160 . 160 . 161 . 163 . 163 . 164 . 165 . 166 . 167 . 168 169 . 170 171 . 171 . 171 173 176 . 178 180 . 180
3. Spog< stylum, Macq. . . . 1. austeni, Brun 4 Argvramoeba Sch	.. 213 .. 213 214
1 bipunctata, Fabr.. - .	. 217
2 di-tigma, Wied	218
3. obscurifrons, Brun. . 4. limitaris, Brun. . . . 5. intermedia, Brun. .	.. 220 .. 220 .. 221 222
1. kashmirensis, Licht. . 2. dorsolineata, Brun. . . . 3 Oncodes Lair	7 gestroi, Brun	222
8. niveicauda, Brun. . 9. duvaucelii, Macq. . . 10. argentiapicalis, Brun 11 instituta Walk. . . .	.. 224 .. 225 .. 227 227
2. octomaculatus, Brun. .
12. claripennis, Brun. . 13. niveisquamis, Brun. 14. nigrofemorata, Brun.	. . 228 .. 229 .. 230 230
4. angustimarginatus,
5. rufomarginatus, Brun. Fam. o. BOMBYLIID^; Subfam. 1. Anthracina 1. Hyperalonia. Rond 1. dives, Walk 2. tristis. Wuln .
5. Lepidanthrax, O.-S 1. compacta, Brun 2. transversa, Brun.. . . 6. Anthrax, Scop 1. fletcheii, Brun 2. guttatipennis, Brun. 3. himalayanus, Brun.	.. 232 .. 233 .. 233 .. 234 .. 236 ,. 237 .. 238

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

Anthrax (con.). 4. afra, Fabr	Page . 240 8. Phtbiria, Mg 241 1. oT»<>.ilis. Walk.. .	Pago . . 284 285
6. manifest, Walk. . . . 7. clara, Walk 8. approximata, Brim. . 9 aperta Walk	. 242 . 243 . 244 . 245 . 246 . 247 248	Subfam. 4. Toxophorina .... 1. Toxophora, Mg 1. javana, Wied. Subfam. 5. Si/stropince	. . 280 . . 287 . . 287 . 289
10. fuscotimbata, Brun. . 11. hottentotta, var. clari pennis, Brun
1 . Systropus, Wied	. 289 . . 291 . 294
13 dia Wifd . • • .	250	1. ophioneus, Westw. . . 2. edwardsi, Brun
14. baluchianus, Brun 15. albofulva, Walk 16. aureohirta, Brun. . . .	. 250 . 251 . 252 . 253 . 254
3. eunienoides, Westw. 4. flavipleura, Brun. . . ; Fam. 6. THEREVIDJE	. 294 . . 295 . 295 . 297 . 298
18 troflodvta, Fabr
19! iucida/JFaa	. 254 . 255 255
20. limpida, Walk 21 referens Walk	1. kempi, Brun
Subfatn ^ Ltnnatiinee	255 . 256 . 257 259 . 260 260 261 263 2H4 265 267 267 268 270 270 270 271 272 273 273 274 275 276 277 277 278 278 278 279 279 280 281 282 283	2. nigella, Wied. . . 3. flavolineuta, Brun. . . 4. bilineata. Brun 5. cylindrica, Walk. . . 6. indica, Walk	299 . L>99 . 300 . 301 . 301 301
1. Aplioebantus, Lw 1. ceylonicus, Brun. . . . Subfam. 3. Bombylima 1. Empidideicus, Beck 1. indicia, Brun
8. invaria, Walk	. 302 . 302 . 303 . 304
2 Psilocephala, Zett
1. albina, Wied 2. indica, Big
2. Bombylius, Linn	3. ceylonica, Krob	. 304
2. wulpii, Linn 3. major, Linn 4. erectus, Brun 5. maculatus, Fabr 6. comastes, Brun	4 sequa Walk	305
5 affinis Krob.	306
3 Phycus, Walk	306
1. brunneus, Wied 2. argentiventris, Brun. 3. atripes, Brun	. 307 . 309 . 309
8 vicinus, Brun	Fam. 7. SCENOPINIDJE ....	. 310 . 311 312
9. terminalis, Brun 10. fulvipes, Big
11. propinquu.s, Brun. . . . '•]. Dischistus Lw.	1 fenestralis, L
Fam. 8. MYDAIDJE	. 314
1. resplendens, Brun. . . . 2. ardens, Walk
1. Mvdas, Fabr	. 316 . 317 . 318
1. socius, Walk	1. ruticornis, Wied. . . . .. 2. carmichaeli, Brun. . . .
3. flavospinosus, Brun. . 4. eupogonatus, Biy. . . .	3. annulata, Brun 2. Leptomydas, Gerst 1. indianus, Brun	. 319 . 320 . 320
1. longirostris, Wulp. . . . 6. Geron, Mg 1. arjjentifrons, Brun	Fam. 9. EMPIDJE Subfam. 1. Hybotince.	. 321 . 325
7 Usia Latr	1. Synecbes, Walk 1. immaculatus, Brun. . 2. biaroti. Bezzi . .	. 327 . 328 . 329
1. sedophila, Brun 2. marffinata, Bnm.. .

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

Syueches (con.). 3. inaequalis, Brnn 4. minutus, Brun 5. rusticus, Brun 6. palliditarsis, Brun 7. Iratellus, Brun 8. insicmia Tirun. . . .	Page 330 330 331 331 332 332 333 333 333 334 334 334 336 335 336 338 338 339 340 340 340 341 341 342 342 343 343 343 344 345 3-15 346 34(5 347 349 360 351 352 352 363 353 354 355 356 356 367 357 358 359 S59 360 368 :!()!	] Subfam. 3. Ofiydromiina 1. Leptopeza, M.aeq	Page 362 362 368 363 364 365 366 366 367 367 368 369 370 371 371 372 373 374 375 37C. 377 377 378 378 379 379 380 381 382 382 383 383 383 384 384 385 385 386 386 387 387 388 339 390 391 392
1. vitripemiis, Brun Subfain. 4. Hemerodromiinee . . 1. Clinocera, ~M.g . .
2. 8. 4 5.	9. fuscipennis, Brun Syndyas, Lw
1. fluviatilis, Brun 2. obscura, Brun 2. Microdromia, Big 1. dorsalis, Brun 3. Phyllodromia, Zett ] . flavida, Brun 2. indicata, Brun 4. Dolichocepbala, Mncq.
1. parvicellulata»2?«K:/ .. Harpamerus, Big 1 . signatus, Big Acarterus, Lw 1 . pallipes, Bezzi
2. fuscipennis, Brun Hybos My
1. bisetosus, Bezzi	1. septemnotata, Brun. . . 5. Trichopeza, Rond 1 fusca Brun
2. tenuipes, Brun 3. gagatinus, Big 4. apicis, Brun 5. genie ulatus, Wulp . . . . 6. niger, Brun. . .
Subfam. 5. Tachydromiina; . . 1. Tachydromia, My 1. latifascipennis, Bnm. . . 2. ferruginea, Brun 3. nepalensis, Brun 4. gentilis, Brun 5. orientalis, Brun
1 Riiriups Hnni
8. nitens, Brun 9. flavipalpi8, Brun. 10. nigronitidus, Brun 11. brunnipps, Brun 6. Parahybos, Kert 1. flavipes, Brun Subfam. 2. Empinte 1. Rbamphomyia, My 1. unifasciata, Brun. . . . 2. bimalayana, Brun. . . . 3. griseonigra, Brnn. . . . 9 Tfrrmis T,imn
2. Tachjpeza, Mg 1. palliditibiae, Brun 2 incisa Brun.
3. Drapetis, My 1. variegata, Brun
2. discoidalis, Bezzi . . . . 3. bre'vior, Brun 4. fascifemorata, Brun. . . 5. rotundicornis, Brun. . . 6. rufipes, Brun 4. Elaphropeza, Mncu
8. 4.	] . amplitarsie, Brun 2. albobalteralis, Brun. . . 3. carbonaria, Brun 4. squaniata, Brun
1 . basalis, Bezzi . . '2. bicoloripes, Brun 3. fulvitborax, Wulp 4. ferruginea, lirun 5. metatarsata, Bezzi .... 6. variegata, Brun Fam. 10. LONCHOPTERIDJE . . 1. Lonchoptera, My
5. ceylonica, Bezzi 6. griseonigra, Brun 7. centralis, Brun 8. subcilipes, Brun 9. rostrata, Brun 10. raarginata, Brun 11. elegans, Brun 12. iuconspicua, Brim Hilara Mg .
1. luU'a. Panz. . . . . .
Fan). 11. PLATYPKZIDJE 1. Platypeza, My 1. argyrogyna, Meij
1. conipacta, Brun 2. bares, Walk 3. rutithorax, lirun. . . . 4. peshawarensis, Brun. . Howlettia, Brun 1. flavipes, Brun

OEDER DIPTEEA. SUBORDER BRACHYCERA.

INTKODUCTION.

IN the first volume devoted to the Diptera in the "Fauna of British India" Series, the two great suborders, ORTHORRHAPHA and CYCLORRHAPHA, into which the order is now generally divided, were sufficiently characterised, and a comparison was also given between the NEMATOCERA and BRACHYCERA, into which the first suborder is subdivided. The earliest writers divided the Diptera into NEHOCERA and BRACHTCERA, of subordinal rank based mainly on palpal and antennal characters, and not on those of the venation or early stages, this classification finding favour until towards the close of the last century. Nowadays the old series of hrachycerous families is split at or near the LO^CHOPTERID^;, all those from the STRATIOMYIDJE to that family being included in the ORTHOREHAPHA BRACHYCERA ; the remainder, consisting of the PLATYPEZID^E, PIPTJNCULID^E, SYRPHID^E, CONOPID.E and CEsTRLoa:, the enormous family MUSCID^E (sensu latissimo), and the pupiparous Diptera (the last-named forming in themselves a separate group of uncertain rank) constituting the CYCLORRHAPHA. One anomalous family, the PHORID^E, is by some placed next the LONCHOPTERID^E in the ORTHORRHAPHA BRACHYCERA, and by others next to the MUSCID.E in the CYCLORRHAPHA.

The formation of groups of higher rank than families has received the attention of many dipterologists of note, and Verrall gives an excellent resume of Brauer's (1883) and Osten-Sacken's (1896) views. Verrall himself admitted that there were several points in Brauer's tables that were not clear to him and others with which he could not agree, and it may here be observed that Brauer's primary divisions or suborders of ORTHORRHAPHA and CYCLOHRHAPHA have been criticised as lately as 1907 by Prof. Miall. Verrall, in noting this in a footnote, adds, " I quite agree with this distinguished savant in considering the two divisions, ORTHORRHAPHA and CYCLORRHAPHA, at present incom- prehensible" (Dec. 1908). I find myself in the same predicament, and, personally, biological affinities notwithstanding, I have an instinctive leaning towards regarding all the families from the STRATIOMYIDJE to the MUSCID^E, and the PHORID^E, as more closely related one to the other than are a certain number of them related

2 BRACHYCERA.

to the NEMATOCERA ; in other words, I hesitate to abandon the " old-fashioned " classification of NEMATOCERA and BRACHYCERA, pur et simple, with the PUPIPARA as a third group, either of equal rank with the other two or as a subordinate section of the BRACHYCERA.

The NEMATOCERA and BRACHYCERA are certainly natural divisions, and Osten-Sacken believed that the characters distin- guishing them were of more fundamental importance than those separating the ORTHORRHAPHA and CYCLORRHAPHA ; he regarded them as of equal ordinal rank with the CYCLORRHAPHA. Williston, on the other hand, considers there is " no distinct limitation between the NEMOCERA and BRACHYCERA,"* but, according to Verrall, the shape of the anal cell provides an infallible character in all those cases in which doubt could possibly arise. It is quite evident, however, that these two groups have always been perfectly clear to most dipterologists from the.fact that no dispute has ever arisen as to the group to which any particular family belonged ; whilst, on the other hand, authors are by no means in agreement as to where the ORTHORRHAPHA NEMATOCERA end and the BRACHYCERA, in the restricted sense, begin. How- ever, these questions of biological affinities amongst the higher divisions can only be approached by those possessing an intimate knowledge of all the families, and it Mould be out of place to attempt any discussion of the subject in a work restricted to the consideration of a limited number of families.

For the purposes of the present work it will be sufficient to give, in abbreviated and slightly modified form, Brauer's divisions of his CYCLORRHAPHA : —

1. Head not flattened, more or less hemispherical,

placed perpendicularly to longitudinal axis of body; mouth placed below. Eyes always pre- sent. Dorsal and ventral segments of abdomen well developed, the connecting membrane con- cealed. Imagines living; free, non-parasitic .... 2. Head flattened, placed in longitudinal axis of body ; mouth similarly placed, projecting forward. Eyes present or absent. Dorsal and ventral plates of abdomen very small or absent, owing to pre- ponderance of connecting membrane. Imagines parasitic PCPIPARA.

2. Frontal bladder-seam running round only upper

side of base of antennae, narrowly surrounding the lunule, the bladder -seam being therefore restricted, the bladder existing or rudimentary. Jowls not separated from the superiucumbeiit cheeks. Anal cell long and pointed 3.

* Manual N. Amer. Dipt. 3rd ed. p. 59.

INTRODUCTION. 3

Frontal bladder-seam semicircular, forming above the lunule a distinctly margined upright arch, usually running steeply downwards over middle of face, usually separated and distinctly sepa- rating the cheeks and jowls at the sides. Anal cell generally short and often subequal in length with 2nd basal cell EUMYID.S:.

3. First posterior cell always closed. Vena spuria

present . SYKPHIDJE.

First posterior cell always open. Vena spuria

absent 4.

4. Arista terminal PLATYPEZID^;.

Arista dorsal PIPUNCULHXS:.

The two latter families were left in the same divisional group by Brauer, but are easily separated by the character given above. It must be confessed that the table of groups is difficult to put to practical use, especially by a beginner. The EUMY.IDJE, unfor- tunately given a family termination, is a combination of the CONOPIDJE, (ESTBID^, arid MUSCID^E, all of which are regarded in the present volume as good and separate families.

The PUPIPARA, it is understood, consist of three distinct families, HIPPOBOSCID^E, NYCTEBJBIIDJE, and STKEBLID^E.

The superfamilies herein admitted are those recognised by Verrall in his second published volume on British Diptera, and the following table of them is wholly drawn from that work : —

Table of Superfamilies.

Three equally well-developed pad-like pulvilli.

Species absolutely eremochaetous (i, e., strong

bristles on head and thorax entirely absent) .... EREMOCHJETA. Two pad-like pulvilli only, the empodium being

sometimes absent or sometimes represented by a

bristly hair. Species not truly eremochtetous . . 2. Basal cells long, the anal cell being open or long

and pointed, because the branches of the 5th vein

only gradually diverge, and the upper branch is

usually connected with the discat cell by the

posterior cross-vein, though sometimes (BoMBY-

LIID^E, SCENOPINIDJE, etc.) it forms a part of the

lower margin of the discal cell : wing-venation

usually elaborate. Cephalic bristles on frons and

vertex not strongly developed, though sometimes

visible in ASILIDJE. Often large or very large

species and seldom small, and when small

usually with long pubescence among the stronger

bristles 3.

Anal cell short except in a few EMPID^E (HYBO-

TiN-ff;) and shorter than the preceding basal cell

(when that is present), and the upper basal cell

rather long in the EMPID^: only ; 5th vein

with its lower branch recurrent (except in the

HYBOTINJE) and its upper branch quickly lost

4 BKA.CHYCEKA..

in the 4th vein ; 3rd -vein simple except in a few EMPIM3 ; posterior cross-vein quite absent ; posterior cells apparently never more than four, but usually less ; wing- veins altogether few and simple; alula obsolete. Face bare or only slightly pubescent in the MICHOPHONA, but with peristomal bristles in LONCHOPTERIDJE and side or genal bristles in PHORID^E, but with no face beard or pubescence as in ASILIDJE. Cephalic bristles usually strongly developed. Species always small and distinctly chseto- phorous • 5.

3. Aerial species, almost always clothed with dense

furry pubescence. Legs thin and only suitable for alighting, and consequently armed with little more than spicules (not true bristles) on the femora and tibise. Eyes nearly always touching in the c? (holoptic) and never bulged out because

of a sunken vertex TROMOPTEUA.

Pedestrian species, usually armed with strong bristles and only occasionally (Laphria, Isopogon, etc.) clothed with dense coarse pubescence ; or (!)ER- MATINA) bare of both pubescence and bristles. Legs strong, usually armed with strong bristles on at least the tibise and tarsi. Eyes almost always widely separated in both sexes (dichoptic), and frequently bulging out because of the deeply sunken vertex 4.

4. Eremochsetous species in the sense that there are

no strong bristles on any part of the thorax or

scutellum DERMATINA.

Chsetophorous species in the sense that there are strong and usually numerous bristles on the thorax, scutellum, and legs, or at least on the sides of the metauotum, except in the few cases in which dense coarse pubescence is substituted. ENERGOPODA.

5. Wing-veins (including cross-veins) fairly normal, or

else the 2nd and 3rd veins extended almost to the wing-tip. Antennae with three (or rarely two) joints obvious, besides any style or arista. . 0.

Wing-veins extremely abnormal and quile distinct from those of any other Diptera ( except A spistes in the BIBIONIDJE) ; anterior veins up to the 3rd vein strong and conspicuous, running into the basal half of the costa, but the subsequent veins very faint and incomplete and abnormally directed ; 4th, oth, and anal veins very difficult to trace. Palpi porrect, not jointed. Eyes widely and equally separated in both sexes. Antenna? apparently composed of one large joint, which bears a very long apical or dorsal arista. Hind legs long and the femora flattened HYPOCERA.

Wing rounded at the tip ; venation fairly normal, with the 2nd vein ending considerably before the wing-tip, and with at least one apparent cross-vein well out towards the middle of the wing, causing the discal cell to be present even if

extended back to the wing-base. Face, rnouth- margin, and jowls without strong bristles. Thorax rarely with a soft pubescence. Eyes of the J sometimes touching or approximated.

Imagines always predaceotis MICROPHONA.

Wings pointed at the tip ; venation abnormal, as the 2nd and 3rd veins end close together almost at the wing-tip ; no obvious cross-vein, and the discal cell absent or reduced to a short middle basal cell. Face with strong bristles round the niouth-margin. Thorax with bristles but no pubescence. Eyes widely and equally separated in both sexes. Antennae short and porrect, with a long subdorsal arista. Colour always dull yellowish, brownish, or greyish, but never green or metallic ACROPTERA.

Verrall incorporates in the above table the sixteen families of BRACHTCERA which occur in Britain, as well as the seven super- families, which accounts for characters of minor value often being added, but it has seemed better to give his actual diagnoses of the higher groups in full than to attempt to abbreviate them. One or two terms in the venation and so on are changed for the purpose of preserving uniformity with ray previous volume. His table (pp. 14 to 30) is illustrated with typical figures and is a veritable epitome of the salient characters of the BRACHYCERA.

Coming to families, there has been less difference of opinion amongst authors than as regards the higher groups, probably because the characters are drawn solely from the perfect insects. The exact rank of the CCENOMYID.E and XYLOPHAGID.E as families has been questioned, and the affinities of the LONCHOPTERID.S; and PHORIDJE have given rise to considerable discussion. Notes on these points will be found under the respective family headings. I follow Osten-Sacken and Verrall in placing the XYLOMYIN^E subfamily of XYLOPHAGID.E in the STBATIOMYIDJE, and the remain- ing subfamily, the XYLOPHAGINJE, in the LEPTID^, to which family also the COZXOMYIDJE are referred as a subfamily.

Some authors have desired to remove the MYOPINJE subfamily from the CONOPID.E to the MUSCID^; and also to disband the CEsTRiD-j; altogether and spread the genera amongst the MusciDjE, but with these views I cannot concur.

Of two other families the taxonomic rank has been occasionally disputed, the ACANTHOMERIDVE and APIOCERID.E, but as neither group occurs in the Orient they need not be discussed here. The former family contains the most gigantic flies known, so far as bulk goes, measuring up to 40 millimetres in length and 80 milli- metres in expanse of the wings, and they are confined to the Neotropical liegion. They are allied to the STRATIOMYID^E, LEPTIDVE, and TABANID.*:. The APIOCERID.E are akin to both the MTDAID^E and ASTLIDJE. Both these groups are now admitted to be of family rank.

BRAC1IYCEKA.

Table of all Families of Diptera except the NEMATOCEKA.

1. Body not of leathery texture. Head free ;

mouth generally well developed, with a more or less prominent proboscis. Two palpi and at least two oral bristles present. Femora approximate at base. Abdomen distinctly segmented. Oviparous or larvi- parous ; in perfect state never parasitic on

warm-blooded creatures 2.

Body of leathery texture. Head placed in a curved excavation of the thorax or bent back upon the thorax. Mouth very imper- fect ; palpi absent. Abdomen indistinctly segmented. Femora at base remote, through the broad mesothorax ; claws well deve- loped. Parasitic during pupal and imaginal stages in warm-blooded creatures (mammals and birds) 23.

2. Three distinct pulvilli. Absolutely eremo-

chsetous species (i. e., no strong bristles on head or thorax as compared with pubes- cence) 3.

Two pulvilli (sometimes obsolete or absent).* Species not truly eremoehaetous, and often with dense furry pubescence, or bristly . . 8.

3. Third antennal joint annulated, Eyes in $

normally contiguous or very approximate (except in most NKMESTRINIDJE) ; in $

wide apart 4.

Third antennal joint not annulated (except XYLOPHAGINJE). Eyes in $ generally contiguous 7.

4. Posterior cells not parallel with hind margin

of wing t- " Diagonal " vein never present.

Eyes in $ normally contiguous 5.

Posterior cells parallel with hind margin of wing. " Diagonal ' ' vein generally present ; wings often reticulate. Eyes in <5 gene- rally separated ." Nemestrinidae,

5. Tibiee with at least middle pair spurred [p. 144.

(indistinctly in ACANTHOMKRIDJE). Veins not crowded together in anterior part of wing. Ambient vein present (thin in ACANTHOMKRIDJE). Scutellum unspined. 6. Tibiae without spurs (except in XYLOMYINJE and some BERING). Veins crowded to- gether anteriorly (except XYLOMYIN^: and BERINJE). Ambient veiii absent or

* Middle one sometimes shorter in NEMESTRINID.E, but always pad-like.

t Some CYRTID,K form exceptions, but the enormous thoracic squamae, globular bodies, and general appearance of this family at once distinguish them.

INTRODUCTION. 7

incomplete. Scutelluru often with two or

four (rarely six or eight) spines on margin. Stratiomyidae,

6. Antennae flagellilbrm. Fourth posterior cell [p. 17.

closed. Wing with marginal space of last submarginal cell at most twice that of immediately adjoining cells. Squamae almost obsolete. Perfect insects never

blood-suckers Acanthomeridae.

Antennae normally sickle-shaped, rarely fla- gelliform or otherwise formed. Fourth posterior cell nearly always open. Wing with marginal space of last submarginal cell at least three or four times that of immediately adjoining cells. Squamae very large. Adult females always blood- suckers ". Tabanidae.

7. Posterior tibiae always spurred. Body gene-

rally elongate, abdomen never balloon-like. Eyes in <$ contiguous, in $ wide apart ; head of normal size and shape. Thoracic squamae normal. Venation as in TABA- NIDAE, except that the anal cell is some- times open Leptidae, p. 100.

All tibiae unspurred or with very short blunt ones. Body short, rounded ; abdomen often balloon-like. Eyes in both sexes contiguous ; head very small, inconspi- cuous, depressed, nearly all eyes. Thoracic squamae enormous. Venation eccentric and complex Cyrtidae, p. 157.

8. Basal cells long, at least one-third the length

of the wing. Anal cell (sometimes called the third basal) open, or long and pointed. 9. Basal cells short (except in HYBOTIX^E). Anal cell shorter than preceding cell, when that is present. Third vein never forked, except in some EAIPIDJE 18.

9. Posterior cells parallel with hind margin of

wing. Second longitudinal vein (and some- times upper branch of third also) ending in first longitudinal near its tip. Antennae generally clavate at tip. Eyes in tf dis- tinctly separated Mydaidae. p. 314.

Posterior cells not parallel with hind margin of wing. Second longitudinal vein ending in first only in APIOCKRIDJE and some ASILIDJE ; in all other families ending in wing-margin. Antennae not clavate at tip. Eyes in J contiguous or well sepa- rated 10.

10. Upper branch of 4th vein ending before

wing-tip 11.

Upper branch of 4th vein ending below wing-tip 12

11. Venation more complex. Five posterior cells,

the 4th closed. Eyes in tf always wide

8 BRACIIT.CEKA.

apart, but less so than in £ . First longi-

tudinal vein receiving others in it before

its tip. Thorax and scutelluni with strong

bristles arid pubescence ................ Apioceridae.

Venation simple and reduced. Three pos-

terior cells. Eyes in <$ contiguous or

very approximate. First longitudinal vein

never receiving others in it. Species quite

destitute of bristles or pubescence ...... Scenopinidae,

12. Five posterior cells. Chsetophorous species, [p. 310.

generally very pubescent also .......... 13.

Three or four posterior cells. Eremochsetous

species, except BOMBYLIIDJE and some

* 14.

13. Vertex of head deeply sunken between the

eyes, leaving the latter very prominent.

Eyes in <^ always separated ............ Asilidae .

Vertex not sunken, therefore eyes not pro- minent. Eyes in cT contiguous or closely approximate .......................... Tnerevidae, p. 295.

14. Third longitudinal vein generally forked.

Posterior cross-vein absent. Eyes in $ normally contiguous in typical groups, but distinctly separated in ANTHRACIN^: ; con- tiguous in both sexes in Systropus. Often densely furry species .................. Bombyliidae, p. 173.

Third longitudinal vein never forked. Pos- terior cross-vein present. Eyes in tf con- tiguous or approximate, except rarely; but in CONOPIDJE wide apart in both sexes. Normally not densely furry species, except in some SYRPHID^E .................... 15.

15. Proboscis rigid and geniculate. First pos-

terior cell closed ; antennae with apical style (CONOPIN^E), or first posterior cell open ; antennae with dorsal arista (MYOPIN.S:) .......................... Conopidae.

Proboscis soft. First posterior cell closed or open. Antennae of very various formation. 16.

16. First posterior cell closed. Vena spuria pre-

sent (sometimes very faint). Eyes in both

sexes of normal size and nature .......... Syrphidae.

First posterior cell open. Vena spuria absent. Eyes in both sexes very large (especially in PIPUNCUI.IDJE) ; some of the facets often enormously enlarged .............. 17.

17. Arista dorsal, 3rd longitudinal vein well

curved ; * apical section of 4th vein curved downwards; hind tarsi never dilated .... Pipunculidae. Arista apical, 3rd vein nearly straight ; apical section of 4th vein curved inwards. Hind tarsi dilated .......................... Platypezidae,

18. Venation abnormal ; t no obvious cross- vein [p. 390.

* Nearly straight in Chalarus.

t Except in Opetia, a non-Oriental genus.

INTRODUCTION*. 9

well out on disc of wing. Eyes in both

sexes wide apart 19.

Venation fairly normal (reduced in DOLICHO- PODIDJE) ; at least one obvious cross-vein well out on disc of wing. Eyes in rf con- tiguous, approximate, or wide apart 20.

19. Second and third longitudinal veins long,

nearly parallel. Wings Idng, tips pointed ; venation different in the sexes ; no wing- less species - Lonchopteridae,

Second and third veins united in one rather [p. 387.

short strong vein. Wings short, tips well rounded ; venation similar in both sexes ; some species wingless Phoridae.

20. Discal cell united to 2nd basal cell ; basal

cells very short or obsolete. Third longi- tudinal vein diverging from a swelling near base of wing; anterior cross-vein at same spot ; third vein never forked. Pro- boscis soft. Arista or stvle dorsal or apical. Abdomen normally 5- or 6-segmented. . . . Dolichopodidae. Discal and second basal cells separate (except in a few EMPID^:). Basal cells generally long enough to be obvious. Second and third veins diverging well away from base of wing ; third vein not forked, except in some EMPIDJE. Proboscis rigid or soft . . 21.

21. Antennal style present or absent ; arista, if

present, generally dorsal. Proboscis gene- rally rigid, pointed. Abdomen normally 7-segmented. Second and third longi- tudinal veins diverging at one-third of the

wing ; third vein often forked Empidae, p. 321.

Antennal style never present ; arista, when present, nearly always dorsal. Third vein never forked 22.

22. Proboscis rudimentary ; palpi rudimentary or

absent. In larval stage always parasitic

on mammalia '. CEstridae.

Proboscis and palpi always distinctly pre- sent. In larval stage rarely parasitic on mammalia Muscidae (s. hitiss.}.

23. Head folding back on dorsum of thorax.

Wingless species. Parasitic on bats .... Nycteribiidae. Head not folding back on thorax. Winged or wingless species. Parasitic on birds and mammals , 24.

24. Antennae reduced. Wings with distinct

parallel veins ; cross-veins often present. Claws simple. Nearly all the species

parasitic on bats Streblidae.

Antennae generally more elongate. Wings, when present, with veins crowded together anteriorly; cross-veins short and near base of wing. Claws large. Parasitic on mammals and birds Hippoboscidae.

10 BEACHYCEEA.

The external characters of the BEACHYCEEA and CYCLOEEHAPHA exhibit as much, it' not greater variation than those of the NEMATOCEEA. As the introduction to the previous volume on Diptera dealt with characters common to 4he order generally, those pages may be consulted in conjunction with the present summary, which is confined to the BEACHYCEEA and those families of the CYCLOEEHAPHA treated of herein.

The eyes in the higher BEACJIYCEEA and higher CYCLOBEHAPHA are generally contiguous or subcontiguous above in the male, and such flies are said to be holoptic, the eyes in the female being distinctly separated hy a comparatively broad Irons, but exceptions are numerous. Diptera in which the eyes are well separated in the c? are called dichoptic. The CYETID/E have contiguous eyes in both sexes (with rare exceptions), and in some cases the eyes are contiguous both above and below ; the MYDATD^, ASILLIXI;, DOUCHOPODIM:, LONCHOPTEEIDA-, and COXOPIDJE have the eyes equally conspicuously separated in both sexes. The lower ANTHO- MYJNJE and practically all the ACALYPTEATA are also dichoptic. The eyes may be pubescent or bare, this being sometimes a sexual character, and iu life they are often green (Hcematopotci) or golden green (Chrysopihts), and in many species of TABANIDJE, ASILID^E and some other groups bear brown or purple bands. In many groups the front facets are from just perceptibly to very con- siderably larger than the rest in the c? , and of uniform and smaller size in the 5 , but in the PIPUNCULID.E the front facets, though enlarged more than usual in the d , are yet more enlarged, and to an enormous extent, in the 5 . In some PUPIPAEA the eyes are absent ; in CYETID.E and PIPUNCULID.E they occupy practically all the head, no other parts except the antenna? being visible in profile in some species of both families.

Three ocelli are normally present in all the BEACHYCEEA, but they are occasionally absent (CONOPIN^E).

The lower part of the head, or epistome, exhibits a wide range of shape and size, from being barely or not at all produced beyond the eyes in profile either forwards or downwards (as in most PIPUNCULIDJE) to forming a long strong conical rostrum (Nemotehts in STEATIOMYIDJE ; Khingia, Volucella, Lycastris in SYEPHIDJE). The face frequently has a central bump, as in most SrEpHiD^E, or it may be less prominent, gently curved, or flattened. The mouth- parts attain their highest development in the TABANID.E, a family in which the females of all the species have the reputation of being blood-suckers. The parts of the female Tabanid mouth consist of the labiuin or lower lip, a pair of maxilla? and of mandibles, strong piercing organs, and a pair of large, fleshy, conspicuous, approximately conical maxillary palpi.* The pro- boscis in the BEACHYCEEA is usually soft, and formed for sucking the juices of plants or animal matter, but it is not infrequently of enormous length, longer than the whole body and of extreme

* Compare ' Indian Diptera,' i. p. 18.

INTRODUCTION. 11

slenderness, and in this state either adapted for piercing the skin (PANGONIA) or for imbibing the juices of flowers (NEMESTRINID.E, CYRTIILE, and many BOMBYLID^E). Occasionally it is long, rigid, and geuiculate (CONOPID.E). Biting flies are distributed throughout many brachycerous and cyclorrbaphous groups. S>/niphoromyia, in LEPTIDJE, has been definitely proved to bite man severely on occasions ; the TABANIILE generally confine their unwelcome attentions to the larger mammals, though one genus, Hcematopota, widely distributed throughout the world, its natural home being apparently Africa, is very prone to attack man. The strong horizontal horny proboscis of the Stomoxys group of true Muscinids is well known, as are also the tsetse-flies (Glossina) inhabiting Africa, these being the carriers of sleeping- sickness. Philtematomyia, a genus of Muscinid flies, possesses a circlet of teeth-like projections at the tip of the proboscis with which, even if unable actually to pierce the skin, it can easily enlarge an abrasion already made. The proboscis in not a few genera is rudimentary, in some almost obsolete, as in (EsTRiDTE, the members of which family cause cattle instinctively the greatest terror on their approach for the purpose of depositing their eggs on the animals' mouths, nostrils, etc. An isolated case occurs here and there of a genus with a strong rigid proboscis in a group in which the organ is normally soft arid fleshy, as Drymeia in the ANTHOMYINJE. The ASILID^E and EMPIIXE are two other extensive families generally possessing a rigid horny proboscis, with which they easily pierce and carry off their prey, consisting of softer Diptera and other insects. The labella, sometimes called " sucker- flaps," vary in size, shape, and strength, sometimes being small and soft, in other cases acting as organs of attrition to rub off small particles of food.

• The palpi, apart from those of the NEMATOCERA, consist usually of two joints, in some highly specialized families of one only, these being the maxillary pair, the labial palpi being considered to be absent in the Diptera. Though large and prominent in some families (TABANID^), it is often difficult in others (BOMBYLILU^E, THEUE- VID^E, ASILULE) to examine them without removing the dense furry or bristly pubescence characterising these groups. However, in most of the BRACHYCERA the location of any genus or species can be readily ascertained without reference to these organs. They are normally porrect, i. e., directed horizontally forwards, especially in the blood-sucking Muscids, but frequently project more or less downwards, and they may be present or absent, respectively, in genera of considerable affinity, whilst in the CYRTIDJE they are generally obsolete.

As regards the antennae, a gradual change takes place from the many-jointed elongate flagellum of the NEMATOCERA to the compact three-jointed form of the bulk of the remainder of the Diptera, the 3rd joint often being the only conspicuous one.* In the

* For comparative notes on the antenna; in NEMATOCERA and BRACHTCERA, see ' Indian Diptera,' i. p. 20.

12 BRACHYCERA.

earlier families of the BRACHYCERA (STRATJ.OMYID.E, TABANIIWE, some LEPTHLE, etc.) the third joint is usually anuulated, that is, faintly separated by more or less distinctly impressed lines into several divisions, generally eight or five, and in this character considerable resemblance is apparent to the nematocerous families BIBIONID^E, SiMULiiDJE, and liiiYPHiD^. These annulations in subsequent familes of BIIACHYCERA gradually disappear in an obviously single elongate joint, as in many BOMBYLIID^;, THERE- TID^E, and ASILIDJE, with or without a more or less distinct one- or two-jointed apical style ; and in later families still, the 3rd joint is further shortened and may bear either a style or arista.

The arista, the bristle-like hair situated on the upper side of the 3rd joint, makes its appearance in the very first brachycerous family, the STRATIOMYID^,* and is present in one or more genera in probably all the subsequent families, with a few exceptions

(TABANIDjE, ACANTIIOMERIUJE, SCENOPJUSTD^, MYDAIDjK, and APIO-

CEKIUM), and of these, all except the first are groups of quite limited extent. The arista is at first (STRATIOMYID./E, LEPTID^E) mainly apical or subapical, afterwards either apical or dorsal in the same family, and, finally, mainly dorsal (DOLICKOPOUID.E), which is its normal nature in the remaining brachycerous families and in the CYCLORRHAPHA. The arista may be quite bare, pubescent to a varying degree, or conspicuously plumose. In the great majority of BRACHYOERA the two basal antennal joints are differentiated from the 3rd in the na.ture of the scapal joints in NEMATOCERA, and are usually short, bearing short bristles, cylindrical or, especially the 2nd, more or less cup-shaped ; but in the 3rd joint the most varied forms exist even in a single family, this being especially the case in the STRATIOMYJD^E, BOMBYLIIDJE, and SYRPHIDJE. Briefly, the 3rd joint may be elongate-cylindrical (annulated or not), strap- shaped, filiform, tapering, conical, tooth-shaped, oblong, rounded, oval, renit'orm, globular, or of irregular shape. In one aberrant genus (llhachicerus in LEPTID.E) it is strikingly pectinate, recalling Pstlliopliora in the NEMATOCERA, whilst in Talnrocera, a genus of North American Tachinids, the 3rd joint in the female is of an extraordinarily fantastic shape. In the CYCLORRHAPIIA the two basal joints are normally as in the BRACIIYCERA, though the 3rd joint again shows the same extreme range of variety in the two largest families, SYRPHID.E and MUSCID^E, but remains of remarkably uniform, though peculiarly characteristic, form in others (PIPUNCULIDJE, PLATYPEZIDJEJ. In these groups it may bear a short style or an arista. The 1st and 2nd antennal joints sometimes depart from their more or less general form, the former being exceedingly long and cylindrical in Systropus and conspicuously so in Stmtiomyia, the 2nd showing unusual develop- ment in certain genera.

Coming to venation, it will be observed that in the BRACHYCERA

* The only nematocerous family in which the arista appears is the OUPIINE- piiiLiD.E, a group of about hall' a dozen species, and as it consists of several joints it is perhaps not truly identical.

IXTKODCCTION. 13

several characters adopt nearly the opposite form to that in the NEMATOCEEA. Of these perhaps the principal is the anal cell, which is always wide open in the NEMATOCEBA, normally widening towards its tip, whereas in the BBACHYCEBA, it normally contracts towards its tip, frequently very strikingly so ; and in a large number of genera it is completely closed more or less near the wing-margin, either by the gradual approximation of the 5th and 6th veins or by the lower branch of the former turning down, frequently at ar sharp angle or well-rounded curve, often in the latter cases closing the cell some distance from the margin of the wing. In the higher families of BBACHYCEBA the anal cell is very elongate, extending generally to the wing-margin, but in sub- sequent families, notably the EJIPIDJ:, it is considerably shortened through the almost or quite recurrent ending of the lower branch of the 5th vein in the anal vein at or before the middle of the latter, whilst in DOLICHOPODIDJE and LOXCHOPTEBIP^; it is shorter still. It increases in length again in two out of the three first families of the CYCLOBBHAPHA, though it is short in one of them (PLATYPEZIDJE), whilst in the higher Muscids it is always com- paratively short, and in the lower MUSCIDS normally short or absent, although conspicuous exceptions occur (some OETALIN^E and TBYPETIN.E, for example). In the CONOPID^;, one of the two families* that may be regarded as forming the transition from the BBACHYCEEA-like CYCLOREIIAPHA to the MUSCIDJE (s. latiss.) it is long in the CONOPIXJE and short in the MYOPI^E, which tends to prove the intermediate nature of the COXOPID.!.

The auxiliary and 1st vein are generally obviously present, separate and simple, but in some groups of ACALYPTEATA they are frequently coalescent.f The 2nd vein is nearly always very prominent and simple ; the 3rd, which is nearly always simple in NEMATOCEBA, is normally forked in the higher families of BEACHY- CEEA. The 4th and 5th veins in these latter families are generally both forked, but in the highest three families of the CYCLOREHAPIIA (PLATYPEZIDJE, PIPUNCULLELE, and SYEPHiDJE) there are normally only three endings to the two veins, in which cases it is the 5th vein that is considered forked, its upper branch forming part or the whole of the hinder side of the discal cell. This cell in the NBMATOCEEA is confined to the TIPLTLID.E and BHYPHID.E — that is to say, the two families generally placed next to the BEACHYCEEA, in which latter the cell is a standard feature, though exceptions occur (some EMPIIXE), — and it is prominently retained in the calyptrate Muscids and the bulk of the ACALYPTEATA. The anterior cross-vein is nearly always present, though rudimentary in some STBATIOMYID.E ; bufc the posterior cross-vein disappears after the higher families are passed, if the theory of the forked 5th vein be upheld.J

* The other being tiie CEsriun.E.

t They are then called the 1st vein, following Schiner.

J It may as well be stated here that I am by no means convinced that this is the correct interpretation.

14 BRACHYCERA.

The brachycerous venation attains its most perfect form perhaps in the TABANID.E, and it is elaborated most in the ASILIDJE, NEMESTRINID.E, MiDAio.£, and CYRTiD*! (despite the latter family also exhibiting some very simple venational types), being quite eccentric in the last three families, many of the longi- tudinal veins in the hinder part of the wing running more or less pai-allel to the hind margin; whilst in certain genera of NEMESTRINID^ an additional character is the net-like system of very numerous small cross-veins. An isolated instance of a cell being subdivided hy numerous cross-veins occurs in Lycastris (SYRPHID^), in which the subcostal cell is so divided.

After the BRACHYCERA the venation becomes more simplified, and is, speaking broadly, remarkably uniform in type throughout the MUSCID.S, in the higher groups of which (Tachinicls, Dexiids, Sarcophagids, and Muscinids) the 1st posterior cell is quite or nearly closed by the upturned apical section of the 4th vein, whilst in the ANTHOMYINJE and the various subfamilies forming the ACALYPTRATA that cell is broadly open. Numerous minor differences occur in these groups, but the type of venation remains the same. Passing on to the PUPIPARA, some genera may be observed to possess peculiar venation, but they need not be discussed here.

The general form of the body exhibits the widest diversity. The head may be variously proportioned to the body, perhaps attaining its minimum of size in the CYRTIDYE and its maximum in PIPUXCULID.E, but normally it is approximately of the same width as the thorax and usually more or less semicircular. The thorax and abdomen both vary greatly in length and breadth in relation to one another, and range from the flattened form in some STRATIOMYIDJE to the humped thorax in many EMPID.T; and to the globular or balloon-like abdomen in most CYRTID.I, the whole body in many species of the latter family being practically spherical. As regards vestiture, a short pubescence over the greater part of the thorax and abdomen is common to the vast majority of genera in BRACKYCERA, a few restricted groups being for all practical purposes absolutely bare (Scenophins). The earlier families are erernochsetous — that is, possess no distinct bristles of a chaetotactic nature on the head or thorax ; but such bristles gradually appear in successive families, as witnessed by the apical spurs on the tibiae in LEPTID.E, spicules or stick-like spines on the legs in some BOMBYLIIDJE, and real bristles and spines in that family, in DOLICHOPODID^, EMPID.E, and THERETID;E, culminating in the powerful chsetotactic system in most ASILIDJE ; after which these characters gradually diminish or practically disappear (as in PIPIINCULIDJE and SYRPHIDJS), reappearing and attaining probably their greatest development in the order in the TACHININ.E, the highest group of the MTTSCID^E («. latiss.). The pubescence, always soft in STRATIOMYIDJE, attains its greatest development perhaps in BOMBYLIID^:, THEREYID.E, and ASILIDJE ; and true

INTRODUCTION. 15

scales, covering sometimes extensive parts of the body or legs, are common in many genera of BOMBTLIID.S and TIIEREVID^E.

The vestiture of the legs varies from practical bareness, through the whole gamut of soft and fine to a long and ragged pubescence, bristles, spines, scales, and tooth-like serrations (the latter generally confined to the underside of the femora), all of them often forming good generic or specific characters. As a rule, aerial species (that is, those that are frequently on the wing and addicted to hovering) possess soft pubescence on the body and weak legs devoid of strong bristles, as they are presumably employed mainly for alighting ; whereas, on the contrary, pedestrian (which frequently means predatory) species mostly possess strong bristles or spines, and powerful legs capable of running swiftly and surely and of holding their prey when captured, and possessing comparatively reduced powers of flight. Compare, for instance, a Bombylius with an average Asilid. A peculiar character called " touch hairs " is present in certain genera of LEPTID.E, TABANID^;, and some other widely divergent groups, and this is dealt with under the genus Leptis.*

The genitalia in the BRACIIYCBRA are usually more or less con- cealed in most families or are of simple form, but they afford in the <5 good taxonomic characters in ASILID.I: and DoLicHOi?ODiD^E, being fully free in the latter family ; but the genitalia are always more uniform in the $ and of little value lor classification in that sex.

Life Histories.-^

Although the metamorphoses of the Diptera in general are still but imperfectly understood, considerable progress in their study has been made since the older writers (Keaumur, JJe Geer, etc.) first broke the ice, and the early stages of a comparatively large number of common species have been worked out. Taking the order as a whole, the larva may be described as maggot-like, though extreme forms of shape are far from uncommon. It generally consists of a head segment and twelve others, of which the three anterior ones are presumed to represent the thorax of the perfect insect. The head segment is often so indefinitely presented that Brauer sometimes uses the expressions " head capsule" and "jaw capsule." Even when obviously present the head is sometimes most disproportionately minute or placed below the anterior end of the body so as to be invisible from above ; also not infrequently in the flesh-feeding maggots no head can be detected with certainty. These latter forms are called acephalous,

* These notes on vestiture are compiled chiefly from Verrall.

t These remarks on the early stages are wholly culled from Dr. Sharp's paper (v. Verrall, p. 31). This article should certainly be studied by nil interested in the subject. In addition to a preliminary general resume of brachycerous larvae, it offers a translation of Brauer's classification of the fumilies in BRACHYCERA. based on larval characters, and, lastly, more detailed information is given on each family or group of families separately.

1G BRACIIYCERA.

whilst at the other end of the scale, i. e., those larvae with unduly large heads, the term eucephalous is applied. The eucephalous kinds are the less common, but they are the normal form in the nematocerous family CULJCIM:. The head in the larvae of the majority of brachycerous families exhibits an intermediate type between the extreme forms. Many kinds of larvse have retractile heads, the front part being completely withdrawable inside the following segment or segments,

Kegarding tlie mouth-parts Brauer, roughly speaking, described the lanse of the NEHATOCERA as having the jaws moving horizontally, except in cases where the mouth-parts are quite rudimentary, when the larva is peripneustic and 13-segmented. He claims for the BRACIIYCERA vertically moving jaws — sucking and boring groups coming also under this division, the head being not well developed. Brachycerous lar\ 03 with rudimentary mouth- parts are amphipneustic or metapneustic, with ten to twelve obvious segments.

The number of body-segments is frequently by no means easy to ascertain, Dr. Sharp stating that there is "no morphological criterion yet discovered by which the segments can be numbered." In some cases, of course, they are obvious enough, whilst in others there are what have been termed intercalary segments, apparently consisting of the undue development of the integument between the orthodox segments, the larva? of the THEREVID.S: and SCEXO- PIKIM; being instances in which tlie apparent number of segments approximates to about twenty. The larva with the smallest number of segments appears to be that of the nematocerous family BLEPHAROCERIDJE, in which only five or six are present.

Locomotion is usually effected by means of pseudopods, as jointed legs are unknown through the whole order of the Diptera, these pseudopods being transverse swellings on the under (or sometimes both upper and under) surface of the body, and they may also be furnished with rows of bristles or small wart-like projections, placed on a varying number of segments according to the species.

The spiracles in Dipterous larvae consist of a posterior pair placed near or at the tip of the body, where there is often some special development for their protection. Larvae with only one pair of spiracles, the posterior ones, are called metapneustic ; but if in addition there is a pair of anterior ones placed a little behind the head, they are termed amphipneustic: whilst when intermediate spiracles are also present, making, so to speak, three sets in all, they are known as peripneustic.

The pupa-case is ordinarily the dried larval skin, the imago escaping through a longitudinal split occurring between two transverse splits, normally on the ord and 5th segments re- spectively.

Further detailed information will be found under the respective families or genera concerned.

STKATIOMYIIXE 17

Family STRATIOMYID^E.

Head hemispherical or flattened, rather short, usually ahout as broad as thorax, generally bare. Eyes contiguous in rf (occasion- ally very narrowly separated, Saryus, etc.), wide apart in $ ; if hairy in <3 , nearly always bare in $ ; sometimes upper facets enlarged in tf , all facets equal in $ ; posterior orbits often very broad aiid conspicuous. Jb'rons seldom prominent, but lower part of head forming a conspicuous snout in some genera (Nemotelus] ; three distinct ocelli. Proboscis usually short and fleshy, some- times rudimentary, occasionally long aud thin (Nemotelus), rarely conspicuous ; palpi 1- to 3-jointed, iuconspicuous. Antenna? porrect, approximate at base, showing, perhaps, greater diversity of form than in any other family of Diptera, 3-jointed ; 3rd joint annulated, forming apparently several (up to eight) annulations ; an apical style, often very large, or an apical or subapical arista often present.

Thorax generally quadrangular or roughly obloug or oval, more or less pubescent, moderately or considerably arched ; scutellum semicircular or broadened, unarmed or with 2, 4, 6, or 8 spines, occasionally produced into a prominent erect bluut coue or spine (Monaco, nthomy ia, Ceratothyrea). A strong spine on each side of thorax in some genera (Ephippiwn, Negritomyia).

Abdomen of five to seven, sometimes eighr, segments ; of very varied shape, globular, much broader than thorax (Pachygastei , Acanthina, Cyphomyia) ; broader and shorter than thorax (Culena) ; quadrate (titratiomyia, Odontomyia) ; oblong or oval, and about as long as thorax (Evaza, Tinda, aud many others) ; or very elongate, linear, cylindrical, or flattened (iSargus, Jlermetia, Stratio- sphecomyia). Genital organs usually inconspicuous.

Legs normally of moderate length and strength, or rather weak ; destitute of bristles or spines (except for a serration below hind femora in some XYLQMYIXJE) ; generally bare or with pubescence mainly confined to the femora ; tibia? unspurred, except in XYLOMYIN^ and some BEKINJE.

Wings generally with the characteristic venation of the family (except XYLOMYIN.E and BEHIND) ; anterior veins (subcostal, Isi, 2nd, and 3rd longitudinals) crowded together in fore part of wing and the posterior veins very faint, often not reaching wing-margin. In typical genera costa nob reaching wing-tip, ambient vein absent ; 3rd vein simple or forked, fork occurring at some distance beyond discal cell, both branches ending in costa before wing-tip ; discal cell always present, lower side often formed of upper branch of 5th vein, in which case posterior cross-vein absent ; anterior cross-vein present, not distally further than middle of discal cell, joining, except in SAUGINJE, 3rd vein to discal cell. In. CLITEL- LARIIXJE, 2nd vein apparently anastomosed with 3rd or may be considered absent, lu SARGIXJE, anterior cross-vein joining praefurca and discal cell, as 2nd vein originates much later than

c

18 STRATIOHYID^E.

usual. Prsefurca originating in this family about opposite base of discal cell (except in BEKINTE and XYLOMYIN.-E), whereas in all other families of BRACHYCERA it originates much sooner. In BERHNOE and XYLOMYINJE all the veins attain the wing-margin ;* praefurca quite distinct ; costa nearly or quite reaching wing-tip ; ambient vein more or less distinct: 4th posterior cell closed in XYLOMYIN^E. In all subfamilies, membrane of wing always ribbed or wrinkled ; squama variable in size, thoracic pair sometimes absent.

The STEATIOMYID^E are invariably bare of bristles or spines (except the side thoracic spines in a few genera), but often possess dense soft pubescence extending over the whole body and the femora. The crowding together of the anterior veins and the extremely wide variation of form in the antennae (perhaps greater than in any other familv of Diptera) are their principal characters. In the BERING and XYLOMYIN^E the venation takes the form of the other allied families and the antenna? are more uniformly constructed, elongate or subconical, with distinctly annulated 3rd joint. The family is closely allied to the LEPTID^E and TABANID^ and to the small family of gigantic flies, the ACAN- THOMERJD^:, known only from South America.

Life-Mstory. — The larvae show considerable variation, though easily recognised when once seen, and those of some species are popularly known as rat-tailed maggots, as are also those of the ERISTALINYE. They are 12-segmented, including head, herni- cephalous or conical, very elongate, rather leathery, and more or less flattened. They live in earth, dung, semi-liquid or decaying matter, and many are aquatic ; in the latter case the eggs are laid on plants above the surface of the water. No pseudopods ; terminal spiracles not visible, placed wholly inside a chamber which has generally a closed or obscure aperture. Pupa coarctate, in whicli character this family differs from all other BRACHYCERA, the imago escaping through transverse slits on the 3rd and 5th segment and a longitudinal slit between them.

Many species hibernate in North Europe, but very possibly do not do so in the Tropics. The life-histories of several European species are well known. The imagines frequent grass and low herbage in marshy situations and, generally speaking, are sluggish in habits, though some have a very rapid flight in hot sunshiue.f

Table of Subfamilies.

1. Abdomen of at least seven obvious segments. ... 2. Abdomen of five, or at most six, segments 3.

2. Prsefurca beginning at about opposite base of

discal cell ; 4th posterior cell wide open .... BERING, p. 89. Prtefurca beginning considerably before base of [p. 96.

discal cell ; 4th posterior cell closed XYI.OMYINJE,

* Except for an abortive branch of the 4th vein in some BEHIND. •*• Additional and more detailed information occurs under the various sub- families or genera concerned.

STRATIOMYIDJE. 19

3. Fourth vein with only two terminations (i.e.,

only two true veinlets issuing from discal cell,

the apparent 3rd veinlet being the upper [p. 19.

branch of the 5th vein) PACHYGASTRINJE,

Fourth vein with three terminations (i. e., three true veinlets issuing from discal cell); upper branch of 5th vein either separated from discal cell by the posterior cross- vein being present, or in punctiform contact with that cell when posterior cross-vein is absent 4.

4. Anterior cross-vein joining prrefurca to discal cell. SARGIN^E, p. 72. Anterior cross-vein joining 3rd vein, as usual, to

discal cell ' 6. [p. 56.

5. Posterior cross-vein present STRATIOMYIN.S:,

Posterior cross-vein absent CLITELLARIINJE,

[p. 38.

The line of demarcation between the two last subfamilies is very indefinite, and, as more than one author has suggested, they might well be united into a single subfamily. The posterior cross- vein is often a variable quantity even in groups in which it is technically present — for instance, it is absent in Ptecticus australis, Sch., though present in the other Indian species. Williston sinks the alleged subfamily HERMETIIX^E in CLITELLARIIK/E and his view is adopted here.

Subfamily PACHYGASTHIN^.

Head comparatively small ; eyes generally bare ; antennae of very varied form, branched (Ptilocera), elongate (Tinda, etc.) filiform (Stratiosphecomyia) , globular (Pachyyaster), or of irregular shape.

Thorax subquadrate, oval ; scutellum unarmed or with two or four marginal spines ; sometimes produced upwards or hind wards into a strong blunt cone. Abdomen 5- or 6-segmented, of very varied shape ; often exceedingly broad, much broader than thorax, globular ; sometimes oval or oblong, or much elongated and more or less cylindrical. Legs comparatively short, slender, smooth. Wings with 3rd vein simple or forked ; posterior cross-vein absent through 5th vein forming hinder side of discal cell ; 4th vein with only two veinlets. Four posterior cells, united on wing-margin.

The essential character of this subfamily is the presence of only three veins apparently issuing from the discal cell, the lower one being the upper branch of the 5th vein. Mostly bare species.

Table of Genera*

[p. 33. 1 . Antennae branched PTILOCERA, "Wied.,

Antennae of various forms, never branched. 2.

For table of Oriental genera, vide Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mu?. i, p. 89.

c2

20 STRATIOMYIDJK.

2. Eyes pubescent . ACAXTHIXA, Wied.,

Eyes entirely bare 3. [p. 26.

3. Scutellum unspined, or produced conically

upwards 4.

Scutellum 2- or 4-spined, never conically upturned 8,

4. Abdomen elongate, linear, much longer

than thorax ; antennae conspicuously [Brim., p. 36.

long, filiform STRATIOSPHECOMYIA,

Abdomen very short, thick, rounded ; antennal 3rd joint rounded or shortly

elongate, never conspicuously so 5. [p. 21.

5. Third vein unforked ZABRACHIA, Coq.,

Third vein forked 6. f p. 20.

6. Scutellum not upturned PA CHYG ASTER, Mg.,

Scutellum distinctly couically upturned . . 7. [p. 24.

7. Antennae filiform, longer than head ACRASPIDEA, Brauer,

Antennal 3rd joint large, round MONACANTHOMYIA,

[Brun.,p. 23.

8. Scutellum with two very short spines .... WALLACEA, Dol., Scutellum 4-spined ...." 9. [p. 24.

9. Third antennal joint with elongate style . . TIXDA, Walk., p. 29. Third antennal joint with pubescent arista. 10.

10. Abdomen barely broader than thorax .... EVAZA, Walk., p. 31.

Abdomen much broader than thorax CRASPEDOMETOPON,

[Kert., p. 28.

Genus PACHYGASTER, My.

Pachygaster, Meigen, 111. Mag. ii, p. 266 (1803).

Tappo, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. xiv, p. 343 (1804).

Neopachyffcater, Austen, Ent. Month. Mag. xxxvii, p. 245 (1901).

GENOTYPE, Nemotelus atra, Panz. ; by original desiguation.

Head semicircular ; eyes large, contiguous in rf (except in rare instances), practically bare, posterior orbits broad. Proboscis and palpi small and inconspicuous. Antennae short, 3rd joint rounded, with four indistinct anuulations and long subapical pubescent urista. Thorax large, broadened hindwards, transverse suture deep, V-shaped, behind which the surface is somewhat inflated on each side ; scutellum subtriangular, unspined. Abdomen much broader and barely longer than thorax, subglobular, 5-segmented ; genitalia small. Legs simple, nearly bare ; femora and metatarsi long. Winys with 1st and 2nd veins short, the latter ending barely beyond middle of costa ; 3rd vein normally forked, both branches ending well before wing-tip ; discal cell large ; 4tli vein with only two terminations ; posterior cross-vein absent, as 5th vein forms hinder side of discal cell; anal cell closed far from wing-border.

lianr/e. Europe, North America, Orient.

Life-history. That of several European species is known. The larva lives in rotting tree-trunks and probably ft-eds either on the decaying wood or the frass produced by wood-boring Coleoptera.

1'ACHYGASTER. — J5ABIIACHIA. 21

There is only one Indian species in the restricted genus Pacliy- g aster, namely, P. annulipes, =p. nov. Macquart's P. rujitarsis* from Pondicliery, cannot belong to this subfamily, as, according to the plate, ifc possesses three endings to the 4th longitudinal vein, apart from the upper branch of the 5th vein.

1. Pachygaster annulipes, sp. nov.

2 . Head : irons between one-third and one-fourth of the head, shining black ; face, which is conspicuously invaginated, with greyish dust ; back of head shining black. Antennae with 1st joint black, the remainder wholly bright yellow, with long arista. Proboscis dark. Thorax and scutellum shining black, dorsum of both with very short yellowish pubescence, which does not quite extend to the anterior margin of the former. Abdomen shining black, witli sparse short pale yellowish pubescence ; venter black, with sparser but slightly longer pubescence. Legs yellowish to tips of tarsi ; a rather broad subapical black or blackish brown ring on all the femora. Winr/s pale yellowish grey ; stigma darker yellow ; halteres yellowish.

Length^ 2^ mm.

Described from a single $ from Margherita, Assam.

Type in the Indian Museum.

Genus ZABRACHIA, Coq. Zabrachia, Coctuillett, Bull. X. Y. State Mus. xlvii, p. 585 (1901).

G-EXOTYPE, Zobraclda polita, Coq. (North America).

Differing from Pachyc/aster in the unforked 3rd vein. Some degree of latitude must be allowed in my revised Ariew of this genus, in which the species are chiefly united by the above primary character. Eyes in d contiguous (minutissima, Zett., a European species) or narrowly separated (annulifetnur , albipes). Scutellum not upturned (minutissima), barely upturned and thickened (albipes), or produced upwards into a short blunt cone {(tnwulifemur). Third antennal joint transversely elliptical (jpoliUt\ the type-species from New York) or as in. Pad tyy aster.

Range. India, North America.

Z. albipes has wholly pale yellow legs, while Z. annidifemur has a broad dark band on all the femora.

2. Zabrachia albipes, Brun. (PI. I, figs. 1, 2.)

PacJiyyaster albipes, Erimetti, Ilec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 102, $ (1907). Pactitjyaster infurcata, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. 1, p. 232, 5 (1907).

$ . Head and front shining black, with a brilliant white streak on each side of lower part of head ; antennas and proboscis orunge-

* Dipt. Exot. Supp. i, p. 57, pi. vi, fig. 3 (1846).

22 STRATIOMIIPJE.

yellow. Thorax and abdomen shining black, with short, sparse, silvery grey hair, which is a little thicker and mixed with gold hairs on dorsutn of thorax ; abdomen uniformly black. Leys pale yellowish white, tips of tarsi faintly blackish. Wings quite clear ; veins on anterior part and the stigma pale yellowish ; halteres white.

Length, 2-2 1 mm.

Described from four 2 9 in the Indian Museum from Calcutta.

My original description was insufficient, and my not noting the unforked 3rd vein probably prevented de Meijere from recognising my species in his infurcata, described from Java. The white tomen- tose stripe on the side of the thorax mentioned by de Meijere is present, though liable to be not readily distinguished from the general whitish pubescence of the pleurae.

3. Zabrachia annulifemur, sp. nov.

J $ . Head shining black, bare ; frons at level of antennae about one-fifth of the head in d1 , in $ one-fourth width of head, sides parallel except near vertex and towards antennae ; visible only from above, a pair of moderate-sized oval silvery-white spots placed lengthwise, nearly contiguous, one above each antenna ; face with broad white-dusted band contiguous to lower inner eye- margins. Antennas brownish orange, upper side of 3rd joint blackish at tip. Thorax, scutellum, and inetanotum shining black, all with very short whitish pubescence ; scutellum produced upwards into a short blunt cone. Abdomen shininsr black ; dorsum and venter with similar pubescence to that of thorax, but less obvious ; genitalia brownish orange, with a few stiff hairs. Legs yellowish, front coxae more brownish at base ; all femora with a broad blackish ring leaving base broadly, and tips narrowly, pale. Wings colourless, veins and stigma pale yellow ; halteres yellowish, clubs shining milk-white. Length, barely 3 mm.

Described from three tf rf in the Pusa collection (including type sent to British Museum) from Annandale, Simla District, "on leaves," x. 1911 ; and one $ in the Indian Museum from Simla, 7000 ft., 9. v.09 (Annandale}.

This species must be near the femorata variety of de Meijere's P. infurcata, but should be distinct. In P. albipes the <S frons is one-sixth the width of the head, with practically parallel sides, including the face also, there being only the very slightest widen- ing towards the vertex and towards the mouth-opening. In the $ the frons and face form one-third of the head, being distinctly but slightly broader towards vertex and mouth. In P. annuli- femur, $ , the frons is one-fifth the width of the head with less parallel sides, and in the $ one-fourth. * These differences should effectually separate the species and prevent the latter from being confused with the femorata variety of infurcata, Meij.

MONACANXIIOMYIA. 23

Genus MONACANTHOMYIA, Brun.

Monacanthomyia, Bruuetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 448 (1912). GENOTYPE, Monacanthomyia annandalei, Brun.

Allied to Pachygaster, Mg., from which it differs by the for- mation of the scutellum, which is produced upwards so as to form a very large conical hase, from which it is continued upwards in the form of a long strong spine with blunted tip. It differs from the allied Acraspidea, Brauer, by the 3rd antennal joint being large and round instead of fili- form and longer than the head. The type- L_ Monacanthomyia species is the only one known, 6 annandalei, Brun.,

Range. India. scutellum in profile.

4. Monacanthomyia annandalei, Brun.

Monacanthomyia annandalei ', Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 448 (1912).

c? . Head with vertex triangular, elevated, the three ocelli distinct, reddish ; frons between one-fourth and one-fifth width of head, nearly linear, shining black, with (seen from above) two small, nearly contiguous, oval, silvery-grey-dusted spots a little above the antennae ; eyes with very small uniform facets ; face shining black, lower eye-orbits silver-dusted ; back of head black- ish, lower posterior eye-orbits with silvery reflections and a few very short snow-white hairs. Proboscis short, narrowed at base, pointed at tip, yellow, microscopically pubescent. Antennae yellow ; third joint very large, round, with a rather long apical thickened bristle. Thorax shining black, with microscopic grey hairs, which on the dorsum are intermixed with (or possibly wholly replaced by) yello\v hairs, all microscopic. Scutellum shining black, with microscopic whitish arid a few yellow hairs. Abdomen shining black, with microscopic snow-white hairs; venter similar; genitalia very minute. Legs with basal half of coxae and a broad band occupying nearly all the femora, except base and tips, black or blackish brown, remainder of coxae and femora yellowish ; tibia? and tarsi white. Wings very pale grey, highly iridescent ; stigma yellow ; basal halt' of costa and 1st longitudinal vein much blacker than the remainder of the veins ; halteres with the stem yellowish, the club milk-white, rather large.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from a perfect d in the Indian Museum, captured by Dr. Annandale at Kurseong, Darjeeling District, 4700 ft., 15. iv. 1911, on a window.

24 STRATIOMYID^E.

Genus ACRASPIDEA. Brauer. Acraspidea, Brauer, Denks. K. Ak. Wiss. Wien, xliv, r. 75 (1882).

GENOTYPE, Acraspidea felderi, Erauer.

" Body oval, with short weak legs ; antennas longer than head, filiform, pubescent, placed at middle of head in profile ; l«r antennal joint longer than the short 2nd ; 3rd long, narrow, with four indistinct annulations, and with a terminal, shortly plumose, long, filiform bristle ; scutellum unarmed, parabolic, obliquely upturned. Abdomen 5-segmented, round ; all tibiae without spurs. Only three endings to 4th vein (1st, 2nd, and 4th) ; four posterior cells.

" Diffr-rs from Rosapha by the unarmed scutellum and from Tinda by the position of the antennae." *

Range. Ceylon.

The genotype is the only known species.

5. Acraspidea felderi, Bra

tier.

Acraspidea felderi, Brauer, Denks. K. Ak. Wiss. Wien, xliv. p. 76

(1882). '

" c? • Head black, with short black pubescence ; face broad and long, shining ; eyes contiguous above ; ocelli on a tubercle ; 1st and 2nd antennal joints yellow, base of 3rd and the flagelluiu brown, or entirely black, with concolorous short pubescence. Thorax robust, inflated, dorsum roughened and punctate j :i triangular spot of short pale yellow pubescence extending from the suture down to the whole breadth of the hind border. Abdomen black, broader than thorax ; genitalia small but prominent, brown. Leys yellow, femora with a brown ring ; metatarsi very long, middle pair very thin but shorter than the tibiae. Wings clear ; costa brownish, submarginal cell distinctly smoke-grey nearly up to the clear wing-tip, so that the marginal cell forms a white'spot on the costa between the darker parts ; anal cell broad, closed at some distance from the border ; veins brown ; halteres pale yellow.

" Length, 5-6 mm.

" Eambodde, Ceylon (Nictner}."

Genus WALLACEA, Dot.

Wallacea, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. (4) svii, p. 82 (1858) ;

de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. 1, p. 234 (1907). Gabaza, Walker,' Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iii, p. 80 (1859).

GENOTIPE, Wallacea argentea, Dol. ; by original designation. Head about semicircular, as broad as thorax ; eyes bare, in c? contiguous for some distance ; frons broad in $ , sides parallel

* A translation of Brauer's description.

WALL ACE A. 25

Antennae placed just above middle of head, first t\vo joints short, normal ; 3rd elongate, twice as long as first two together, 5-annu- lated, with a style as long as the 3rd joint itself. Proboscis and palpi small. Thorax subquadrate, very arched, slightly inflated on each side behind the very distinct suture ; scutellum large, thick, bluntly pointed at tip and projected somewhat upwards, with two hardly distinct short blunt spines. Abdomen rounded, thick, as long as but distinctly broader than the thorax. Leys short, simple, slender. Wings -normal ; discal cell very large.

Range. India and Ceylon.

The genotype is the only known species.

C. WaUacea argentea, Dol. (PL I, fig. 3.)

Wallacea araentea, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. xvii, p. 82 (1858) ;

Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 101 (1907). Gabaza argentea, Walker, Proc. Liuu. Soc. iii, p. 80 (1859). Pachygastei' ntgrofemorata, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 499

(1912).

<3 $ . Head with the eyes in rf practically contiguous for about one-third of the distance from vertex to antennae, leaving a slightly elongate vertical shining black triangle and a much smaller frontal triangle which is shimmering white, as are the sides of the face ; rest of face and lower part of head black ; proboscis dark brownish yellow ; antennae orange or yellowish ; 3rd joint rather broader in $ than tf , with six annulations, the two basal ones the broadest ; style whitish, 2-segmented, 1st very minute, tip of 2nd curved. In $ , frons shining black, sparse short whitish hairs on upper part ; two small round white hair-spots contiguous to eyes just above level of antennae ; margins of face with a thin line of snow- white hairs. Thorax shining black, in <3 with broad band of golden yellow, almost tomentose pubescence on hinder half of dor- sum, generally but not always reaching side-margins and always extending as far as the scutellum, which is wholly black ; the whole dorsum similarly covered in $ , as is the scutellum also ; sides with very sparse inconspicuous pale pubescence. Abdomen. moderately shining black, with very short whitish pubescence, which is sparser in the $ ; venter shining black, bare. Leys yellow ; femora black, tips narrowly yellowish ; tibiae a little brownish about the middle ; extreme tips of tarsi brownish ; femora with soft hairs, tibiae and tarsi minutely pubescent. Wings clear ; stigma, anterior veins, and halteres yellowish.

Length, about 3 mm.

Described from a long series in the Pusa and Indian Museum collections. Pusa, 22. v. 1908, in bark of Erytlirissa sp., 17. xii. 1914, under bark of Ficus lavica, 15. ii. 1916, on rotten papaya stem; Katihar, 12. x. 1907; Bombay, vii-ix. 1912; Cal- cutta, 8. i. 1906, 22. i. 1908, 14. iii. 1907, 6.ii. 1908; Pollibetta, Coorg, 15-26. v. 1914, 24. x. 1915, 16. xi. 1915 (Fletcher).

26 STEATIOMYID^.

Genus ACANTHINA, Wied.

Acnnthina, Wiedemanu, Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 50 (1830) [preocc. Fiscb.

(1806)].

Aranthinia, Macauart, Hist. Xat. Dipt. i. p. 240 (1834) [lapsus]. Artemita, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. v, Supp. 1, p. 61 (1854). Acanthinomyia, Hunter, Tr. Am. Ent. Soc. Phil, xxvii, p. 129 (1901). Cibetogaeter, Enderlein, Zool. Anz. xliii, p. 305 (1914;.

GENOTYPE, Clitellaria elonyata, Wied. ; by Brauer's designation (1882).

Ilead more than semicircular, as broad as anterior part of thorax ; eyes hairy, contiguous or subcontiguous for a short distance in rf , facets of uniform size in botli sexes ; frons in $ rather narrow, sides nearly parallel, postocular orbit in $ broad. Antennae placed low down on head at tip of frontal prominence, barely above level of lower part of eyes ; 1st and 2nd joints short, .'ird elongate, cylindrical, with short apical style. Proboscis and palpi small. Thorax moderately arched, much broader behind, anterior corners rounded ; scutellum broad, nearly semicircular, 4-spined. Abdomen rounded, thick, much broader than thorax ; genitalia small. Legs slender, simple, moderately long. Winys with normal venation.

Ranye. Orient, Mexico, Central and South America.

As the name Acanthina is preoccupied in Mollusca, Artemita, Walk., should be used, but I decline to accept changes in well- known names of such long standing. Cibotor/ aster, Ender., erected on slight differences in the last antennal joint, and the shape of the thorax and abdomen, does not appear generically distinct.

The two Indian species are easily known by their size, azurea being 8 to 9 mm. long and aryentihirta only 3 mm.

7. Acanthina azurea, Gerst.

Acnnthina azurea, Gerstaecker, Linn. Entom. xi, p. 335 (1857) ;

Brunetti, IJec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 100 (1908). Acanthina auricoUis, Bigot; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 100 (1907)

(nom. nud.) ; Brunetti, op. cit. vii, p. 449 (1912), d $• Cibotoyaster azurea, Enderlein, Zool. Anz. xliii, p. 305, fig. 11

(antenna, rf) (1914). ? Clitellaria olesa, Walker, Proc. Linri. Soc. Lond. v, p. 232 (1861);

Osten-Sacken, Ann. Mus. Gen. xvi, p. 411 (1880), xviii, p. 17 (1882>

<5 5 . Head with eyes in J with dense yellow pubescence above and brown pubescence in front, nowhere actually touching but extremely near each other for a considerable distance, and separating upwards very gradually, leaving a very narrow elongate greyish triangle below the large black ocellar triangle which fills the space from eye to eye ; above this the rather large vertical space is orange-brown with a few black bristles ; frontal triangle smooth, shining, bare, orange ; proboscis, palpi, and labella all bright orange-brown ; antennae with first two joints orange, 8rd

ACA^TIIINA. 27

blackish, microscopically pubescent, sometimes orange at extreme base with four distinct ammlations and a short two-jointed style ; occiput considerably concave, dark, with a little grey pubescence. In $ frons -g- width of head, barely broader at vertex and lower end ; frontal triangle large, very prominent, shining, bare, bright orange-brown, as is also the very broad posterior border to the eyes; a small brown spot on frons just above the suddenly widened frontal triangle. Thorax dark shining blue, punctate, with microscopic .black bristles ; in c? a single median stripe of yellow pubescence, not reaching anterior collar but leaving a shining black spot bare of pubescence, the stripe extending hindwards to middle of dorsum ; in $ two very narrow longitudinal median stripes, rather approximating to one another, formed of minute whitish pubescence, continued beyond suture a little, where they diverge and broaden, reaching posterior corners of dorsum ; a moderately broad transverse stripe of similar pubescence along suture, narrowest in middle ; a patch of short golden yellow pubescence on each shoulder and along anterior margin; pleurae as dorsum, similarly punctate and with a little grey or whitish pubescence, which is silvery white and thickest above front coxa3, on meso- pleura just below wing, and on lower part of sternopleura. Scutellum concolorous, similarly punctate, and with greyish pubescence ; spines brownish, rather short. Abdomen dark shining blue, punctate as thorax ; a little grey pubescence about front corners and sides and denser and longer about centre of hinder part of 4th segment and also about base and centre of 5th ; genitalia small, brown, two short telescopic cylindrical joints in c? , two short filaments in $ ; venter deep blue, punctate, with a little greyish pubescence. Legs : femora black, with a slight blue or violet tinge and a little whitish-grey hair below ; knees narrowly dark brown ; tibias black or dark brown, tips very narrowlv a little paler; tarsi blackish brown, middle pair distinctly paler. Wings dark brown, stigma and veins darker ; costal cell, discal cell mainly or wholly, base of 4th posterior cell (sometimes base of 3rd or even 2nd also), anal and axillary cells (sometimes hinder part of 2nd basal cell also), clear or nearly so ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 8|-9 mm.

Described from six c? d1 and one 2 i11 perfect condition from Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 1500 ft., vii. 1917, and above Tura, 3500 ft., viii. 1917 (Kemp}; a ^ from Sadiya, Assam; a $ from Karkur Ghat, Nilgiri Hills, 1500 ft., v. 1911 (H. L. Andrcwes) ; and a second c? from TCohima, Assam, all in the Indian Museum ; and a specimen from Coorg, S. India (T. B. Fletcher).

This species was given in my first paper on STRATIOMYIDJE as "auricollis, Bigot," which afterwards proved to be merely a MS. name.

The gold pubescence on the front of the thorax and that forming an approximate cross on the thorax in the $ rubs off very easily.

28 STRATIOMYIDJE.

8. Acanthina argentihirta, Bran. (PL I, fig. 4.)

Acanthina aryenteu, Brimetti, Ifec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 132 (1907) ; emended in Corrigendum slip of same date to argentihirta (aryentea preocc. Ost.-Sack. 1880).

3 . Head with eyes extending whole height of head, shortly but not thickly pubescent, subcontiguous at nearest point of approach, as the froiis at this point is receding, but attains the surface of the eyes towards the vertex, which is considerably raised, occupied by the ocelli ; facets rather large, of uniform si/e ; frons both above and below nearest approach of eyes, shining white; occiput, underside of head, and inner orbit of eyes below antennae white. Antenna? with first two joints black, 3rd reddish brown with blackish marks ; style thick. Proboscis shorr, yellowish, with a few hairs. Thorax with dorsum, sides, and .scutellum black, uniformly covered with short silvery-grey pubescence ; scutellum with four rather large whitish spines. Abdomen black, with short silvery-grey pubescence ; venter Mack, with short grey hairs. Le</s yellowish white ; femora black, extreme base and tips pale ; tibiae with a broad black band, leaving only the basal fourth and the tip pale. Winr/s quite colourless, veins distinct, pale ; no stigma apparent ; squama? very small, brownish white ; halteres brownish yellow, clubs white.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from a perfect J in the Indian Museum, from Calcutta, 22. v. 1907 ; Itangoon, 18-30. ix. 1914 (Fletcher).

Genus CRASPEDOMETOPON, Kert. Craspedometopon, Kertesz, Ann. Mus. Hung, vii, p. 373 (1909).

GENOTYPE, Craspedometopon frontale, Kert.

Head hemispherical ; eyes bare, contiguous in J for a consider- able distance ; upper facets larger than lower, no distinct dividing- line ; in 5 , frons -i- of head, sides parallel, bare, shining ; a narrow ridge on each side close to eye-margin, continued at vertex around upper corners of eyes and gradually disappearing, con- tinued downwards to some little distance above base of antenna?, meeting a similar transverse ridge ; a median ridge in centre of frons, dying away at. upper and lower extremities, and an oblong depression with pointed lower end just above antennae ; face retreating; mouth-opening large ; occiput slightly concave, shortly pubescent. Proboscis with large labella; palpi 2-jointed. a little shorter than labella; 1st joint rod-shaped, 2nd long elliptical. Antenna) placed on lower part of head, smaller in J than $ ; 1st joint cup-shaped, contracted beyond base; 2nd cup-shaped; 3rd subconical, with seven distinct aunulations and a very long terminal pubescent arista. Thorax robust, narrower in front than head, broader than head behind, finely punctate ; dorsum arched, suture distinct, broadly interrupted in middle ; scutellum flush with dorsuro, large, arched, hind border truncate, with four strong equidistant spines: sometimes an extra pair, or occasionally five spines asymmetrically placed. Abdomen 5-segmeuted, robust,

CRASPEDOMETOPON. — TIXDA. 29

broader than long, finely punctate ; 1st segment very short, 2nd three times as long as 1st, 3rd rather longer than 2nd, 4th and 5th subequal to 3rd ; genitalia small, concealed. Legs moderately strong, simple, pubescent. Wings normal ; costa ending at tip of 3rd vein ; axillary vein present.

Range. India, Formosa.

C. frontale is the only known species.

9. Craspedometqpon. frontale, Kert. (PI. I, figs. 5, 6.)

Craspedometopon frontnle, Kertesz, Aim. Mus. Hung. vii. p. 375, pi. viii, tigs. 3, 4, 10 (1909).

cJ 5 • Head black, vertex and ocellar bump with yellow hair, which is shorter in $ ; frons in c5 dull black, with a yellowish- white hair-spot on each side above antennae contiguous to eye- margin ; in $ grey, with a median shining black oval depression with its lower end pointed ; white hair-spots as in tf ; epistoma with yellowish pubescence; ccciput with yellowish tomentum. Antennae with 1st and 2nd joints chestnut-brown, moderately shining, 3rd darker, with yellow tomentum. Proboscis brownish yellow ; 1st joint of palpi yellow, 2nd black. Thorax black above, slightly shining ; in d1 the greater part with very short whitish pubescence, anterior margin and sides with short black hair ; in $ pubescence brassy yellow, thicker ; in certain lights can be seen three longitudinal stripes, connected in front, of which the median one reaches the scutellum, outer ones diverging towards side-margins; pleura? black, more shining, but less punctate and pubescent than dorsum; humeri reddish brown at tips. Scutellum concolorous with thorax, equally pubescent ; spines yellowish brown at tips. Abdomen black, slightly shining, closely punctate, with similar, but shorter, yellow ish-white pubescence. Legs brown, pubescence yellow : femora (except tips), upper side of front tibiae, the middle and hind tibiae (except bases and tips) almost black ; front tarsi with black pubescence on upper side. Wings and veins basally, up to middle of discal cell, blackish, remainder yellowish ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 4f-8 mm. ; wings, 44-8-2 mm.

The above is a free translation of Kertcsz's description from a large number of specimens from Formosa, iii-v. 1908 (Sauter). A cj and $ named by him are in the Indian Museum ; also two d" <5 from Tenasserim (Dolierty) and a c? from the Darjiling District, 1000-3000 ft., v. 1Q12 (Lord Carmicliael).

Genus TINDA, Walk.

Tinda, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 101 (1860). Biaslts, Walker, Ins. Saund. Dipt, i, p. 80 (1851) [wecPanz., 1806". Phyllophora, Macquart, Me?m. Soc. Sci. Lille, 1834, p. 507 (1835). J Enisma, Jaennicke, Abh. Senck. Nat. Ges. vi, p. 322 (18C7).

GENOTYPE, Bictstes indica, AVulk. (as Tin da modifera); by original designation.

Head more than semicircular, as wide as thorax ; eyes bare,

30 STRATIOMYIDJE.

contiguous in c? for a long distance ; frons moderately broad in $ , wider at vertex ; proboscis and palpi very short. Antennae elongate, cylindrical, longer than head (in type-species); 1st joint twice as long as 2nd, 3rd three times length of first two together (in indica), indistinctly annulated. Thorax elliptical, wider behind, rather flattened ; scutellntn nearly semicircular, with four spines. Abdomen elliptical, slightly broader but barely longer than thorax ; genitalia inconspicuous. Leys short, slender. Wings rather narrow, a little longer than abdomen, venation normal. Range. The Orient and West Africa.

10. Tinda javana, Macq. (PI. I, figs. 7, 8.)

Berisjavana, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i, 2, p. 188 (1838). Tinda javana, de Meij. Tijd. v. Knt. 1, p. 232, liv, p. 273. Biastes indicus, Walker, lus. Saund.Dipt. i, p. 81, pi. iii, tifr. 8 (1851). Tinda modi/era, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 101 (I860;. Phyllophora bispinosa, Thomson, Eug-. Resa, Dipt. p. 4-54 (1869). Tinda indica, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 92 (1907).

J $ . Head with eyes contiguous in <$ for greater part of distance from vertex to antennae, leaving a very small vertical triangle wholly occupied by the black ocellar triangle and a few short brown hairs ; upper facets much larger than lower ones : frons shining black, nearly wholly occupied by two spots composed of short snow-white pubescence ; face whitish grey, the colour spreading more or less along inner lower orbits of eyes ; rest of lower part of head black; vertex black, no postocular margin whatever ; proboscis yellowish ; palpi yellowish, with large spatu- late tips. Antennal 1st and 2nd joints yellowish, 1st twice as long as 2nd, cylindrical ; 2nd cup-shaped, both with sparse short stiff black hairs ; 3rd fully two and a half times as long as 1st and 2nd together, bare, yellowish at base ; remainder blackish ; only a few basal annulations well defined. In $ , frons at vertex 5 to i width of head, narrowing rapidly to a little above antennae, where it is less than half as wide, black and slightly shining ; postocular margin very broad, bare, slightly shining. Thorax black, rather closely punctate, hardly shining, with tomentose yellowish pubescence on dorsumj sides more or less similarly clothed ; humeri tipped with brownish orange ; a very narrow concolorous ridge thence to wing-base. Scutellum similar to thoracic dorsum ; hind margin yellowish, with four rather short yellowish spines. Abdomen black, barely shining, closely punc- tate ; venter similar ; genitalia small, yellowish, ending in a small cylindrical tube in d and two finger-like lamellae in $ . Legs all yellow ; last tarsal joint brownish. Wings grey, anterior margin rather darker ; stigma distinct, pale brown ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 5|-6 mm.

Described from a long series in the Indian Museum and the Pusa Collections : Chapra, Bengal, often in rotting plantain stems, 16. iii. 1917, 29. iii. 1908, 27.iv. 1913 (Hoivlett), 28. v. 3913, 11. v. 1908, v. 1907 ; Katihar, 8-9. iii. 1909 (Paiva); Calcutta, 2. iii. 1907,

EVAZA. 31

12. vi. 1907, 5. vii. 1907, 9. viii. 1907, 26. ix. 1907 ; Dibrugarh, N.E. Assam, 17-19. xi. 1911 (Kemp); Tura, 1200-1500 ft., Assam, vi. 1917 (Kemp) ; Batavia, Java, viii. & x. 1907 (Jacobson) ; Senia- rang, Java, i. 1906 (Jacobson) • Andaman Is., 27. iii. 1911 (Paiva).

The pupa-case is about 8 mm. long, pale pinkish brown, covered with whitish granulated dust, and 13-segmented ; head end very pointed ; from 4th segment onward, sides nearly parallel, flattened, last segment the longest, with rounded tip ; ou upper and lower sides a row of yellow bristles across middle of each segment.

For many year's this species has been known as Tinda indica, Walk., but de Meijere supports its identity with the Beritjavanu of Macquart described from Java. B.javana, Wulp, from Sumatra, is a different species and a true Beris.*

Genus EVAZA, Walk.

Evaza, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Loud, i, p. 109 (1857) ; Kertesz, Ann. Mus. Hung, iv, p. 276; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i,p. 97 (1907). Evasa, Auctores.

Nerua, Walker, op. cit. iii, p. 81 (1859). Nerna, Walker, op. cit. iv, p. 97 (I860).

GENOTYPE, Evaza bipars, Walk. ; by original designation.

Head as broad as thorax ; eyes large, contiguous in <3 ; upper facets much larger than lower ones ; frons narrow in $ , facets of uniform size. Antennae short, 1st joint longer than 2nd, 3rd oval, with four annulations. longer than 2nd, with apical arista. Pro- boscis short, projecting barely beyond mouth-opening; palpi hardly as long as proboscis. Thorax elliptical, microscopically pubescent, slightly narrower anteriorly, longer than head, very slightly arched ; scutellum semicircular, with four moderate-sized spines. Abdomen elliptical, 5-segmented, a little broader and longer than thorax, slightly arched, microscopically pubescent ; rather broader in $ . Legs simple. Wings with normal venation of subfamily; 3rd vein forked; three veins issuing from discal cell,t and cell closed at some distance from wing-margin.

llange. Only known from the East.

1'rom Kertesz's description there are not enough data to include E. indica satisfactorily in a table of species. The frons at its narrowest part in the $ is one-thirteenth the width of the head. In E. bipars it is one-tenth or thereabouts at that part, being about 2| times wider at vertex. In E.flctvipes the frons of the 9 is four times as wide at vertex as at its narrowest part.

Table of Species. Legs all yellow, at most tips of tarsi brownish.

Scutellum with only spines yellow Jhivipes, TJijr.

Scutellum with hind margin yellow a^ well as spines, bipars, Walk. Legs yellow, but with femora and tibiae darker in part. . indica, Kert.

* See Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 89 (1907), and cle Meijere, Tijd. v. But. 1, p. 232 (1907).

t The lower one being the upper branch of the oth vein.

32 STRA.TlOMYID.cE.

11. Evaza flavipes, Big.

Kcaza Jlavi-pes, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (5) ix, p. 219 (1879) ; Bruuetti, llec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 98 (1907), vii, p. 451 (1912).

$ . Head with eyes only approximate at nearest approach ; frons widening to four times as wide at vertex, shining black, bare ; ocelli brownish yello\v, rather close together on slightly elevated black ocellar triangle; frontal triangle with yellowish-grey pubescence ; underside of head and proboscis yellow, with a little yellow pubescence; postocular orbits moderately wide, black, with traces of microscopic golden -yellow pubescence. Thorax moderately shining black, with rather dense, very short, yellowish pubescence ; sides of thorax and the scutellum similar ; latter with four yellowish-brown, rather long spines, which bear a few long yellow hairs. Abdomen moderately shining black, micro- scopically pubescent ; genitalia small, telescopic, brownish orange, ending in two cylindrical lamella) bearing a few pale hairs. Leys all orange, microscopically pubescent ; tips of tarsi brownish. Win</s grey, brownish on anterior part, veins dark brown ; halteres yellowish.

Length , 7 mm.

Described from a single $ in the Pusa collection from Darjiling, viii. 1908 (Mddleton).

12. Evaza bipars, Walk. (PI. I, fig. 9.)

Evttza bipars, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. i, p. 110, pi. vi, fig. 2

(1857) ; Bruuetti, llec. Ind. Mus. i. p. 98 (1907). Evaza flavipes, Wulp (nee Bigot, 1879), Term. Fu'zet. xxi, p. 416

(1898).

<S 5 . Head with eyes contiguous in tf for greater part of their length, leaving a very narrow and elongate vertical triangle, shining black ; upper and front facets much larger than others ; ocellar tubercle very elevated, black ; ocelli very distinct, large, reddish ; the small frons and lower part of head ash-grey, with a little whitish pubescence ; occiput black. Antenna? placed much below middle of head in profile, orange-yellow, arista black ; pro- boscis and the large iabella and the palpi orange-yellow. In $ , frons double as wide (or rather more) at vertex as at point of nearest approach of eyes, at which latter point it is -^ width of head. Tliorax shining black; suture very distinct; dorsum with very short yellow pubescence, which extends to the scutellum ; humeri orange-brown, a yellowish ridge from humeri to wing-base ; posterior corners of dorsum rather sharply cut away, orange- urown ; pleurae shining black, sternopleuraa with yellow pubes- cence. Scutellum black, spines brownish yellow ; metanotuui shilling black. Abdomen dull shining black, with short black pubescence ; a little yellowish pubescence at sides ; genitalia very small, mainly concealed ; venter black, shortly pubescent. Legs pale yellow, with soft short concolorous pubescence. \Vings pale

EVAZA. — PTILOCEKA. 33

yellowish grey ; stigma large, yellow ; veins yellowish brown ; halteres yellow.

Length, 5-6 mm.

Described from three or four of each sex in the Indian Museum and rny own collection ; Darjiling, 7000ft., 12. vi. 1914 (Gravely); Lebong, Darjiling District, 13. vi. 1914 (Gravely). It occurs also in Papua, Borneo, and Sumatra.

13. Evaza indica, Kert.

Evaza indica, Kerte"sz, Ann. Mus. Hung, iv, p. 289 (1906).

<S $ . Head with frontal triangle shining black, except upper part, which is silvery-white tomentose ; frons in $ shining black, broad above, much narrower below, only one-thirteenth of breadth of head at narrowest part ; frons on lower half somewhat impressed at the termination of the fine ridge that starts from the ocellar tubercle ; occipital ridge strongly produced ; epistome black, with silvery-white tomentum ; proboscis and palpi brownish yellow, with concolorous hair ; occiput black, with grey hair on lower part. Antennae brownioh yellow ; arista black, appearing thick on account of the dense short pubescence — moreover, it is shorter than in any other species, being only a little longer than the antennae. Thorax with nearly parallel sides, dorsum flat, black, finely punctate, with sparse yellowish tomentum-like pubescence, which is a little thicker on posterior half ; humeri as well as the narrow ridge up to wing-base brown ; pleurae shining black, pubescence short, rather thick, greyish white. Scutelluui black, on a level with thorax, punctate and pubescent like dorsum of thorax, only extreme margin and spines brownish yellow. Abdomen only a little longer and broader than thorax, black, finely but closely punctate; dorsum with yellowish brown, de- pressed, short pubescence ; venter with sparser greyish pubescence. Legs pale yellow, femora darker towards tips ; fore tarsi and last two joints of middle and hind legs blackish brown ; pubescence on legs very short, yellowish white. Wings slightly brownish; anterior margin of subcostal cell brown up to the wing-tip, but greater part of marginal cell clear.

Length, 6-6| mm. ; wings, 4 mm.

Described from two c? 3 and a $ from Bombay, 3. viii. 1902 (Biro).

Types in the Budapest Museum.

The foregoing is a translation of Kertesz's description.

Genus PTILOCERA, Wied.

Ptilocera, Wiedemann, Nova Dipt. Gen. p. 7 (1820) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 90 (1907).

GENOTYPE, Stratiomi/s quadridentata, E. (Malay Archipelago) ; by original designation.

Head semicircular or slightly flattened in front, as broad as thorax ; eyes bare, contiguous in d" for a considerable distance,

D

34 STRATIOMYID^.

upper facets distinctly larger than lower ones; frons in $ moderately broad; proboscis barely protruding from mouth- opening; palpi small. Antennae very characteristic; in d" first two joints short, minutely bristly, 2nd rather shorter than 1st; 3rd with seven annulatious, 1st and 2nd annulations short, bare, cylindrical, about the size and length of the first two antennal joints ; 3rd annulation in the shape of a two-pronged fork with- out stem ; 4th and oth annulations similarly shaped but with stems; 6th annulation elongate, much broader at tip than base; 7th annulation somewhat like 6th but shorter and more linear ; a long terminal style of about half as long as whole antenna, com- posed of very dense microscopic feather-like pubescence. In $ » two basal joints and first two annulatious of 3rd joint as in j , except that from inner or under side of tip of 2nd annulation emerges a long feather-like ray, the double row of plumes drooping downwards ; 3rd annulation very short, cylindrical, much narrower than 2nd, bearing two similar rays ; 4th and 5th annulations very elongate, narrow, cylindrical, each bearing two such rays ; 6th and 7th very elongate, about as long as 4th and 5th, rather wider towards tips, without rays but microscopically pubescent ; style as long as in rf , but apparently of a sponge-like texture, generally white, with microscopic pubescence. Thorax elliptical, broader behind, moderately arched ; scutellurn nearly as long as broad, more than semicircular, with four distinct sub- equal spines. Abdomen of five segments, not longer than thorax, slightly broader, almost rounded, anterior corners rather angular, rather thick ; J genitalia very small, barely projecting ; those of the £ apparently telescopic, cylindrical, of two pieces and with two small finger-like terminal lamellae. Legs moderately long, slender, without conspicuous pubescence. Wings of normal sub- family venation ; 3rd vein forked ; three discal cell veinlets equidistant, including the upper branch of the 5th vein ; anal cell closed at some distance from border ; wings folded over abdomen at rest, longer than abdomen.

Range. The Orient and South Africa.

Only one species is definitely known as Indian, P. fastuosa, Gerst., though the Indian Museum possesses two specimens in bad condition from the Andaman Islands which Bigot named " continua, Walk." ; but they cannot be this species and are pro- bably P. quadridentata, P., a species easily recognised by the large golden-haired spots with angular inner corners on the anterior margin of the thorax.

14. Ptilocera fastuosa, Gerst. (PL I, figs. 10, 11.)

Ptilocera fastuosa, Gerstaecker, Linn. Ent. xi, p. 332 (1857). ? Ptilocera smaragdina, Suellen v. Vollenhoven, Tijd. v. Ent. i, p. 92 (1857;.

$. Head: frons one-fourth of head or a little more (nearly 3 ram.), shining black, flush with eyes, very slightly sunken in

PTILOCERA. 35

middle ; sides parallel, except for a very slight contraction about the middle ; about the upper halt' closely punctulate, with minute bristles ; these bristles also cover the ocellar triangle, which is elevated above eye-level ; ocelli reddish brown ; a large dark chestnut-brown shining bare callus above antennae, not easily distinguishable from the frons, and just above it a grey tomentose spot (seen only in certain lights) on each side, contiguous to inner eye-margin ; face with practically parallel sides, as wide as frons, black, with a shimng bare spot just below antennae ; a little whitish pubescence, which is rather longer along lower eye-margins. Aritenrial first two joints shining black, first two annulations of 43rd yellowish-grey tomentose ; rays dark shining blackish brown ; terminal style yellowish white, sponge-like. Proboscis, palpi, and occiput black, the latter with a little greyish-white pubescence, longer on posterior orbits, especially on lower part. Thorax black, very closely punctulate, with minute black spines and with very small scales that exhibit emerald-green and mauve reflections according to the light ; these scales, in addition to general distribution, form in good specimens four distinct equidistant longitudinal stripes from anterior to posterior margins, the two outer ones along side-margins of dorsum ; the scales also occur below the wing-base, on the mesopleura, and on the scutellum ; shoulders rounded, burner! inconspicuous ; sternopleura with greyish-white tomentose pubescence ; scutellar spines black. Abdomen shimng indigo-blue or violet, entire surface closely punctulate and covered with minute bristles like the thorax ; anterior corners of 2nd seg- ment with a little, very short, whitish pubescence, and a small whitish hair-spot towards upper outer corners of 3rd and 4th segments ; 5th segment depressed longitudinally in middle, most of its middle surface with short whitish pubescence, or the hind margin only, or the pubescence in the form of two circles separated by the median depression. Genitalia small, brown, mainly con- cealed. Venter like upper side, with very minute soft whitish pubescence. Legs shining black, with microscopic grey pubescence ; a little shining brown about trochanters and base of femora and, perhaps, extreme tips of femora ; underside of hind tibiaa with golden -brown pubescence. Wings blackish brown; base of 4th posterior cell, greater part of anal and axillary cells, alulaa, and base of wing clear ; a yellow streak from costa about stigma, con- tinued hindwards to outer side of discal cell ; veins dark brown ; halteres black.

Length, 9-1 0| mm.

Described from six $ $ in the Indian Museum : Darjiling District, 1000-3000 ft., v. 1912 ; Singla, Darjiling District, vi. 191 3 ; Sukua,base of Darjiling Hills, 500 ft., 1. vii. 1908; Parambikulam, Cochin State, 16-24. ix. 1914 (Gravely); Kandy, Ceylon, vii. 1910; Peradem'ya, Ceylon, 20. v. 1910; Pollibetta, Coorg, 15-26, v. 1915 (Fletcher) ; Hopin, Upper Burma, viii. 1914 (Fletcfier); above Tura, Assam, 3900 ft., vii. 1917 (Kemp).

D2

36 STRATIOMYIDjE.

1 have not seen the male with certainty, and the following notes are from Gerstaecker s description of that sex. Very distinct from 2 , much smaller. Head considerably broader than thorax, deep black, with one white hair-spot above antennae ; the latter with 2nd scapul joint and first two annulations of 3rd joint reddish yellow, rest black. Thorax with ground-colour dark blackish brown, side- margins and two very indistinct median stripes of emerald-green scales. Scutellar spines, especially middle pair, much longer than in $ and mainly reddish yellow. Abdomen deep black, with paler sides, white spots as in $ , but posterior ones absent. Winys as in $ , pale spot on inner border absent.

A c? from Coorg, S. India, in the Pusa collection, may be this species: also a 3 from Pashok, Darjiling, 2000ft. 11. vi. 191ft (//. C. Hartleys), though neither of them agrees quite with Gerstaecker' s description.

Genus STRATIOSPHECOMYIA, Brun. Stratiospliecomyia, Brimetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 261 (1913).

GENOTYPE, Stratiospliecomyia variegata, Brun.

Head flattened, semicircular, narrower than greatest width of thorax, nearly bare ; occiput not at all projecting behind eyes ; ocelli on small, very distinct prominence, equidistant ; eyes in tf quite contiguous for a moderate distance, hinder and lower facet* distinctly smaller than anterior and upper ones. Proboscis thick, apparently moderately long but mainly concealed within the- mouth-opening, probably producible; palpi elongate, a little pubescent, apparently of one joint only. Antennae elongate^ nearly filiform, two-thirds as long as head and thorax together ; 1st joint about twice as long as broad, 2nd about half this length ; flagellum with eight distinct annulations, subequal, except the last which is rather longer and pointed. Thorax approximately oval, widest at level of wings, only slightly arched ; microscopically pubescent here and there. Scutellum of moderate size, semi- circular or subtriangular, unspined. Abdomen with a little soft pubescence towards sides at base, apparently 5-segmented, the emargination between the 2nd and 3rd segments extremely in- definite, possibly these forming but a single segment ; the 1st very short, transverse, 2nd as wide as 1st at base, thence suddenly narrowing at half its length to cylindrical form, the 3rd at base as wide as tip of 2nd, rapidly widening to tip; the abdomen widening to tip of 4th segment, thence rapidly narrowing, the tip- rounded, the 2nd to the 5th segments subequal in length. Genitalia exposed, fairly complex, consisting of a dorsal plate and a pair of two-jointed hairy claspers, with apparently at least one other pair of appendages. Leys quite slender, moderately long,, minutely pubescent ; hind legs longer and slightly stouter, hind femora barely thickened towards tips, hind metatarsi distinctly

8IKA.TIOSPIIECOMYIA. 37

incrassated, broader and longer than the remainder of the tarsus ; 4th tarsal joint of all the tarsi distinctly shorter than any others. Wings well developed, fairly broad, a little longer than abdomen, venation as in Pachy gaiter ; halteres large.

15. Stratiosphecomyia variegata, Brwi. (PI. I, figs. 12, 13.)

Stratiosphecomyia varieyata, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 261 pi. xiv, tigs. 14, 17 (1913).

c? $ . Head : eyes in <$ contiguous for one-fourth the distance from vertex to antennae, vertex rather depressed, with conspicuous ocellar prominence, wholly black; frontal triangle brownish yellow, bare, shining, flush with eyes ; face lighter brownish yellow, with almost microscopic whitish pubescence and two large circular black spots below base of antennae ; the hinder part of the lower part of the head black ; proboscis and palpi brownish yellow, withdrawn, with a little pale pubescence; antennae cylindrical, nearly filiform, scape brownish yellow, bare, 1st joint twice as long as 2nd ; flagellum black, with eight annulations, subequal, except that the last one is a little longer and pointed. In $ , irons and face greenish yellow, shining, with very short soft whitish pubescence; former at level of antennae nearly i width of head, with parallel sides ; a blackish transverse streak from eye to «ye a little below vertex, embracing ocellar triangle, the latter shining black, slightly elevated ; face rapidly broadening from below antennas ; a thin black ring on face around base of each antenna ; a conspicuous round black spot on each side immediately below antennae ; a transverse narrow black band a little lower, from eye to eye ; underside of head retreating, greenish yellow, smooth, shining, with whitish pubescence, and two longitudinal blackish-brown marks in each side of mouth-opening ; posterior orbit of eyes distinct, but rather narrow, yellow, bare. Thorax black, microscopically pubescent, with bright lemon-yellow mark- ings as follows : — On anterior margin of prothorax ; the humeral calli ; a large triangular mark at each end of the transverse suture, in front of root of wing ; a broad band from shoulder to wing- base ; the posterior margin of dorsum of thorax broadly yellow, in the form of four contiguous triangles, the outer ones approximate to wing-bases ; a large spot placed diagonally on the sternopleura ; a curved one between it and the wing-base and lastly one behind the wing, almost contiguous to the metanotum. Sides of thorax with extremely short and rather sparse pubescence, which is black or yellow in accordance with the colour of the surface. Abdomen with basal segment reddish brown ; 2nd, except perhaps at extreme tip, black ; remainder of abdomen reddish brown, with a narrow indistinct transverse blackish streak at base of 4th, and a similarly coloured subquadrate large spot on base of 5th, filling the major part of the segment. Legs with coxae black, tips sometimes a little paler ; anterior legs yellowish, tibiae indistinctly a little darker,

38

fore tarsi black, except metatarsus, middle metatarsi yellowish white, rest of tarsus brownish yellow. Hind legs browuisb yellow, with indistinct traces of brown here and there, base of femora narrowly pale yellow ; tibiee rather flattened at base and slightly pinched beyond the middle, with two indistinct, though fairly obvious, moderately broad, blackish rings, one just beyond base, the 2nd suhapical ; tarsi brownish yellow, last two or three joints black ; the 4th joint in all the tarsi much shorter than any of the others. Wings pale grey, gradually darker on apical half, stigmatic region moderately dark brown, ill-defined ; halteres large, yellow. Venation as in Pacliyy aster.

Length, 11-12 mm.

Described from five d J, Darjiling, '1000-3000 ft., v. 1912; one $ from above Turn, Garo Hills, Assam, 3900 ft., vii. 1917 (Kemp) ; a pair from Shillong, 4900 ft., 31: v. 1918 (Rao).

Subfamily CLITELLARIIN^.*

Head comparatively larger than in PACHYGASTKIX.E ; eyes often densely hairy : antemue variously shaped ; 3rd joint annulated, elon- gate (Lasiopa), conical (OUteUaria), or somewhat clubbed or oval (Oxyeera, Nemotelns). Thorax stout, subquadrate or widened in the middle, occasionally with a strong spine on each side (Ephippium, Neyritomy'ui) • scutellum spined or not. Abdomen about as long as tborax, 5- or 6-segmented, varied in form, generally subquadrate or oblong. Legs moderately long and strong, with soft pubescence or bare. Winys with 2nd vein often apparently anastomosed with 3rd ; 4th vein with three terminations ; 5th vein forming hinder side of discal cell, therefore posterior cross-vein absent. In some cases the 5th vein touches the discal cell for so short a space that the connection almost appears as the posterior cross- vein ;f 5 posterior cells, all united on wing-margin.

This subfamily is characterised by the absence of the posterior cross-vein, therefore the discal cell apparently emits four veins. The normal absence of an antennal arista and apparent union of the 2nd vein with the 3rd are also good characters. The species are moderately or rather densely pubescent, or quite bare.

Life-history. Larva, in addition to the eleven body-segments, with an apical tip at the posterior end, bearing a few bristles instead of a fringe of hairs. The metamorphoses of some European species of Oxycera are well known, the larvae living in mud or water ; and that of Ephippium also, it being parasitic in nests of formica fuliyinosa.

* For table of Oriental genera, vide Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 113: for HERMETIIN.K, id. I. r. p. 120 (1907).

t According to Verrall, in such cases the species are regarded as belonging to the CLITELLARIIN.E. The presence of the posterior cross-rein would place them in the STRATIOMYIN.E. this character being the only structural dividing-line between them. It would perhaps be better to unite both groups under STRATJOMYIN.K.

HERMETIA. 39

The HEBMETIIN^ have by some authors been separated from the CLITELLARIINJE proper, but it seems better to retain them under one subfamily.

Table of Genera.

1. Thorax with a strong side-spine 2.

Thorax without such spine 3.

2 Antennal style bare EPHIPPIUM, Latr., p. 45.

Antennal style thickly pilose, conspi- [p. 47.

cuous. ,...." NEGRITOMYIA, Big.,

3. Scutellum 2-spined 4.

Scutelluni unspined 6.

4. Antennal 3rd joint very long, filiform . . AMPSALIS, Walk., p. 44. Antennal 3rd joint elongate or conical,

not filiform 5. [p. 49.

5. Third anteunal joint with distinct style CLITELLARIA, Mg., Third antennal joint with arista OXYCERA, Mg., p. 53.

6. Abdomen globose, much broader than

thorax BUBA, Walk., p. 48.

Abdomen elliptical or linear 7.

7. Antennae not longer than head; 3rd joint

conical LASIOPA, Brulle, p. 52.

Antennae longer than head; 3rd joint very elongate or nearly filiform 8.

8. Abdomen linear, considerably longer

than thorax ; antennae cylindrical or

rather flattened HERMETIA, Latr., p. 39.

Abdomen elliptical, barely longer than thorax ; antennas cylindrical, subfili- form EUDMETA, Wied., p. 41.

Genus HERMETIA, Latr.

Henrietta, Latreille, Hist. Crust. Ins. xiv, p. 338 (1805) ; Brunetti,

Bee. Ind. Mus. i, p. 121 (1907). Thorasena, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i, pt. 1, p. 177 (1838).

GENOTYPE, Musca illucens, L. (Tropical America) ; by original designation.

Head transverse, distinctly wider than thorax ; eyes micro- scopically pubescent ; frons broad in both sexes. Antennas with 1st and 2nd joints cylindrical, 2nd half as long as 1st ; 3rd very elongate, cylindrical, 5-annulated, with au about equally long, densely pubescent style, shaped like an elongated club. Proboscis rather short, with large prominent labeila ; palpi short, cylindrical. Thorax subquadrate, moderately arched ; scutellum semicircular, unspined. Abdomen linear, arched above, considerably larger than thorax, 5-segmented in <S , 6 or 7 in $ . Genitalia in <5 charac- teristic, attached to ventral side of 5fch segment, consisting of a piece broadened at base, pointed at tip, apparently membranous, bearing on each side a two-jointed palp-like organ, also mem- branous ; two horny oval valves, probably for euclosiug the

40 STRATIOMYIDJE.

membranous organs, and bearing a spine on the underside. In the $ the 6th and 7th segments are narrow, telescopic and with- drawable into the 5th ; genitalia consisting of a triangular bifid piece, with a small filamentous two-jointed appendage on each side. Leys moderately long, slender, simple. Wings with normal venation of subfamily.

Range. India and the East ; North, South, and Central America ; Africa.

16. Hermetia laeta, Meij. (PI. I, figs. 20, 21.)

Hermetia Iceta, de Meijere, Bijd. tot Dierk. xviii, p. 93, pi. viii,

tig. 8 (1904); Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 122 (1907). Hermetia cerioides, Brunetti, /. c.

<3 ? . Head yellow ; a blackish cross-band above middle ; on each side contiguous to eyes a blackish triangular spot above level of antennae ; vertex more or less blackish ; occiput black ; antennal 1st and 2nd joints brownish yellow, 3rd blackish. Tliorax black, slightly shining ; an indistinct whitish median line on anterior part, only reaching to suture ;* humeri, a contiguous triangular spot on each side of anterior margin ; a short contiguous or sub- contiguous side-stripe from humeri, reaching suture and thereat slightly upturned, posterior calli and scutellum, all bright yellow ; latter sometimes narrowly black at base. On sides of thorax a horizontal oval yellow spot between 1st and 2nd pairs of coxa?, and a vertical oval one just in front of it, reaching wing-base. Abdomen with first three segments mainly black, remainder reddish brown ; a pair of large, approximately oval, yellow spots near each other, placed longitudinally on anterior margin of 2nd segment (the spots much smaller in $ ), with a small spot at each side on extremity of hind margin ; 3rd and 4th segments with distinct yellow hind margin ; 5th with an elongate triangular spot at tip, which in $ is narrower and longer, nearly reaching anterior margin ; sides of abdomen yellow down to about end of 3rd segment. Venter with basal three segments mainlv black, 2nd a little pellucid at sides and tip, remainder reddish brown ; hind margins of 3rd and 4th segments narrowly yellow. Leys yellow ; femora blackish brown, narrowly pale at tips, more broadly so on front pair ; tips of tibiae a little darker, tarsi yellowish white. In one specimen the basal half of all the femora is pale. Winys yellowish grey, veins pale brownish yellow ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 8-12 mm.

Described from two 3 <5 and eight $ $ in the Indian Museum in bad condition, probably the same set from which de Mejiere compiled the original description, as he records the species as " bred from a betel-nut palm in Backergunge, Bengal ; in Indian Museum, 2 d c? , 3 $ $ ."

* I do not perceive this.

HEBMETIA.. — EUJDMETA. 41

These insects bear no history and were named " cerioides, Walk." (I do not know by whom) ; and from the set I selected one as Iceta, Meij., and recorded it in my first paper on STRATIOMYID^E, referring the remaining specimens to cerioides, Walk. A closer examination reveals them all to be Iceta, as they agree with the description exactly.*

Osten-Sa^ken notes that fresh specimens of cerioides, "Walk., have green (as recorded by Walker) instead of the yellow spots in dried ones, but this change after death is frequent in this family. H, cerioides, Walk., differs by the legs being (presumably) black, with lurid knees and white tarsi, by its blackish-brown wings, and the absence of the single spot on the 5th abdominal segment.

Genus EUDMETA, Wied.

Eudmeta, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 43 (1830). Toxocera, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. iv, p. 44 (1849).

GENOTYPE, Hermetia marginata, F. ; by original designation.

Head about as broad as widest part of thorax, rather more than semicircular; eyes very large, bare, contiguous in <3 for a considerable distance ; upper facets larger than lower in c? » of uniform size in $ . Antennae inserted below middle line of head ; 1st and 2nd joints subequal, normal, short ; 3rd longer than head, cylindrical, of eight indistinct annulations. Proboscis short ; palpi small, cylindrical. Thorax rather elongate, oval in front, broader behind, moderately arched; scutellum subtriangular, rounded at tip, unspined. Abdomen elliptical, comparatively broad at base, as long as or a little longer than thorax, flattened, depressed towards tip ; genitalia in tf distinct, small. Legs moderately long, thin, simple ; tarsi long. Wings with normal venation ; discal cell triangular.

Range. The Orient.

Wiedemaun describes the anteniue as 5-jointed and Macquart follows suit, both illustrating these organs ; but it seems only a question of the distinctness or otherwise of the annulations of the 3rd joint, which is not infrequently an individual matter, some specimens showing them clearly and others very indistinctly. The same occurs in many individuals and species in this family.

Table of Species.

Shorter, brownish-yellow species ; abdomen distinctly broader than thorax; 3rd antennal joint as long as

half width of head favida, Brun.

Elongate blackish-brown species, abdomen no broader than thorax ; 3rd anteimal joint nearly as long as width of head. Abdominal side-margins green (in life, yellow in dried

specimens) marginata, F.

Abdomen without differently coloured side-margins. . 6rM«we«,Meij.

* Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher bred it from larvte found in rotting stems of a betel-nut tree at Karimganj, vii. 1918.

42 STRATIOMYID^E.

17. Eudmeta marginata, F. (PL I, fig. 17.)

Hermetia marginata, Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 63 (1805).

Eudmeta maryinata, Wiedemanu, Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 43, pi. ix, fig. 4

(1830) ; Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. iii, p. 16, pi. i,ng. 9 (1848) ;

Brimetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 123 (1907); de Meijere, Tijd. v.

Ent. liv, p. 262 (1911) ; Kertesz, Ann. Mus. Hung, vii, p. 388

(1909).

Hermetia cingidaris, Guerin, Voy. Coq., Zool. ii, 2, p. 290 (1830). Hermetia singularis, Gu6rin, Icon. Regn. An. vii, p. 543, pi. 98,

fig. 1 (1835). Toxocera limbiventris, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. iv, p. 45, pi. v,

fig. 3 (1849).

c? $ . Head : eyes in 3 contiguous for a considerable distance, leaving a moderate-sized vertical triangle and small frontal triangle ; upper facets very much larger than lower ; vertical triangle wholly occupied by ocellar tubercle and brownish ocelli ; a few brownish or greyish hairs ; frontal triangle very small, sbiniag dark brown ; face dull brownish grey, M'ith white pubescence, two small contiguous pale spots with a small orange longitudinal streak below them, immediately below base of antennae ; the latter orange- brown, 3rd joint with eight annulations, darker towards tips ; underside of head blackish, with white pubescence ; proboscis dark, with very large, brownish orange labella ; occiput black, with whitish microscopic pubescence on upper part, a little longer on lower part. In $ , frons moderately narrow, \ or g of head, sides nearly parallel, brownish orange, nearly bare. Thorax rather dull black, with short brownish pubescence on dorsum, more whitish and sparser at sides ; a small callus on shoulder, joined to an elongate stripe on lower margin of dorsum ending at suture ; hind corners of dorsum with a similar callus, contiguous to an elongate one immediately below, placed vertically ; a moderate- sized oval spot on sternopleura and a subtriangular one just in front of wing-base ; all these spots orange or yellowish (possibly apple-green in life), and slightly variable in shape and extent ; scutellum black, with a moderate-sized rounded pale yellow spot at tip. Abdomen dark bluish black, microscopically pubescent, slightly shining ; extreme side-margins orange-vellow (green in life) ; vertex blackish. Legs all dark brown or blackish ; a little soft pubescence behind, at least, front femora. Wings grey ; a rather brown streak across the middle from the small brown stigma to anal cell ; a large apical brown suffusion beginning distinctly beyond discal cell ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 11-13 mm.

Described from five 6" c? and one $ in the Indian Museum from Darjiling, 1000-3000 ft..vi. 1912; Pyinmana, Burma, vi. 1910 (H. L. Andrewes). The $ bears no locality. The specimens appear to have been in spirit and are consequently unreliable for descriptive purposes, especially in the matter of pubescence : but they are undeniably E. manfinata. The species occurs in Singa- pore, Java, Borneo, Amboina, and North-east Sumatra.

EUDMETA. 43

18. Eudmeta brunnea, Meij.

Eudmeta brunnea, de Meijere, Bijd. tot Dierk. xviii, p. 94, pi. viii, fig. 10 (1904).

c? $ . Head with frons at level of antennae, one-fourth of head, a little narrower at vertex and a little wider at lowest part of face ; yellowish brown ; antennae blackish brown. Thorax yellowish brown, sides a little darker. Abdomen yellowish brown, 2nd segment in middle with two blackish- brown longitudinal stripes near side-margins ; 4th and 5th segments with hind borders blended together so that the whole surface is blackish brown, except that in the 4th is a triangular middle spot of the ground- colour ; anterior border of this segment narrowly yellow ; venter yellowish brown, tip darker. Abdomen in $ lighter in middle. Legs : anterior tarsi darker at tip ; hind tibiae and tarsi black ; rest of legs yellowish brown ; hind metatarsi in $ as long as tibiae, whereas they are shorter in the <S . Wings rather dark, more yellowish on anterior border ; tip and a band across the middle blackish brown, more or less connected with a dark patch in anal cell ; halteres brown.

Length, 14 mm.

Described mainly from a specimen in the Indian Museum from Kohima, Assam, augmented by de Meijere's description of a c? and 2 $ $ from Darjiling.

The only discrepancy is the fact that the thoracic dorsum is darker than the sides instead of vice versa ; also the dorsum of the abdomen is mainly blackish brown, except towards sides on anterior half, where it is lighter brown.

19. Eudmeta flavida, Brun.

Eudmeta rtatida, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 454 (1912).

c? . Head with eyes contiguous for two-thirds the distance from the very small vertex to the frons ; upper facets rich red-brown, much larger than the lower ones, which are nearly black ; ocellar triangle small, black, slightly elevated, with a few hairs, lower mar- giu of eyes white ; froiis and face smooth, bare, livid yellow. Mouth and proboscis brown ; palpi small, black, oval at tip. Antennae yellow, almost bare, except a few hairs at tips of the first two joints, which are very short ; 3rd joint elongate, with a little greyish shimmer towards the rather narrowed tip, ending in a distinct, moderately long, black, cylindrical style, which is 3-jointed and very closely black pubescent, the first two joints very short. Occiput not projecting beyond hinder margin of eyes, much in- vaginated in the middle ; yellowish, with very short hairs. Thorax rather dull brownish yellow ; sides, scutellum, and meta- notum concolorous, except that the scutellum is rather reddish. Whole dorsum, sides, and scutellum covered with soft, dense, pale yellow hair. Abdomen rather shorter and more globose than E. bntnnea, Meij. ; ferruginous brown, blackish on the edges and

44 STUATIOMYIDJE.

towards tip ; whole surface with close, short, yellow pubescence. Venter similar, pubescence very short. Leys brownish yellow, a dark brown ring on apical half of hind tibiae ; tarsi tips black. The legs are minutely yellow pubescent, the colour brightest on the tarsi. Wings pale yellow, veins brownish ; a stigma-like oval black spot towards tip of upper basal cell ; the end of the wing mainly occupied by a brovvu suffusion which dies away towards posterior margin ; halteres yellow.

Length, 8 mm.

Described from a single c? in good condition in the Indian Museum collection from Margherita, Assam.

The abdomen is much shorter and more rounded than in E. marginata, which makes me doubtful whether it is well placed in Eudmetd.

Genus AMPSALIS, Walk. Ampsalis, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 98 (1860).

GENOTYPE, Ampsalis geniata, Walk. (Celebes) ; by original designation.

" Body elongate, nearly linear. Head a little broader than the thorax ; eyes prominent ; palpi very short. Antenna) filiform, much longer than the breadth of the head ; flagellum linear, about, twice the length of the scape ; joints indistinct. Thorax elongate elliptical; scutellum armed with two obliquely ascending spines. Abdomen elliptical, a little broader but not longer than the thorax. Legs rather long. Wings narrow, 1st cubital vein about one- fourth the length of the 2nd,* four externo-medial veins complete ;f subanal vein curved, joining the anal vein at some distance from the border ; discal areolet elongated and attenuated exteriorly, exterior side very short."

Range. The only other species than A. longispinus comes from Celebes.

20. Ampsalis longispinus, Jlrun. (PI. I, figs. 18, 19.)

Ampiulis lonffispimu, Brunetti, liec. Iiid. Mus. ix, p. ->64, pi. xiv, figs. 2, 4, Itt (1913).

d $ . Head twice as broad as long ; eyes in <$ contiguous for greater part of distance from vertex to antennae ; f rons shining black in J , one-fourth to one-fifth width of head in $ , less shining, bare ; ocelli on distinct prominence, yellowish ; occiput black, minutely pubescent. Antennae black, 1st and 2nd joints subequal, cylindrical, barely broader at the narrowly brown tips, minutely spinose ; 3rd joint cylindrical, almost filiform, pointed, with eight annulations. Thorax dull black, with microscopic pubescence, Avhich in perfect examples is probably blackish or dark

* 2nd and 3rd longitudinal veins respectively, t 4th longitudinal rein-endings.

AMPSA.LIS. — EPJU1PPIUM. 45

grey ; traces of a little brownish colour behind the wings ; hind corners of dorsum distinctly so coloured. Scutelhnn of normal size, shining aeneous or blue-black, with soft (? pale) hairs aud two very long, powerful, conspicuous, reddish-brown apical spines half as long as the abdomen, diverging and directed slightly upwards. Abdomen brownish yellow ; 1st and 2nd segments mainly black, hind border of latter brownish yellow, 3rd and 4th each with a rounded or subquadrate blackish spot of considerable size towards each side but clear of the margins ; these four spots in the $ nearly filling the surface of these segments ; 5th and 6th segments in both sexes mainly black, but sides and hind margins brownish yellow. Venter with 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th segments mainly black, remainder brownish yellow ; the black colour a little more ex- tended in <5 ; whole surface of venter in both sexes with very short yellowish pubescence. Genitalia in d concealed ; in $ a narrow cylindrical tube, with a pair of rather long brownish- yellow hairy filamentous appendages. Legs yellow; hind tibiae iucrassated on apical two-thirds, black ; hind tarsi longer than tibia?, the hind metatarsus black for two-thirds of its length and as long as the remaining joints taken together. Wings distinctly yellowish, very shining, apical third and hind margin grey ; stigma black or blackish brown, veins blackish ; halteres yellow.

Length, 10-13 mm.

Described from three <$ J and four $ $ from Darjiling, 1000-3000 ft., v-vi. 1912, and Siiigla, iv. 1913, in fair condition ; Shillong, 4900 ft., 31. v.l 918(7fao); 5000 ft.,vi-vii. 1918 (Fletcher).

There is nothing material to prevent this species from coming in Ampsalis. The head is barely as wide as the thorax at its widest part, and Walker says the scutellum is armed with two oblique ascending spines, but does not mention their great length. The only apparent discrepancy is that he says the flagellum is about twice the length of the scape, whereas in the present species it is fully three times as long, but this difference would not be generic.

Genus EPHIPPIUM, Lair.

Epldppium, Latreille, Gen. Crust. Ins. iii, p. 448 (1802-3), and xiv,

p. 341 (1804). EpAippiomyia, Bezzi, Zeits. Hym. Dipt, ii, p. 191 (1902); Brunetti,

Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 115 (1907).

GENOTYPE, Stratiomys ephippium, L. (Europe) ; by original designation.*

Head comparatively small, as wide as front part of thorax ; face arched, not projecting in profile, densely pubescent ; palpi long and thickly pubescent ; eyes densely hairy in both sexes, in 3

* [Latreille did not actually designate n genotype ; in vol. iii he mentions two species as belonging to his genus, viz., microleon, L., and cpJiiyypium, L. ; in vol. xiv lie gives the same two species in reverse order. — ED.]

46 STRATIOMYIDjE.

contiguous for a considerable distance, facets of equal size ; in $ , i'rons broad. Antennae as long as broad, 1st and 2nd joints subequal, 3rd elongate ; indistinctly annulated, with long pointed bare apical style. Thorax a little longer than broad, narrower in front, with a conspicuous spine on each side, just before the base ; humeri elevated; scutellum higher at base than hind part of thorax ; with two long thick hairy spines. Abdomen ovate, flattened, a little longer and broader than thorax and scutellum together. Legs strong, moderately long ; front coxse large. Wings strongly rippled, but not ribbed ; traces of posterior cross- vein, as upper branch of 5th vein is in almost punctiform contact with discal cell ; discal cell-veinlets distinct ; alulse unusually large ; alar squamse absent, thoracic pair small.

Range. Europe, Japan, South Asia.

Life-history. That of the European E. thoracicum, Panz., is known ; a conspicuous but hardly a common species. The larva? are parasitic in nests of the ant, Formica fulif/inosa. Koser records finding one in a rotten nut-tree, and thinks they must take about four years to reach maturity.

The alleged preoccupation of Ephippium by Bolten in Mollusca, on which Bezzi suggested Ephippiomyia, is very doubtful, accord- ing to Verrall, and the original name is of too old standing to be altered.

21. Ephippium bilineatum, F. (PI. I, figs. 15, 16.)

Stratiomys bilineata, Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 79(1805). Clitellaria bivittata, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag. i, p. 3 (1819) ; Auss.

Zweifl. ii, p. 46 (1830).

Ephippium angustum, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt, i, p. 252 (1834). Rhaphiocera spinithorax, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. iii, p. 17,

pfi, fig. 7(1848). Clitellaria tenebrica, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii, p. 522

(1849). Ephippium spinigerum, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. x, p. 407.

pi. ix, fig. 2(1856).

Negritomyia bilineata, Wulp, Notes Leyd. Mus. vii. p. 95 (1885). Ephippiomyia bilineatum, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 115 (1907).

c? $. Head: eyes of c? with rather dense brown pubescence, contiguous for about the same distance as from lowest point of contact to base of antennae ; vertical triangle rather small, with blackish-brown hairs ; frons and face black, with dense, white or whitish, rather long pubescence ; occiput black, margin with minute snow-white pubescence, which nearly disappears at the sides and becomes longer on lower part ; proboscis with very large dark brown labella ; palpi blackish, pubescent. Antenna? with first two joints black, bristly ; 3rd to extreme tip of style about one and a half times as long as 1st and 2nd together, dull brown, elongate, conical, with three distinct broad annulations, bare, after which it narrows abruptly and bears some distinct hairs and is produced into a very narrow terminal style. In $ , frons about one-twelfth

EPHIPP1UM.— NEGEITOMYIA. 47

width of head, sides parallel, shining black, with a small patch of white pubescence in middle. Thorax shining black or blue-black, closely punctulate ; dorsnm with blackish-brown pubescence and two moderately wide well-separated stripes from anterior margin to hind margin, or even indistinctly carried over part of the scutellum, composed of very short whitish-grey pubescence ; hutneri rather prominent, shining bright brown, bare ; sides of thorax shining black, mainly covered with longer or shorter whitish- grey pubescence. Scutellum concolorous with dorsum, hind mar- gin with a little grey pubescence ; the spine at each hind corner strong, long, black, and pubescent. Abdomen shining black or blue-black, closely punctulate, with dark brown pubescence on dorsum and longer whitish-grey pubescence at sides and on the concolorous venter ; a tendency to form a hair-spot towards sides of each segment, especially on 3rd and 4th ; underside of last segment bare, shining. Legs black, shortly grey pubescent ; tips of tarsi brown below. Wings with base narrowly, costal cell, base of 1st basal cell and the axillary cell, clear ; rest of wing dark brown, a little paler on hind margin; 5th vein rather more deeply infuscated ; halteres pale yellow.

Length, 9-14 mm.

Described from several specimens in the Indian Museum : Tenasserim (Dolierty} ; Semarang, Java, viii. 1909, and Depok, Java, x. 1907 (Jacobson).

Genus NEGRITOMYIA, Big.

Niyritomyia, Bigot, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, (5) rii, p. Ixxiv (1877). Negritomyia, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (5) ix, p. 190 (1879).

GENOTYPE, Ephipplum maculipenne, Macq.; by original de- signation.

Antennae nearly cylindrical, base a little pubescent, 1st and 2nd segments subequal, 1st much shorter than 3rd, arista apical, about as long as the whole antenna, densely, shortly, and uniformly pubescent. Eyes contiguous in tf , distinctly apai-t in $ , densely pubescent in both sexes. Thorax with a long spine on each side ; scutellum with two long spines. Wings with four endings to the 4th longitudinal vein, all reaching the border.

Range. Africa, Ceylon, Malay Archipelago, Australia.

22. Negritomyia macnlipennis, Macq.

Ephippium maculipenne, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. iv, p. 54

(1849), rf.

Negritomyia maculipennis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 114 (1907), & vii, p. 451 (1912).

$ . Head black, with a little short whitish pubescence ; eyes black, shortly pubescent ; frons at vertex about one-fifth the width of the head, widening at level of antennae to nearly one-third ; an indistinct whitish mark above each antenna ; palpi black, with

48 STRATIOMYIDjE.

short yellow pubescence ; back of head black ; posterior orbit of eyes with narrow silvery-white pubescence. Antennae blackish, inner side of 3rd joint pale; style closely pubescent. Thorax black, moderately shining, with very short black hairs ; covered with microscopic grey hairs, except along a broad median line and on two large spaces towards each side of the dorsnm, i. e., one behind the shoulder and above each wing ; sides of thorax shining black, with microscopic grey pubescence below shoulders and some short snow-white hairs above the fore coxae ; there is also a rather wide perpendicular side-stripe of similar pubescence above the middle coxae, joining the dorsal pubescence in front of the wing ; side-spines short, strong, black. Scutellum black, with short black hairs and concolorous grey pubescence, and two broadly separated, strong, short, black spines on hind margin. Abdomen black, with grey pubescence forming a broad dorsal line on hinder half and a subtriangular spot towards each side of each segment. Venter shining black, practically bare. Legs black, with very minute whitish pubescence ; basal fifth of anterior femora and basal fourth of hind pair, also major portion (from the base) of .'ill the tarsi, pale yellowish white. Wings subhyaline ; stigma dark brown, roughly oval, very distinct ; tip of wing from outer side of discal cell, thence in a straight line to the costa and extending hind- wards, until filling the 2nd posterior cell, distinctly brown, the colour filtering more or less into the 3rd posterior cell ; halteres with stem yellow, clubs dark brown.

Length, 11 mm.

Kedescribed from a single perfect $ in my collection from Kandy, Ceylou, viii.1908 (Green) ; Pollibetta, Coorg, x-xi. 1915 (Fletcher). Loew's maculipennis (1856) from South Africa is a different species.

Genus RUBA, Walk. Ruba, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 100 (1860).

GENOTYPE, Ruba injlata, Walk. ; by original designation.

Body thick and broad ; head much narrower than thorax ; proboscis and palpi very short. Antennae nearly as long as breadth of head ; " 3rd joint broader and longer than the flagellum, of which the joints are short, compact, and minutely setulose ".* Thorax a little longer than broad, scutellum unarmed ; abdomen globose, very much broader and a little longer than thorax. Legs short. ' Wings moderately broad ; " 1st cubital vein not one-third of length of 2nd ; four complete externo-medial veins ; subanal vein curved, joining the anal vein at some distance from the border ; discal areolet elongated exteriorly, irregularly triangular, exterior side very short."

Range, India, Celebes, Papua.

* Walker's '' flagellum " is the style.

EUBA. — CLITELLAHIA. 49

23. Ruba inflata, Walk.

Huba inflata, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 101 (1860).

2 . Head : frons and face one-third of head, uniformly wide except tor a slight contraction slightly above base of antennae ; oc^lhir triangle very small, black; an oval brown longitudinal mark on fro us just above the orange antennae, of irregular shape, continued as a tine line to the ocellar triangle ; whole head brownish orange; proboscis with very large labella; tips of palpi rounded, flattened, rather large, deep black;* whole head with rather short, moderately dense, but not conspicuous, yellow pubes- cence. Thorax and scutellum all brownish orange, \\ ith rather dense yellow pubescence; traces of three longitudinal narrow blackish lines on dorsum. Abdomen brownish orange, with yellow pubes- cence. Ley* yellowish orange, with yellow pubescence ; apical hiilt' of hind tibiae black, with black pubescence ; the tiny bristles at the tips of the tarsi give them a blackish appearance Wings pale yelloxv, apical half (except extreme tip) rather bright brown, darker anteriorly ; a quadrate dark brown spot of modera'e si/e at tip of 1st basal cell, extending to the costa ; anterior margin of basal half of wing a little deeper yellow.

Length, 9 mm.

Described from a perfect female in the Indian Museum from Ghumti, Darjiling District, 1000 ft., vii.1911 (Gravely) ; and one in inferior condition from Kohima, As*am.

Walker described the species from Makassar, in Celebes, and the only descrepancy is that he says nothing about the black apical half of the hind tibiae.

Clitellaria, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 265 (1803). Adoxomyia, Kert6sz, Ann. Mus. H

Genus CLITELLARIA., Mg.

. 265 (1803).

ung, v, p. 499 (1907) ; nom. nov. for Clitellaria, Sch., nee Mg.

GENOTYPE, Clitellaria dahlii, Mg. (Europe) ; designated by Bezx.i, Wien. ent. Zeit. xvii, p. 75 (1908). f

Head: eyes densely pubescent, contiguous in male, wide apart in female; proboscis retracted, with moderately broad labella; palpi 2- jointed, 1st joint thick, kidney-shaped, ^nd narrow, conical; epistoma slightly arched. Antennae elongate, 1st and 2nd joints subequal ; 3rd elongate conical, with four annulations, with two-

* The palpi lie along the lower side of the face and the conspicuous black tips look like two black spots on it, Walker evidently mistaking them Cor such as he mentions " a black sj ot on each side of the mouth."

t [It seems necessary to point ou' that this designation is entirely at variance with the generally accepted rules of zoological >;omenclature. Meigen, when describing Clitellaria. definitely designated ephipptum, F., as the genotype, and no subsequent action on the part of Meigen himself or anyone elt-e can alter that fact. The correct designation for the present genus is therefore Adoxomyia, Kert., and the species described above (p. 46) as Ephippium biliiie- atum should stand as Ciitellaria biliiieata, F. — ED.]

E

50 STEA.TIOMYIDJE.

jointed apical style, 1st very short, 2nd long. Thorax elliptical, moderately arched ; scutellum with two spines, often small and indistinct. Abdomen a little broader than thorax, oval or elliptical, rather well arched, 5-jointed ; genitalia small. Legs moderately long and strong. "Wings with normal venation ; 3rd vein distinctly forked, 4th vein with three endings; posterior cross-vein abseni, as upper branch of 5th vein forms part of lower side of discal cell.

Range. Europe, Western Asia, North Africa, Orient, North America.

Life-history. That of the common Indian 0. heminopla, ^\ied., has been worked out at the Pusa Institute.

Some confusion has arisen over the name Clitellaria. Verrall notes that it was established by Meigen in 1803 for ephippium, F., and that that author subsequently (1822) enlarged the scope ot the genus, including in it villosa, F., calva, Mg., and pacifica, Hfg., as well as epliippium,T?. Latreille in 1804 erected Epliippium for the species of that name,* and, as was customary iu those days in such cases, changed the specific name to thoracicum to avoid redundancy. Therefore the name Clitellaria must stand for the remainder of the species placed in it by Meigen or, at the very least, for one of them. C. pacifica is an Odontomyia and synony- mous with limbata, Wied., which leaves only villosa and calva, one of which should be the type of Clitellaria, Mg. Kertesz retains Meigen's original sense of th*e genus (i. e., for ep7iippium, F.) in his Kat. Dipt. (1908), but adopts the inadmissible name Potamidu (Mg. 1800) for it. Meigen added dahlii in 1830 to Clitellaria and Kertesz has renamed this group of species Adoxomyia. Lasiopa, Brulle (1832), differs from Clitellaria, Mg., in having an unspined scutellum, and both villosa and calva have been placed in it. Therefore Clitellaria, as understood by Meigen, was by this time reduced to the single species dahlii, and this species is designated by Bezzi as the genotype. Kertesz's " Potamida, Mg." must con- tinue to be known as Ephippium, Latr. ; Adoxomyia, Kert., is the true Clitellaria, Mg., and must retain this latter name; and Lasiopa, Brulle, is a good genus.

The two Indian species are separated thus : — -

Thorax without definite hair-stripes, but with a darker median stripe surrounded by four spots arranged in a square heminopla, Wied.

Thorax with two distinct stripes of short golden- brown hairs bistriata, Brun.

24. Clitellaria heminopla, Wied. (PI. I, fig. 14.)

Clitellaria heminopla, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag. iii, p. 30 (1819) ; id., Ausfl. Zweifl. ii, p. 48 (1830) ; Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 120 (1907).

c? £ . Head : eyes in c? practically contiguous for about half the distance from vertex to frontal triangle; black, upper facets

* [This is not strictly accurate (see footnote on p. 45). — ED.]

CLITELLAEIA. 51

barely larger than lower ones, not clearly demarcated, with moderately short dense pubescence, which appears grey or brown according to the point of view; vertex black, with a few long whitish hairs ; ocelli reddish ; frontal triangle black, with rather long soft whitish hair ; face and lower part of head black, with greyish-white pubescence ; proboscis dull yellowish ; palpi reddish brown; autennal 1st and 2nd joints black, 3rd joint reddish brown to yellowish, first four anuulations much broader and more distinct than the rest, which form a narrow blackish cylindrical tip; a reddish-brown ring round base of antennal prominence. In $,frons forming | to i width of head, a little narrower at vertex, with short whitish-grey or brownish-grey pubescence ; lower part of frons shining, practically bare, except for a bunch of drooping whitish hairs near each eye-margin above level of antenna ; the four basal annulatious of 3rd joint rather broader than in <5 • Thorax black, dorsura wholly covered with whitish- grey tomentose pubescence ; in perfect specimens, if viewed from in front, a median stripe surrounded by four spots arranged in a square can be seen, composed of gold-brown tomentose pubescence ; •some longer whitish-grey hairs below shoulders. Scutellum large, with grey and golden-brown admixture of tomentose pubescence ; spine placed at each hind corner, yellowish brown ; a fringe of white hairs depends from the hind margin. Abdomen black ; 2nd segment wholly, 3rd narrowly on hind margin and more broadly towards sides and along side-margin of segment, 4th broadly on hind margin (especially towards and along the side-margins), 5th with a large median triangular spot (its base on hind margin of segment), very shortly but distinctly whitish (occasionally rather golden) pubescent ; ground-colour of extreme side-margins of segments brownish orange ; venter blackish, with extremely short whitish pubescence. Legs : coxae black, brownish orange at tips ; hind pair brownish orange behind ; femora and tibiae rather shining black, the former brownish orange at base and narrowly at tips ; tibiae broadly brownish yellow at base, narrowly brown at tips ; t'r.nit tarsi blackish, posterior metatarsi yellowish, remaining joints brown ; all legs with short greyish pubescence, which is more brownish yellow on tarsi, especially the front pair. Wings grey, yellowish brown about the centre ; stigma slightly darker brown ; halteres yellow.

Length, 6^-9 mm.

Described' from a long series of both sexes in the Indian Museum, Pusa collection and my own, from many parts of India and Ceylon, where it appears to be generally distributed and common from March to October on rotten papaya-stems, plan- tains, and melons.

Mr. Hewlett has taken it " at sex play around dead leaves, Pusa, 15. iii. 1912."

Larva. This is 11 mm. in length, whitish, oblong, the 4t,h seg- ment truncate, the three anterior segments much narrower and apparently withdrawable into the 4th ; 1st segment rather elon- gate, verv narrow; 4th to 12th segments about equal in length,

E2

52 STJIATIOMYIDJE.

anal segment longer, rounded at tip ; each segment bearing a transverse row of rather long curved yellow bristles on both upper and under sides, one or more being also present along the sides. The surface is covered with minute white particles, apparently purposely attached to its body. Found in rotten papaya-stems.

25. Clitellaria bistriata, Brun.

Clitellaria bistriata, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 452 (1912).

<S . Head with vertex wholly occupied by the ocellar tubercle, black, shortly black pubescent ; occiput blackish, the orbit bare, but a little whitish-grey hair on lower part ; eyes closely contigu- ous, with dense dark brown hair ; frontal triangle black, a little whitish-grey hair on its uppermost part ; underside of head with whitish hair. Antenna? black, normal. Thorax black, with minute black pubescence ; the anterior margin and two mode- rately wide dorsal stripes extending from the anterior margin to the scutellum, bearing very short golden-brown hairs, these hairs also appearing on, behind, and below the shoulders ; at the extreme lower anterior corner of the dorsum is a reddish-brown, bare, pro- minent, but very small callus ; some greyish hair on posterior corners of lower part of thorax. Scutellum rather broad, black, with microscopic black pubescence, some longer black hairs above and ragged dirty grey hair on underside; a slightly curved, moderately long, obtusely pointed spine at each extreme posterior corner. Abdomen black, microscopically pubescent, with some very short greyish pubescence towards the sides, rather more extensive on first two segments, on posterior margin of penul- timate segment, and covering most of the last segment. Venter black, with very short greyish pubescence. Legs black, with microscopic pubescence, and some very short greyish-white hair on underside of anterior femora ; the pubescence on the lower side of the tarsi dark brown. Wings with anterior part deep brown, becoming a little lighter on posterior two-thirds, but still dark brown ; stigma small, blackish brown, veins deep black : halteres black, stem yellowish.

Length, 8-9 mm.

Described from a 3 from Bhowali, Kumaon District, 5700 ft. (J)r. A. D. /MINIS), now in the Indian Museum ; Shillong, 4900 ft., 31. v. 1918 (Rao).

Genus LASIOPA, Bridle.

Lasioptt. Brulle, Exped. Moree, iii, pt. ] , p. 307 (1832). Ci/clv</aster, Macquart, Hist. Xnt. Uipt. i, p. 230 (1834,). '? Inermyin, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (3) iv, p. 82 (1856). ? Inermia, Bigot, op. cit. (3) vii, p. 210 (18o9).

GENOTYPE, Lasiopa pdeteria, Brnlle (Europe).

Head with epistome arched, but not snout-like. Antenna; rather long ; 1st and 2nd joints subequal ; 3rd elongate, couicnl, with four annulations, ending in a two-jointed style. Eyes very hairy, quite

LAS1OPA. — OXTCERA. ">3

or practically contiguous in tf , broadly separated in $ . Proboscis short or lengthened, porrect, with moderately large labella; palpi with three distinct joints. Thorax elliptical ; scutellum unarmed. Abdomen broader than thorax, elliptical, arched, five- segmented. Leys moderately long and stout. Wings with 3rd vein distinctly forked ; 4th longitudinal vein with four faint veinlets, of which the 4th originates near or directly from the 2nd basal cell.

Range. Europe, West Asia, North Africa, South Africa, Orient, New Zealand, South America.

Life-history unknown. The perfect insects occur 011 umbelli- ferous and other flowers, and often become rather sluggish in their habits.

26. Lasiopa villosa, /"., var. himalayensis, Brun.

Xe.motelus villosa, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 270 (1794). Lasiopa villosa, var. himalayensis, Brunetti, Ilec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 117 (1907).

J 5 . Head black, with rather long, shaggy, yellowish-grey hair ; eyes in J not quite contiguous ; frons in $ one-third width of head, sides parallel, with rather Jong golden-yellow pubescence ; face similar, with a rather small elongate spot on each side in $ at level of antennae, contiguous to inner margin of eye ; proboscis dark brown, not prominent ; underside of head with greyish pubescence ; antennae blackish brown. Thorax black, with yel- lowish-grey pubescence, which is shorter in the $ . Abdomen black: an elongate yellowish spot towards each side* on hind border of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments, all the spots subequal ; 5th segment with distinct yellow hind margin. Legs blackish brown. Wings brownish grey ; halteres whitish yellow.

Length, 9-10 mm."

Described from three specimens in my own collection from Mussoorie, v. 1905 (Brunetti), and others from Kumaon, W. Himalayas, 6300 ft., ll.v. 1911 (Kemp}-, Nairn Tal, vi. 1893 [Lucknow Museum]; Dungagali, Hazara Dist., 8000 ft,, 21-24. v. }Q15 (FletcJter).

The only difference from typical European specimens is that the abdominal yellow spots are not turned up and widened at their inner ends.

Genus OXYCERA, %.

Oxycera, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 265 (1803).

Hypoleon, Dumeril, Expos. Meth. Natur. (1801).

lletcroxycera, -Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (3) iv, pp. 6-'> & 85

(1850).

GKKOTYPE, Jfusca hypoleon, L. (Europe) ; by designation of Curtis, 1833 (as trilineata, F.).

Head with epistoma smooth, a little arched ; eyes from bare in both sexes to densely pubescent in $ (in which case $ has some pubescence too), contiguous in J for a considerable distance, the

54 STEATIOMTID^E.

upper facets much larger than the small lower ones and generally sharply delimited from them ; in $ wide apart, with uniform facets ; occiput- with lower half considerably puffed out. Pro- boscis retracted, with broad labella ; palpi rather inconspicuous. Antennae elongate, first two joints subequal, 3rd spindle-shaped or peg-shaped, with four annulations and a two-jointed apical or subapical bristle. Thorax oblong, rather arched, moderately pubescent; humeri and posterior calli prominent; scutellum with two spines. Abdomen short and round, very arched, 5-segmented. Legs simple, short, weak. Wings with normal venation ; 3rd longitudinal vein forked or simple ; 4th vein with three endings, the 3rd often weak or absent ; posterior cross-vein absent, upper branch of 5th vein forming part of lower side of discal cell, the latter often indistinct : alulae well developed.

Range. Europe, Asia, North America, and one species from Caffraria.

Life-history. The larva lives in moist mud among Conferva. The flies frequent leaves and flowers in the sunshine near streams and damp situations, where they are very active ; on sunless days they settle on the underside of leaves near the ground. The metamorphoses of several European species are well known.

These insects are rather small, nearly bare, flies, generally of a black colour with conspicuous yellow spots.

0. siynata is mainly a black species and 0. albomicons a yellow one.

27. Oxycera signata, sp. nov.

d . Head : eyes with dense brown pubescence, contiguous for a considerable distance, leaving vertical and frontal triangles about equal in size, black ; former with black hairs and three brownish ocelli on an elevated prominence ; latter bare, shining ; face black, with a long oval patch of short snow-white pubescence adjacent to the eye-margin on each side ; no postocular orbit ; occiput black ; proboscis orange-yellow ; underside of head with short white hairs. Antennae black, first two joints subequal, 3rd as long as first two together, with four annulations and subapical arista. Thorax shining black, with moderately dense brownish- grey pubescence; a pair of widely separated, pale yellowish, narrow, longitudinal dorsal stripes, nor quite reaching either anterior or hind margin of dorsum ; an elongate bright lemon- yellow spot on each side of dorsum from prothorax up to the suture, and a large oraiige-yellow one on each posterior angle of dorsum ; pleurae bkck, with whitish pubescence and a callus-like long yellow stripe from prothorax (where its end is contiguous to the stripe on the side of the dorsum immediately above it) to root of wing. Scutellum bright lemon-yellow, with brown pubescence, hind margin black ; metanotum shining black, microscopically pubescent. Abdomen black, moderately shining, with micro- scopic brown pubescence and a little white hair at sides of 1st segment, which latter is narrowly yellow at base ; a large subtri-

OXTCEEA. 55

angular spot on 3rd segment on each side-margin reaching from anterior nearly to posterior margin; a smaller oblong one placed endways at middle of side-margin of 4th segment ; and a small semicircular apical one on last (5th) segment ; venter black, with a little sparse pale pubescence. Legs black, with the following parts yellow : tips of femora broadly and posterior pairs indis- tinctly at base, front tibiae broadly at base, middle pair wholly and hind pair narrowly at base and tip, also posterior metatarsi and 2nd joint of^hind tarsi ; all legs microscopically pubescent. Wings colourless ; anterior veins and stigma pale yellowish ; halteres bright yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from a single tf in the Pusa collection from India, probably from Mussoorie.

Type presented to the British Museum.

28. Oxycera albomicans, sp. riov.

$ . Head wholly bright sulphur-yellow. Erons and face fully one-third of head, very slightly narrower at about middle of frons ; frons rather broader on lower part; eyes bare; upper eye-margins of frons narrowly black ; a thin line running from the corner of each eye diagonally to vertex at each side of vertical spot ; an elongate black spot on vertex, embracing the ocelli, pointed at anterior end ; an oval or leaf-shaped one of moderate size in middle of frons and a small elongate, vertically placed one imme- diately above base of antennae ; tlie latter wholly brownish orange, of normal size ; arista black ; lower sides of face (viewed from above) with snow-white shimmer; mouth-region and proboscis brownish orange ; postocular orbit very broad, lower part with whitish shimmering tomentum and microscopic pubescence ; occi- put black. Thorax sulphur-yellow, microscopically punctate, with very short yellow pubescence; dorsum with three longitudinal black stripes, the median one slightly the widest and reaching front margin, the side-stripes just failing to reach it — all three narrow and united on hind margin ; a small black vitta just above wing- base. Lower part of thorax, front part of sternopleura and a contiguous triangular spot on mesopleura, black ; pleurae and lower part of thorax with a little microscopic white pubescence. Scutellum yellow, with a little microscopic black pubescence ; spines rather long, tips a little darker. Abdomen sulphur-yellow, microscopically punctate, ernarginations of segments very indis- tinct; two broad black transverse bands, broader still in the middle of each, lying apparently over the junctions of 2nd and 3rd segments and of 3rd and 4th segments respectively, united by a short black median stripe ; the anterior transverse band broadly united to the convex side of a semicircular band, which has its ends on the anterior corners of the 1st segment, but just failing to attain the actual margin : hinder transverse band united by a median black longitudinal stripe to an arched narrower black

56 STBA.TIOMYJ.DjE.

transverse band placed on base of 5th segment, the middle part encroaching over hind margin of 4th segment. Venter yellowish, with microscopic pale \ ellow pubescence. Lec/s vellow or brownish yellow j front tarsi wholly, apical half of middle pair, hind tibiae (except at tips), and last four joints of hind tarsi dark brown. Wings colourless; veins yellowish; 3rd vein forked towards tip; halteres bright yellow.

Length, 4| mm.

Described from two $ $ from Abbottabad, N.W. Frontier Province, vi. 3916 (Fletcher).

Type sent to the British Museum ; co-type in Pusa collection.

The abdomen might equally well be described as black with the base narrowly and tip more broadly yellow, and three pairs of yellow side-spots, the first pair triangular, the 2nd and 3rd pairs much larger and irregularly oblong.

Subfamily STRATIOMYI1SLE.

Head short, rather flattened in front ; antennae with 3rd joint elongate, no arista. Thorax subquadrate, often only slightly arched; scutellum generally with two spines. Abdomen 5 to b'- segmented, generally subquadrate, not much longer than thorax, often much flattened and frequently with obvious pale markings. Legs of moderate length and strength, or somewhat weak. Wings with 3rd vein generally forked, ending far before wing-tip; 4ih vein with three terminations or veinlets, seldom reaching v\ ing- margin, one or more often absent or extremely weak ; posterior

Fig. 2. — Stratiomyia, antenna. Fig. 3. — (

cross-vein present, so that the 5th vein never forms any part of the discal ceil ; anal cell closed near wing-border ; 5 posterior cells, united on wing-margin. Wing in repose folded closely over middle of al'domen, leaving side-margin* exposed; alar squamae small, thoracic pair large, pubescent.

The principal cha'-acters of this subfamily taken in conjunction are the subquadrate abdomen of the typical genera (Stratiomyia, Odontomyia), the elongate antennae devoid of arista, and the presence of the posterior cross-vein. Larva peripneustic, last segment more or less long and narrow.

Table of Genera.

1. Third antennal joint with at most six

annulations 2.

Third antennal joint with seven or

eight annulatioiis CYPHOMYIA, Wied., p. 57.

CYFHOMYIA. 57

2. First antennal joint three or more

times longer than 2nd STBATIOMYIA, Geoff., p. 58.

First antennal joint less than three times as long as 2nd, generally much less ODONTOMYIA, Mg., p. 61.

The above distinctions are purely arbitrary, but each genus has a facies peculiarly its own, which the student will soon recognise.

Genus CYPHOMYIA, Wied. Cypliomyia, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag. i, p. 3.(1819).

GENOTYPE, C. auriftamma, "Wied. (Tropical America); designated by Brauer, 1882.

Head as broad as thorax, semicircular ; eyes bare (occasionally just perceptibly hairy), in J closely contiguous for a considerable distance ; frons in § rather broad, sides approximately parallel ; postocular orbits in $ broad. Antennae with 1st joint moderately long, broader at tip; ind cup-shaped, half as long as 1st; 3rd cylindrical, tapering, of eight subequal annulations, practically bare. Thorax considerably elongate, much narrowed in front, moderately arched, anterior corners rather angular; in many species with three lighter longitudinal stripes. Scutellum rather large, broader than long, trape/oidal, with two spines that are longer and more divergent in d than $ . Abdomen subglobular, thick, about as long as thorax, 5-segmented ; 1st segment very short, mostly hidden by scutellum. A generic peculiarity is the presence of hair-spots towards the sides of the last segment, placed on its anterior margin. Legs rather long, especially the femora, simple, slender ; tarsi generally longer than tibiae. Wings fully developed, considerably longer than abdomen and folded over it when ab rest.

Range. North, Central and South America, South Africa, India, Sumatra.

29. Cyphomyia indica, sp. nov.

Head wholly bright orange, bare, including the thick postocular orbits, which are distinctly demarcated from the vertex by a narrow groove ; frons about one-third width of head, barel)r broader at vertex ; underside of head with a little short white pubescence towards the eye-margins ; eves and proboscis black. Antennae with 1st and 2nd joints dark reddish brown, 3rd black, •with eight distinct annulations, three times as long as 1st and 2nd together. Thorax deep black, with rather dense short grey and brownish-grey pubescence, which is a little longer and more whitish posteriorly and on the concolorous, rather large, nearly oblong scutellum ; spines of latter tipped with brown ; pleurae blackish with a little whitish pubescence. Abdomen much broader than thorax, nearly circular, brilliantly shining violet-blue, with very short whitish pubescence; venter similar. Legs black, with whitish pubescence ; knees barely perceptibly brownish orange ;

58 STRAXIOMYID^E.

more than basal half of front metatarsus, and the hind metatarsus wholly, and most of the succeeding joints brownish orange; pubescence of legs black. Winys uniformly rather dark brown, a little lighter at base and darker about the stigma ; halteres pale dull orange.

Length, 9 min.

Described from a unique specimen (genital organs missing) in the Indian Museum from Kalhnpong, 600-4500 ft., Darjiliug District, iv-v. 1915 (Gravely}.

Genus STRATIOMYIA, Geo/.

Stratiomys, Geofl'roy, Hist. d. Ins. ii, p. 475 (1704). *

Stratiomys, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 262 (1704); Meigen, Illig.

Mag. ii, p. 265 (1803). Stratiomyia, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i, pt. 1, p. 179 (1838) ; Brunetti,

Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 125 (1907). Hoplomyia, Zeller, Isis, xi, p. 882 (recte 828) (1842). Stratiotomi/ia, E. L. Arribalzaga, Bol. Acad. Nat. Cienc. Cordoba,

iv, p. 128(1882).

GENOTYPE, Musca cJiamceleon, L. (Europe) ; by designation of Latreille, Consid. Gen. (1810).

Head semicircular, face arched, postocular orbits thickened, especially in $ ; proboscis comparatively small ; palpi small ; eyes in d practically contiguous, the upper facets often much larger than lower ones, wide apart in $ ; in both sexes either bare or hairy, sometimes a sexual character. Antenna approximate at base, diverging after 1st joint, which is very much longer than 2nd ; 3rd joint elongate, cylindrical, bare, with live or six anuulations (occasionally an annotation subdivided). Thorax sub- quadrate, broader behind, pubescent ; scutellum two-spined. Abdomen broader than thorax, slightly arched, subquadrate, shoulders angular; whole doratim sparsely, moderately, or some- what densely pubescent ; wings folded one above the other at rest, lying within the side-margins of the abdomen ; genitalia small. Leys moderately stout, shortly pubescent. Wings mainly as in Odontomyia; 3rd vein forked, 4th vein terminations (three) long, curved, nearly reaching wing-margin, the hindmost more or less parallel with upper branch of 5th vein ; posterior cross- vein present but sometimes small; anal cell closed near wing-margin; alar squamae small, thoracic large and pubescent.

llanje. World-wide except Au.-traliaand the Ethiopian Kegion.

Life-history. Metamorphoses of more than one European species known. Larvae fusil orm, broadest before the middle; known as

* [In this work Geoffroy did not accept the binnry system of nomenclature upon which all our modern zoological classification is based ; it has therefore been ruled that all generic names therein proposed by him are just as invalid a» pre-Linnyean names. Tlie authorship of Stratiomys should thus be attributed to Fabricius. — Ei>.]

STRAT1OMYIA. 59

" rat-tailed maggots ;" some are aquatic, hanging head downwards by their tails, probably living on minute organisms ; some live in mud or moist sand. The pupa floats free. The imagines frequent Umbelliferae in moist situations.

Table of Species.

1. Hind margin of 3rd and 4th abdominal segments

with uninterrupted yellow band fulvescens, sp. n.

Hind margin oford aud 4th abdominal segments with a pair of elongate spots, well separated . . 2.

2. Thoracic pubescence moderately thick and long;

scutellum black, except the narrow yellow hind margin and spines; $ with two conspicuous yellow po.stvertical spots, sometimes united . . barca, Walk. Thoracic pubescence extremely short and sparser ; scutellum all brownish yellow; $ with no postvei tical yellow spots micropilosa, sp. n.

30. Stratiomyia barca, Walk.

Strut iomys barca, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii, p. 530 (1849). Statiomyia barca, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 125 (1907).

J $ . Head : eyes contiguous in J for more than half their height ; shortly and sparsely pubescent ; upper facets distinctly but not greatly larger than lower ones ; vertical triangle black, Avith a few yellow hairs ; ocelli large, brownish ; antenna? black ; irons, face (punctulate), and lower part of head black, with long, rather shaggy, bright yellow hair ; occiput black, with very sparse pale pubescence ; hind margin of eyes with a fringe of microscopic yellow pubescence. In § , frons aud face nearly half width of head, sides parallel, black ; behind vertex two conspicuous bright yellow oval spots, sometimes united as a large semicircular spot ; two very large elongate yellow calli on frons placed diagonally, the inner ends nearly contiguous, the outer ends touching eyes and descending below level of antennae ; colour of calli extended to sides of face broadly ; a broad median black stripe on face, which is covered with whitish pubescence ; posterior margin of eyes with merely an extremely short fringe of whitish pubescence ; a considerable thickening of the orbit on lower half, where it is yellow. Thorax black, puuctulate, slightly shining; closely clothed with dense, rather long, brownish-yellow pubescence, which is much paler on pleurae ; scutellum similar, hind border and spines brownish yellow. Abdomen black, slightly shining, with an elon- gate moderate-sized yellow spot on hind border at sides of 2nd segment, and elongate spots similarly situated on 3rd and 4th segments ; 5th segment with a elongate yellow spot, often paler than the others, placed longitudinally, not attaining anterior margin but extended at lower end for a short distance each way on hind margin of segment. Pubescence in c? brownish yellow, dense and fairly long over all the surface ; in $ black, dense but

60 STIUTIOMYID.*;.

very easily overlooked ; a little pale yellowish-white pubescence about the shoulders, sides, and tip. Venter in d1 with greater part of centre of each segment and the hind border yellowish, rest black ; in £ the yellow part is much paler or even whitish, and of much less extent ; in some specimens almost confined to hind borders except on the 2nd segment. Legs mainly black ; knees more or less broadly hrownish yellow ; hind tibiae pale brown with a more or less distinct, moderately narrow ring at middle and tip ; all tarsi brownish yellow, a little darker above :it lips ; pubescence on legs yellow. Wings pale grey : anterior and basal parts brownish or yellowish brown, limited by discal cell and anal cell ; halteres pale yellow, occasionally green.

Length, 10-12 mm.

Described from several of each sex in the Indian Museum ; Jhelum Valley, 5200 ft., and Srinagar, 0000 ft., Kashmir, vii-ix. 1916 (H. T. Pearse). Described originally from China.

Type in the British Museum.

31. Stratiomyia micropilosa, sp. nov.

$ . Very near barca, Walk., differing as follows : —

The large yellow postvertical spot is entirely absent, as are the two elongate frontal ones, the latter being replaced by a rather obscure subqu;idrate median chestnut spot just above antennae; lower posterior orbit of eyes whitish, not yellow. The dull yellowish pubescence on dorsum of thorax almost microscopic and much sparser ; scutellum wholly yellowish, with concolorous tomentum. Abdominal spots brownish orange; side-spots on 2nd segment more triangular, their upper angles only just touch- ing front corners of segment; those on 3rd segment similar but slightly smaller; those on 4th segment smaller still, but partaking more of the nature of a triangular spot than a linear one as in barca. Tibiae more narrowly pale at base; hind pair similar to anterior tibiae.

Length, 12 mm.

Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Maymyo, Burma, v. 1910 (//. L. Andmves).

32. Stratiomyia fulvescens, sp. nov.

<3 . Head with eyes shortly but not conspicuously pubescent, the very narrow inner orbits contiguous for about half the distance from vertex to frontal triangle ; vertical triangle black, elevated, with some brownish-yellow hairs ; ocelli dull yellowish ; frontal triangle small, black \\ith brownish hairs; face and head below antennae wholly black, with rather thick and long whitish-yrey pubescence; occiput black, with grey pubescence, no definite posterior orbit to eyes ; proboscis brownish yellow. Antennae black, tip of 2nd joint dark brown ; 1st joint about five times as long as 2nd; 3rd a little longer than first two together. Thorax

STRATIOMYIA. ODONTOMYI A . Gl

\\holly black, dorsuin entirely covered with dense yellowish-grey pubescence, and sides with the pubescence a little paler. Scu- tellum black, with yellowish-grey pubescence ; hind margin broadly brownish yellow ; spines concolorous, with rather long \vhitish-grey pubescence about their bases. Abdomen moderately shining black, with rather dense, brownish-yellow pubescence on dorsuin of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments, the pubescence paler on anterior corners and whitish on 5th and Gth segments. A rather large triangular orange spot on hind border towards each side of 2nd segment, the inner end of each narrowed to a fine point, the base of the spot placed on the side-margin but extending only halfway to the anterior margin ; hind margin of 3rd segment orange, the colour very narrow in centre of segment, much broader towards sides but narrowed again just on side-margin ; a similar orange hind margin to 4th segment and a fair-sized orange triangular spot on £th, with its base on hind margin ; Gth segment all orange; the extreme side-margin of all segments orange, except the anterior half of 2nd segment. Genitalia brownish orange, small, apparently consisting of a median cylindrical piece and a small lamella on each side. Venter with 2nd segment wholly, 3rd broadly, and 4th narrowly on hind margins, brownish orange. Legs black, with grey pubescence on femora and tibia?, yellowish on tarsi ; tips of all femora, basal half of hind pair, base and tips of anterior tibiae, hind tibiae wholly, and all tarsi orange. Wings pale brownish grey, veins a little darker ; halteres orange.

Length 12 mm.

Described from a single c? from Taro, Peshawur District, N.W. India, 16-19. v. 1915 (Fletcher); presented by him to the British Museum.

Near 8. barca, Walk., but in that species the abdominal orange (" tawny ") spots are riot united to form a band ; the tibias are piceous and the legs have tawny pubescence.

Genus ODONTOMYIA, Mg.

Odontomyia, Meijren, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 265 (1803); Brunetti, Eec.

Ind. Mus. i, p. 126 (1907).

Opseoyymnus, A. Costa, II Giamb. Vico Napoli, ii, p. 443 (1857). Psellidotus, Rcmdani, Arch. p. 1. Zool. Modena, iii, p. 78 (1863). Eulalia, Kertesz, Kat. Dipt, iii, p. 62 (1908).

GENOTYPE, Musca hydroleon, L. (Europe); by designation of Westwcod (1840).

Head about as broad as thorax, transverse ; eyes rather flattened, bare or hairy, contiguous in <$ , upper facets larger than lower ones, broadly separated in $ ; face prominent, pubescent ; pro- boscis rather long; palpi small, cylindrical. Antennae with first two joints short, 1st longer than 2nd ; 3rd much longer, cylin- drical, tapering, with four to six annulations, last two sometimes

62 STBATIOMYIDJE.

forming an apical style, with or without a minute terminal bristle (fig. 2). Thorax subquadrate or oblong; scutellum with two spines. Abdomen o-segmented in cf , 6- or 7-segmented in 5 , normally barely broader, sometimes much broader than thorax, generally nearly bare ; genitalia small. Leys simple. Wings of normal Stratiomyid type; anterior veins crowded together; 1st and 2nd veins almost anastomosed, rather short, 3rd vein normally forked, both branches ending far before wing-tip ; 4th vein with three endings, of which one or more may be incomplete or absent ; posterior cross-vein present ; squamae distinct, thoracic pair pubescent.

Range. World-wide.

Life-history, One or two European species have been bred, and 0. cyanea at Pusa. Larva much as in Stratiomyia, but without spine- shaped protuberance. The imagines occur in moist situa- tions, with a partiality for settling on TJmbelliferae.

Talle of Species.

1. Shining metallic-blue species (with a general

resemblance to the Muscid, Chrysomyia

dux} cyanea, sp. n., p. (53.

Never metallic ; always yellow or brownish, with markings 2.

2. Abdomen as well as thorax conspicuously [p. 64.

pubescent rufoabdominalis, Jirun.,

Abdomen practically bare, normal ; thorax generally considerably pubescent 3.

3. Thorax with sharply denned spaces of shin-

ing black and reddish brown, and a short golden tomentose stripe from anterior margin ; a conspicuous and rather ab- [p. 65.

normal species pulchcrriina, sp. n.,

Thorax dark, with yellowish or grey pubes- cence ; species of normal appearance .... 4.

4. Some of the femora with distinct broad black

bands 5.

No distinct femornl bands, legs generally wholly pale 6.

5. All femora with broad black median band ;

hind tibiae with broad apical band minuta, F., p. 65.

Hind femora not banded rubrithorax, Macq.,

C. (a) Abdomen wholly orange ; postocular [p. 07.

orbits in § mo'derately broad lutatius, Walk., p. 70.

(b) Abdomen with distinct dark transverse

bands; postocular orbits in $ mode- rately broad transversa, sp. n., p. 71 .

(c) Abdomen with dorsal row of spots, more

or less forming a median stripe .... 7. 7. Frons in J black ; facial bump small,

blackish ; postocular orbits in $ mode- [p. 67.

rately broad kashmirensis, sp. n.,

ODONTOJITIA. 63

Frons in tf orange, or if black, then facial bump more or less orange ; postocular

orbits in $ inappreciable 8. [p. 68.

8. Frons and face all orange in both sexes .... dorsoangiulata, sp. n., Frons and face black in both sexes ; 5 with facial bump brownish orange solennis, Walk., p. 69.

It is impossible to include viridana, Wied. (p. 72), in the table, but it falls into section G, and my transversa may be identical with it.

33. Odontomyia cyanea, sp. nov.

c? $ . Head in c? with eyes bare, contiguous for nearly half the distance from vertex to frontal triangle; upper facets rich brown or violet-brown, lower ones black ; vertex black, with a few black hairs ; the small frons and the face and lower part of head bright orange, bare, shining ; antennae orange, 3rd joint from dull orange-brown to blackish, tip generally darker, twice as long as first two joints together, with four annulations and small yellowish apical style ; proboscis black ; eye-margins developed on inner lower edge of eyes, orange, with a little greyish pubescence ; no postocular orbits, the facets running out to the extreme margin above and at sides. In $ , frons one-third of head, orange, bare, just perceptibly broader at vertex and towards antennas ; latter rather longer than in c?; no postocular orbits. Thorax deep blue, brilliantly shining metallic, closely punctulate, with micro- scopic grey pubescence ; scutellum similar ; pleuras more blackish, more or less tomentose pubescent, with a little longer grey pubescence on mesopleura and sternopleura and below shoulders. In £ four longitudinal, silvery-grey, subequai and equidistant tomentose stripes, the two middle ones united on anterior margin ; scutellum also covered with silvery tomentose pubescence. Abdo- men in <$ deep blue, shining, minutely punctulate ; side-margins and tip of abdomen apple-green, sometimes only narrowly (but always continuously) so, but varying in width up to one-third of the abdomen on each side. In $ as in g , but the green side- margins always very narrow though continuous, but not including the tip. which is always blue in this sex, whereas in 3 the green tip of the abdomen is always continuous with the green side-margins. Venter wholly apple-green in both sexes. Legs black, a little silvery pubescence on outer sides of anterior tihise ; front tarsi (especially the metatarsi) distinctly broader, thicker and shorter than middle tarsi. Wings quite clear ; veins in anterior part of wing brownish orange or yellowish ; stigma brownish ; the 3rd of the faint veinlets issuing from the discal cell practically absent ; halteres bright apple-green.

Length, 6^-8 mm.

Described from a long series of both sexes, mostly bred at Pusa, 26.iii. 1908, 2.ii. 1909, 3-18. iii. 1909. Types sent to British Museum ; co-types in Indian Museum and my collection.

64 STRATIOMYIDjE.

34. Odontomyia rufoabdominalis, Brun. (PL I, fig. 24.)

Odontomyia rufoabdominalis, Branetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 205 (1913).

<$ 5. Head black, a little shining: eyes bare, absolutely' con- tiguous for a short space, leaving a very elongate narrow vertical triangle ; vertex considerably prominent, with a few black hairs ; ocelli pale yellowish ; face but little prominent, with short black and grey hairs ; antennae black, 1st and 2nd joints normal, 1st black, 2nd dull brownish (3rd missing) ; two small tufts of grey hairs immediately above antennae, and a trace of grey hairs along the sides of face. In $ . frons one-third of head, sides parallel, and with face wholly slightly shining black, with sparse short black pubescence ; the ground-colour similar to that of the thorax ; ocelli very distinct, wide apart, brownish yellow, ocellar bump large, moderately elevated; mouth-opening, proboscis, palpi, and lower part of head black. Thorax black, with minute white patches, slightly shining, dorsum and sides with moderately thick, not long, black and grey hairs, set in minute black sockets, which give the dorsum a granulated appearance, often two or three hairs emerging from the same socket ; small patches or bunches of grey hairs occur around the base of the wing and on the pleurae. Scutellum clothed like the thorax, with a fringe of rather ragged grey hair on posterior border and a short blunt spine at each hind corner. Abdomen: ground-colour of 1st and 2nd segments and major portion of 3rd, 4th, and 5th black, a little shining ; the sides of the dorsum, nearly from the shoulders to the extreme tip, and the hind margins of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th, and the bulk of the 6th segment all bright reddish orange with concolorous pubescence ; the black parts with sparse black pubescence ; a small patch of greyish hairs on hind corners of 2nd segment, and some yellow hairs extend along the narrow red side-edges of the abdomen, nearly or quite to the shoulders. A7enter dull reddish orange, becoming brighter towards tip ; central part of most of the seg- ments more or less black ; pubescence wholly reddish orange, j-hort, depressed. Leys black, with a little short greyish hair ; under and inner sides of tibiae towards tips and about the apical half of the anterior and the whole of the hind tarsi (the latter lengthened), orange-yellow, with short golden pubescence. Wings yellowish grey ; stigmatic region black ; major portion of middle of wing from anterior to posterior border darker brown, the colour fading away gradually; halteres buff; thoracic squamae milk- white, with concolorous soft hairs.

Length, 17 mm.

Described from a J, Darjiling, 1000-3000 ft,, vi. 1912, and a $, Siugla, Darjiling Dist., 1500 ft.,, v. 1913, in the Indian Museum.

A very handsome and conspicuous species.

ODONTOMYIA. 65

35. Odontomyia pulcherrima, sp. nov.

5 . Head distinctly broader than thorax; vertex and frons fully one-third the width of head, the latter slightly wider towards antennae, with short black hairs ; whole head below antennae paler yellow, with soft golden hairs ; antennse black, 3rd joint about 2^ times as long as 1st and 2nd together ; proboscis black ; occiput yellow, blackish in centre ; posterior orbits of eyes narrowly yellow ; vertical triangle black, small ; ocelli pale orange. Thorax with greater part of dorsum down to the suture, except anterior and side-margins, occupied by a large shining black spot, bare except for a broad short stripe of golden pubescence, begin- ning just behind the anterior margin but reaching only halfway to the suture ; on each side behind the suture (just clear of the side-margins) a semicircular black spot (the straight side inwards) and contiguous to the large black spot above the suture, thus leaving an approximately square space occupying more than half the surface behind the suture, and reaching the posterior border of the dorsum with sharply defined sides; this space is reddish brown, and the large anterior black spot just perceptibly encroaches on the anterior margin of it. Scutellum large, reddish brown, as are the spines and the metanotum ; sides of thorax wholly pale yellow with bright golden-yellow pubescence. Abdomen mode- rately shining black, bare ; basal half of 1st segment, a large sub- triangular spot on each side of 2nd extending from anterior to hind margin, an elongate transverse spot towards each side on hind margins of 3rd and 4th segments (those on latter rather smaller), and a long spot narrowed to a point anteriorly on 5th segment, all light yellow. Venter wholly yellowish. Legs with coxae yellowish or yellowish brown, with yellow hair ; front legs black, brown at base of femora ; on apical half of outer side of tibiae a fan-like row of stiff black hairs ; middle legs black, basal half of femora yellowish white, a similarly-coloured band on middle tibiae ; hind legs black, basal half of femora yellowish white. Pubescence on all legs generally concolorous with ground- colour, some fairly coarse black pubescence at base of middle tibia? ; tarsi with golden-brown pubescence below ; pulvilli brownish orange ; claws orange, blai-k-tipped. Wings pale yellowish brown; costal cell and extreme base of wing, also beyond discal cell, pale grey ; stigmatic region blackish brown ; veins dark brown ; 3rd vein forked very near tip ; halteres pale dull yellow.

Length, 10 mm.

Described from a unique $ in the Indian Museum from the Peshoke District, Darjiling, 2000 ft., 26. v.-14. vi. 1916 (Gravely}.

36. Odontomyia minnta, F.

O'lontomyia minuta, Fabricius, Eut. Syst. iv, p. 268 (1794X Odontomyia ochracea, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 129 (1007).

GO STEATIOMYID^E.

Odontomyia submutica, Brunetti, loc. cit. p. 130 (1907). Oxycera indica, Brunetti, loc. cit. p. 119 (1907). ? O.pusilla, Eabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 271 (1794).

3 $ . Head with eyes in ^ microscopically pubescent, barely contiguous at nearest approach, and for a very short distance only,, gradually separating to vertex ; i'rons shining black, with yellowish hairs ; ocelli yellowish ; frontal triangle with yello \vish -grey pubescence ; face and underside of head yellowish, with a little whitish pubescence ; proboscis large, black ; antennae with 1st joint distinctly longer than 2nd, orange-yellow, 3rd brownish, 4-annulatecl, tip black ; occiput black. In $ , whole head, in- cluding the rather broad postocnlar orbits, yellow or orange- yellow ; a broad shining black band across vertex from eye to eye, sometimes with the appearance of being formed of three large contiguous spots ; a pair of large oval shining black spots on frons, placed transversely and slightly diagonally ; a pair of similar smaller rounded spots below level of antennae and just below the larger ones. Thorax black, with very short golden or greyish pubescence ; sides black, a large pale yellow oblong spot below shoulders, another in front of wing-bass, the two spots generally connected above ; a third yellow spot below wing-base. 8cutellum yellow, base black, spines generally extremely small, occasionally normal in size. Abdomen of d1 normally yellowish, with a large rounded or somewhat diamond-shaped spot spread over middle of first two segments ; a spot on middle of 3rd segment from anterior to hind margin, narrowed behind ; on anterior margin towards sides of 2nd segment, a small spot ; a similar larger one an each side of 3rd segment ; on 4th and 5th segments a broad band on anterior margin tilling about half the surface, the two bands con- nected by a short median stripe ; all the above markings black. In some males the marks are reduced to a dorsal row of small detached rounded or angular spots ; in one d the abdomen is wholly yellowish except for a single small black spot on 2nd seg- ment. In $ a large spot similar to that of the d spread over middle of 1st and 2nd segments, with a small spot towards each side in a line with it; sometimes the three spots more or les» united by a short connecting stripe ; in one $ the spots were re- placed by a definite uninterrupted broad band ; abroad black band on anterior margin of 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments nearly filling the sufraces and sometimes united in the median line by a dorsal stripe. Venter in both sexes mainly yellowish. Leys brownish yellow; femora with a broad median dark brown band; hind tibiae with a similar band on apical half, generally leaving the lip pale ; tips of tarsi barely darker. Witu/s absolutely colourless, anterior veins and stigma very pale yellow; discal cell unusually small, occasionally larger in individuals ; discal cell veinlets almost invisible ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 4-5 mm.

Described from several specimens of each sex, including types of

ODONTOMYIA. 67

ochrace(^,sulm^ltica,Sind^ndic(l : Siliguri ; liampore, Chaka, United Provinces, 23-31. ii. 1907 ; Eanchi ; Bareilly ; Calcutta, 21.iii. J907, 14. vi. 1907, 22. vi. 1907 (Paiva), 23. viii. 1907, 28. ix. 1907. My indica was described from Chapra, Bengal (Mackenzie}.

The four prominent black spots on the front of tlie head, the bands on the legs (though these are sometimes much paler than usual), the very reduced discal cell, and very small scutellar spines all combine to characterize very distinctly this variable species. The form with wholly yellow abdomen, except for a single small black spot at base of 2nd segment, is represented by a <S in the Indian Museum, and 0. pusilla, !\, is probably identical.

37. Odontomyia rubrithorax, Macq.

Odontomyia rubrithorax, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i, pt. 1, p. 185 (1838) ; Brunetti, Bee. Ind. Mus. i, p. 128 (1907) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. 1, p. 224 (1907).

Odontomyia immaculata, Bruuetti, loc. cit. p. 130.

d1 § . Head in c? black, with short pale hair beloAv ; a shining black tubercle immediately below antennae, which are dark reddish brown, tips black, 1st and 2nd joints tawny ; eyes large, bai*e, upper facets much larger than lower ones, contiguous tor a short distance ; vertical triangle small, black ; frontal triangle small, reddish brown. In $ , frons forming one-third of the head, very slightly broader at level of antennae than at vertex, shining black, with very short silvery-white pubescence. Thorax dull black, with short, meagre, golden or brassy pubescence ; sides black, with a little white pubescence ; scutellum black, gold-dusted, spines very short. Abdomen pale greenish or yellowish, more or less brownish on apical half ; sometimes wholly pale. Legs orange- yellow ; front femora with a narrow brown ring in middle or a streak on underside ; middle femora with a brown streak on under- side which is sometimes continued as a ring up the sides ; all tips of tarsi slightly darker. Wings almost colourless, anterior veins pale yellowish, the rest almost invisible; halteres yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from various Indian specimens : Bareilly (Brunetti) -, Asansol, 13-14. ii. 1910; Calcutta, 12. iv. 1908, 5.iv. 1907; Port Canning, 24. xi. 1907 ; Java.

38. Odontomyia kashmirensis, sp. nov.

rf $ . Head of d" with eyes bare, contiguous for only a short space ; frons widening gradually to vertex, shining black, practi- cally bare, except for a patch of yellowish-grey pubescence at extreme vertex ; ocelli brown, on a black elevated triangle ; occiput black ; face black, with considerable yellowish-grey pubes- cence, the median space slightly prominent, more or less shining black, sometimes dark brown, with less pubescence ; mouth-region and palpi yellowish ; proboscis black ; antennae orange, 3rd joint

68 STEATIOMYIDjE,

with four annulations, a little more brownish with blackish tip. 1'rons in $ as in 0. dorsoangulata, microscopically punctate, except for a rather wide postocular orange margin which bears very short, almost tomentose, yellow pubescence. Thorax black, with rather dense, moderately long, yellowish -grey pubescence, which extends below shoulders and over upper part of sides ; lower part of sides with white pubescence. Scutellum bright orange-yellow or greenish yellow, with yellowish pubescence, base narrowly black; spines yellow. Abdomen yellowish or brownish yellow ; an uninterrupted moderately broad median dorsal black stripe composed of an elongate spot on middle of 1st segment and a large squarish spot (narrowed towards hind margin) on both 2nd and 3rd segments, a similar rather broader spot on 4th segment rounded behind and encroaching on 5th segment. In the § the dorsal stripe slightly broader. Venter brownish yellow, more or less darker towards tip. Legs orange, with very short whitish pubescence ; coxae a little brownish, front pair blackish, with white pubescence ; tarsi a little darker. Wings quite colourless ; anterior veins and stigma pale yellowish ; halteres yellowish, some- times apple-green.

Length, 8-10 mm.

Described from a few specimens of both sexes in the Indian Museum (including types) from Kashmir, 1915 (H. T. Pease) ; one $ from the Jhelum Valley, Kashmir, 5200 ft., vii-ix. 1915 (Pease).

This is very like 0. solennis, Wlk., especially in the d1 , but the difference in the 5 $ proves them to be quite distinct species, as 0. Jcaskmirensis has broad postocular orbits and in 0. solennis these are practically absent. The $ 0. kashmirensis has the facial prominence normally black ; in 0. solennis it is brownish orange and more conspicuous.

39. Odontomyia dorsoangulata, sp. nov.

<S $ . Head of J with eyes bare, contiguous for half the distance from vertex to frontal triangle ; vertical triangle narrow, black, with a few short yellow hairs ; ocelli distinct yellow or brown; frontal triangle and face orange, with a little whitish pubescence ; lower part of head pale yellow, with short white pubescence; proboscis blackish; palpi pale yellow; antennae orange, 3rd joint a little more brownish, with four annulations and a rather long narrow pointed style ; occiput blackish, con- siderably concave. Frons in $ at middle one-third width of head, very slightly narrower at vertex, orange; face and lower part of head orange-yellow ; frons a little more bright yellowish brown ; postocular orbits inappreciable. Thorax black, dorsum with very short close golden yellow or brassy pubescence, which, except towards the sides and shoulders, becomes almost tomentose ; sides of thorax mainly black about the centre, with short whitish

ODONTOMYIA. 69

pubescence ; pale yellowish pubescence on prothorax, and short golden-yellow pubescence broadly just below dorsu.ni and around base of wings ; uietathorax with a tuft of dirty grey pubescence. Scutellum bright apple-green or yellowish, narrowly black at base; bare, except for a small white fringe on hind margin ; spines pale yellow. Abdomen in 3 pale yellowish, varying from greenish yellow to brownish; 1st segment with an elongate transverse black spot on middle of hind margin ; 2nd, 3rd, and 4th each with a large black spot in the centre reaching from anterior to hind margin, broader in" front ; 5th with a more or less similar spot not reaching hind margin ; all the spots contiguous, forming an angular black median stripe. In one of the two $ $ before me the spots are as in the <$ , in the other they are much enlarged, leaving only a moderately broad pale side-margin. Venter yellowish or brownish yellow, sometimes a little marked with brown or with a very narrow median line. Legs orange, tips of tarsi barely brownish. Wings clear, the stronger veins pale yellow ; halteres brownish yellow or apple-green.

Length, 8-11 mm.

Described from four rf J and two $ $ in the Pusa collection, and a number of both sexes in the Indian Museum : Pusa, 10. viii. 1915 ; Chapra, Bengal ; Calcutta, iii., iv., ix., x., xii., common on chrysanthemums ; Port Canning, 24. xii. 1907, on Euphorbia ; Coiinbatore, Madras, " bred from aquatic larva," 7. & 10.x. 1913 ; Bangalore (Cameron).

Types in Indian Museum, from Calcutta, 18. iii. 1907 ( 6 ) and 23. iv. 1907 ( $ ).

Larva of at least 12 segments, with perhaps an additional one, too retracted to be visible, following the narrow 1st (head) seg- ment ; dark nut-brown, with darker marks; venter rather flattened, vellowish, with a few short hooks on hind margin of the last five segments, apart from the ultimate segment which bears a tuft of whitish curling breathing-tubes. Length, 21 mm., exclusive of breathing-tubes.

Three previously-described species must be very near the above, and though none of the descriptions quite apply, it may possibly prove identical with one of them.

40. Odontomyia solennis, Walk.

Odontomyia solennis, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt, i, p. 79 (1856).

J 2 • Head with eyes of c? bare, practically contiguous for only a short distance ; Irons widening very gradually to vertex, which is black, with very short yellow hairs and reddish-brown well- separated ocelli ; frontal triangle very small, black, with silvery-white pubescence ; face and underside of head (except broadly around mouth) bluck, with pubescence that appears dark, viewed from above, and silvery white viewed from below ; lower orbits of eyes with white pubescence; mouth-opening broadly

70 STJJATIOMYinvK.

pale yellow; proboscis black ; facial tubercle reddish brown, moderately prominent, more or less bare, shining : antennae orange, 3rd joint more brownish, tip blackish ; occiput black. In 5 , frons one-third of head, approximately of uniform width throughout, shining black, with short golden pubescence about antennae; face similar, with white pubescence; a pair of large bare shining orange-brown or dark brown contiguous spots im- mediatelv above and contiguous to antennal prominence ; rest as in c? . Thorax black, with short golden-yellow, greyish, or whitish pubescence, which is almost lomentose in centre of dorsum and longer towards sides; sides of thorax black, with rather longer though s'ill comparatively short pubescence; occasionally just below dorsuui the pubescence is concolorous with pubescence of that region ; scutellum narrowly margined with orange, spines brownish orange. Abdomen yellowish to brownish ; 1st segment with a small elongate spot on middle of hind margin, of variable width ; 2nd and 3rd segment with a large median spot on each from anterior to hind margin, narrowed in middle; 4th with a large spot, generally broader than the others, placed on anterior margin, rounded behind, not reaching hind margin ; all the spots contiguous to one another, forming a more or less angulated dorsal stripe. Considerable variation occurs in the width of the spots on the 2nd and 3rd segments, which are often very narrow or obsolete ; in some specimens (one 2 from Cliapra, Bengal) the abdomen is brownish, bearing only an indistim-t narrow blackish stripe on 3rd and 4th segments ; in some specimens the abdomen is brownish, with indistinct and irregular blackish marks over the whole centre. Venter brownish or yellowish, with more or less darker marks. Legs yellow, tips of tarsi from barelv darker to distinctly brown ; occasionally a shining brown streak, varying in sue, on middle of outer side of hind tibiae (in one specimen from Chapra, Bengal, extending to more than the middle half of the tibiae ; in this example tips of tarsi dark brown ; hind tarsi dark brown, last three joints black). Wings quite colourless ; anterior veins pale yellow ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 7-10 mm.

Described from a number of both sexes in the Pusa collection, taken at Pusa, 29. ii.-28. v. in various years onJusticia, indigo, and sugar-cane. Also occurs at Chapra, Bengal; a tf in the Indian Museum from Balugaon, Puri District, Orissa, 21.-30. vii. 1913 (Annandale), and a $ taken by me at Bareilly.

41. Odontomyia lutatius, Wall-.

Stratiomys lutatius, Wnlker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii, p. 532 (1849). Odontomyia hitatius, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 129 (1907).

5 . Head distinctly broader than thorax ; eyes bare ; frons rather more than one-third of head, sides parallel, upper half black, moderately shining, with short golden pubescence ; ocelli

ODOXTOMYIA. 7 L

brownish yellow, ocellar triangle barely elevated ; lower half of irons with a median impressed line, shining, bro\vnish yellow ; face and lower part of head more yellowish, with short golden- yellow pubescence ; occiput black, postocular orbits moderately broad with close golden tomentose pubescence. Antenna) orange, 2nd joint slightly longer than 1st ; 3rd reddish brown, 4-annu- lated, last one slightly darker ; the two-jointed style orange- brown. Thorax black, with very short dense golden almost tomentose pubescence ; sides black, pale yellowish for an inde- finite space below'wings, wholly covered with very short golden pubescence. Abdomen above and below wholly orange-yellow, microscopically pubescent ; a faint median impressed line. Legs all orange, with minute pale pubescence; tips of tarsi brown. Wings colourless, 3rd vein let from discal cell absent ; veins and stigma verv pale yellow ; halteres orange.

Length, 10 mm.

Redescribed from a $ from Chapra, Bengal, and one from Siliguri, foot of Darjiling Hills.

42. Odontomyia transversa, sp. nov.

$ . Head with frons fully one-third of head, sides parallel, orange, nearly bare; vertex small, black; ocelli yellowish ; a pair of rather large diagonally placed brownish spots on each side of upper part of frons with indistinct outlines (possibly sometimes forming a median brown spot of irregular shape and size) ; face and lower part of head and postocular orbit bright yellow, bare, except for a few scattered short yellow hairs; antenna? orange, 1st and 2nd joints subequal. Thorax with dorsum black, with almost tomentose golden pubescence; margins of dorsum, except the anterior one, broadly yellow ; sid^s mainly yellowish ; lower part of sternopleura black ; a large brown spot on mesopleura ; a similar smaller brown spot in front of wing-base. Scutellum wholly chrome-yellow, very narrowly black at base; spines very small, yellow. Abdomen yellow, anterior margins of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments each with a broad chestnut-brown band ex- tending nearly to the hind margin ; a darker, nearly black spot at sides of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments contiguous to anterior margin, diffused hindwards into the brown colour ; 5th segment mainly dark brown ; a small dark brown spot towards each side of 1st seg- ment ; venter yellowish. Leys orange to tips. Wings pale yellowish grey ; anterior veins and stigma yellowish ; halteres orange-yellow.

Length, 9 mm.

Described from a single $ from the Pusa collection taken at, Palur, Madras, viii. 1915 ; sent to the British Museum.

It is just possible that this may be viridana, Wied., though his description of the abdomen does not correctly apply ; yet species in Odontomyia are often so variable that the two may be identical.

72 STRAT10MYI1XE.

43. Odontomyia viridana, Wied.

Odontomyia viridana, Wiedemann, Analec. Entom. p. "29 (1824).

"Antennae and legs reddish yellow, epistome and lower part of frons green, rest of i'rons ochraceous ; thorax black, apex, sides and two stripes clothed with rather golden hairs ; posterior corners and sides of thorax green, latter with two reddish-yellow spots ; scutelluin black in middle at base ; abdomen black, with somewhat reddish-yellow segmerital margins ; at each side of each segment a green transverse spot, which sometimes extends across the whole segment : venter green ; wings quite clear, veins pale reddish yellow ; halteres yellowish, clubs green; all the green colour emerald-green. Bengal. Westermamrs collection."

Subfamily SARGIN^E.

Head semicircular, attached by a thin, rather long, very fragile neck ; eyes large, bare or hairy, generally contiguous in tf ; antenna) with 3rd joint not elongate, rounded or rather flattened, always with a distinct arista. Thorax roughly oblong ; scu- tellum generally unspined. Abdomen 5- or 6-segmented, generally distinctly longer than thorax, in most genera with approximately parallel sides ; generally of brilliant metallic-green, blue, violet, or brassy shades ; sometimes short and rounded (Microchrysa). Legs weak and simple. Winc/s with costa nearly reaching wing-tip ; 3rd vein generally forked, both branches ending before wing-tip, anterior cross-vein joining prsefurca instead of 2nd vein with discal cell — an exceptional character; posterior cross-vein present, so that the 5th vein forms no part of the discal cell ; 4th vein with three terminations, which do not reach the wing-margin ; 5 posterior cells, all open ; anal cell closed near border of wing ; squamae small.

The only character distinguishing this subfamily from the others is that of the anterior cross-vein joining the praefurca and discal cell, instead of the 3rd vein and discal cell as is usual. The more or less rounded 3rd antennal joint with distinct arista, the parallel-sided elongate abdomen, and the brilliant metallic colour of most of the species are other characters mainly applying to this subfamily. The species are thinly pubescent or nearly bare.

Life-history. That of several European species is partly known, but the exact identity of some of them is doubtful, the accounts of them having been written before the species were clearly distinguished. Larva with sides nearly parallel, not tapering behind ; each segment with about six rather long bristles trans- versely placed on both upper and lower surfaces. Lundbeck thinks the metathoracic spiracles may be absent. The larv» occur in dung and garden mould. The perfect insects are generally distributed and fly with rapidity in hot sunshine.

PTECTICUS.

Table of Genera.

1. Third vein uuforked

± Third vein forked

Second anteunal joint with a thumb-like

expansion over the 3rd on inner side . .

Second anteunal joint without any such

expansion

3. Eyes densely pubescent in both sexes .... Eyes bare or practically so

4. Third anteunal joint with six annulations. Third antennal joint with four annulations.

5. Abdomen elongate ; eyes in tf not quite

contiguous ; discal cell veinlets distinct . Abdomen short, rounded ; eyes in c? con- tiguous ; discal cell veinlets very faint. .

PROSOPOCHRYSA, Meij.,

2. [p. 86.

PTECTICUS, Lw., p. 73.

3. [p. 84. CHLOKOMYIA, Duuc.,

4. [p. 85. BRACHYCARA, Thorns.,

SARGUS, F., p. 81.

[p. 87

MlCROCHRYSA, Lw.,

Genus PTECTICUS, Lw.

Ptecticus, Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, v, p. 142 (1855);

Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 108 (1907). Plecticus, Loew, loc. cit. v, p. 147 (1855).

GENOTYPE, Sargus testaceus, F. ; by original designation.

Mainly of the normal Sargid type, but technically non-metallic large yellowish flies, with darker markings and often yellow wings. The 2nd antennal joint distinctly overlapping 3rd on inner side

Fig. 4. — Ptecticus, antenna, inner side.

by a thumb-like extension ; * 3rd joint short and broad, arista very thin ; head rounded ; eyes in <J approximate only and for only a short distance; frontal triangle inflated. Thorax and abdomen as in Sargus, but perhaps less pubescent; genitalia in c? rather large and free. Wings long; anterior cross-vein exactly at tip of prafurca ; f posterior cross-vein occasionally absent or abortive (australis).

Ranye. Central and South Asia, Japan, Orient, South Africa, Madagascar, North, Central, and South America.

With rare exceptions, according to Williston. It is very pronounced in he] In generic.

all the Indian species.

t In all Indian species except cyancm. This character is not necessarily

74 STHATIOMYID.E.

Table of Species.

1. Body seneous or metallic "2.

Body never metallic; yellowish, with darker

markings ; anterior cross-veins at tip of

praefurca 3.

1}. Anterior cross-vein at tip of prajfurca; body

reneous blue, green, or black ; femora orange ; [p. 75.

wings exceptionally long hmyipenmo, Vv ied.,

Anterior cross-vein much before tip of prae-

furca; body shining violet ($); femora

black ; wings of normal length ci/anens, Brun., p. 75.

3. Wings wholly dark brown aitrobnuineus, sp. n.,

Wings never wholly dark brown, either [p. 76.

yellowish on basal "and blackish on apical half or practically uniform yellowish grey . . 4.

4. Wings yellowish on about basal half, blackish

on remainder 5.

Wings uniformly yellowish or yellowish grey (or practically so*) " ". 7.

5. Genitalia black; tarsi always more or less

dark; wings yellow only up to just beyond

discal cell 6.

(lenitalia fulvous ; tarsi orange to tips; wings

yellow nearly up to halfway between discal

cell and wing-tip mtfpii, 1'run., p. 77.

0. First four abdominal segments orange, with or

without darker transverse spots or bands,

these segments generally similarly marked ; [p. 78.

rest of abdomen black aitrifer, Walk.,

First four abdominal segments orange, 4th with

a large round black spot, conspicuously dif- ferent from the other segments apiculis. Lw., p. 77.

7. Front metatarsus nearly as long as tibia; whole

front tarsus proportionately much longer than

in ceylonicus, and brown from tip of 1st joint

to tip of tarsus ; hind tarsus all white, except

extreme base of metatarsus; 1st abdominal

segment with blackish band ; posterior cross- [p. 79.

vein practically absent; long. 10-1 '2 mm. . . imstrah's, Sch., Front metatarsus much shorter than tibia ;

whole front tarsus proportionately much

.shorter than in austral itt, and only last

three joints brown ; hind metatarsus all

black ; 2nd joint and part of 3r<l yellowish

white or white, rest dark brown or black ;

1st abdominal segment without cross-band,

but sometimes a little darker in middle;

posterior cross-vein distinctly present ; long.

14-18 mm cingulatus, Lw.,

[var. ceylonicus, nov., p. 80.

PTECTICUS. , 5

44. Ptecticus longipennis, Wied.

Sargus longipennis, Wiedemann, Analec. Entoni. ]). 31 (1824);

id., Aus8. Zweifl. ii, p. 34 (1830); Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. 5,

p. 67, pi. i, %. 11 (1855). Ptecticus longipennis, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. liv, p. 205 (1911).

d . Head with eyes not absolutely contiguous at any point, but nearly so immediate]}' above the bright lemon-yellow, very inflated frontal triangle, which bears a lew yellow hairs ; the shining black irons widening gradually to vertex, which bears a few brown hairs ; face bright yellow ; mouth-opening, proboscis, and neck orange ; antenna) yellowish ; lower part of head with pale hairs. Thorax shining metallic dark blue, or brassy, pubescence pale yellow ; a rather broad orange-yellow callus-like stripe from the yellow shoulder to wing-base ; hind corners of dorsum orange ; prothorax orange, sternopleura shining yellow, rest of sides of thorax aeneous brown or blackish, with short pale hairs ; scutellum metallic blue, hind margin narrowly orange ; mctanotum metallic blue. Abdomen metallic black, 1st segment, reddish yellow at extreme base, 2nd to 4th segments with reddish-yellow bands on hind borders, some- times extending over the bases of the next segments. Legs orange- yellow; hind tibiae wholly black, hind tarsi all yellowish. Wings exceptionally long, very pale yellowish ; anterior cross-vein exactly at tip of praefurca ; posterior cross-vein absent, 5th Arein in puncti- form contact with discal cell ; 2nd and 3rd veinlets from discal cell parallel, 3rd a little foreshortened ; a brown cloud on apical part of wing extending inwards halfway to discal cell ; halteres yellow, clubs brown.

Length. 12 mm.

The above description is from a c? (without abdomen) in the Indian Museum from Sadiya, Assam, Bigot's description being also incorporated. Recorded by de Meijere from N.E. Sumatra.

The 2nd antennal joint has the peculiar shape characteristic of Ptecticus. so the species must be removed here from Sargus, as noted by de Meijere (I. c.).

45. Ptecticus cyaneus, Brun.

Ptecticus cyaneus, Bruiietti, Rec. liid. Mus. vii, p. 453 (1912).

$> . #mtZwith frons almost linear, brilliantly shining violet and blue, with short soft black hairs ; ocelli placed much below the vertex, small, pale yellowish brown, ocellar triangle very slightly elevated; the slight protuberance above the antennae pale whitish yellow ; face blackish, with black hairs, lower part of head reddish brown, prominent ; back of head black, with a fringe of white hairs. Antennae with 1st and 2nd joints black, shining, 3rd joint and the overlapping inner side of the 2nd joint coffee-brown; arista black, apical. Thorax dorsally and scutellum brilliantly shining violet, with rather copious brownish-grey hairs ; thorax below

76 STttATIOMYIDJE.

dorsuin brilliantly shining peacock-green, with short whitish hairs ; a small brownish-yellow spot on the shoulders is connected with the wings by a very narrow brownish-yellow ridge delimiting the dorsal and ventral surfaces. Abdomen brilliant shining violet, with pale grey hairs ; venter similar. Legs : femora black, with short white hairs, a little brownish yellow at base ; the knees of similar colour and the coxae with a mark or two of the same shade ; tibiae black, more or less yellowish on apical part, the whole surface with short pale yellow hairs ; tarsi dark, with pale hairs ; under- side of hind tarsi with short, very dark golden-brown pubescence. Wings grey ; stigma ill-defined ; this region of the wing brownish ; veins dark brown ; halteres yellowish,

Length, 14 mm.

Described from one $ in the Indian Museum from Ukhrul, Manipur, Assam, 6400 ft. (Rev. W. Pcttiyrew).

46. Ptecticus aurobrunneus, sp. nov.

c? . Ifead with vertex and frons down to its narrowest part deep orange ; former with golden and brown hairs intermixed, latter with golden hairs only; frontal triangle bright lemon-yellow, nearly bare ; oeellar triangle black, ocelli with a reddish tinge ; face, mouth, and proboscis orange-yellow ; antennae orange, arista black, orange at base ; eyes black ; occiput yellowish, reduced, owing to the margins of the eyes themselves curving backwards considerably. Thorax dorsally and scutellum dark chestnut- brown, with just a suggestion of three darker stripe?, wholly covered with short, dense, though inconspicuous, golden pu- bescence ; propleura, pteropletira, metapleura, and metanotum lighler chestnut-brown ; mesopleura and sternopleura shining blackish ; whole sides of thorax, even to the mesopleura, with short dense golden pubescence, though at first sight they appear to be bare. Abdomen with 2nd to oth segments dark chestnut- brown, with short dense golden pubescence, which is invisible when viewed from in front, but from that view a large irregularly shaped black spot is seen in the centre of each segment, almost forming a dorsal stripe; 1st segment and tip of abdomen black, with some yellow or golden hairs ; genitalia and vertex dark brown, the latter with microscopic golden pubescence, only visible when viewed from in front. Leys with front coxa3 brownish orange ; posterior coxae dark brown, all with a little golden hair ; rest of legs bright orange ; posterior femora black on basal half ; tips of tarsi a little darker. Whigs rather dark brown ; a small space in both basal and discal cells slightly paler, and traces of similar lighter spaces in the centres of some of the other cells; halteres pale yellowish.

Length, 21 mm.

Described from a unique J in the Indian Museum from Purambikulam, Cochin State, 1700-3200 ft., 16-24. ix. 1914 (Gravely}.

PTECTICUS. 77

47. Ptecticus wulpii, Erun.

Ptecticus wulpii, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. Ill (1907); id.,

op. cit. ix, p. "263 (1913). Ptecticus apicalis, Wulp (nee Loew), Notes Leyd. Mua. vii. p. 62

(1885).

c? $ . Differing from P. aurifer. Walk., as follows : —

Abdomen normally all orange to tip, 1st segment a little darker, and often, if viewed from behind, a large blackish spot is seen in the middle of each-segment, sometimes diamond-shaped, sometimes irregular in shape, covering nearly all tho surface of each segment ; genitalia brownish orange, this latter being the best specific dif- ference of all. Another difference, which seems equally constant, is in the legs, which are all orange to the extreme tips except for the moderately dark brown posterior coxae and basal half of the posterior femora. The black apical part of the wing is of much less extent, not beginning till some distance beyond the discal cell ; some specimens have the wing darkened from the tip only up to midway between the discal cell and the wing-tip.

Same size as aurifer.

Described from two d1 d1 in the Indian Museum, one rf one $ in the Pusa collection : Darjiling District, 1000-3000 ft., v. 1912 ; Singla, iv.1913; Nilgiri Hills, 3500 ft. (Andreives), 7000 ft., v. 1904 (llowson); Panunbikulam, Cochin State, 1700-3200 ft., 16-24. ix. 1914 (Gravely),

Unless P. aurifer,W&\k., should prove to have fulvous genitalia, P. ivulpii is easily separated from all the other species in this group bv that character alone. It presents an extraordinary resemblance to the Tipulid, Pselliopliora compedita, Wied., and both have been seen by me from the same locality.

48. Ptecticus apicalis, Lw.

Ptecticus apicalis, Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, v, p. 142, pi.,

figs. 3, 4 (1855) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 110 (1907). Sargus hiridus, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. i, p. 8 (1856).

Brownish red-yellow, shining ; 4th abdominal segment with a very large black spot, the next wholly dull black, the rest deep black, rather shining; venter much as upper side of abdomen. Frons very narrow, reddish yellow; lower part whitish yellow; ocelli placed on a blackish cross-band; frontal triangle whitish yellow, puffed up. Antennae light reddish yellow, 3rd joint barely visibly annulated, tip truncate. Legs concolorous with body ; hind tibiae always darker towards tip ; front and middle tarsi with last two joints darker, also hind metatarsus. Wings large, reddish yellow up to beyond discal cell, becoming grey towards hind margin ; a large blackish-brown spot filling more than apical third of wing.

STRATIOMYiDJt.

Lemjtli, 15 mm.

Described from Pulo Penang ; in "Westermann's collection, Vienna Museum.

49. Ptecticas aurifer, Wall:

Sargus aurifer, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. v, p. 96 (1854). Ptecticus aurifer, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 110 (1907).

3 2 ' Head with eyes in <$ with their point of nearest approach distinctly below halfway between vertex and base of antennae, the space between them perhaps ^ to \ of a millimetre ; thence upwards frons widening gradually till at vertex it is almost 1 milli- metre broad ; bright orange with orange pubescence ; frontal triangle elevated, shining, smooth, lemon-yellow, bare, except for a smull tuft of orange hairs just above base of antennas ; face very small, yellowish, as are the very narrow inner lower eye-margins near the very large mouth-opening ; occiput black, upper margin with yellow pubescence ; ocelli yellow on a black ocellar triangle ; proboscis and the very large labella orange-yellow, with a few hairs. Antenna? orange, tip of upper side with a black mark, arista black, orange at base. Frons in $ at narrowest part dis- tinctly broader than in c? , so that it is only about two and a half times broader at vertex than at frontal triangle. Thorax : sides, scutellum, and metanotum bright orange, all with a little very short yellow or orange pubescence, which is a little longer on the sternopleura, metapleura, and metanotum ; dorsum sometimes with a little more brown in it and sometimes, especially in the $ , traces of three longitudinal brownish stripes can be seen. Ab- domen normally with first four segments bright orange, remainder (including genitalia) black, but the orange segmentsof ten have more or less brown in them, sometimes in the form of large transverse spots occupying neaily all the segments; sometimes the whole dorsum is uniformly more brownish ; the first four segments with very short inconspicuous golden-yellow pubescence, the rest with almost microscopic greyish pubescence. Yenter mainly orange on first four segments, remainder black, but 4th, and sometimes 3rd also, often bear large blackish patches. Legs all orange, with short yellow pubescence ; last two joints of anterior tarsi brown ; about apical halt' of hind tibiae brown ; hind tarsi blackish brown, especially first two joints, underside with rich golden-brown pubescence. Wings with basal half up to just beyond discal cell bright orange-yellow, remainder moderately dark brown ; veins a little deeper orange, veinlets from discal cell dark brown, 3rd only moderately sinuous ; halteres orange.

Lemjtli , 1 2-20 m m .

Described from a series in the Indian Museum, Sarawak Museum, and Pusa collections: Mussoorie, 6500 ft. (Bond}; Darjiling, 1000-3000 ft., v-vi. 1912 ; Peshoke Spur, Darjiling

PTECTICUS. 79

Distr., 4000 ft., v-vi. 1916 ; Lebong, Darjiling Distr., 4500 ft., 2-9. v. 1909 (Hoivlett) • Singla, Darjiling Distr., 1500 ft-., iv. 1913 ; Siliguri, base of Darjiling Hills, 18-20. vii. 1907 ; Sikkim ; Mar- gherita, Assam; Nongpoh, Khasi Hills, Assam, 1000-3000 ft., vi. 1905 ; also from Matang, Trusan, Klinhang, and Kuching (all Borneo).

This is the commonest Indian species, apparently.

50. Ptecticus anstralis, Sch.

Ptecticus austraKs, Schiner, Novara Reis., Dipt. p. 65 (1868) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 113 (1907).

<$ $ . Head : eyes in <S with upper facets very little larger than lower ones, no clear dividing-line, barely contiguous at point of nearest approach, and for a very short distance only ; frons widening gradually to vertex, shining black, with a few brown hairs; ocelli rather close together, ocellar triangle small, only slightly elevated; frontal triangle elongate, whitish yellow, bare (in one specimen a pair of dark oval spots in the middle placed longitudinally side by side) ; face, proboscis, and palpi orange- yellow, labella very large ; antennae orange, arista black ; occiput dark, very concave. In $ , frons comparatively narrow, dull brownish orange or blackish, shining. Thorax, scutellum,. and metanotum wholly orange, with very short coucolorous pubescence. Abdomen orange, normally with a transverse deep blue or violet band just behind anterior margin of first four segments, the bands sometimes not reaching the side-margins ; 5th segment mainly blue-black, except anterior margin ; the bands vary considerably in width, but generally have parallel edges ; in one $ the bauds are replaced by a pair of elongate transverse spots on each segment ; occasionally the last two or three segments are almost wholly violet or blackish ; genitalia in <S prominent, rather large, concolorous ; in 5 very small ; venter brownish yellow. Legs orange-yellow ; hind tibiaa all black ; hind tarsi wholly white ; anterior tarsi with brownish tips. Winys pale yellowish grey ; 1st veinlet from discal cell considerably bent downwards 'at or just before middle; 2nd nearly straight; 3rd foreshortened, near and parallel with 2nd ; posterior cross-vein absent, so that upper part of 5th vein is in punctiform contact with lower corner of discal cell ; halteres orange, knobs blackish.

LengtJt, 10-12 mm.

Described from several of each sex in the Indian Museum, Pusa and other collections : Kurseong, Darjiling Distr., 5000 ft., 4. vii. 1908 (Annandale); Soom, Darjiling Distr., 4000-5000 ft., 16. vi. 1914 (Gravel;/) ; Kalimpong, Darjiling Distr., 600-4500 ft., 24.iv.-10.v.l915 (Gravely) ; Sukna, N. Bengal, 500 ft., 1. vii. 1908 (Annandale) ; Kungpo, Sikkim, 1400 ft., 6. ix. 1909 ; various localities in Bengal, vii., ix. ; Pinjore, Patiala State, 17. vii. 1911 ; Calcutta, 23. vii. 1907 (Annandals) • Pollibetta, Coorg, S. India,

80 STBATIOMTIDJE.

15-25. v. 1914 (Fletcher) ; Coonoor, Nilgiri Hills, S. India, vi. 1912 (Capt. Sewell) ; Peradeniya, Ceylon, 26. vii. 1910; Margherita, Sadiya, Assam; Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 1917 (Kemp).

51. Ptecticus cingulatus, Liv., var. ceylonicus, nov.

Ptecticus cingulatus, Loew, Verb, zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, v, p. 143 ,(1855).

Allied to P. aurifer, Walk., except in the wings and genitalia. J $ . Head : frons shining black, with black pubescence, from vertex to point of nearest approach of eyes where they are almost actually contiguous ; frontal triangle lemon-yellow or orange- yellow ; rest of head as in aurifer. Thorax as in aurifer ; traces of three faint longitudinal dorsal stripes in some specimens. Abdomen orange, with a transverse oval black spot on each segment from the 2nd to the 5th, placed just behind fore border and quite clear of side and hind margins ; the spots larger in the $ , prac- tically placed on anterior margins, also reaching side-margins on 2nd segment. Genitalia quite differently constructed from those of aurifer and wulpii • much narrower, composed of a pair of two- jointed claspers and a large curved dorsal plate ending in a narrow style and two lamellae ; the organs placed sideways ; geuitalia in £ small, concealed. Legs orange, a brownish streak on outer side of hind femora which curves round to the upper side towards tip, where it dies away ; it is not at all conspicuous and is easily over- looked, yet it seems one of the principal characters of the species ; hind tibiae and hind metatarsi black ; 2nd and 3rd joints of latter whitish, remaining joints blackish ; anterior legs all orange, except the tips of the tarsi, which are a little browner. Wings uniformly pale yellowish grey ; 3rd veinlet from discal cell more strongly Insinuate than in aurifer. Length, 14-18 mm.

Described from 6 c? rf and 1 $ in the Indian Museum from Kandy, v-vii. 1910 ; Santi Koppa, N. Coorg, S. India, 4-9. v. 1914.

From the peculiar white 2nd and 3rd hind tarsal joints and the curved streak on the hind femora I am compelled to regard this form as cingulatus, Loew, as these characters do not appear in anv other species. From his description, however, I originally assumed the wing to be half yellow and half black, as in the aurifer group ; but it may perhaps be understood to mean yellowish brown at the base and in front, and the remainder more of a smutty brownish colour, although this does not properly agree with the wings in the above-described form. I have seen four specimens in the Sarawak Museum collection from Borneo that agree still more (apart from the same doubt as regards the wings) with Loew's description, as the black abdominal bands are of uniform width and actually reach the side-margins in all cases.

SA.RGUS. 81

Genus SARGUS, F.

s, Fabricius, Ent. S37st. Supp. pp. 549, 066 (1798) ; Brunetti, Rec. lud. Mus. i, p. 104 (1907).

GENOTYPE, Musca ciipraria, L. ; by designation of Latreille Consid. Gen. (1810).

Head hemispherical, attached to thorax by a slender neck, as wide as broadest part of thorax ; face slightly projecting, pu- bescent; ocelli placed well forward on vertex in a short isosceles triangle, equidistant in some species ; eyes bare, separated in c? by a narrow frons, wider apart in $ , upper facets in tf scarcely larger than lower ones. Antennae short, in profile placed below middle of head ; first two joints bristly, short, subequal ; 3rd joint shortly conical or roughly rounded, with four annula- tions ; arista subapical, long, bare, except at base. Thorax with anterior part oblong, widened towards base of wings, posterior part of dorsum rounded ; scutellum unarmed, usually concolorous with the metallic-green dorsum and bearing the same short pubescence. Abdomen much longer than thorax, with parallel sides or broader posteriorly, brilliantly shining metallic, the c? usually green or golden brassy, the $ more often blue or violet, moderately pubescent ; genitalia small. Legs simple, rather long and thin; metatarsi long. Wings generally longer than abdomen, over which they fold when at rest ; of the usual tStratiomyid type ; costal vein nearly reaching wing-tip ; anterior cross-vein connecting the prsefurca (instead of the 3rd vein) with the discal cell, thus creating the appearance of the 3rd vein being twice forked ; 4th vein with three terminations, barely or not reaching wing-margin ; posterior cross-vein distinct. Alar squarasB of moderate size, thoracic pair elongate, very prominent.

Range. World-wide.

Life-history. That of several European species is known, the larvae living in garden-mould, cow-dung, and in the elm.

Some attempt has been made to supplant the name tiargus on the ground of its being preoccupied, but the name is too old to be changed now. Verrall also disputes the validity of the alleged preoccupation.

Table of Species.

1. Wing's dark brown ; length 14-18 nun yemmifer, Walk.

Wings yellowish 2.

2. Legs all yellow metallinus, F.

Hind tibise with broad blackish basal band mactans, Walk.

2. Sargus genunifer, Walk.

Saryus gemmifer, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mas. iii, p. 516 (1840). Sanjus magnificus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (5) ix, p. '222 (1879) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 106 (1907).

c? $ . Head with frons, though very narrow, parallel-sided for

G

82

a considerable distance, widening gradually to vertical and frontal triaugles, with black hairs throughout its length ; upper part blue or violet, merging into green at its narrowest part, and thence to yellow on frontal triangle; antennae brownish orange: face brownish, with moderately dense yellow pubescence; proboscis brownish orange; occiput dark with marginal fringe of pale hairs. In $ , frons no wider than in <3 . Thorax in J brilliantly shining metallic green, with rather dense short yellow pubescence ; scutellum similar; front and hind corners of dorsum, and a stripe from shoulder to wing-base, brownish yellow ; sides of thorax almost wholly metallic green, with yellow pubescence and violet reflections. In $ , thorax deep blue, with soft white pubescence. Abdomen in c? brilliantly shining metallic cupreous green, with dense deep orange pubescence, winch is rather thicker towards sides ; venter darker or with violet tinge, shining, with pale yellow microscopic pubescence. In 5 , brilliant violet with a bronze tinge and white pubescence. Genitalia in rf consisting of a pair of orange-brown claspers and two upper short dark hairy cylindrical lamellae. Leys in <$ brownish orange ; posterior coxae shining blackish ; hind femora broadly at tips and hind tibia; broadly at base, blackish ; tarsi blackish on upper side, especially hind pair; all legs with minute pale pubescence. In $, legs all black, except brownish knees and underside of front tibiae ; tarsi with brown pubescence below. Wings distinctly brown, a little darker anteriorly ; venation normal ; halteres yellowish. Length, 17-18 mm.

Described from four d1 c? in the Indian Museum : Mergui, Tenasserim (Doherty) • Pyinmaua, Burma, vi. 1910 (//. L. Andrewes) ; Sylhet ; and one $ from Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 1500 ft., vii.1917 (Kemt>).

Easily known from all other Indian species by its great size and splendour. The Indian Museum specimens from Tenasserim were named by Bigot as his maytiifaus, but. I now feel sure they are synonymous with Walker's yemmifer, and possibly pubesccns, Wulp. may be another synonym.

53. Sargus metallimis, F. (PI. I, tigs. 22, 23.)

Sar</its metallinus, Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 258 (1805) ; Brunetti, liec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 106(1907); Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 30 (1830) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. liv, p. 265 (191 ]).

Saryus formica formis, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. xiv, p. 403, pi. iii, tig. 5 (1857).

Sargus paltipes, Bigot, Ann. Sue. Ent. France, (5) ix, p. 222 (1879).

c? $ . Head : frons in tf extremely narrow, with sparse greyish pubescence ; slightly wider towards vertex and distinctly broadening towards antenna? ; the upper narrower part varying from bronze to bright metallic green, the lower part brownish yellow or brownish : vertex with some brownish yellow hairs. In the $ , frons at its middle one-seventh width of head, distinctly

SABGUS. 83

though not greatly wider towards vertex and antennae ; varying from brilliant metallic violet-blue to bright green, bearing mode- rately dense grey pubescence on upper part, and more brownish about the middle ; above the antennae the frons takes the form of a large, bare, shining, pale yellow (sometimes brownish) callus. Pace and lower part of head, including proboscis, varying from brownish orange to pale yellowish, with light yellowish pu- bescence; occiput black ; postocular fringe whitish, continuous. Thorax with dorsum and scutellum brilliantly shining metallic green, bronze-green, or cupreous in <S , and bluish green or green in $ , with dense fiue yellow ( rf ) or whitish ( <J> ) pubescence ; pletirce concolorous, with shorter pubescence. Abdomen metallic shining yellowish bronze or cupreous in tf , violet or blue in $ , with dense though not conspicuous yellow pubescence towards sides in (5 , the dorsal region often nearly bare ; whole surface in $ with short white pubescence, a little longer towards sides ; venter generally dark brown or aeneous, shining, with microscopic pubescence. Legs pale yellow, with very short pale yellow ( d1 ) cr white ( $ ) pubescence. Wings pale yellowish grey or pale brownish, stigma a little darker; halteres pale yellowish or white.

Length, 9-10 mm.

Described from a considerable number of both sexes in the Indian Museum, Pusa, and Dehra Dun collections and my own. Common and widely distributed in India in May and July to October up to 5000 ft. ; also generally distributed in the East, Rangoon, Singapore (both Srunetti); Borneo, Java, Amboina, Aru Islands, Shanghai.

Bigot in 1887 described a second species, coming from North America, under the name pallipes.

54. Sargus mactans, Walk.

Saryus mactans, Walker, Proc. Liun. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 97 (1860) ; Bruuetti, Reo. Ind. Mus. i, p. 107 (1907) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. liv, p. 263 (1911).

cJ . Head with frons extremely narrow, the sides never parallel, widening gradually above and below from point of nearest approach, aeneous yellow or brassy, with yellow pubescence on vertical and frontal triangles ; ocelli at some distance below vertex, upper ones contiguous to eye-margins ; face, mouth- opening, and proboscis yellowish orange, with a little yellowish hair ; antennas orange ; occiput black, a fringe of whitish hairs on lower margin. Thorax with dorsum, pleurae, scutelluiu, and metanotum brilliantly shining cupreous green, with rather dense soft yellow pubescence, which becomes whitish on anterior margin of dorsum ; a shoulder-spot, a narrow stripe thence to wing-base, extending over upper part, of sternopleura, brownish or yellowish. Abdomen brilliantly shining cupreous, sometimes with a green tinge, with rather dense yellow pubescence towards and at sides,

G2

84 STKATIOMYID.?;.

the pubescence in the middle of the segments almost microscopic ; venter blackish, shining, with short soft yellow pubescence ; genitalia with a violet tinge, rather small, with two terminal, cylindrical, palp-like lamellae. Legs yellow, coxae more or less black at base, especially hind pair ; hind tibiae slightly constricted just beyond middle, with nearly basal half black; hind tarsi with tips dark ; all legs with minute bright yellow pubescence, which is longest on hind tibise. Wings uniformly yellowish grey ; stigma a little darker, brownish yellow ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 9-11 mm.

Described from several specimens in the Indian Museum : Bhim Tal, Kumaon, 4500 ft., 19-22. ix. 1906 (Annandale) ; Almora, Kumaon, 5500 ft,, 10-21. ix. 1911 (Paiva)- Shillong, 4900 ft., l.vi. 1918 (.K«o); Katmandu, Nepal. It occurs also in Ceylon and the Malay Archipelago.

A variety with a black streak on the posterior femora (two specimens)'was taken at Shillong, 5000 ft. (Fletcher) and 4900 ft,, 30. v. 191 8 (.Rao).

Genus CHLOROMYIA, Dune.

Chloromyia, Duncan, Mag. Zool. Bot. i, p. 164 (1837). Chrysomyia, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Ins. Dipt, i, p. 262 (1834). Myochrysa, Rondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, iv, p. 11 (1861). Myiochrysa, Verrall, apud Scudder, Nomeu. Zool. p. 204 (1882).

GENOTYPE, Musca formosa, Scop. ; by Verrall's designation (1909).

Differing from Sargus mainly in the densely pubescent eyes, which are contiguous for a considerable distance in the d , the upper facets larger than the lower ; and wide apart with equal- sized facets in the $ ; 3rd antennal joint longer than in Sargiis : abdomen rather broader also, especially in the $ ; venation rather more indistinct,

Range. Europe, South Africa, Asia, North America.

Life-history. The common C. formosa, Scop., of Europe, has been bred from garden-mould and from Jirassica rufa.

Some confusion has arisen over the generic names Chloi'om>/ia and Ghrysomyia (under which formosa was known in Europe for many years), which is concisely cleared up by Verrall (Brit. Flies, v, p. 1ST). Coquillett claimed designation of the same species as generic tvpe in 1910, presumably unaware of Verrall's priority.

55. Chloromyia sapphirina, DW/r.

tiaryus sapphirimts, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii, p. 519 (1^49).

" Body bright blue, tinged with purple ; head as broad as chest ; clypeus white ; eyes dark bronze ; mouth and feelers black ; chest and abdomen finely punctured, thinly clothed with short,

13RACITYCARA. 85

hoary hairs ; abdomen nearly elliptical, a little broader and longer than the chest ; legs blue, clothed with short hoary hairs; shanks and feet piceous ; shanks pale yellow beneath ; wings colourless ; wing-ribs and veins dark tawny ; poisers pale tawny. Length of the body 4 lines, of the wings 7 lines.

"East Indies. From Archdeacon Clerk's collection. In the British Museum."

Though described from the East Indies, it is probably from East India.

Genus BRACHYCARA. Thorns. Brachycara, Thomson, Eug. Eesa, p. 460 (1868) (1869).

GENOTYPE, Brucliycara ventralis, Thorns.

Very near Cliloromyia. Head slightly narrower than thorax, nearly hemispherical ; face not prominent, convex ; mouth- opening large ; proboscis short, labella broad ; eyes bare. Antennae short, 3rd joint almost transverse, obconical, a little shorter than 2nd, six-ringed, last two annulations abruptly narrower. Thorax with humeri distinct. ; scutellum semicircular, unspined. Abdomen oval, broader than thorax, 8-segmented ; last three segments narrower, retracted. Legs moderately strong, slightly pubescent ; anterior coxae small, subovate, very little distant from middle pair ; hind pair subtriangular ; femora clavate fusiform ; tibiae hardly shorter than femora, unspurred ; tarsi hardly longer than tibiae, 1st joint longer than the remaining joints together. Wings longer than abdomen.

Range. B. ventraHs is the only species.

56. Brachycara ventralis, Thorns.

Brachycara ventralis, Thomson, Eug. Resa, p. 461 (1869) ; Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 104 (1907).

c? $ . Head shining, with silvery-white pubescence, thicker below ; frontal triangle shining black, a small subtriangular white spot contiguous to each eye ; irons with a median furrow ; eyes in 3 broadly contiguous, bare ; proboscis yellowish white ; antennae brown, yellow in middle. Thorax and scutellum black, with depressed pubescence, which is golden brown and almost scale-like on the humeri ; a narrow line on mesopleurae whitish yellow. Abdomen yellowish red, a basal and apical blackish- brown spot ; venter wholly shining yellowish red, with very short pubescence. Wings subhyaline, veins yellow ; halteres pale yellow, clubs large. Legs yellowish red, all the tarsi and tips of hind tibiae blackish brown.

Length, 5 mm.

Cocos-Keeling Islands.

The foregoing is a translation of Thomson's description,

86 STBATIOMYID^B.

Genus PROSOPOCHRYSA, Meij. Prosopochrysa, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. 1, p. 220 (1907).

GENOTYPE, Chrysochlora vitripennis, Dol. ; by original de- signation.

Near Microclirysa. Eyes bare, narrowly separated in d , facets of equal size ; occipital orbit extremely narrow ; frons prominent ; antennae rather short, 1st and 2nd joints subequal, 3rd as long as first two together, with four annulations, the 4th the smallest, pubescent ; arista practically apical. Thorax and abdomen sub- equally long, latter 5-segmented ; scutellum unarmed. Third vein simple, 2nd nearly erect ; discal cell 5- sided, only two veinlets issuing from it ;' the 3rd absent, and 3rd and 4th posterior cells therefore united.

Range. India, Java.

The absence of the 3rd veinlet from the discal cell might make the species appear to belong to the PACHYGASTRINVE, but in that subfamily the fifth posterior cell is in full contact with the discal, through the posterior cross-vein being absent.

57. Prosopochrysa vitripennis, Dol.

Chri/sochlora vitripennis, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. x, p. 408,

pi. xi, fig. 2 (1856). Microchrysa albitarsis, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. viii, p. 156 (1913).

c? $ . Head of tf with upper part of frons shining black or dark green, very elongate, and narrowed to point of nearest approach of eyes; below this point broad and prominent, brilliantly shining blue or violet ; head below antennae metallic bronze-green, \\ith black or dark brown pubescence; cheeks

Fig. 5. — Prosopochrysa vitripe-nnis, Dol., lateral view of head.

white-haired ; proboscis black ; occipital orbit very narrow, black, with whitish grey shimmer. Antennae wholly brown, sometimes 1st joint blackish, 2nd and 3rd yellowish; latter with four annulations ; arista long, practically apical, a little thickened basally where there are a few hairs on underside. In ? , frons

PROSOPOCH HYSA . — M ICIIOCHBYSA . 87

one-fifth width of head, slightly tinged with blue, brilliant violet immediately above anteuriae. Thorax punctate, wholly brilliantly shining metallic blue or blue-green, with very short whitish pubescence. Abdomen metallic black or dark bronze-green, with very short sparse whitish pubescence, which is a little longer round margin and tip ; venter darker, nearly black. Legs black, with microscopic pubescence ; all the tarsi yellowish white except

Fig. 6. — Prosopochrysa vitripeimis, Pol., wing.

at tips. Wings clear, veins and stigmatic region yellowish ; 3rd vein simple, straight, ending at some distance before wing- tip ; halteres apple-green.

Length, 5 mm.

Redescribed from two c? d1 and three $ $ in the Indian Museum, and some in the Pusa collection.

Genus MICROCHRYSA, Lw.

Microchrt/sa, Loew, Verb. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, v, p. 146 (1855) ;

Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 103 (1907). Clorisoma, Eondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 168 (1856). Chlorosia, Rondarii, op. cit. iv,p. 11 (1861).

G-ENOTYPE, Musca polita, L. (Europe) ; by original designation.

Head broader than thorax, face small, slightly pubescent ; occiput concave in J , posterior eye-orbits distinct in $ ; ocelli equidistant ; eyes bare, in d1 contiguous, upper facets larger than lower ones, in $ widely separated, facets equal in size. Antennae of typical Sargid form, 3rd joint with four annulations, arista practically apical. Thorax longer than broad, slightly wider behind, shining metallic, with short dense inconspicuous pu- bescence. Abdomen very short, rounded, shining ; pubescence extremely short, though sometimes dense. Legs simple, tibiae sometimes slightly dilated apically. Wings of normal Sargid type, terminations of 4th vein less parallel ; thoracic squamae more normally shaped than in Saryus, pubescent.

Ln all minor characters mainly as in Sargits.

Itange. Europe, Asia, South Africa, North and South America.

Life-history. The common M. polita, L., of Europe, seems to breed freely in cow-dung and decaying vegetable matter.

M. ca1oj>a differs from M.jlaviventris, in which the abdomen is imicolorous, by a narrow pale border along the sides and tip,

STRA.TIOMYM>.E.

58. Microchrysa flaviventris, \V\ed.

Sargusflaviventris, Wiedemann, Anal. Ent. p. 31 (1824). Microchrysa Jlaviventris, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 103 (1907). Sargus affinis, Wiedemaun, luc. cit. ; Brunetti, loc. eit. Chrysornyia annulipes, Thomson, Eugen. Resa, p. 461 (1869). Microchrysa gemma, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (f>) ix, p. 231 (1879) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 103 (1907).

c? $ . Head in <$ , vertex black, shining, with a few black hairs ; ocelli distinct, red ; e3res contiguous for rather more than half the distance from vertex to frontal triangle ; upper facets bright brown, much larger than the blackish lower ones ; frons blackish, with a few short pale hairs ; face brilliantly shining metallic green, bare ; proboscis and palpi rather bright yellow ; antenna? pale yellow, with 1st and 2nd joints subequal, 3rd rather longer than 2nd, with pale yellow arista ; occiput black, very concave ; no definite postocular orbit. In $ , frons forming one-third of the head, rather broader at vertex, brilliantly shining metallic blue-green, carried over the vertex to the blackish occiput and bearing a little short grey pubescence ; remainder as in J . Thorax brilliantly shining metallic green, with very sparse pale yellow pubescence on dorsum and parts of the pleurae ; scutellnm similarly coloured. Abdomen in c? brownish yellow, varying to a little lighter or more reddish individually, with microscopic pale yellow pubescence, 5th segment blackish ; venter yellowish, often more or less marked with black. In 5 , brilliantly shining green, with microscopic pale yellow pubescence ; venter generally brownish, sometimes yellowish or even metallic green. Legs pale yellow ; hind femora with broad median brown band and hind tibia? with broad apical band, both bands sometimes much paler. Wings colourless ; veins and the rather large stigma pale yellow ; halteres yellow.

Length, 3^-4 mm.

Described" from a considerable number of both sexes in the Pusa and Indian Museum collections and from other sources from many parts of India, dated March and from June to October. Also from Peradeniya, Ceylon, 15. vii. 1910 ; Java (Jacobson) ; Sibu, Sarawak, 2. vii. 1910 (Beebe). I have taken it myself in Mussoorie and Darjiling. Common and widely distributed in India and the East. Van der "Wulp records it from Papua.

M. affinis, Wied., from East India, and M. gemma, Big., from Ceylon, are probably synonyms.

59. Microchrysa calopa, Bnm.

Microchrysa calopa, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 453 (1912),

$ . Head with frons broad, bright metallic green on vertex, changing insensibly to brilliant violet-blue just above antenna), with very short pale yellow pubescence ; face metallic green ; oral opening brown ; eyes dark brown, the upper corners rounded off,

UEBINJE. 89

thus widening the vertex considerably : occiput dark ; antennae pale yellow, tip of 3rd joint, which has a slight reddish tinge, shortly pubescent ; 1st and 2nd joints with one or two micro- scopic hairs. Thorax with dorsum brilliant metallic green, with very short pale yellow pubescence ; venter similarly coloured and pubescent, sharply delimited from the dorsum by a narrow yellow side-ridge at the level of the Avings ; posterior calli yellowish. Scutellum and metanotum brilliant green, the former with pale yellow hairs and yellow underside. Abdomen dorsally violet, not intense, shining, and with a bluish tinge in certain lights, with pale yellow pubescence ; the colour covers all the surface except a narrow, irregular, yellow border round the edges ; venter yellow, shortly pubescent. Legs wholly yellow, except a broad brown ring on distal half of hind femora, and the blackish hind meta- tarsus. Wings clear, stigmatic area pale yellow ; halteres deep yellow.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from two $ $ in good condition in the Indian Museum, from Margherita, Assam, arid Paresnath, Chota Nagpur, 4400 ft., v. 1909 (Dr. Jenkins).

Subfamily BERING.

Head semicircular ; eyes large and prominent, bare or hairy ; antennae with 3rd joint moderately elongate and more or less cylindrical, but not conspicuously so, with eight annulations and no apical style or arista. Thorax roughly oblong; scutellum generally with four or six marginal spines, occasionally eight, and in individuals an odd number may occur ; pubescence of thorax continued over spines. Abdomen with at least seven obvious seg- ments, longer than thorax, dorsum flattened, sides approximately parallel. Leys simple, moderately strong; 1st joint of hind tarsi generally dilated in tf ; spurs on middle tibize in rare cases.*5 Wings not of the normal Stratiomyid type, all the veins, except an occasionally obviously abortive one, running out to wing-margin : 2nd vein short, beginning opposite base of discal cell, ending near tip of 1st ; 3rd vein forked, both branches ending before wing- tip; 4th vein with only two terminations (as in PACHYGASTRIN.E), as the 5th vein forms the hinder side of the discal cell ; posterior cross-vein therefore absent ; anal cell closed at some distance from wing-border ; squamse small.

This subfamily is easily distinguished from all others except XYLOMTTKYE by the 7-segmented abdomen and by the anterior veins not being crowded together ; whilst from the XYLOMYIN;E it is separated by the 2nd vein (prffifurca) originating opposite the base of the discal cell instead of at some considerable distance before it, also by the open 4th posterior cell. Their usually

* Acanthomyia. for instance, a European genus.

90 STKATIOMYID.E.

aeneous or metallic colour also renders them conspicuous, and though in this they resemble the SABGIN-E, the latter are always easily known by the anterior cross-vein connecting the discal cell with the praefurca instead of with the 3rd vein. The frequently dilated hind metatarsus in the cJ is & further character of the BERING.

The life-histories of a few European species are known, but not that of Bens. That of Chorisops tibialis has been described by Handlirsch. The larvae live in the earth and decaying matter.

Table of Genera.

Scutellum unspined AM.OONOSTA, Ost.-Sack., p. 93.

Scutellum spined.

Palpi minute or obsolete ; eyes con- tiguous in cJ " BERIS, Latr.. p. 90.

Palpi rather long ; eyes not con- tiguous in rf CHORISOPS, Rond., p. 92.

Genus BERIS, Latr.

lierit, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. iii, p. 447 (1802). Oplacantha, Itondani, Arch. Zool. Modena, iii, p. 87 (1863). He.racantha, Lioy, Atti 1st. Yen. (3) ix, p. 586 (1864). Octacantha, Lioy, loc. cif.

GENOTYPE, Musca clialybeata, Forst., as Stratiomys 6-dentata, F. (Europe) ; by original designation.

Head almost semicircular, transverse, as broad as thorax ; face short, pubescent ; eyes large, contiguous in tf (with rare excep- tions), wide apart in $ , densely hairy in tf , upper facets larger than lower, less hairy in $ with all equal facets. Proboscis well developed, palpi rudimentary. Antennae porrect, nearly as long as head; two basal joints short, subeqnal, bristlv; 3rd elongate with eight annulations, the first and last being the longest. Tlwrax rather arched, closely pubescent in <5 , less so in $ ; scutellum with four to eight spines bearing pubescence (occasion- ally an odd number in individuals). Abdomen hardly broader than thorax, flattened, sides nearly parallel, at least 7-segmented ; genitalia more developed than in the other subfamilies. Legs simple, of moderate si/.e ; hind metatarsus dilated in <$ and elongate in both sexes. Wings longer than abdomen, not of the typical Stratioinyid nature; anterior veins not crowded together, all veins distinct and generally reaching wing-margin ; 2nd vein rather short, enclosing the conspicuous large dark stigma ; 3rd vein rather widely forked, both branches ending before wing-tip ; 4th vein with only two terminations and occasionally an abortive third ; posterior cross-vein absent as upper branch of 5th vein forms hinder side of discal cell ; anal cell closed at some distance from border of wing. Alar squamae of moderate size ; thoracic ones undeveloped.

BERIS. 91

Range. Europe, Orient, Australia, North and South America.

Life-history. The European B. chalybeata has been bred from moss, but the metamorphoses of the genus are not well known. The perfect insects prefer marehy situations, but are generally distributed. Col. Yerbury records the males of some British species as performing a rather wild aerial dance.

The two Indian species of Berts are easily distinguished : —

Legs mainly dark brown yeniculata, Curt.

Legs yellow ; femora and hind tibiaa with brown bands, annulipes, Brun.

60. Beris genicnlata, Curt.

Beris geniculata, Curtis, Brit. Ent. via, p. 337 (1830).

c? $ . Head : frons in <$ rather large, shining black, with a de- pressed median channel on upper part ; face and lower part of head shining black ; frons and face with rather dense blackish-brown pubescence ; vertex wholly occupied by the considerably elevated ocellar triangle, bearing blackish-brown hairs; proboscis black, labella orange, palpi black ; eyes contiguous for a considerable dis- tance, with dense blackish-brown pubescence on front part, less dense on rest of surface, facets of upper half much larger than the others ; antenna? black ; 3rd joint not quite twice as long as the 1st and 2nd put together,* gr-eyish on inner side about the middle, tapering to tip after about 3rd or 4th annulation, extreme tip with two or three minute bristles. In $ , frons nearly one-third of head, shining black, as is the face, both with short pale pubescence ; eyes with very short pubescence. Thorax and scutellum metallic shining green or blue-green, the former dis- tinctly punctate except towards hind margin; scutellum impunc- tate ; both with rather dense blackish pubescence, which is less dense on scutellum ; the latter with eight shining green spines (normally in European specimens only six). In the $ , pubescence on dorsum of thorax pale and short, rather depreised. Abdomen very dark brown, nearly black, with rather long pubescence towards sides, which is brownish in tf , pale yellowish and much shorter in $ ; venter shining brown ; genitalia rather small. Legs very dark brown, tips of femora narrowly orange ; base of tibia? orange to about one-third on anterior legs and to a quarter on hind pair ; anterior metatarsi pale, rest of tarsi black, hind metatarsi pale, considerably and equally dilated throughout their length except at base and tips, longer than four remaining joints together, the latter black. Wings brown, costal cell a little paler ; stigma large, dark brown, oval ; in $ wings clearer ; halteres brownish orange.

Length, 4—5 mm.

* A slight error as to the length of the 3rd autennal joint seems to have crept into Yen-all's usually scrupulously correct writings, as he contradicts himself in the tahle ot species and the description. The discrepancy may not be important.

02 8TRATIOMTIDJ5.

Described from a J and two $ $ in the Indian Museum taken by me at Darjiling, 6900ft., 2.x. 1908.

Whether this species is the true B. geniculata of Curtis is not, quite certain, as though it agrees in practically all other points, the difference in the width of the frons in the $ is important : less than one-fourth the width of the head in true yeniculata and nearly one-third in the present form. My specimens are also distinctly a size smaller, 4-5 mm. against about 6. B. genieulafa, Curt., is recorded from Central and Southern Europe.

61. Beris annulipes, Brun.

Beris annulipes, Brunetti, Itec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 455 (1912).

$ . Head with frons nearly one-fourth the width of the head : brilliantly shining, dark blue, uniformly wide ; occiput shining black, with a little grey hair on posterior ocular orbits ; eyes very shortly but distinctly pubescent ; proboscis reddish yellow. An- tennae with first two joints black, with bristly hairs ; 3rd joint yellowish on basal, black on apical half ; a little grev hair about the base of the antennae. Thorax brilliantly shining violet-blue, with yellow pubescence on dorsum ; scutellum brilliantly shining peacock (greenish) blue, with six strong equidistant shining darker green spines on hind margin. Abdomen violet, moderately shining, sides with brownish yellow pubescence ; venter darker, with short yellow hairs. Legs yellow ; tips of anterior femora with an indis- tinct brown band; hind femora and tibiae with u distinct broad brown apical band on each ; tarsi marked extensively with brown. Wings grey, upper part (except costal cell), as far hindwards as to include the anterior basal and first posterior cells, brown ; halteres yellow.

Length, 6J mm.

Described from one example taken by me at Darjiling, 7000 ft., 27. v. 1910 ; in the Indian Museum.

Genus CHORISOPS, Uond.

CJiorisops, Rondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 173 (1856). Clilontopn, Brauer, Denks. Ak. Wien, xliv, p. 72 (1882).

GENOTYPE, Beris tibialis, Mg. ; by original designation.

Differing from Beris by the palpi being elongate, as long as proboscis, and the eyes in the d distinctly though rather narrowly separated. Eyes bare in both sexes. Scutellum with four yellowish spines. Genitalia in c? very protruding. Hind tibife incrassaled after the base, especially in d1 . Wings with 3rd vein more shortly forked ; 4th vein with an abortive 3rd termination ; lower branch of 5th vein much curved, closing anal cell far before the wing- border ; stigma very distinct.

Range. Europe, India, Chile.

CHOBI80PS. ALLOGNOSTA. 93

Life-history. The metamorphoses of C. tibialis have been well described by Handlirsch.*

02. Chorisops tibialis, %.

Beris tibialis, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. ii, p. 3, pi. xii, fig. 8 (1820). Chorisops tibialis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 456 (1912). Actina hyaUventris, A. Costa, II Giamb. Vico Napoli, ii, p. 455 (1857).

d1 $ . Head : irons shining in tf , blue-black or dark green, one- eighth width of head at vertex, narrowing to half that width on lower half; in $ about one-fifth of head at vertex, slightly narrow- ing downwards, greenish black; vertex with black hairs, frons with pale pubescence ; face shining white ; proboscis dull orange, palpi yellowish, porrect, distinct; eyes bare, facets all equal. Antennas rather longer than head (longer still in $ ), brownish black, pale below towards base, variable ; 3rd joint 8-annulated. Thorax and scutellum brilliant shining green, finely punctate, with fine yellow pubescence ; pleurae with pale pubescence, middle part of mesopleura bare ; scutellar spines yellow, with a long apical hair (besides other hairs); humeri yellowish in $. Abdomen black, moderately shining, more or Jess yellowish on the disc (especially in the $ ), including generally the greater part of the 3rd and 4th segments ; pubescence short and dark ; pale yellow at sides down to 4th segment ; venter more yellowish than dorsum ; genitalia very distinct, and protruding, connected with last abdo- minal segment by a short neck. Legs yellow to dull orange : tarsi blackish from tip of 1st joint ; hind femora brownish yellow, variable ; hind tibiae mainly blackish brown, considerably incras- sated after the base ; hind tarsi rather short, 1st joint incrassate, as long as remaining joints together ; pubescence of legs pale yellow ; 5 with legs paler than in the d . Wings with a faint brown suffusion ; stigma large, dark brown, sometimes paler in 2 ; halteres yellow, with large knobs.

Length, 6 mm.

The above description is abridged from Verrall.t

Binsar, Kuinaon Distr., W. Himalayas, 28, v. 1912 (Dr. A. D. Itnms).

Genus ALLOGNOSTA, 0. S.

Alloynosta, Osteu-Sacken, Berl. Ent. Zeits. xxvii, p. 297 (1883). Metoponia, Loew (nee Macq.), Dipt.-Faun. Siidafr. i, p. 1 (1860).

GENOTYPE, Beris fuscitarsis, Say ; by designation of Coquillett, 1910.

cJ $ . Head transverse, rather flattened, as broad as thorax ; eyes contiguous in d* ; frons in $ rather prominent, convex (in assar.iensis), between one-third and one-fourth width of head. Antennas set at middle of head in profile ; scapal joints subequal,

* Yerh.iool.-bot. Ges. Wieu, xxxiii, p. 243 (1883). t British Flies, Stratiomyidte, &c., v, p. 214 (1909).

94 STRATIOMTID.S:.

cylindrical, 3rd with eight annulations, 1st the largest, about as large as 2nd scapal joint, remainder annular, slightly narrowing in width towards tip. Proboscis and palpi short, latter not extend- ing beyond epistonia. Thorax subquadrate, corners rather angular, rather broader behind. Scutellum fully semicircular, convex, unarmed. Abdomen longer and slightly wider than thorax, ovate, with tip rather pointed, 8-segmented ; geuitalia small. Leys simple, moderately long and strong. Wings with normal Berid venation ; 2nd vein rather sharply upturned towards tip ; anterior branch of 3rd vein nearly erect ; only three endings to 4th vein ; discal cell large, hexagonal ; anterior cross-vein just beyond base, posterior cross-vein at about the middle ; anal cell large, closed a long way before border.

Ranye. Europe, India, America.

Ho previous description of the genus appears to have been given. Loew placed certain new species in what he took to be Metoponia, Macq., but Osteii-Sacken in pointing out his mistake merely renamed Metoponia, Lw., as AUognosta, without character- ising it, as he had no specimens available of the genus at the time. *

In A. vayans the legs are all black except at the knees; in A. assamensis the anterior femora and middle tibiae are yellow.

63. Allognosta vagans, Lw. (PI. I, figs. 25, 26.)

Metoponia vayans, Loew, Besch. Europ. Dipt, iii, p. 71 (1873). Alloynosta inermis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 455 (]912).

J . Head with vertex very small, occupied by the three ocelli ; eyes with uniform, very small facets, bare, contiguous; frons an equilateral triangle, moderately large, blackish seen from above, but with grey reflections viewed from other directions ; occiput blackish. Antennae black, normal, as in Beris ; the 3rd joint with seven annular impressions, appearing as if composed of eight closely compressed joints. Palpi and proboscis black; the under- side of the large labella yellowish. Thorax &\\A scutellum blackish, with a slight aeneous tinge, microscopically roughened, and with microscopic yellow hairs ; the anterior margin and shoulders with ;i very little short yellowish hair, which extends also over the pleurae to some extent. Scutellum unspined, with microscopic yellow hairs. Abdomen dull black, barely shining, the sides with very short yellow hairs; venter similar, with very minute yellow hairs. Genitalia consisting of a pair of blackish, fairly thick claspers, each with a small narrow appendage ; there being also an upper pair of yellow, hairy, linger-like appendages. Leys black, the knees distinctly but not broadly yellowish brown ; pulvilli pale yellowish. Wings blackish brown ; stigma large, well defined, brown ; halteres black.

* As to the supposed identity of Metoponia, Macq.. aiid Metoponia, Lw., see Bruiietti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 455.

AlLOGKO&TA. 95

Length, 44 mm.

Described" from a unique r? in the Indian Museum taken by me at Darjiling, 7000 ft., 29. v. 1910. I found the species not uncommon at Hankow, China, 22-26. iv. 1906.

64. Allognosta assamensis, sp. nov.

$ . Head as broad as thorax ; frons very retreating, slightly swollen on upper corners, where it projects above eyes in profile, forming half width of head, black, shining, parallel-sided, closely punctulate, and with almost microscopic brownish pubescence ; lower part smooth, vertical triangle small and low; ocelli incon- spicuous ; face as broad as frons, sides parallel, shining black, bare ; two large, dull grey tomentose spots placed diagonally just below base of antennae, their upper corners nearly touching; proboscis brownish black, palpi black, rather long ; occiput black; eyes bare, small, only a little over half height of head ; posterior orbits on upper half only, rapidly diminishing and disappearing at about middle of eye. Antennae placed below middle of head in profile ; first two joints subequal, cylindrical, pale yellow; 3rd with eight anuulations, 1st annulation broadest and longest; basal part of fiagelluin brownish yellow, gradually becoming blackish at tip. Thorax subquadrate, barely wider behind, front corners rather angular, hind corners cut away by the very distinct brown posterior calli ; dorsum thickly punctnlate, with very short soft yellowish- brown pubescence; the moderate-sized semicircular scutellumand the pleura similarly clothed, black ; a broad yellowish-white stripe on upper part of latter from anterior margin to wing-base; meta- notuin small, dull brown. Abdomen 8-segmented, practically bare ; 1st and 2nd segments almost coalescent, 6th distinctly narrower than 5th, and the 7th and 8th narrower than 6th ; all blackish brown, or even slightly violet-tinged; middle half of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd yellowish (the pale part probably variable in extent); venter mainly yellowish, but blackish at sides and tip. Legs mainly yellow; apical three-fourths of front tibiae and all front tarsi, last three joints of middle tarsi, apical half of hind femora, hind tibiae (except narrowly at base), and last two joints of hind tarsi black. Wings pale smoke-grey, a very little darker at tip ; stigma large, black, conspicuous, clearly demarcated and filling all marginal cell except extreme tip, which is slightly yellowish, as is also the costa for a very short distance at this point : 1st submarginal cell practically clear, except at the very narrow base and extreme tip, thus in striking contrast to the dark contiguous stigma ; extreme base of wing clear; 5th and 6th veins yellow, remtu'nder dark brown ; halteres with stem yellowish white, clubs large, oval, black.

Length barely 5 mm.

Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from above Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 3500-3900 ft., viii. 1917 (Kemp).

96 STRATIOMYIDJ:.

Subfamily XYLOMYIN^.

Head with eyes separated iu both sexex ; face depressed in middle ; palpi elongate and upturned ; antennal 3rd joint elongate, with eight annulations and generally a minute apical bristle. Thorax practically bare, subquadrate ; scutellum unspined. Abdo- men of 7 to 9 segments, elongate, longer than thorax, with nearly parallel sides ; genitalia of d conspicuous. Legs moderately long and stout, bare or nearly so, hind femora often incrassate or spinose below ; posterior tibiae with two spurs. Wings not of the normal Stratiomyid type, all the veins reaching wing-margin, the anterior veins not crowded together ; 2nd vein (praefurca) originating some distance before base of discal cell, the latter much more elongate than in any other subfamily ; costal vein complete, ambient vein present for at least some further distance ; 3rd vein with an elongate fork, lower branch ending at about wing-tip ; 4th vein with three terminations ; 4th posterior cell closed near wing-border, a special character of this subfamily ; five posterior cells ; posterior cross- vein normally present, but in some species the contact of upper branch of 5th vein with discal cell is practically punctiform, in which case cross-vein absent ; alar squama? very small, thoracic squamae absent.

The XYLOMYIN^ resemble the BERINJG more than any other sub- family, and the principal distinguishing characters are given under BEHIND. Further characters of the XYLOMYI^^E are the depressed face, the much more elongate discal cell, the unspined scutellum, the non-metallic or aeneous nature of the species, and the undilated metatarsus in the <S • They are mostly yellow, somewhat Ichneu- mon-like flies, and sparsely pubescent.

Genus XYLOMYIA, Rond.

Xylomya, Roiidani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, iv, p. 11 (1861). Siibula, Megerle in Meigen, Syst. Besch. ii, p. 15 (1820). Solva, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Loud, iv, p. 98 (1860). Macroceromys, Bi<rot,Bull. Soc. Ent. France, (o) vii, p. Ixxiii (1877). Subulaomyia, Williston, Mail. N. Amer. Dipt. p. 43 (1896). Xylomyia, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. i, p. 217 (1907).

GENOTYPE, Xylomyia is a uom. nov. for Subula, Mg., of which Eondani gave varia, Meg. in Mg., as type.

Head transverse, as wide as thorax ; frons flush with eyes or slightly depressed ; face distinctly depressed about the middle ;

Fig. l.—Xyloiiiyiu, antenna.

eyes bare, well separated in <$ , still more so in $ ; proboscis prominent ; palpi 2-jointed, cylindrical, rather long, directed upwards. Antennae elongate, as long as or longer than liead ; first

XYLOMYIA. 97

two joints short, subequal, 3rd with eight anuulations and usually a very small apical bristle. Thorax oval and subquadrate, slightly arched ; seutellum uns pined. Abdomen longer than thorax and about as wide, 7-segmented ; genitalia distinct. Legs rather long, simple, except for the slight incrassation of the femora, especially the hind pair, which are considerably thickened in some species and often with a row of small spines on underside ; posterior tibiae with two spurs. Wings longer than abdomen, not of the normal Stratiomyid type ; veins riot crowded together anteriorly, all distinct and attaining wing-margin ; costal vein reaching wing- tip ; ambient vein present for some distance ; 2nd vein beginning distinctly before base of discal cell, 3rd vein originating shortly after, the fork elongate, the lower branch ending at wing-tip ; discal cell much more elongate than in any other subfamily ; 4th vein with three terminations, the lowest one closing the 4th pos- terior cell at wing-border ; posterior cross-vein very short or absent ; anal cell closed distinctly but not considerably before wing-border ; alar squamae small, thoracic pair absent.

Fig. 8. — Xylomyia, wing.

Range. Europe, the Orient, North, Central, and South America, Canary Isles, and Natal.

Life-history. Larva amphipneustic (though Lundbeck doubts if it is truly so), broad, brown, leatliery, with parallel sides, upper and lower surfaces with bristles placed transversely on segments, 12-segmented, including head, which is broadly conical; mouth- parts normally Stratiomyid ; last body-segment semicircular; orifice of respiratory chamber forming posterior extremity of body. It lives in old trees or decaying wood.

Xylomyia is a genus of yellow and black, rather Ichneumon-like flies, with considerable outward resemblance to Xylophagus (LEPTID./E), but the closed 4th posterior cell will easily distinguish them. The species seem to be much rarer in the adult than in the larval stage. Solva, Walker, antedates Xylotnyia by one year, but as the subfamily name is constructed from the latter it should be retained.

Table of Species.

Leg's practically wholly yellow ; length, 4 mm. . . flavipes, Uol. Legs with distinct dark bands or markings ; length,

9-11 mm. Hind tibice yellow, tips broadly black ; length,

9 mm calopodata, Big.

Hind tibire black, upperside pale at base ; leugtli,

11 mm , nigricornis, sp. nov

H

65. Xylomyia flavipes, Dol.

Subidajlavipes, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. lud. xvii, p. 85 (1858). Xylomyia flavipes, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 87 (1907).

Head with irons one-sixth width of head, barely \vider on lower ]>art than at vertex, black, with a little bright yellow pubescence and some whitish pubescence just above antennae ; face black, with a little whitish pubescence, more conspicuous near eye- margius ; occiput black, practically bare ; antennae and palpi wholly orange-yellow. Thorax black, dorsum and pleura3 with very short yellow pubescence, minutely punctulate ; humeri and a ridge thence to wing-base, also the scutellum bright yellow. Abdomen yellow, punctulate like thorax ; a large dark blackish- brown spot on each segment, leaving only the sides and hind margin of each narrowly pale ; genitalia very small ; venter much as dorsum, but the yellow of gi-eater extent. Legs yellow, extreme tip of underside of hind femora very dark brown. Winys nearly clear ; venation normal, veins brown ; halteres yellow.

Length, 4 mm.

Described from several specimens in the Pusa collection from Chapra, Beiigal (Mackenzie).

66. Xylomyia calopodata, Mg.

Subula calopodata, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Eut. France, (5) ix, p. 195

(1879). Xylomyia calopodata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. i, p. 87 (1907).

Head with frons above antennae one-fourth width of head, a little narrower at vertex, black, with grey or yellowish grey pubescence ; ocellar triangle slightly elevated, rather large, black ; ocelli yellowish ; face apparently dark, with a little whitish

E1 scence ; labella very large, dark reddish brown ; palpi very and prominent, sharply upturned, hiding all the face, bright rt' ; occiput dark, grey-dusted, with a friuge of whitish pubescence, which dies away on upper margin and is longest on lower part ; antennae dark brown, underside, especially on basal half, yellowish. Thorax black, slightly shining, closely punctulate, with minute black bristles and very short yellowish-grey pubes- cence, which also covers the greater part of the pleurae ; humeri prominent, bright yellow, with a ridge thence to wing-base ; scutellum yellowish ; metanotum black. Abdomen black, slightly shining : closely punctulate, with minute black bristles and soft short yellow pubescence ; hind margin of each segment except 1st narrowly but distinctly yellow, bare and shining ; venter similar ; genitalia rather small. Legs bright yellow, with microscopic pale pubescence, tips of femora (and for a rather greater distance on underside) also very narrowly at base, tips of hind tibiae broadly, anterior tarsi on apical half, and hind tarsi entirely black. Wings

XTLOMTIA. 99

clear, highly iridescent ; venation normal, veins dark brown ; halteres yellow.

Lenyth, 9 mm.

Described from a single specimen in the Indian Museum, from Xaini Tal, W. Himalayas, 6000 ft., 5. vi. 1909 ; a second speci- men from Shillong, 5000 ft. (Fletcher}.

67. Xylomyia nigricornis, sp. nov.

$ . Head with irons gradually widening from vertex to aboVe antennae, where it is barely one-fifth the width of the head, wholly covered with yellowish pubescence, except immediately above antennas, where the pubescence is yellowish white ; vertex dark grey tomentose, with golden-yellow pubescence ; ocelli not very conspicuous ; face with nearly parallel sides, fractionally wider than lower part of frons, black, with greyish or yellowish grey pubescence : inner margin of eye slightly cut away a little above antenna?, at a spot where there is a peculiar and conspicuous shining, black, smooth, elongate, triangular space devoid of facets ; antennae blackish brown, a little pale about inner and under side ot 2nd scapal and 1st flagellar joints ; proboscis orange-brown; palpi bright lemon-yellow, very large and erect, nearly hiding the face ; occiput grey-tomentose, with some golden-yellow hairs on margin, and longer ones just behind vertex. Thorax black, thickly punctulate, with black bristles ; seen from the front only there are three longitudinal stripes of almost microscopic golden-yellow pubescence ; humeri conspicuous, bright yellow, a thin dull yellow line thence to wing-base ; hind corners of dorsum margined with brown ; pleurae black, closely punctulate, with black bristles and very short whitish pubescence ; scutellum bright lemon-yellow, witli lemon-yellow bristles, the base narrowly black ; metanotum black. Abdomen distinctly 7-segmented, 1st and 2nd scarcely separable except by the fringe of hairs on hind border of 1st; 1st segment orange-yellow, hind border broadly black : 2nd orange- yellow, with a large round black spot in middle just clear of the margins, hind margin vellovvish white ; rest of segments black, hind margin of 3rd to 6th inclusive yellowish white, clearly demar- cated ; sides of very small 7th segment yellowish ; all the black parts of abdomen closely punctulate, with minute black bristles, the yellow parts with short pale yellow hairs ; genitalia very small, a pair of small brownish-yellow lamella? ; a little pale, rather long pubescence at sides of 1st segment, and shorter similar pubescence on sides of whole abdomen ; venter black, 2nd segment and hind margins of remainder yellowish. Leys mainly yellow ; hind cox* (except a patch on hinder side), hind trochanters, underside of hind femora narrowly, inner and outer sides of same towards base (the colour almost united on upper side), also extreme tips, black ; anterior tarsi brownish black ; hind tibiae and tarsi black, except upper side of former at base. Wings uniformly yellowish grev ;

100 LEPTIDJE.

stigma small, brownish ; 4th posterior cell closed distinctly but shortly before wing-border ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 11 mm.

Described from a unique perfect $ in the Indian Museum, from above Tura, Garo Hills, Assam, 3900 ft., viii. 1917 (Kemp).

Family LEPTID^E.

Head semicircular, short, rather flattened in front, as broad as or narrower than thorax ; frons at vertex nearly level with the eyes ; face short, " usually with a socketed middle part (epistoma) on which there is usually a rounded raised tubercle " ( Verrall) ; cheeks more conspicuous in some genera than others. Eyes bare (except in one non-Indian genus Coznomyia and in Coenomyiodcs, gen. nov.) ; contiguous or subcontiguous in <3 , distinctly, some- times widely separated in the $ ; in a few cases the frons of about equal width in both sexes ; upper facets in d often much larger than lower ones ; the eyes in life in some species brilliant green ; three ocelli. Proboscis generally robust, sometimes very large, though short ; labella prominent ; palpi moderately long, slender. Antenna? very variable; in the typical LEPTID^ with 3rd joint simple, short-conical, round, or renJform, with a bristle or style which is usually terminal, but in some genera is dorsal ; * third joint flagelliform and annulated in XYLOPHAGIX^E. Thorax a little longer than the head, roughly oval or oblong, with rounded corners, generally widest at the middle ; scutellum moderately large, rounded or semicircular ; metanotum larger and more con- spicuous in XYLOPHAGIN.E than in most LEPTIN^. Abdomen 7-segmented, elongate or conical, longest and nearly cylindrical in some d XYLOPHAGIN.E. Leys rather long and slender, often minutely bristly on the tibiae or below the femora ; front coxa) rather elongate ; fore tibiae with or without a single spur, middle tibiae always with two spurs, hind tibiae always with one or two spurs, exceptions being rare ; pulvilli three, empoclium pad-like. Wings glabrous, but minutely pubescent under high microscopic power, somewhat broad, with more or less rounded tips. Auxiliary and 1st longitudinal vein somewhat approximate, always ending beyond middle of wing ; '2nd longitudinal beginning at from one- third to one-half the length of the wing, ending not far beyond tip of 1st, often dipped towards tip to embrace the generally obvious stigma ; 3rd vein begins a little beyond the 2nd, (almost always) practically in a line with the base of the discal cell ; always forked, the fork varying in length f and in width of

* Williston figures the antenna* of Atherix with the arista absolutely basal ; Verrall evidently claims the most distant point horizontally as the true tip and considers the 3rd joint produced downwards. Most authors, I believe, regard as the tip the extremity of its greatest length, as I do here ; it can be accepted either way, but misunderstandings may arise.

t It is long and narrow in 8tfmphonrmyia,sund short and wide open in Hilarimorphu, neither of these genera being Oriental.

LEPTI1XE. 101

opening, but always embracing the wing-tip.* Discal cell always present, except in Hilarimorpha (non-Oriental) ; anterior cross- vein near basal end of discal cell, always before its middle ; 4th longitudinal with anterior branch forked, lower branch simple ; posterior cross-vein nearly opposite anterior cross-vein ; 5th longitudinal forked at about its middle, the upper branch more or less curved or angled at the point where it meets the posterior cross-vein ; 6th vein complete. Two submarginal cells, 5 posterior cells; anal cell open or closed; alulae of moderate size, generally well developed, absent in XYLOPHAGINJE ; alar squamae rather small, thoracic squamae absent, " but the frenum distinct and developing a rattier broadened membrane near the angle ; " halteres distinct, stem rather long.

The whole body in LEPTID^E is usually clothed with soft pubescence, microscopically so on the often apparently bare legs. There are no bristles of a chffitotactic nature, though a few short ones or bristly hairs often occur about the thorax, wing-roots, and metapleurae.

Life-history. The metamorphoses of many European species are more or less known.f Larva amphipneustic, with parchment- like skin, generally living under bark, in moss, or earthy matter, predaceous on Coleopterous larvae and other soft-wood insects, though some are aquatic. Twelve-segmented, including head, which is exserted though small, long, pointed, the mouth-parts very small ; the three thoracic segments with strongly chitinized dorsal areas, the prothoracic segment also hardened beneath ; last segment with a strongly chitinized area on hinder part, with two strong hooks, this area also bearing two spiracles. Abdominal segments often with transverse swellings on lower surface, loco- motion being effected by means of these, which take the form of roughened intercalated spaces between the segments, though Brauer affirms that true pseudopods exist in Aiherix.

The perfect insects are found usually in open woods and the meadow-lands in their vicinity, or in marshy and soft places, being fond of resting on tree-trunks.

With the exception of one or two North- American biting species of Symphoromyia, which bite like TABANID^E, the LEPTIDJE are harmless to mankind. J

The LEPTIDJE are rather closely allied to both the STRATIOMYIDTE and the TABANID^E, but the former are easily known by the crowding of the venation on the front part of the wing (except in BERING) and by the shape of the discal cell, which is always small, and seldom much longer than wide (except in Xylomyia), at

* In one or two European species of Xylophagus, the lower branch of the 3rd vein may in individual specimens occasionally end barely above the wing-tip.

t Atherix ibis, Xylophagus ater, Leptis tringaria, L. scolopacea, etc.

I [Five species of blood-sucking Leptids have been described by White and Ferguson from Australia and Tasmania, all belonging to the genus Spaniopsis, White ; Trichopalpus obscurus, Phil., has been noted as a greedy blood-sucker in Chile, and Leptis scolopacea, L., and L. strigosa, Mg., have been recorded as biting man in France. — ED.]

most about one and a half times. In LEPTID^E the discal cell is distinctly oblong and always more than twice as long as wide. The only two genera about which doubt might arise would be Xylophagus and Xylomyia* The TABANID^E, though possessing the same venation as the LEPTIDTE, may at once be recognized by the characteristic antennae and their more robust structure throughout.

Table of Subfamilies.

1. Third antennal joint flagelliform, more or less

elongate, simulated, without arista 2.

Third antennal joint not flagelliform, short, or but little elongated, rounded, conical, or reniform, never distinctly annulated ; arista always present 4.

2. All tibiae with spurs , 3.

Front tibiae without spurs ARTHROCERATIN^E.

3. The 5th posterior cell in broad contact with

discal cell ; face with rounded socketed epistoma, margined by broad side-cheeks ; eyes in c? contiguous ; scutellum with two

short blunt spines COENOMYTX.S:.

The 5th posterior cell not touching discal cell ; face flat, epistoma not socketed or margined by broad side-cheeks ; eyes in c? well sepa- rated; scutellum unarmed XYLOPHAGIN^E.

4. Eyes in $ wide apart ; 3rd vein widely forked

at much beyond half its length ; face not at

all socketed VERMII.EONINA:.

Eyes in <$ contiguous ; 3rd vein less widely forked before, or at latest at, half its length; face with rounded socketed epistoma LEPTIN^;.

In few families of Diptera is there such diversity of opinion with regard to the subfamilies as in the present one. Prof. Kertesx, in his ' Catalogue of Diptera,' admits none at all, but ranks XYLOPHAGIDJE (including Xylomyia and CCENOMYIJ)^;) as separate families. Verrall recognises the four last subfamilies presented here with CHHYSOPILIN^E as a fifth ; Williston divides the LEPTIDJ- into three (dealing with North-American species only), XYLO- PHAGINJE (including Ccmomyia], ARTHROCERATIN;E (including Xylomyia), and LEPTIN.E. Beling has shown the affinity between Ccenomyia and Xylophagus in their larval stages.

Verrall divides the XYLOPHAQIN^E and VERMILEONIN^E, taken together, from the C<ENOMYIN,E and LEPTIN*; (with CHEYSOPILIN.T: as an additional subfamily), taken together, by the characters of the face, afterwards distinguishing those of each group from one another by antennal characters ; but the system herein presented is adopted on account of less indecision being likely to arise as to the nature of the antennas than the degree of prominence of the face

The ARTHROCERATINJE as a subfamily are rather difficult for me to judge personally, since no example is available for actual

* See XvLOPHAGiNjE (p. 104) and Xylomyia (p. 96) respectively.

KKPTID.Y. 103

examination, except two genera of my own that I have attributed to it. Williston admits the subfamily, but includes Xylomyia, which is essentially a Stratiomyid ; whilst Glutops, the only other North- American genus, except Arthroceras itself, has given rise to some discussion as to its exact position.

The CCENOMYIN.-E are large, heavy, rather bare, and Tabanid- like flies with comparatively short legs.

The VfiUOEKOimrjR are not Oriental, so only a passing note need be given them- here. They differ from the LEPTIN.E by the eyes being wide apart in both sexes, by a different structure 'of the face, and, to a less extent, the body. The 3rd longitudinal vein forks later and more widely, and the wings are cuneiform at their bases, without alulae ; the venation, though technically normal, shows minor variations.

Table of Indian Subfamilies and Genera.

1. Antennae palpably elongate ; 3rd antennal

joint distinctly" annulated ; no arista 2.

Antennae not palpably elongate ; 3rd antennal joint never annulated, but rounded, conical, or reniform ; arista present. (LEPTIN^E.) . . 5.

2. All tibiae spurred: 3rd antennal joint without

style 3.

Fore tibiae without spurs ; 3rd antennal joint with a style-like prolongation (absent in Pararthropeas). (ARTHROCERATIN^E.) . . 4.

3. Fifth posterior cell in broad contact \vith

discal cell ; face with rounded socketed epistoma margined by broad side-cheeks ;

eyes in $ contiguous; scutellum with two [nov., p. 110.

short blunt spines. (C<ENOMYINJE.) .... CCENOMYJODES, gen. Fifth posterior cell not touching discal cell ; face flat, epLstoma not socketed or mar- gined by broad side-cheeks ; eyes in c?

well separated ; scutellum without spines. [p. 104.

(XYLOPHAGIN.S:.) RHACHICERUS, Walk.,

4. First antennal joint much the longest ; 4th [p. 107.

posterior cell open DESMOMYIA, Brun.,

Third antennal joint more than double as

long as 1st and 2nd together; 4th posterior [nov., p. 108.

cell closed PARARTHROPEAS, gen.

5. Third antennal joint kidney -shaped ; arista

dorsal, subdorsal, or apical (>.

Third antennal joint round, oval, or pointed ;

arista alwaj's apical 9.

(i. Arista apical; palpi wholly bare, much en- [p. 122.

larged, spatulate M

Arista dorsal or subdorsal ; palpi slender,

always pubescent, generally bisinuate, more

conical and pointed than in Leptis and

Chrysopilus 7.

7. Eyes in d separated by about the width of

the ocellar tubercle, or actually contiguous

for a short distance ; in $ the frons three

times as wide as the ocellar tubercle .... 8,

104 LEPTIDJE.

Eyes in tf contiguous for a considerable

distance ; frons in $ only as broad as [p. 1 til .

ocellar tubercle .". SURAGINA, Walk.,

8. Frons and side-margins of face (c? $) dis-

tinctly hairy ATHERIX, Mg., p. 120.

Frons in tf and side-margins of face (c? $) [?• 112.

bare ATRICHOPS, Verr.,

9. Anal cell open ; hind tibiae with two spurs . . LEPTIS, F., p. 124. Anal cell closed ; hind tibiae with one spur [p. 128.

only CHRYSOPILUS, Macq.,

Subfamily XYLOPHAGIN^].

Face flat, no socketed epistome margined by broad side-cheeks. Palpi long, curved upwards ; the 3rd antenna! joint flagelliform, generally divided by annulations into seven parts, but in Eliaclii- cerus into many more. Eyes in c? distinctly separated, in $ rather wider apart. Body and legs almost bare. Scutellum smaller and metanotum more conspicuous than in normal LEP- TID^E. Abdomen considerably elongated or cylindrical ; the male genitalia rather complex, those of the $ long and telescopic. All tibiae spurred. Wings with auxiliary and 1st veins long, 2nd shorter than in LEPTINJE, 3rd with fork rather short, widely open, lower branch ending above or at wing-tip; anterior cross-vein very short, situated towards base of discal cell ; posterior cross- vein exceedingly short or absent, anal cell normally closed at wing- border ; axillary vein indistinct or absent ; alulae absent.

Life-history. " Larva amphipneustic, allied to those of C(ENO- MYINJE and LETTING ; carnivorous ; living under the bark of dead trees and preying upon other (probably dead) larvae occurring there, especially those of wood-boring Coleoptera, or upon the debris and detritus left by those larvae" (Verrall). Birch, alder, and pine are the trees mostly favoured. The imagos are usually found about their breeding-places in woods.

Only one genus of this subfamily (Rhachicerus) occurs in India.

Xylophagus, Xylomyia, and one or two other genera were for many years regarded as a separate family, but the resemblance between them is more apparent than real ; and^ Osten-Sacken, who very closely criticised Brauer's paper on the characters of the NOTACANTHA (Berl. ent. Zeit. xxvi, p. 363), showed satisfactorily that they (Xylophagus and Xylomyia) cannot both come in the same ultimate subdivision.

Genus RHACHICERUS, Walk.

Rhachicerm, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. v, Supp. i, p. 103 (1854). ? Rhyphomorpha, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. v, p. 275 (1861). Antidoxion, Snellen v. Vollenhoven, Versl. Meded. Kongl. Akad. van Wetensch. Afd. Natuurk. xv, p. 1 (1863).

GENOTYPE, Ehachicerus fulvicollis, Walk.; the original species. " Body slender, nearly linear, cylindrical. Head transverse, nearly as broad as thorax, vertex narrow. Eyes large, with small

RHACHICERTJS. 105

facets, deeply iiotched and including a smooth space on each side by the base of the antennae. Ocelli approximate. Proboscis not prominent ; palpi short. Antennae with 34 or 35 joints, tapering slightly, much more than half the length of the body, deeply serrated on each side; joints transverse, very short, cyathiform, petiolated. Thorax elongate -quad rate ; abdomen pubescent, 8-segmented, hardly tapering from base to tip, about twice as long as thorax. Legs rather slender, moderately long ; hind tibiae with very minute spurs ; ungues and onychia very small. Wings narrow."

Range. North and Central America, Cnbn, India, Malay Archi- pelago, and one species in Europe.

Life-history unknown.

Table of Species.

Thorax orange nigricornis, sp. n., p. 105.

Thorax black.

Dorsum of first three abdominal segments

mainly yellow bicolor, Brim., p. 105.

Dorsum of abdomen all black, except a

transverse yellow band on 2nd segment, unicincta, sp. n., p. 10G.

68. Rhachicerus bicolor, Brun.

Bhachicerus bicolor, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 461 (1912).

$ . Head with frons nearly one-third width of head, shining black, bare ; three small yellow ocelli at vertex ; eyes blackish, bare ; proboscis bright yellow, palpi of similar colour, very small ; a whitish triangular spot on each side between the eyes and the base of the antennae. Antennal 1st and 2nd joints black, 2nd with a circlet of black and yellow bristles around its tip ; tlagellar 1st joint much wider than the rest, which are blackish brown, the comb-like prolongations on the underside bright yellow. (The antennas being incomplete, the exact number of joints cannot be given.) Thorax and scutellum wholly shining black, practically bare ; humeri conspicuous, bright yellow. Abdomen black, dorsum of first three segments mainly yellow, the borders being black, the 4th segment being more or less yellow in the centre ; venter principally yellow on the first three segments, remainder blackish. Legs bright yellow, hind coxae black. Wings with venation as in Xylomyia, grev, with a hardly perceptible darkening from the costa partly across the wing, and again towards the tip ; halteres bright yellow.

Length, 8| mm.

Described from one $ in good condition in my collection from Kandy, v. 1909 (E. E. Green).

69. Rhachicerus nigricornis, sp. nov. (PI. II, fig. 1.)

cJ . Head black ; frons at vertex less than one-fourth width of head, widening to one-third at level of antennae, with some whitish dust around base of antennae ; scape of latter yellow, with short black bristles, flagellum black for 23 joints, with the comb-

106 I.KPTID.E.

like prolongation of each yellowish white, last seven joints (making with scape 32 in all) with their comb wholly yellowish white ; proboscis orange-yellow. Thorax and abdomen orange ; a large black spot on pleurae in front of wing-base and another just behind wing-base; sternopleura shining black; abdomen with '2nd segment much the longest ; hind border of each narrowly black, less distinctly so on 5th and 6th segments. Legs orange- yellow ; hind coxae shining black ; hind femora and tibiae with basal two-thirds of each black ; hind tarsi all black. Wings grey, subcostal and marginal cells blackish ; halteres yellow.

Length, 9 mm.

Described from a unique d in t.he Indian Museum from Peshoke Spur, Darjiling, 2000 ft., vi. 1916 (L. 0. Hartless).

70. Rhachicerus unicinctus, sp. nov. (PI. II, fig. 2.)

$ . Head with frons brilliantly shining black, longitudinally furrowed, at vertex one-third of head, slightly wider just above level of antennae ; face dull black seen from below, but at least upper part brilliantly white seen from above, narrowing towards mouth ; proboscis short, thick, bulbous, orange, as are the up- turned cylindrical palpi, slightly thickening towards tips ; eyes brown; occiput moderately shining black, with a little short brown pubescence towards margins. First two joints of antennae blackish above, orange below ; 3rd with upper side and tips of rays black, the intermediate part of rays orange-yellow ; 20 or 21 joints present in flagellum, according to whether the small terminal prolongation is part of the last rayed joint or not: the flattened irregularly-shaped elevation on which the antennae are placed lemon-vellow. Thorax shining black, dorsum finely punc- tate, with extremely short yellowish pubescence ; humeri and mesopleurae dull shining yellowish ; scutellum like thoracic dorsum. Abdomen slightly shining black; 1st segment very short; 2nd longest, with a yellowish transverse band of moderate width, of which the hind border lies just in front of middle of segment and is punctuated by a row of small indentations, almost giving the appearance of two segments; 3rd and 4th segments barely narrower than 2nd ; 5th rapidly narrowing from base to tip ; 6th, 7th, and 8th extremely narrow and very elongate, having a telescopic appearance, the last one possibly forming two segments (making nine in all) in addition to the two pale yellow elongate lamellae ; whole abdomen with sparse short yellowish-white pubescence; venter black, 2nd segment mainly dull yellowish. Legs mainly orange-yellow ; trochanters, about basal halt of femora, and hind tibiae wholly black. Wings yellowish grey, vitreous, stigmatic region a little yellowish brown, a slight infus- c.'ition at wing-tip ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 8 mm.

Described from one $ in the Indian Museum from Peshoko, Darjiling, 1000 ft., 26, v.-M, vi. 1916 (Gravely),

DESMOMYIA. 107

Subfamily ARTHROCERATIN^E.

Auteunae obviously elongate, 3rd joint flagelliform, with distinct annulations, arista absent. Front tibiae without apical spurs.

Only two genera occur in India, and they may be distinguished as follows : —

First autennal joint as long as 2nd and 3rd

together ; 4th posterior cell open DKSMOMYIA, Brim.

Third antennal joint much more than double

as long as 2nd and 3rd together ; 4th pos- [gen. nov.

terior cell closed . . PARARTHROPKAS,

Genus DESMOMYIA, Brun.

Desmomyia, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 462 (1912). GENOTYPE, Desmomyia thereviformis, Brun. ; the original species.

Apparently near, but quite distinct in several characters from Arthroceras* Five posterior cells, 4th without any trace of contraction towards wing-border; anal cell closed just before wing- border ; remainder of venation in accordance with Williston's figure of the wing of Arthroceras. f Antennae elongate, 1st joint as long as 2nd and 3rd together, cylindrical, 2nd broadly annular, 3rd elongate with an apical style-like prolongation. Eyes con- tiguous for a considerable distance, bare ; three ocelli. Proboscis rather short, stout, cylindrical; palpi elongate, narrow. Face with two dividing furrows below antennae and rather bulbous cheeks, as in Arthroceras. General appearance of whole insect that of a Thereva, with soft pubescence on thorax and abdomen, the latter with seven distinct segments. Legs slender, like those of -Thereva • fore tibiae unarmed, posterior tibiae with two distinct pale spurs each.

71. Desmomyia there viformis, Brun.

Desmomyia thfreriformis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 462 (1912).

c? . Head with vertex small, dark ; occiput of a lighter grey than the dark blackish-grey face; proboscis and palpi blackish grey ; the whole head with stiff black hairs ; eyes bare. Antennae dark grey; 1st joint elongate, cylindrical; 2nd broadly annular, half the length of the 1st; the 3rd joint is best described as diamond-shaped, with rounded angles, the greatest breadth being beyond the middle ; the tip produced into an elongate narrow style with blunted tip, the style as long as the whole antenna. Tnorax dark grey above, with three separated, moderately broad, blackish stripes, the outer ones with a tendency to an interruption in front of the middle; sides and scutellum moderately dark grey,

* The description of this genus is not accessible in India. t ' North-American Diptera' (3rd ed.), p. 161, fig. 18.

1 08 LEPTIDvE

with soft pale yellowish-white pubescence. Abdomen 7-segmented, 2nd the broadest, dark blackish grey with soft pale yellowish- white pubescence ; genitalia small, inconspicuous. Legs black ; knees and femora more or less brownish yellow at base, the colour on the fore pair extending beyond the middle ; hind tibiao widened towards tips, hind metatarsus distinctly incrassate ; the whole of the legs shortly pubescent; anterior tibiae unarmed, posterior tibiae with two distinct yellowish spines. Wings as in Leptis, except that the anal cell is closed just before the border, pale grey ; stigma blackish, very elongate ; two indistinct pale blackish suffusions, the first, from the origin of the 2nd vein, embracing the anterior cross-vein, the base of the discal cell, and the posterior cross-vein ; the second runs from the fork of the 3rd vein to the hinder side of the discal cell, along its outer side ; costal cell rather broad, the costa curving outwards slightly; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 5-6 mm.

Described from two d" c? in the Indian Museum from Badrinath, Garhwal District, 10,200 ft., 27. v. 1910 (Dr. A. D. Imms).

Genus PARARTHROPEAS, nov. GENOTYPE, Pararihropeas thereviformis, sp. nov.

Head transverse, as broad as thorax ; eyes bare, with very small facets of uniform size ( § ) ; proboscis rather short, thick ; palpi as long as proboscis, cylindrical, straight, bare, porrect ; frons narrow, with parallel sides ; face broader, with nearly parallel sides, not projecting beyond eye-margins ; occiput flattened, or slightly concave ; antennae longer than breadth of head, cylindrical, barely appreciably narrower towards tip ; 1st and 2nd joints short, bristly ; 2nd shorter than 1st, as broad as long ; 3rd divided by eight impressed lines into nice annulations of equal length, except the 1st, which is considerably the longest; last joint bluntly pointed, without style. Thorax oblong, humeri promi- nent, nearly bare, with no obvious bristles, minutely pubescent ; scutellum transverse, unarmed. Abdomen subcylindrical, about twice as long as thorax, slightly flattened, with nearly parallel sides for some distance, gradually narrowing to tip, 7-segmented, the last segment very short. Legs of moderate size and strength ; hind femora considerably incrassate, with a row of small blunt spines on underside ; posterior tibiae with two spurs, front tibiae apparently unarmed; tarsi as long as tibiae, front pair distinctly longer ; claws distinct, three pulvilli. Wings with auxiliary vein ending at about middle of costa, 1st longitudinal ending a little beyond ; 2nd vein beginning at about middle of wing, ending a little beyond 1st vein ; 3rd vein beginning shortly after 2nd, forked at half its length, the branches gradually diverging, the lower branch ending at wing-tip ; anterior cross-vein near base of discal cell, which is twice as long as broad ; 5 posterior cells, 1st gradually widening from base to tip, 2nd and 3rd truncate at

£ARABTHROPEAS. 109

base, 4th closed distinctly before wing-margin ; posterior cross- vein present ; anal cell closed.

c? unknown.

Range. Assam.

This genus differs from Arthropeas, L\v., by (1) the 1st flagellar joint not being differentiated from the others, except that it is longer, and the whole antennae boing practically cylindrical throughout instead of gradually narrowing to tip ; (2) the abdo- men being much narrower and longer relatively to the thorax ; (3) the 4th posterior cell being distinctly closed before the border.; and (4) the hind femora being distinctly incrassated and bearing a row of small blunt spines on the underside.

Williston, in his table of genera of North-American LEPTID.E, emphasizes the absence of contact of the 5th posterior cell with the discal cell, but in Loew's figure of the genotype such contact is only punctiform. These cells may be more separated in the other two North-American species ; they are distinctly apart in Pararthropeas.

72. Pararthropeas thereviformis, sp. nov. (PI. II, figs. 5, 6.)

$ . Head as broad as thorax ; eyes bare, black, facets small, of uniform size ; frons about one-seventh of the head, almost flush with eyes, blackish, with short pale pubescence, which is a little thicker just above antennae ; face not projecting beyond eyes, flattened, with nearly parallel sides, dark grey, practically bare ; occiput blackish, bare, except for some short whitish pubescence behind lower margin of eyes. Proboscis short, thick, not pro- jecting beyond base of antennae, brown, bearing a few hairs ; palpi as long as proboscis, bare, brownish yellow. Antennae longer than breadth of head, cylindrical ; 1st and 2nd joints black, bristly, 2nd shorter than 1st, as broad as long ; 3rd bare, divided by seven impressed lines into eight anuulations, of which the 1st is the longest, tip bluntly pointed; 3rd joint black, except the brownish-yelloxv 1st annulation and base of 2nd. Thorax oblong; dorsutn black, rather flattened, with microscopic, depressed, grey- ish pubescence, which is a little more obvious in front of the scutellum ; the latter black, with centre and hind margin yellowish, sparsely and shortly pubescent ; humeri prominent, yellowish brown ; pleurae black, with very short grey pubescence. Abdomen subcylindrical, nearly Phycus-like, 7-segmeuted, the first six subequal, the last very short; black, with minute grey pubescence, hind margins of segments yellow ; genitalia ending in two small cylindrical yellowish pieces, which are all that is externally visible. Legs Therevid-like, comparatively stout and strong ; coxae black, with minute grey pubescence; fore femora brownish yellow, with upper side and distal half of lower sides black ; middle pair black, except narrowly at base and tips ; hind pair black, with a broad yellow band just before middle ; tibiae black, except that anterior pairs are very narrowly brownish yellow at base and tips ; front tarsi distinctly longer than tibiae, posterior pairs subequal to

110 LEPTIDJ«.

tibiae ; all tarsi black, with reddish-brown pubescence on underside of hind pair; all legs with minute grey pubescence; two obvious spines oil middle and hind tibiae, arid it is just possible that a small one may be present on fore pair just .be fore the slightly narrowed tips, though apparently it is absent. Wings pale grey, veins dark brown ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 10 mm.

Described from a perfect unique $ in the Pusa collection from Khasi Hills, 1000-3000 ft., iii. 1907.

Type sent to British Museum.

Subfamily CCENOMYIN^E.

Head', antennal 3rd joint nagelliform and annulated, with sty li- forui tip and no arista. Palpi long, thin, pointed, porrect, 2-jointed. Eyes hairy or bare, contiguous in cf • Thorax and abdomen robust, shortly pubescent or bare ; meso- and metapleurae with tufts of pubescence ; scutellum with two short blunt spines or unarmed ; genitalia small. Legs comparatively short and strong ; fore tibiae with one spur, posterior tibiae with two spurs. Basal wing-cells long ; discal cell present ; two submarginal cells, the 2nd long, with bell-mouthed tip ; five posterior cells, 5th in broad contact with discal cell.

The CffixoMYis^E and XYLOPHAGIN^E are easily recognised by the annulated 3rd antennal joint, and the latter are distinguishable from the former by the four characters previously given in the table of genera of LEPTIDJE.

Only a few genera and species of CffiNOMYiN^E are known throughout the world.

Life-history. That of Ccenomyict ferruginea, Scop., a widely distributed European and North -American species, is known. The larva is amphipneustic, cylindrical, 12-segtnented ; the head conical, brown, chitinized ; the rest of the body with chitinized spots and bands. Pupa free. The species breeds in decaying poplars and at the roots of trees, especially beeches ; the larvae are carnivorous and voracious ; their total development may last over a year.

The adult insects are rather sluggish, frequenting woods.

Genus CCENOMYIODES, gen. iiov.

GENOTYPE, Ccenomyiodes edtvardsi, sp. nov. ;, the only species known.

Head comparatively small, narrower than thorax ; placed some- what low down ; occiput flattened ; epistoma separated from cheeks by an impressed hue ; eyes hairy, separated by moderately broad frons in $ ( <$ unknown) ; antennae 3-jointed, the 3rd flagellate, with eight annulations, ending in stylate form, arista absent ; palpi long, thin, labella broad ; proboscis rather short.

C&NOMYIODES. Ill

Thorax broad, robust ; abdomen similar, rather longer, pointed ; both shortly pubescent or nearly bare ; scutellum with t\vo blunt apical spines ; genitalia small. Leys as rioted previously. Winys as noted above, in rest covering abdomen, posterior cross-vein absent ; alulae well developed, alar squama small, thoracic squama very narrow.

c? unknown.

Range. Assam.

This genus differs from Ccenomyia, Latr., by the broad frons in the 5 , by the anal "cell being closed distinctly before the wing-, margin, and by the 4th posterior cell also being closed at some distance from the margin, rounded apically, and sending no veinlet to the margin.

73. Ccenomyiod.es edwardsi, sp. nov. (PI. II, tigs. 3, 4.)

$ . Head chrome-yellow, a little darker on frons, which bears a transverse streak just above antennae, not quite reaching eye- margins ; ocellar triangle black, also a stripe from it passing over vertex and part of occiput ; mouth-opening pale yellowish ; head bare, except for some hardly visible pale hairs on occiput, about the eye-margins. Antennae with 1st and 2nd joints yellow, with some very short black bristles, giving the joints a partly blackish appearance ; 3rd joint divided by impressed lines into eight annulations, brownish yellow, with a black streak on upper side. Thorax mainly chrome-yellow, although the yellow and black parts are about equal in extent ; a broad black median stripe from anterior margin, where it is slightly dilated, to hind margin, narrowing shortly after passing the suture ; a black stripe on each side of the median one, leaving a narrow intermediate space, extending forwards barely to the humeri, and narrowing gradually behind the suture but reaching hind margin, on which all three stripes are joined ; sides of thorax yellow, underside black, with a broad black stripe running from just behind the fore coxae, curving forwards, narrowing to a point a little below the humerus ; a similar stripe joins the underside of the thorax with the wing- base, spreading out hindwards to the hind coxae and upwards narrowly to the scut ell um, which latter is yellow, the metanotum being black; dorsum covered with microscopic yellow pubescence, with a little on parts of the pleurae. Abdomen with first four segments bright chrome-yellow, with a fairly wide black dorsal stripe with irregular edges, dilated on hind borders of 1st and 2nd segments, occupying two-thirds of the width of 3rd and 4th segments ; rest of segments reddish brown, the black dorsal stripe carried over all but the last one, dilated on hind borders ; 8th segment canary-yellow on apical half ; a small curved yellow mark towards each side of 6th segment ; a email indistinct yellow spot on 7th segment on each side of the middle; venter reddish brown, a small yellow mark extending over 6th and 7th segments ; genitalia yellowish brown, with two rather short

112

projecting lamellae. Legs practically bare, bright chrome-yellow, middle coxae obscured ; a short blackish-brown streak at tip of hind side of middle femora ; hind legs with tip of coxae, extreme base of femora, and a broad apical band on femora and tibiae black. Winys yellow, veins brownish black ; halteres bright yellow.

Length, 20 mm.

Described from a single § in the British Museum from the Khasi Hills, Assam.

Subfamily LEPTIN^E.

Face with a rounded socketed epistoma ; eyes bare, generally contiguous in the $ , facets of uniform size ; proboscis often swollen, conspicuous, though never very long; palpi distinct, moderately long, porrect, or pendant. Antennae with 3rd joint simple, rounded, oval, or reniform, always with a long apical, subapical, or subclorsal arista. Abdomen elongate-conical; genitalia of moderate size. Legs slender ; tibiae with rows of minute bristles, middle pair with two spurs at tip, hind tibiae with one or two spurs.* Alulae well developed ; alar squamae of moderate size, thoracic pair absent.

The genera have already been tabulated on p. 103.

Genus ATRICHOPS, Verr. Atrichops, Verrall, Brit. Flies, v, p. 291 (1909).

GENOTYPE, Aiherix crassipes, Mg. (Europe) ; by original de- signation.

Head semicircular, a little narrower than thorax, more rounded and less tilted forwards than in Atherix • face with a quite bare, rounded, socketed epistoma ; cheeks large, bare in both sexes ; t'rous in c? nearly or quite bare, slightly narrowing from vertex to antennae ; in £ with a little sparse pubescence ; occiput promi- nent, especially on lower part in c? ; eyes bare in both sexes, contiguous or practically so in <5 , facets uniform in size ; the eyes in $ separated distinctly. Proboscis prominent, thick, with long oval hibella ; palpi two-jointed, prominent, slightly drooping. Antennae rather short, the space above their base bare; 1st joint cup-shaped, 2nd more or IPSS rounded, rather short, both bristlv ; •3rd kidney-shaped, with a dorsal arista.f Thorax slightly arched, with close short pubescence ; pleurae partly pubescent ; scutellum

* The apparent disagreement here with Verrall, who states that two spurs are found on all the posterior tibiae, is due to his ranking Chrysopila as a separate subfamily, in which genus the hind tibise possess only a single spur.

t Verrall speaks of it as "terminal, which from the shape of the 3rd joint (deepened downwards) appears to be dorsal." This author regards the tip of the 3rd joint as its furthest point in a straight line, in which case the arista is terminal, but I am regarding its tip as the extremity of its greatest length, in which case the arista is dorsal.

ATRICHOPS. 113

normally also pubescent ; metanotum mainly concealed, with bare sides. Abdomen oblong, narrower than thorax and barely double as long ; male geuitalia prominent, in $ the tip of the abdomen pointed. Leys with front pair, and especially front tarsi, longer and thinner than in Leptis ; front tibia? shorter than, middle pair equal to, and hind tibiae rather longer than, the corresponding tarsi ; front coxse rather long ; front tibiae unspurred ; middle tibiae with two spurs, of which the front one is considerably the longer; hind tibiae with two nearly equal spurs; the "touch hairs " beneath the front tarsi obvious. Wings with the auxiliary; 1st and 2nd longitudinal veins ending at or a little beyond middle ; 2nd starting well before the discal cell ; 3rd beginning opposite base of discal cell, forked at a more or less acute angle rather soon after quitting anterior cross-vein, the branches gradually diverging and embracing the wing-tip ; discal cell elongate ; upper branch of 4th longitudinal vein forked at tip of discal cell ; lower branch simple ; posterior cross-vein proximad of anterior cross- vein ; 5th vein forked just before posterior cross-vein, the branches separating widely, lower branch always curved downwards, meeting 6th vein at or just before wing-border, closing anal cell.

Range. Europe, India.

Life-history unknown.

The genus Atrichops was unfortunately wholly overlooked by me in describing the species herein referred to it, which were placed in Aiherix at the time of description. Atrichops is quite well founded, the species having the cheeks distinctly bare. Set up by Verrall for Atherix crassipes, Mg., a European species, I know of no others belonging to it except those I have myself recorded from the East.

Table of Species.

1. Abdomen with distinct reddish or yellow

markings 2.

Abdomen practically all black, at most a bluish-grey baud at base or 1st seg- ment pale yellow 5.

2. Hind femora without distinct band near

tip 3.

Hind femora brownish yellow, with a broad brown baud before the tip 4.

3. Basal half of abdomen tawny ; wings with

distinct wide median band calojw, Brun., p. 114.

Abdomen mainly black, but reddish tawny towards sides at base ; wings pale brown, with indistinct darker band in middle. . . . lanopyga, Brun., p. 115.

4. Sides of thorax yellowish grey posteriorly,

without white stripe ; middle femora Hack only at base and tip, hind fe- mora black at t>ase and tip in addition to broad median baud limbata, O.-S., p. 115.

114 LEPTIDjE.

Sides of thorax all black, with oblique

whitish stripe; middle femora with

basal half black and apical half yellow, [p. 110.

Avith a broad mediau white band intermedia, Brun.,

£. Hind metatarsus not thickened ; apical

half of wing infuscated 6.

Hind metatarsus distinctly thickened;

wing pale, with approximately three [p. 117.

darker bands .metatarsalis, Bruu.,

6. Apical half of wing without narrow pale

band in the infuscated portion ; 4th pos- terior cell nearly closed ; length, 10 mm. . . ctncta, Brun., p. 118. Apical half of wing with such a pale band ;

4th posterior cell widely open ; length, [p. 119.

6 mm ccerukscens, Brun.,

74. Atrichops calopa, Brun. (PL II, tig. 7.)

Atherix calopa. Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 420, pi. xii, fig. 2 (1909).

3 $ . Head with vertex black ; frons blackish, with bluish grey shimmer; proboscis and palpi blackish, the latter hairy below; antennae brownish yellow, with a trace of bluish grev dust on upper side of two basal joints ; occiput blackish grey, with a thick fringe of long whitish-grey hair, which is absent on the upper part ; lower facets of eye barely smaller than upper ones. Thorax dark brownish black, moderately shining ; humeri sbining brown ; sides of thorax brown, dusted with light bluish grey ; scutellum dark brown, with erect brown hairs. Abdomen with first four segments mainly yellow, but dark brown on the upper side of 1st. at the base, and a narrow dark brown dorsal line, with a narrow line at each side of the abdomen, these three lines extending over the four segments ; posterior border of 4th segment dark brown, the colour extending forward in the centre, till it joins the dorsal stripe ; remainder of abdomen dark shining brown, tbe posterior border of each segment bearing a little bluish grey dust ; venter yellowish ; the whole abdomen with moderately long hairs of similar colours to that of the respective parts on which they are placed ; genitalia moderately large, dark brown, shining, with black hairs. Legs with very short black hairs ; coxae dark brownish, with bluish grey shimmer ; femora yellow, basal third in fore pair, basal half in middle pair, and basal two-thirds in hind pair black ; tibiae yellow, knees brown ; basal half of tarsi yellow, apical half black. Wings very pale grey, apical half a little darker ; discal cell three times as long as broad ; no distinct stigma ; a brownish irregular streak from the centre of the fore border, reaching to about halfway across the wing; halteres yellow, knobs black ; tegulae blackish with yellow edges.

Length, 8-10 mm.

Described from three <3 3 in fairly good condition, in the Indian Museum collection. The type is from Sadiya, Assam, and the others from Tenasserim.

ATEICHOPS. 1 15

75. Atrichops lanopyga, Brun. (PI. II, fig. 8.)

Atherix lanopyga, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 420, pi. xii, fipr. 3 (1909).

5 . Head with rather more than the upper half of frons velvet- •black, remainder of frons, the vertex, and face below antennae blackish, with bluish grey reflections; antennae with two basal joints brown (third missing) ; eye-facets of uniform size ; proboscis and palpi blackish, the latter pubescent above and below ; occiput blackish grey, with a continuous fringe of short grey haiiv Thorax black, with whitish grey reflections at the sides and on the humeri ; scutellum black, with black hairs, posterior border brown. Abdomen mainly black; 1st segment dark brown, the -colour extending as a wide dorsal stripe across the 2nd ; sides of first t\vo segments occupied by a large, light yellow, translucid spot ; 3rd segment velvet-black, with a bicoloured spot at the sides of the posterior border, the anterior half of this spot being orange and the posterior half grey, the orange-colour extending along the sides of the abdomen in a streak, until it reaches the large translucent side-spots in front of it ; remaining segments black, whitish grey posteriorly, the sides of 6th and 7th being light orange-brown ; anal process black ; dorsum of abdomen with yellowish hair, which at the tip becomes brown ; venter yellow, with soft yellow hair, the middle segments with some irregular black marks. Legs : coxae brown, with bluish white shimmer, and silky white hair ; femora yellow, base of fore pair arid basal half of middle and hind pairs light brown ; tibiae brownish yellow, hind pair darker ; tarsi brownish black ; the femora have a little pale yellow hair, which is brown on the tibiae, bright golden brown on hind pair, and black on the tarsi. Wings pale grey, with a faint brown streak from the elongated brown stigma reaching nearly to the posterior border ; a small elongated clear spot in the middle of the discal and of the fifth posterior cells ; discal cell 3| times as long as broad; halteres yellow, knobs black; tegulae pale yellow, transparent.

Length, 10 mm.

Described from one 6" in good condition in the Indian Museum -collection from Sadiya, Assam.

76. Atrichops ? limbata, O.-S. (PI. II, fig. 10.)

Atherix limbata, Osten-Sacken,Berl. ent. Zeits. xxvi, p. 100 (1882) ; Brunetti, Kec. laid. Mus. ii, p. 418, pi. xii, tig. 4 (1909).

$ . Head : vertex cinereous grey, with a few blackish hairs, upper halt' of frons dull coal-black, lower part bluish grey with •(seen from above) a central small black spot, lower part of face blackish grey, proboscis brown ; antennae blackish grey with a few hairs at base, 3rd joint tawny, arista long ; eyes blackish ; •occiput bluish grey, with a fringe of light hairs, which are longest

i2

116 LEPXIDJ3.

behind the sides of the eyes ; palpi black, hairy below. Thorax aeneous black above, the colour not attaining anterior margin except as a wide stripe in the centre, but extending to both wings and to the scutellum ; humeral calli tawny, with a whitish- grey tomentose spot, contiguous to each, on the anterior border ; a bluish grey spot in front of each wing, placed almost on the dorsum ; sides of thorax yellowish grey posteriorly ; mesopleur8& bluish grey ; scutellum yellow, base blackish ; metanotum blackish grey. Abdomen brownish yellow, with a black dorsal stripe on first three segments, which spreads out over the greater part of the 4th and 5th segments ; tip of abdomen yellow, sides with a blackish line and a fringe of black hairs mixed with some paler ones; venter yellowish; some short pale hairs over the dorsal surface of the abdomen. Legs : fore coxae yellowish with bluish- grey reflections, posterior coxae blackish, all of them black at th& junction with the femora, which are yellow, with the tips narrowly black, the middle pair having a very small black streak on the underside near the base, and the hind pair a wide black ring in the middle ; remainder of legs black, but middle tibiae dark brownish yellow. Wings pale grey, rather strongly iridescent, with a rather dark brown middle stripe from the centre of the costa, narrowing posteriorly and reaching hind margin of wing at tip of anal cell ; distal part of wing dark grey down to the fifth posterior cell, the centre of which is pale grey (reaching to th& border), but a rather wide pale grey space remains between the dark brown stripe and the distal dark grey part, this clearer part ceasing at the fifth posterior cell; fifth longitudinal vein dark brown suffused ; upper transverse vein placed just before one- third of the discal cell ; halteres yellowish, knob black.

LenytJi, 8 mm.

I describe under the above specific name a $ specimen (now in the Indian Museum collection) captured from the base of the- Dawna Hills, Arnherst District, Lower Burma, 1. iii. 1908 (Annan- dale), which I at first thought was a new species. It differs from limbata, O.-S., by the presence of the clearer space in the dark distal part of the wing and by the hind femoral band being in the middle, not near the tip, other minor differences hardly being^ specific. My augmented description may enable others to identify it definitely either as limbata or as new.

77. Atrichops intermedia, Snm. (PI. II, figs. 11, 12.)

Atherix intermedia, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 211 (1909).

c? . This species closely resembles both limbata, O.-S., and calopa, Bruu., and takes an intermediate position between the two.

From limbata it is distinguished by an all-black thorax, with a little whitish shimmer on the humeral parts, round the edges of the dorsum, and in front of the insertion of the wings ; also by an oblique whitish stripe on the sides of the thorax, which otherwise are wholly black, as is also the scutellum. The legs are-

ATKICIIOPS. 117

black ; the fore femora (except base and tip), the apical half of the middle femora, the middle tibiae wholly, and the hind femora are yellow, but the latter bear a broad deep black band, occupying about the middle half of their length. The wing has a large, very distinct, blackish-brown stigma, whilst the cross-band on the wing is much darker. The abdomen is differently coloured, closely resembling that of calopa, except that the posterior half of the 4th and 5th segments is occupied by a whitish band, which is invisible from certain points of view ; the basal half of the 5th, and the whole of the 6th, segment is black.

Prom calopa the broad band on the hind femora easily separates it, this character being consistent in the ten specimens examined. The wing-marks also distinguish it, owing to the prominent stigma and the much more distinct apical part.

Length, 8| mm.

Described from ten c? c? in excellent condition taken by Dr. Annandale, 16. iv. 1909, on Paresnath Hill, West Bengal, 2000 ft., on rocks at the edge of a small jungle-stream, where it was present in large numbers ; Bojiaghat, 12. vi. 1915.

This is evidently a good species, the ten specimens agreeing exactly in all particulars, whilst the three examples of my calopa are also consistent ; limbata of Osteu-Sacken, however, according to him, appears to be variable. The present species is best described as possessing the abdomen of calopa with the wing of limbata, with the addition of an all-black thorax and a large black •stigma.

78. Atrichops metatarsalis, Brun. (PI. II, fig. 14.)

Atherix metatarsalis, Brunetti, Rec. Tnd. Mus. ii, p. 422, pi. xii,

figs. 5, 6 (1909).

<S . Head : vertex small, prominent, with a few bristly hairs ; •eyes contiguous for a moderate distance, the facets of the lower third much smaller; antennae pale yellow, with a few bristles and nearly straight arista; face bluish grey, palpi black; lower side -of face with some long black hairs ; occiput grey, encircled with a row of irregular bristly hairs of different lengths. Thorax rich shining brown, with a semi-livid tinge towards the sides in front ; sides writh bluish grey reflections ; scutellum concolorous, with a row of minute black bristles on posterior border ; dorsum of thorax with scattered minute black bristles. Abdomen with 1st segment pale yellowish, with a few black hairs and bristles ; remainder shining black ; dorsum of 2nd with a slight pale yellowish tinge ; whole abdomen with black bristly hairs ; venter black, pale yellow at base ; genitalia black, hairy, apparently in three pieces, moderately prominent. Legs pale brownish yellow, posterior coxae shining brown, middle femora brownish except at base and tip, hind femora with distal half dark brown, hind tibiae dark brown ; hind metatarsi much thickened ; all the legs shortly pubescent, the hairs being softer and longer below the femora and shorter and more bristly on the tibiae (especially the hind pair)

118 LEPTID^E.

and tarsi. Wings clear, with three distinct broad brown bands- from the costa towards the hind margin : the first beginning at the basal cross-veins, filling one-half of the basal cells and one- third of the anal cell, thence disappearing ; the second is rather narrower and exactly in the middle of the wing, reaching from the costa almost to the hind border, enclosing the inner cross- vein and nearly filling the basal half of the discal cell ; the third is joined on the costa to the second by the stigma, extends nearly to the tip of the wing, leaving a narrow clear margin, and reaches the posterior border, filling the whole of the second, third, and fourth posterior cells. Stigma very dark brown, filling all the cell as far inwards to just above the origin of the third longi- tudinal vein ; halteres rather long and prominent, pale yellow ; clubs black, elongated.

LenytJi, 5 mm.

Described from a perfect unique specimen in the Indian Museum from the Dawna Hills, 2000-3000 ft., 2-3. iii. 1908 (Annandale).

A very distinct species, with the appearance of a Chrysopilus.

79. Atrichops cincta, Brun. (PI. II, fig. 9.)

Atherix cincta. Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 421. pi. xii, fig. 1 (1909).

$ . Head with frons dull black, bare, the part immediately above antennae with ash-grey reflections and a few hairs ; vertex blackish, only slightly indented ; ocelli dull red-brown, eyes brown, with a bronze reflection, facets of uniform size ; occiput grey, with a fringe of short black hairs on upper half, which are replaced by longer scattered white hairs on lower half ; antenna> dark brown, normal, first joint hairy above only, second joint hairy above and below ; face below antennae ash-grey ; palpi and proboscis cinereous grey, with scattered hairs, the former with some strong black hairs at tip. Thorax blackish, with traces of close cinereous grey pubescence, which in perfect examples pro- bably covers all the dors urn and sides ; with also some scattered longer hairs over the whole thorax. Scutellum blackish, with scattered yellowish grey hairs and reddish-brown posterior border carrying a fringe of black and grey hairs. Abdomen shining dark blackish brown, shoulders prominent, forming tawny-brown calli with grey hair ; underside of 1st segment continued in front as a yellow scaly process extending downwards till it reaches the hind coxaa; 1st and 2nd segments occupied by a pale bluish-grey transverse band, narrowly interrupted in the middle, extending over the sides to a considerable extent, and clothed with pale concolorous hair which is continued along the lower sides of the whole abdomen to the tip ; dorsum clothed with short black pubescence which, beginning with the 3rd segment, extends round the sides until it meets the line of grey side-hairs ; a very narrow bluish-grey border to 4th and 5th segments, the extreme edge of 5th and 6th segments being orange-brown. Leys blackish brown,.

ATRICIIOPS. 119

minutely pubescent ; apical half of all femora and the whole of the middle tibiae reddish tawny : some whitish-grey hairs below femora ; hind tibiae shortly pubescent, with reddish-bronze reflec- tions. Wings pale grey, apical half pale brownish; no distinct stigma, but a rather broad ill-defined brown band runs from the stigmatic portion of the costa towards the posterior border, but fades away before reaching it ; discal cell three times as long as broad ; anal cell closed just before the border ; by a strong con- vergence of the veins the fourth posterior cell (termin, O.-S.) is. almost closed, thus (if a stable specific character) separating this species from all other Oriental species in this genus ; halteres yellowish, knobs black, rather large ; tegulae cinereous grey.

Length, 10 mm.

Described from one £ from Margherita and two $ $ from the base of the Dawna Hills, Amherst District, Lower Burma, 1. iii. 1908, all in the Indian Museum (Annandale) ; Bojiaghat, 12. vi. 1915 ; Ivathgodam, 16. vi. 1915.

80. Atrichops caerulescens, Brun. (PL II, fig. 13.)

Atherix c&rulescens, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 463, pi. xxxvii, fig. 3 (1912).

$ . Head blackish, mainly dusted with bluish grey; frons, from the ocelli downwards for three-fourths of the distance to the antennae, shining black, bare, in which colour is inset a deep dull velvet-black triangle, its base on the lower margin of the shining part : antennae black, dusted with bluish grey, 3rd joint dull reddish yellow : mouth-parts dusted with bluish grey. Thorax blackish, with a shining bluish-grey reflection ; two not very obvious whitish dorsal stripes, and there are greyish reflections on the shoulders, posterior corners, and elsewhere, viewed in certain lights; a few soft black hairs on dorsum ; sides, pleura?, and scutelium concolorous, a little yellowish behind the thoracic stigma. Abdomen blackish, barely shining, with short sparse greyish pubescence; 1st segment dusted with bluish grey, 5th and 6th with light bluish-grey hind margins; venter mainly blackish. Legs black, minutely pubescent, coxae dusted with bluish grey. Wings very pule «rey; across the centre a reversed triangular brown spot reaching from the costa to the hind margin, where its apex meets the tip of the closed anal cell, the colour filling most of the discal cell and crossing the tip of the upper basal cell ; following the discal margin of this brown triangle (at a distance leaving a moderately wide intermediate clear band) is the proximal margin of a second large brown band, which fills thence the whole of the discal part of the wing ; a brown streak in the middle of each basal cell; stigma dark brown, filling distal half of cell; halteres yellow, clubs black.

Length, 6 mm.

Described from a perfect $ in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 5000 ft., 6. ix. 1909 (Annandale).

120 LEPTID.E.

Genus ATHERIX, Mg.

Atherix, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 271 (1803). Ibisia, Rondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 154 (1856). Peleckoidocertt, Bigot (p.p.}, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (2) ii, p. 91 (1856).

GENOTYPE, Atherix ibis, F. ; by general acceptance.*

This genus differs from Atrichops, Verr., chiefly in the pubes- cent frons and face. In A. ibis, a well-known European species, both these parts bear dense long pubescence, whereas in Atrichops they are bare.

Verrall, in describing Atrichops, adds a number of minor charac- ters which, though illustrative of the type-species (crassipes, Mg.), may possibly not occur in all the species that it may be advisable to refer to the genus.

The characters therefore allotted in this work to Atrichops may be considered to apply to Atherix also.

Only one species is Indian, labiata, Big.f

Range. World-wide.

Life-history. It has been said that the larva has tracheal gills, whilst Brauer states that it possesses true pseudopods instead of the roughened intercalated areas generally present in this family. The $ $ of A. ibis, a European species, cluster on a bough and lay their eggs all together in a mass, dying on the cluster, the larvae when hatched falling into the water.

81. Atherix labiata, Big.

Atherix labiata, Bigot, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, xii, p. 117 (1887) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 212 (1909).

$ . " Proboscis at least as long as height of head ; labella distinctly enlarged ; palpi bare, a little dilated, dark brown : frons black, with a few black hairs, face whitish-tomentose. Thorax and scutellum moderately shining black, the former with grey reflections, tomentose on anterior part, sides grey-tomentose. Coxae black; halteres chestnut, with tips blackish. Abdomen shortly pubescent, grey at the sides ; 1st segment black at base and middle, with a half band of grey dust on each side ; 2nd segment dull tawny, with a triangular basal black spot, and at the middle of each side a brownish transverse half-band ; 3rd segment with a transverse reddish line in middle. Legs all black, except base of hind femora which is tinged with pale yellow. Wings nearly clear at base, posterior half brownish grey, with three

* Coquillett adopts Rhagio diadema, F., as genotype, but Verrall successfully establishes ibis as such (British Flies, v, p. 285).

t My thanks are due to Mr. Collin for the information that labiata, Big., is truly an Atherix after an examination of the type, otherwise, as all the species that have come before me belong to Atrichops, I should have been tempted to include labiata also in that genus.

SURAGINA. 121

broad contiguous hyaline spots ; stigma oblong, brown ; veins with brownish int'uscation ; anal cell closed before the border." (Bigot.}.

Ceylon.

Type in Bigot's collection.*

Genus SURAGINA, Walk.

Suragina, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond.'iv, p. ] 10 (1860). GENOTYPE, Suragina illucens, Walk. ; the original species.

$ . "Body linear, moderately broad. Head almost as broad as the thorax; vertex and front of equal breadth. Proboscis porrect, compressed, a little shorter than the breadth of the head. Palpi lanceolate, contiguous to the proboscis. Antennae very short ; 3rd joint round ; arista slender, bare, longer than the antenna;. Thorax a little narrower in front. Abdomen somewhat flat, less than twice the length of the thorax, obtuse at the tip. Legs bare, unarmed, rather long and slender. Wings moderately long and broad ; radial vein slightly curved ; forks of the cubital vein a little longer than the preceding part ; 3rd externo-medial vein inclined beyond the discal areolet towards the 4th, which is straight ; subanal and anal veins united close to the border ; discal areolet nearly six times longer than broad, its fore side hardly angular." ( Walker.)

Range. Ceylon, Celebes, Gilolo.

It is necessary to reproduce Walker's own description of this genus unaltered, since no example has been available for re- description.

Osten-Sacken drew attention t to the fact that, in setting up Suragina, Walker omitted to note its close affinity to Atlierix, and observes that that author had labelled as a Suragina a species which Osteu-iSacken himself subsequently described as Atherix limbata (loc. cit.). Yet Walker certainly knew of Atlierix, a not uncommon European, even British, genus.

Karsch admits the great affinity between the two genera, but seems to have successfully differentiated them.J

Only three species are known.

82. Suragina elegans, Karsch.

Suragina elegans, Karsch, Berl. ent. Zeits. xxviii, p. 174 (1884).

<S $ . Blackish blue, black-haired. Thorax with two short white longitudinal stripes, and with white tomentum at the sides. Abdomen in c? broadly red towards the sides on the 2nd to the

* A specimen in my own collection from Maskeliya, Ceylon, taken in March is probably this species, but unfortunately the type is uot available for com- parison in India.

t Berl. ent. Zeits. xxvi, p. 101 (1882).

J See table of genera, p. 104. It must be remembered that Atlierix and Atrichops differ only in the hairy and bare cheeks respectively.

122 LEPTIDjE.

5th segments, in $ only on the 2nd and 3rd ; 4th and 5th seg- ments with broad white posterior border in both sexes ; venter yellowish red. Leys very long; in d wholly brownish black, in $ with base of hind femora yellowish. Wings in c? pale grey. in middle clear, with a broad irregular dark brown longitudinal stripe ; wings in 5 clear, only the tip greyish, and the brown stripe darker. Frons in $ velvet-brown, with white pubescence above antennae ; occiput white-haired; tip of abdomen in <$ pointed and forked, in $ flat, obtuse.

Length, 8-8-8 mm.

Ceylon (Nietner}.

The foregoing is a translation of Karsch's description.

Genus MACELLOPALPUS, Big.

Macellopa!pus,~Bigot,~Bu\L Soc. Ent. France, (6) vi, p. xlviii (188G). GENOTYPE, Macellopalpiis jlaveolus, Big. ; by original designation.

This genus differs from Atrichops in having a smaller 1st an- tennal joint, the 3rd (damaged) " apparently hardly dilated on underside." Palpi quite bare, large, and conspicuously oval on upper side, nearly straight below. Eyes bare. Pulvilli very small. Anal cell closed before the border.

Range. India, New Guinea.

M. fascipennis is distinguished from M. fulvidus by the brown streak across the wings.

83. Macellopalpus fulvidus, Brim. (PI. II, fig. 15.)

Macellopalpus fulridus, Brimetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 424, pi. xii, fig. 8 (1909).

2 . Head with frons parallel-sided, slightly less than one-fifth of the head in width, with a deep vertical central groove, ter- minating before reaching the vertex, on which the three brownish- yellow ocelli are very prominent ; frons just above antennae grey- dusted, the remainder of it shining black, quite smooth ; face below antennae, and cheeks, grey-dusted : antennae brownish yellow, 3rd joint darker, with long arista ; proboscis light brown (tip broken off) ; palpi blackish brown, lighter at base ; eyes black, facets of uniform size ; occiput bluish grey, with fringe of yellow hair, which behind the vertex is replaced by two or three irregular rows of stout black bristles. Thorax light brown, with sparse short hair; sides with a slight yellowish tinge: metanotuin lighter; scutellum light brown. (Though in the unique type the scutellum is bare, there are traces of it having borne bristles along the posterior border, and others, to a less extent, on the dorsum.) Abdomen light brown, nearly bare; posterior borders of segments narrowly blackish ; venter light brown, with a central blackish

MACELLOPALPl'S. 123

stripe. Legs missing, except the coxae, iincl the femur and tibia of one hind leg; all these are uniformly light brown, the femur having a very narrow black ring at the base. Wings pale yellow, costal border darker yellowish brown ; stigma brown, distinct ; halteres light brown, with a black spot on upper side of knob.

Length, 10 mm.

Described from one specimen in the Indian Museum from Sibsagar.

Bigot's description oE his flaveolus is very short, and would- apply to the present species, but as he marked fulvi.dus himself as a new species I presume it to be distinct.

Some considerations on the possible synonymy of this genus with Leptipalpus, Rond., and Heliomyia, Dol., have been set forth by me.* Of the three genera, Leptipalpus (1850) would take precedence. Apart from the two species described by me, only one other is known, Jiaveolus, Big., from New Guinea.

84. Macellopalpus fascipennis, sp. nov.

$ . Head with frons and face between one-third and one- fourth the width of the head, of nearly uniform width, dusted with greyish brown ; ocellar triangle slightly raised, concoloror.s, with a few bristles, ocelli very distinct, whitish, with black nuclei ; occiput greyish brown, with short bristles on at least upper half; antennae brownish yellow, 3rd joint black, grey-dusted, rounded, with blunt tip and a dark brown, very long arista. The bulbous epistome, rather short proboscis with large hairy labella, and large spatulate palpi all brownish yellow, latter black at tips. Thorax and scutellum wholly brownish yellow (bristles broken off). Abdomen with 1st segment brownish yellow ; 2nd moderately dark brown, graduating into yellowish on posterior half ; 3rd and 4th dark brown, with distinct yellowish hind margins; 5th much narrower, short ; following segments still narrower, all dark brown with indistinct yellowish hind margins. Dorsuin with uniform, but neither conspicuous nor dense, short black pubescence, which becomes bristly towards sides at base of abdomen. Venter yellowish on basal half, blackish on posterior half, hind margins of segments pale. Leys brownish yellow, tibiae very slightly darker, tips of tarsi blackish. Wings yellowish grey, stigma dark brown, large, clear-cut ; a narrow brownish streak from it nearly to hind margin, embracing fork of 3rd vein and outer side of discal cell; extreme wing-tip just perceptibly clouded; an indistinct suffusion over lower branch of 5th vein ; halteres large, stem thick, brownish yellow, knobs brown.

LengtJi, 5 mm. (excl. ovipositor).

Described from a unique female in the British Museum from the Khasi Hills, Assam.

* Ecc. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 425 (1909).

124 LICPTIDjE.

Genus LEPTIS, F*

Leptis, Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 69 (1805).

Rhagio, Fabricius, Syst. Entom. p. 761 (1775).

Syloicola (Sylvicolce) , Harris, Expos. Engl. Ins. p. 100 (1782).

GENOTYPE, L. scolopacea, E. (as Rhayio scolopaceus) • by definite selection by Fabricius at the erection of Leptis.

Head transverse, about as broad as thorax ; face very short, quadrangular, bare, socketed between the large eye-margins (or side-cheeks), the latter separated from the face itself by a deep channel, and bearing long, rather conspicuous pubescence. Pro- boscis prominent, thick, cylindrical, short, with distinct ribbed labella ; palpi 2-jointed, distinct, with bristly pubescence, rather drooping. Eyes bare, contiguous or subcontiguous in <$ , facets of uniform size, or nearly so ; in $ well separated, the frons with a shallow transverse suture a little above the antennae. Antennae short, porrect ; 3rd joint short, conical or almost renifonn ; arista apical, rather long, fine, and upturned. Thorax practically quadrangular, with rounded corners, slightly arched ; pubescence on the disc short, well distributed, rather bristly, with depressed pile intermixed ; pleurae mainly bare ; prothorax and metapleurae Avith rather long distinct pubescence. Abdomen nearly twice as long as thorax, elongate-conical, with at least seven obvious seg- ments ; pubescence fairly abundant, often rather bristly, but never like adpressed pile, short except at the basal corners. Geuitalia in <$ rather prominent, knobbed, and blunt; ovipositor of $ jointed, appearing like an 8th segment, with two pairs of ovate lamellae. Legs rather long, especially the hind pair ; hind femora slightly thickened ; coxae rather long ; front tibiae without spurs ; front tarsi with "touch hairs" below.f Wings as in Atricliops, but the

* The name Leptis is of too old standing to be changed, and Verrall thoroughly explains all questions of synonymy concerning it (Brit. Flies, v, p. 2H2).

t In a paper by Mik (Wien. ent. Zeit, xviii, p. 230, 1899) it has been sug- gested that there exists an organ of touch below the front torsi in some genera of LEPTID.E, TABANID.G, DOLICHOPODIDJS, EMFID.E, and some groups of ACALYP- TRATA and NEMATOCERA, in the shape of several long fine hairs, curved towards the tips, which project beyond the normal short stiff pubescence and the rather longer, regularly arranged, stiff bristles. He has noticed that some species of Leptis, when resting on leaves, sometimes support the body on the four posterior legs and make a sweeping curved movement with the front tarsi, as though brushing up minute particles from the surface, after which they appear to hold the collected matter between the tarsi, and bending down the head seem to imbibe it through the proboscis. These " touch hairs " occur mainly below the front tarsi, though existing to a less extent, on the middle pair also, where they are not longer than the ordinary pubescence and bristles, whilst they are absent on the hind tarsi. In Atherix marginata, F., a not uncommon European species, these hairs are abundant, though almost absent in A. ibis, F., whilst in other Leptid genera, including Cnrysoptins, closely allied to Leptis, they are not present. They exist, however, in Tabanus. and in this character Mik sees an additional kinship between LEPTID^. and TABANID.*:. Verrall gives a translation of this interesting paper (Brit. Flies, T,p.236).

LEPTIS. 125

basal cells shorter, the anterior cross-vein nearer base of discal cell and anal cell open.*

Range. Apparently almost world-wide, except Africa and Australia, but one species comes from Algeria.

Life-Jristory. The larva of Leptis has the mouth-parts well developed, and possesses two-jointed antennae. It is "very active, and is distinguished by having the stigmatic orifice surrounded by four quite equal, quadraugularly placed prominences, and at the other extremity of the body a blackish naked triangular plate ; on the inner side of each of seven of the abdominal segments there is a band of spines" (Cambridge Nat. Hist.). The larvae live in the earth, feeding on cockchafers and other beetles, some, the common European L. tringaria for instance, living on earthworms. Bonche has described the metamorphoses of some European species. The pupa is mummy-like ; the perfect insects occur on trees and shrubs in more or less shady spots, and are generally distributed.

Table of Species.

Wings with obvious suffusions ; species not

nearly unicolorous. Length 6 mm. ; wings pale grey, broadly

darkened apicipennis, Bruu., p. 125.

Length 3 mm. ; wings pale brown, with

clearer parts , . . . discoidalis, Brun., p. 126.

Wings clear.

Nearly wholly unicolorous species ;

length 5 mm unicolor, Brun., p. 126.

Abdomen with distinct triangular spots

on 3rd, 4th, and oth segments ; length

7-8 mm triangulata , sp. n., p. 127.

85. Leptis apicipennis, Brun. (PI. II, fig. 16.)

Leptis apicipennis^ Brunetti, llec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 423, pi. xii; fig. 7 (1909).

$ . Head : irons and face grey-dusted, with a large, shining black, inverted heart-shaped tubercle in the middle, and extending on each side to the eyes ; ocelli reddish tawny, semi-transparent, situated on the extreme vertex ; first antennal joint bright tawny (rest absent) ; proboscis shining chestnut-brown, bare, grey-dusted at sides ; palpi large, tawny brown, hairy ; occiput semicircular, with a weak irregular fringe of short grey hairs. Thorax brown above, moderately shining, sides dark greyish ; scutellum yellowish tawny, with a very few short irregular black hairs. Abdomen tawny, with scattered pale hairs ; with a wide, irregular, blackish- brown dorsal band, which occupies the whole of the last two or three segments ; and with a blackish irregular line on the sides

* Kare exceptions are known (as L. ft nebri?, Mg., of Europe), but not amongst Oriental species.

126 LEPTIDJE.

of the abdomen. Legs tawny yellow, fore tibiae yellowish white; hind tibiae rather brownish, paler towards tip ; tarsi tawny brown (middle pair wanting). Wings pale grey; a moderately dark brown apical spot begins on the costa in a straight line with the fork of the third longitudinal vein, extends thence to the tip of the wing, and posteriorly until it fills half the first posterior cell, also the whole of the second posterior cell, and then, by bending slightly outwards, the greater part of the third posterior cell ; a brown streak also begins at the inner cross-vein, passes over the basal part of the discal cell, passes longitudinally through the fourth posterior cell, nearly tilling it, and spreading over part of the fifth posterior cell also, and on attaining the border extends each way, meeting on one side the hind part of the apical spot, and extending on the inner side towards the anal lobe of the wing; no distinct stigma; halteres tawny yellow.

Length, 6 tnm.

Described from one 5 in the Indian Museum from Margherita, Assam.

86. Leptis discoidalis, Brun.

Leptis discoidalis, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 463 (1912).

5 . Head blackish, vertex black, f rons dusted with blue-grey ; antenna and proboscis moderately dark brown, palpi black ; occi- put bluish grey. Thorax and scutellum clear shining brown ; humeri, sides, and ruetanotum a little lighter. Abdomen darker brown, with short pale pubescence ; posterior margin of segments with a not very distinct blackish band ; genitalia small short- cylindrical, with two small terminal lamellae. Legs pale brownish yellow, microscopically pubescent. Wings pale brown ; discal cell, 2nd basal cell, 5th posterior cell, and all the wing posterior to these cells nearly clear ; no distinct stigma, but the region along both sides of the 1st longitudinal veins blackish ; halteres dark brown.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from two $ $ in the Indian Museum, Kurseong, 5000ft., 7. vii. 1908 (type), and Darjiling, 7000 ft., 7.viii. 1909 (C. Pciivo).

87. Leptis unicolor, Brun.

Leptis unicolor, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 404 (1912). cJ . Head with eyes contiguous for half the distance from vertex to antennae; frons dark blackish grey, ocellar triangle small, ocelli distinct, the vertex grooved on each side of the middle, near the eye ; occiput grey, posterior ocular orbit with a fringe of delicate pale yellow hairs. Antennae yellow, tip of 3rd joint, with its arista, black ; 1st and 2nd joints short, 3rd subconical. Proboscis relatively small, and much more slender than in most species,

LEPTIS. 127

yellow, as are the rather distinct elongate palpi, bearing black bristly hair. Thorax uniformly light brownish yello\v ; in certain lights small quadrate grey reflections on the shoulders, and a distinct broad whitish-grey horizontal stripe across the pleurae. Abdomen concolorous ; both thorax and abdomen with very sparse short pale hairs; venter similar. Legs with coxae and femora concolorous ; knees narrowly brown ; tibiae a little darker brownish yellow, becoming nearly or quite brown at the tips ; tarsi dark brown ; legs minutely pubescent. Wings uniformly pale yellowish grey. The 2nd posterior cell narrow, the sides almost parallel ; anterior cross- vein before one-fourth of the discal cell ; branches of 4th longitudinal vein issuing from discal cell well separated, and cell widely open ; halteres light brownish yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from a single perfect 3 in the Indian Museum from Darjiling.

88. Leptis triangulata, sp. nov.

rf . Head with vertical triangle small, black, shining, bare, extreme vertex with a few short, black, bristly hairs ; ocelli dull reddish brown ; eyes black ; frons, epistoma, and cheeks whitish grey, slightly shimmering, the last with pale yellow hairs ; antennae orange, 1st and 2nd joints slightly bristly, 3rd approximately conical, with long black arista ; proboscis brownish yellow ; palpi blackish with numerous bristles ; back of head greyish, with short pubescence above and longer yellow hairs below. Thorax brownish yellow ; dorsum with three shining black stripes, the median one broad, beginning on anterior margin, the outer ones nar- rower, beginning later, their posterior ends gradually diminish- ing, all three stripes dying away before reaching the scutellum ; sternopleuraand pteropleura with a slight silvery-white shimmer in certain lights ; whole thorax bare, except for a few black bristly hairs on shoulders, along the margins, and on the wholly brownish- yellow' scutellum. Abdomen brownish yellow ; a small rounded or pear-shaped black spot in middle of 2nd segment; 3rd, 4th, and oth segments with a large triangular black spot at base, the angles not quite attaining side and hind margins ; hind margin of 5th and all the 6th and 7th segments black or blackish, more or less shining ; venter brownish yellow, hind margins of segments narrowly blackish brown ; upper and lower surfaces of abdomen with short black pubescence, which is longer towards the sides ; genitalia small, yellowish, mainly concealed. Leys brownish yellow ; tips of coxae, femora, and tibiae more or less towards tips, and all tarsi, brownish or dark brown ; legs minutely black pubescent, coxae with mainly yellow hairs on basal half and longer black bristly hairs towards tip. Wings yellowish, slightly darker anteriorly ; stigma indistinctly a little deeper yellow ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 7-8 mm.

128 LEFIID2E.

Described from a small series of males in perfect condition collected by me in undergrowth on hillside at Darkling, 13-18. ix. 1913.

Type in my collection, co-types in the British and Indian Museums.

Genus CHRYSOPILUS, Macq.

Chrysopilus, Macquart, Kecueil Soc. Sci. Agric. Lille, p. 403 (1826).

Chrysopila, Macquart, Suites a Buff. i. p. 429 (1834).

? Slyrex, Scopoli, Ent. Cam. p. 367 (1763).

? Heliomyia, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Neder. Ind. xiv, p. 402 (1857).*

Leptis (pt.), auc tores.

GENOTYPE, Musca diadema, L. ; by designation of Westwood (1840).

Head with face socketed like a dimple. Palpi porrect or slightly upturned, not drooping. Eyes with upper facets much larger than lower ones,f generally sharply demarcated, and of a different colour ; in life eyes often brilliant golden green. Antenna? much as in Leptis, but 3rd joint onion-shaped, rarely longer than 2nd ; arista apical, long and thin. Thorax " with coarse golden or pale yellow depressed pile or scales, amongst which there may be some longer, thinner, erect hairs "; mesopleurae, metapleurse and sides of metanotum with pubescence. Abdomen shorter than in Leptis; dorsum with a considerable amount of golden pubescence as on the thorax. Leys long and thin ; coxae moderately large ; femora with closely applied small golden or pale yellow scales, most con- spicuous behind the anterior pairs, except at the tip, and in front of the hind pair ; fore tibiae unspurred, middle tibiae with two apical equal-sized spurs, hind tibiae with a single spur ; front tarsi without " touch hairs." Wings rather broader than in Leptis ; venation as in that genus, except that the anal cell is always closed at or a little before the border ; subcostal vein with very small bristles ; alar squamae moderate, a single row of hairs on posterior margin.

Range. World- wide.

Life-history. The larvae live in rotten wood or vegetable mould. Beling has described the metamorphoses of several European species, which are similar to those of Leptis. The perfect insects occur in woods, meadows, and shady places. The colours fade somewhat after death and the golden pubescence is especially easily rubbed off.

* C.fcrruginosus, Wd., a rather widely distributed Oriental species and the only one referred to Heliomyia, is somewhat aberrant in the palpi, and may require removal to a new genus or possibly to Macellopalpus. See my notes under this genus and the further notes herein referred to.

•f In femtginosus the lower facets are barely perceptibly smaller than the upper ones, and by no means clearly demarcated. There is, however, some probability of this species having to be removed to a different genus.

CHEYSOPILUS. 129

Table of Species.

1. Win^s distinctly or darkly mottled (some-

what Trypeta-\\\Q), or uniformly dark

brown 2.

Wings never mottled or uniformly dark brown ; somewhat yellowish or (humeralis only ) pale brown 6.

2. Wing* more or less mottled 3.

Wings uniformly dark brown 5.

3. The pale spot beyond but contiguous to the

stiguid quite clear and sharply defined; 1st and 2nd subrnarginal cells 'and all pos- terior cells with a well-defined clearer spot Hi tip of each, but the outlines not [p. 131.

sharply demarcated marmoratus, Brun.,

The pale spot adjacent to the stigma very indefinite, not sharply defined; no wing- bordt-r spots distingui.-hable fr« >m the rather clearer middle parts ol most of the cells . . 4.

4. Prongs of upper branch of 4th longitudinal

vein issuing from discal cell well sepa- rated ; grou .d-c<>lour of hind border of wing of same shade as remainder of wing; stigma brown, rather ill-defined; length, [p. 131.

3 mm albopictus, Brun.,

Prongs of upper branch of 4th longitudinal vein issuing from discal cell united or nearly so ; hind part of wing nearly clear, except for the infuscatious along the veins ;

stigma nearly blcick, more shai'ply defined ; [p. 132.

length, 4 mm ornatipennis, Brun.,

5. The long dark brown stigma uninter- [p. 133.

rupted luctuosus, Brun.,

Stigma interrupted by an elongate yellow [p. 133.

spot Jlavopunct(itus,Brnn.,*

6. Wii.g with six bluish opalescent spots ; 2nd

posterior cell much longer than 3rd opalescens, sp.n.,p. 134.

Wing without traces of opalescent spots; 2i,d posterior cell subequal to 3rd, at least in ad my species 7.

7. Mainly black species, at least the thorax . . 8. Mainly yellowish or brownish species, at

least the thorax almost nlways so 18.

8. Wings with a di-tinct suffusion in addition

to stigma ; (wings pale brown in humeralis

only) 9.

Winers unmarked except for the stigma .... 13. [p. 135.

9. Wings uniformly pale brown humeralis, Brun.,

Wing- never uniformly pale brown ; prac- tically clear, w;th more or less distinct

suffusions 10.

10. Wing-tip clear, a distinct brownish suffu- sion from stigma to beyond middle of [p. 13?.

wing segmentatus, Brun.,

Wing-tip always distinctly infuscated .... 11.

K

130 LKPTIDjfi.

11. Wing-tip blacldsh from near stigma up to

and including 3rd posterior cell 12.

Wing-tip suffusion consisting of infuscation [ p. 136.

of both branches of 3rd vein cochinensis, sp. n.,

12. Second and third antenual joints and palpi

black ; abdomen all black ; wing-tip suf- fusion stronger gravelyi, sp. n., p. 137.

Second and third antennal joints and palpi yellow ; abdomen yellowish at base ; wing- tip suffusion less distinct similis, sp. n., p. 138.

13. Antennae black 14.

Antennae yellow 16. [p. 138.

14. Stigma large, dark brown, well-defined. . . . maynipennis, Brun., Stigma brownish yellow, diffused or ill- defined 15.

15. Femora all yellow, except the narrowly

black base ; stigma pale brownish yellow, [p. 138.

ill-defined flavopilosus, sp. n.,

Femora all yellow, except the black basal

half of anterior pairs; stisrma yellowish [p. 137.

brown, suffused . . 1tirmanensisy sp. n.,

16. Legs yellow yerbunji, sp. n., p. 139.

At least basal half of anterior femora [p. 140.

black albobasatis, Brun.,

17. Stigma pale yellow; two shining white

spots above antennae insularts, Sch., p. 140.

Stigma conspicuous, dark, but not always

with well-defined limits 19.

18. Wings distinctly yellow 20.

Wings grey 21.

19. Lower eye-facets barely smaller than upper

ones; tibiae more or less darkened soon [p. 141.

after the base ; length, 8-11 mm ferruginosus, Wied.,

Lower eye-facets very much smaller than upper ones; tibiae practically all yellowish ; length, 5| mm unicolor, Brun., p. 141.

20. Third antennal joint black 22.

Third antennal joint yellow 23.

21. Basal half of abdomen yellowish, except for

a dorsal dark stripe and dark hind margins ; rest of abdomen black ; wings practically clear, except for a small dark brown stigma and faint transverse suffusion to- wards tip; narrow, graceful, nearly linear species ; anal cell closed at some distance

before border stigma, Brun., p. 142.

Abdomen dark shining brown, hind margins of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments broadly yellow ; wing distinctly grey, almost yel- low-tinged ; large brown stigma ; broader, comparatively shorter species; abdominal segments after 4th suddenly contracted ; anal cell closed just before border latus. sp. n., p. 143.

22. First antennal joint black; legs darker brown. sordidus,sp.i\.,p. 143. Antennae wholly yellow ; legs yellow, tibiae

and tarsi a little darker a#ema<MS,sp.n.,p.l44.

CHRTSOPILUS. 131

89. Chrysopilus marmoratus, Brun. (PI. II, fig. 17.)

Chrysopilus marmoratus, Branetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 429, pi. xii, fig. 10 (1909).

c? . Head with vertex much elevated, light brown, the ocelli well separated and very distinct, semi-transparent, with black centres; eyes light chestnut-brown, upper facets rather large, lower ones very small and much darker brown ; eyes contiguous almost down to the antennae, the t'rons receding so much as to be invisible; the inner sides of tife eyes (seen from in front), also the face below the antenna?, blackish grey ; antennae, proboscis, and palpi brownish yellow. Thorax moderately dark brown, with sparse golden-yellow hairs on dorsum ; slightly paler at sides, and with concolorous scutellum and inetanotum, the former bearing some moderately long brownish hairs. Abdomen dark brown ; 2nd seg- ment and posterior border of 1st segment lighter ; venter brown ; whole abdomen lightly covered with brownish hairs. Legs with coxa3 light brown ; the single leg of the (unique) type (fore leg) is concolorous. Wings rather dark brown, with pale grey spots, of which the clearest is an oval one just beyond the stigma, reaching from the costa to the fork of the 3rd longitudinal vein ; below this follows a spot in each of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pos- terior cells ; there is a small one in the centre of the discal cell, which, with a small one in the 4th posterior cell and a large one in the 5th posterior cell, form a row ; a small spot is at the tip of the marginal cell, and a larger one at the tip of the submar- ginal ; whilst the whole posterior border of the wing is pale grey, spreading out somewhat in the cells and in the axillary cell. The veinlets forming the upper fork of the 4th longitudinal vein emerge practically together from the upper corner of the discal cell, the outer side of which is practically quite straight. Halteres light brown, with large blackish-brown knobs.

Length, 4mm.

Described from one specimen from Sadiya, Assam, in the Indian Museum.

90. Chrysopilus albopictus, Brun. (PI. II, fig. 18.)

Chrysopilus albopictus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 428, pi. xii, fig. 9 (1909).

5 . Head wholly black, f rons about one-fourth width of head ; a vertical indentation just above antenna;, with slight greyish tomentum ; antennae, proboscis, and palpi tawny yellow. Thorax (denuded) light tawny brown, sides sublivid; scutellum con- colorous, with some longish hairs on posterior part. Abdomen dark brown, conical, posterior borders of segments lighter ; venter dark brown. Legs tawnv yellow, femora and coxa) brighter, tarsi darker. Wings moderately dark brown, with pale grey patches; that take the form of three irregular light bands, commencing at., or just below, the costa, of which the first begins junt beyond the

"

132

stigma and terminates posteriorly on reaching the fork of the 3rd longitudinal vein ; the second crosses the middle of the discal cell and attains the hind border ; the third crosses the second basal and the anal cell, and is merged in the light colour of the base of the wing ; the centres and hind borders of the posterior cells are also pale grey. The upper fork of the 4th longitudinal vein emerges frem the upper corner of the discal cell as t«o separate veins, the outer side of that cell forming a distinct angle. Siigma dark brown, proportionately large, and there are trares of yellow just before it and also in the basal cells ; halterts brownish yellow.

Lenytli, 3 mm.

Described from a specimen in the Indian Museum from Mar- gherita, Assam.

Walker's guttipennis must be near this species, but appears distinct, and is larger.

91. Chrysopilus ornatipennis, Brun. (PI. II, fig. 19.)

Chrysopilus ornatipennis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 212 (1809).

$ . Head with frons blackish grey, grooved down the centre, one-fourth of width of head, only slightly wider towards vertex ; ocelli on a concolorous, slightly elevated triangle, black, with a narrow pale herder and a few microscopic bristles ; antennae with 1st and 2nd joints livid brown, 3rd with greyish pube- scence, bristle very long; proboscis shining, livid brown at bnse, bright yellow on narrow part, with two very minute, dark brown, hairy lamellae; occiput yellowish grey above, bluish grey below, with numerous minute black bristles, especially towards the vertex. Thorax yellowish brown, the dorsum covered with microscopic scales, which, seen from behind, are brilliantly emerald- green on the centre and bright blue towards the sides, the pos- terior part, and over the whole of the scutellum ; in addition to the scales the entire surface of the thorax and the scutellum is covered with long curved bristly hairs ; sides of thorax uni- formly shining tawny yellow. Abffomen brownish, becoming yellow on posterior border, covered on entire upper surface rather closely with soft black hairs, which extend round the sides and are very short on the yellow venter; they are rather thicker and longer on the fore corners of the abdomen. The 5th segment is much reduced in size, blackish grey ; 6tli and 7th stylate, blackish grey, with a broad distinct pale yellow posterior border, supple- mented by a long thick cylindrical blackish-grey ovipositor. Leys \\ith coxa? and femora bright tawny yellow, tibiae pale brown, tarsi black ; coxae with some bristly hairs on and around them, hind pair with a black streak on apical border; middle and hind tibiae with two short yellow spines at extreme tip. Wings pale blackish grey, posterior part nearly clear, and light grey or nearly clear in the following places : distal ends of basal cells ; middle of anal cell ; a ralher narrow pale yellowish band from the middle

CHRYSOPILUS. 133

of the fore border (adjacent to the black stigrua) to the distal end of the discal eel], thence becoming pale grey ; a yellowish-grey diffused spot just beyond (and contiguous to) the stigma; all the cells below the 3rd longitudinal vein are pale grey or clear in their centres. The upper branch of the 3rd vein bears a small appendix at the bend, which is rectangular ; the inner cross-vein is placed at one-third of the discal cell, and the two forks of the upper branch of the 4th vein spring almost simultaneously from the upper corner of the discal cell. Halteres yellow.

Length, 4 mm.

Described from a single perfect $ from Tenmalai in the Western Grhats, Travancore, South India, 22. xi. 1908 (AnnandaU), in the Indian Museum.

92. Chrysopilus luctuosus, Brun.

Chrysopiltis luctuosus, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 430 (1909).

c? . Head with vertex, frons, and face blackish ; antennae dark brownish vellow ; proboscis aud palpi blackish ; occiput blackish, with rather long greyish hair at the sides and below ; eyes bright brown, lower facets much smaller than upper ones. Thorax mouse-colour, nearly bare ; scutellum concolorous, with a row of long hairs on posterior border. Abdomen dark brown, with some yellowish-grey pubescence ; venter dark brown. Legs \ coxae dark brown, with brownish-grey hair ; femora and tibiae light brownish yellow, with sparse hair on underside of femora, aud a row of minute bristly hairs on outer side of hind tibiae ; tarsi brownish yellow, tips black. Wings with anterior half rather dark brown, the colour gradually fading away posteriorly to the pale brown hind border ; mediastinal cell, nearly to its tip, darker brown, no separate stigma. Upper fork of 4th longi- tudinal vein issuing as two separate veins from the discal cell, the outer side of which thus contains a distinct angle. Halteres pale yellow, knobs black.

Length, 5mm.

Described from one tf in the Indian Museum from Margherita, Assam.

93. Chrysopilus flavopunctatus, Brun.

Chrysopilus flavopunctatus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 213 (1909).

cJ . Head with vertex very small, elevated, the ocelli as in ornati- pennis ; facets in upper half of eyes rather larger than those in lower half ; frous deep black ; face dark grey ; antennae brown, 3rd joint black, bristle long, microscopically hairy; proboscis dusky yellowish brown ; palpi rather robust, pale brown, hairy. Thorax and scutellum dark brown, with microscopic hairs, which appear bright green when seen from behind ; scutellum with some rather long black hairs ; sides shining dark brown, nearly bare. Abdomen dark brown, nearly black towards tip, with short blackish

134 LEPTID7E.

hairs ; venter concolorous. Legs dark brown ; fore coxae and fore femora wholly, posterior femora towards the tips, pale ; knees black ; all coxss with black hairs ; hind tibiae with two pale yellow- spines at tip. Wings blackish brown ; stigma in marginal cell, elongated, deep black, extended to costa on the outer side of a short, bright yellow stripe which intersects it in the middle, this stripe also reaching to the costa ; there is a pale parti-coloured irregular spot (yellowish and pale grey) at the distal end of the 1st basal cell, and extending below into the 2nd ; posterior border of wing fading into light grey, the veins in this part being nar- rowly suffused with black ; halteres pale yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from a perfect <$ in the Indian Museum from Madcla- thorai, Travancore State, South India, 18. xi. 1908 (Annandale).

94. Chrysopilus opalescens, sp. nov.

$ . Head with frons shining black (type) or dark brown and less shining ; ocelli dirty pale yellow with a central black spot, tubercle dull blackish ; a few short black bristles across vertex ; face less shining than frons, dark ; proboscis similar, with hoary dust; labella large, yellow ; palpi black, with a few bristles ; antennae all black, with black arista, 3rd joint shortly conical, with rather longer pubescence than usual ; occiput grey-dusted, with short yellow bristly hairs and some whitish pubescence behind lower eye-margin. Thorax and scutellum brownish yellow ; pleurae a little paler ; thoracic dorsum with traces of three brown stripes (type) or without them. Abdomen brownish yellow, 1st segment all yellow, or darkened in middle; 2nd, 3rd, and 4th with a broad median dark brown band, enlarged broadly across the hind margin of each ; remaining segments very narrow, more or less brownish above; venter and genitalia mainly yellow. Legs yellow, tibiae dark dirty yellow, tarsi darker. Wings pale yellowish, with distinct bluish opalescent spots placed as follows : two transverse rows across the wings, the inner rowr formed by a spot in the 1st submarginal cell before forking of 3rd vein, a second in discal cell, a third in 5th posterior cell; the outer row by a spot towards end of 1st submarginal cell, one towards end of 1st posterior cell and one towards tip of 4th posterior cell ; the wing- tip is occupied bv another opalescent spot extending across the two submarginal cells and the 1st posterior cell; there is also a similar spot in the centre of the anal cell and another near base of costal cell, thus making nine spots in all; halteres yellowish.

Length, 4|-5 mm.

Described from a type and two other $ $ in the British Museum from Pundaluoya, Ceylon (E. E. Green).

Taken in the same locality by Mr. Green is a d" in the British Museum possessing the same two transverse rows of opalescent spots, the other spots not being obvious (the wings being slightly damaged). The thorax, scutellum, and abdomen are blackish,

CHRYSOPILUS. 135

except for a paleness at the sides of some of the segments of the latter. The face, antennae, and palpi are all black, and the legs are as in the female specimens. The body may possibly have been accidentally discoloured and the specimen may be the d1 of opahscens, as no other species known to me possesses the pecu- liarity of the opalescent wing-spots.

95. Chrysopilus humeralis, Brun.

Chrysopilus humeralis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 466 (1912).

c? . Head with eyes practically contiguous for the greater part of their length above the antennae, leaving a narrowly elongate frons of the shape of an isosceles triangle, which is bluish grey ; ocellar protuberance blackish, occiput dark grey; face narrowly triangular, bluish grey ; antennae brownish yellow ; proboscis and palpi similar, the latter rather darker, both with yellow hairs, Thorax shining blackish, with pale yellow hairs ; shoulders livid yellow ; pleurae dark bluish grey varying to blackish ; scutellum and metanotum blackish. Abdomen blackish, with pale pubes- cence ; the major part of the basal half yellowish, leaving generally a narrow anterior and posterior blackish margin of varying width to each segment; about the apical half of the abdomen all black ; venter similar to upper side. Legs with coxae and femora yellowish, apical half (more or less) of fore and hind femora blackish or quite black ; remainder of legs dark brown. Wings grey, no stigma ; a very slight brownish darkening about the fork of the 3rd longitudinal vein, continued in diminished intensity along a further or lesser part of the marginal cell ; halteres yellowish, with blackish-brown knobs.

Length, 6 mrn.

Described from three <3 tf in the Indian Museum from Chumbi, Darjiling District, 4000 ft., vii. 1911 (Gravely).

96. Chrysopilus segmentatus, Bran.

Chrysopilus seymentatus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 430, pi. xii, figs. 11, 12 (1909).

c? . Head with vertex jet-black, prominent ; ocelli small, equi- distant, whitish ; eyes very large, occupying practically the whole of the head, lower facets much smaller than upper ones ; whole of face grey-dusted ; antennae tawny ; proboscis large, shining brown, lower part grey-dusted ; palpi dark brown, with some hair ; occiput grey-dusted, studded with black hairs. Thorax dark blackish brown, with two narrow longitudinal yellowish-grey stripes on dorsum, dividing the surface into three equal parts and a silvery-grey reflection on the sides behind the wings (seen from behind); humeral calli light yellowish brown. Abdomen shining black, the segments well separated, with a telescopic appearance ; posterior border of first segment shining steel-blue- grey ; second wholly black ; rest of segments, seen in certain

136 LEPTLDjE.

lights, steely aeneous, highly shining, with, a dull jet-black, moderately wide posterior border ; the whole abdomen moderately thickly clothed with soft black hairs. Leys blackish brown ; base of hind femora, tips of four anterior femora, and the anterior tibiae wholly, pale tawny brown. Wings pale grey ; stigma brown, but ill-defined, elongated and spread over both mediastiual and sub- costal cells, and from this stigmatic spot a brownish-grey band proceeds posteriorly, rapidly narrowing, and disappears on reach- ing the outer cross-vein, thus forming what at a short distance appears to be a brown triangular cloud, darkest in front. The lower branch of the upper fork of the 4th longitudinal vein issues from below the middle of the outer side of the discal cell, which latter has the appearance of having the upper outer corner cut off by the upper branch.

Length, 10 mm.

Described from one c? in the Indian Museum from Gowchar, Nepal.

97. Chrysopilus cochinensis, sp. uov.

$ . Head with eyes separated bv a very broad frons occupying fully half the width of the head, the upper red-brown and lower black facets well demarcated, but of uniform size ; frons mainly of uniform width, except for the widening towards vertex, dark brownish yellow, with darker patches; vertex scarcely elevated, ocelli yellowish, prominent;* frons slightly but suddenly depressed just above antennae, the latter blackish, 2nd joint reddish brown, 3rd joint with a little grey pubescence, arista black ; face and cheeks dusted with whitish grey ; epistoma brown, covered with whitish dust ; proboscis brownish yellow ; palpi dark brown, bristly ; occiput dark brownish yellow, with sparse short stiff black pubescence ; underside of head with a little black softer hair. Thorax black, dorsum with short adpressed bright yellow scale-like pubescence ; sides brownish grey, with a little yellow pubescence here and there ; scutellum brownish grey, with yellow pubescence as on the thoracic dorsum. Abdomen dull blackish, barely shining ; 1st segment wholly, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments on about basal third, with soft white pubescence ; black pubescence on the remainder ; the 5th, 6th, and 7th segments are suddenly narrowed, their hind borders slightly wider than else- where, but the broadest part of the 5th segment is barely half as wide as the 4th segment at base ; ovipositor elongate, black ; venter black, with a few scattered hairs. Legs blackish grey, with a little black pubescence ; femora brownish yellow, tips of hind pair slightly blackish; tibiae and tarsi dirty yellow, apical half of latter blackish. Wings very pale yellowish grey, almost clear;

* In the unique type only two ocelli are obvious, the lower on« being hidden, except for its extreme upper rim, by an apparently slight distortion of the frons.

137

stigma dark brown, elongate ; both branches of 3rd vein rather broadly but lightly infuscated ; an appendix at tbe fork ; halteres yellow, basal half of clubs blackish.

Length, 5| rntn.

Described from a single specimen in the Indian Museum from Parambikulam, Cochin, 16-24. ix. 1914 (Gravely).

98. Chrysopilus birmanensis, sp. nov.

Very near C. cochinensis, differing as follows : — Head bluish ash-grey, except the centre of the frons, which is of the same shade of brown as in C. cochinensis ; 3rd antennal joint brown, the whitish pubescence rather more conspicuous; occiput with distinct whitish pubescence towards side-margins. Suutellum wholly dead-black, like the thoracic dorsum. Pubescence of abdomen at base of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments more golden yellow than whitish. Basal half of anterior femora black. Wing- tip without suffusion; stigma yellowish brown, more diffused, the suffusion not extending below 2nd longitudinal vein.

Described from a unique $ in the British Museum from G-okteik Gorge, Northern Shan States, Upper Burma, 26. vii. 1900 (Col. C. T. Bint/ham).

This is remarkably like C. cochinensis, and may possibly be a variety of it.

99. Chrysopilus gravelyi, sp. nov.

c? . Head with vertex prominent, black, ocelli brownish ; front of head and epistoma brownish grey ; proboscis brownish yellow ; palpi dark brown, with concolorous long bristly hairs ; antennae and arista blackish ; occiput dark ; underside of head with long pale yellow hairs. Thorax black and, with scutellum. covered with very short bright yellow adpressed scale like pubescence; hind margin of scutellum with a row ol' long bla.-k hairs. Abdomen black, covered with pubescence like the thorax, which is replaced on the base and hind part of each segment by black hairs, which latter also cover the whole dorsum of the last segment. Legs with coxa? dark grey, slightly yellowish in places, with some soft bright yellow hairs towards tips ; femora uniformly pale yellow ; tibiae dirty yellow; tarsi brownish towards tips. Wings pale grey, iridescent ; a darker infuscation at tip from stigma hind- wards, reaching inwards sufficiently to fill the 2nd submarginal and 2nd and 3rd posterior cells, the inner outline ill-defined, and a paler space just beyond the elongate dark brown stigma; halteres yellow, Knobs black.

Length, 6 mm.

Described from a single c? in the Indian Museum from the Darjiling Himalayan Railway, 5500 ft., 23. v. 15 (Gravely).

138 LEPT1DJS.

100. Chrysopilus similis, sp. nov.

Very near C. yravelyi, differing in the 2nd and 3rd antennal joints and the palpi being yellow, not black ; labella bright brownish yellow ; 1st abdominal segment and base of 2nd yellowish ; ernarginations of segments yellowish brown ; sides of abdomen and venter mainly so also ; suffusion at wing-tip lighter and less well defined proximally.

Length, 7 5 mm.

Described from a single 6 in the British Museum from Madul- sima, Ceylon, 15. v. 1908 (T. B. Fletcher).

101. Chrysopilus magnipennis, Brun.

Chrysopilus maynipennis, Brunetti,Eec. Iiid. Mus. iii, p. 213 (1909).

$ . Head mainly brownish yellowish grey, a little darker here and there, especially just above the base of the antenna ; ocellar triangle distinct ; antennae black, the joints subequal in length, 2nd narrowly white at tip, 3rd with grey hair, style long ; palpi blackish brown, with brownish-grey dust ; proboscis blackish brown, with a few hairs ; underside of head with a little black hair. Thorax (denuded) black, also at sides ; traces of grey hairs and some golden-yellow hairs around base of wings and on scutellum. Abdomen black, with moderately close grey hairs, with which are intermixed some golden-yellow ones ; venter with grey hairs. Legs wholly yellowish, except coxae, a very narrow ring at base of femora, and the tarsi tips, which are black. Wings practically clear ; venation as in my G. segmentatus, except that the upper branch of the 3rd longitudinal vein takes towards its tip a slight downward curve, thence curving rather sharply up- wards to the costa, and enclosing a well-marked, large, dark brown stigma ; halteres black, club yellowish.

Length, 4| mm. ; wing, 6§ mm.

Described from a $ in my collection from Maskeliya, Ceylon (E. E. Green).

102. Chrysopilus flavopilosus, sp. nov.

c? . Head with eyes contiguous for a considerable space, upper facets dark chocolate-brown, lower ones black ; ocellar triangle dark grey, bare except for a few microscopic bristles behind ; frons, face, and cheeks, which are very receding, ash-grey, as is also the basal half of the proboscis ; palpi brown, with yellow hairs : lower (cylindrical) part of proboscis yellowish or brownish, with a little pale pubescence ; antennae blackish, a little ash-grey about the tips of the joints, arista grey ; occiput ash-grey, with some pale pubescence, lower part of head with pale yellow hairs. Thorax, with scutellum, blackish grey, wholly covered with very

139

short, bright golden-yellow, coarse scaly pubescence ; pleurae a little lighter grey, nearly bare ; scutelluin with long hairs on hind margin. Abdomen dark blackish grey (base of 1st segment some- times lighter) ; dorsum wholly covered with similar yellow pubescence to that of the thorax, which appears to be sparser along the einarginations of the segments, and with some longer finer black hairs intermixed ; venter lighter or darker grey, with sparse pale pubescence ; genitalia dark grey, a rather large dorsal plate, a pair of 2-jointed dark grey claspers, brownish yellow towards tips. Legs pale or brownish yellow ; coxse dark grey in places, with some pale yellow pubescence ; tips of hind femora slightly brownish ; tibiae and tarsi yellowish, tips of tibiae minutely black, hind tarsi blackish, darker towards tips. A high microscopic power reveals the usual adpressed yellowish scales on all the femora, so pale and closely applied to the surface as to be easily overlooked. Wings clear ; stigma pale brownish yellow, elongate, distinct, but not sharply defined ; halteres rather large and long, brownish yellow with blackish knobs.

Described from a <5 (type) from Almora, Kumaon District, 5500 ft., 29. vi. 1931 (Paiva), and another 6" from .Kurseong, 5000 ft., 8. vii. 1908 ; both in the Indian Museum.

The differences between this species and the European splen- didus, Mg.,* are as follows : — The coxae are yellow, the hind pair more or less blackish and bare; in splendidus the coxae are ash- grey, the hind pair bearing long yellow hairs on the apical half. In my species the femora are bright yellow, with minute yellow scales ; in splendidus they are blackish, with blackish scales. In flavopilosus the palpi are thinner and shorter than in splendidus, also with fewer and shorter hairs. In flavopilosus the first two antennal joints are dark yellowish brown ; in splendidus they are black.

103. Chrysopilus yerburyi, sp. nov.

cJ . Head with face and proboscis moderately dusted with dark grey, labellae brownish yellow ; palpi brownish yellow, black-tipped ; antennal 1st joint blackish, 2nd and 3rd brownish yellow ; ocellar triangle distinct; occiput grey, with a little pale hair on lower part. Thorax and scutellum black, covered with golden-yellow scaly pubescence ; pleurae grey ; humeral region somewhat yellowish. Abdomen brownish yellow, hind margin of 2nd and 3rd segments narrowly or broadly, of 4th broadly black, remaining segments all black ; the major part of each segment (except perhaps the 1st) from the base apparently covered with golden-yellow scaly pubescence and thin yellow hairs; venter yellow ; genitalia black. Legs yellow, tarsi darker, tips of hind femora above

* In my note on " ? C. lielvnhis, Mg." (Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 464) I used in error the specific name hclvolus instead of splendidus.

140 LEFflDJE.

with numerous tiny black bristles ; coxae with soft golden-yellow hairs. Wings pale yellowish, barely appreciably darker at tips ; stigma large, dark brown, well defined ; halteres yellow.

Length, 7 mm.

Described from three d cf in indifferent condition in the British Museum from Ceylon : Hakgala, 24. v. 1891 (type) and 4. v. 1891 ; Trincoinali Hot Wells, 17. viii. 1890 (Col. Yerbunj).

Two $ $ in the same collection from Pankullam, 12. iii. 1891, and Hakgala, 13. v. 1891, may represent the other sex of this species.

104. Chrysopilus albobasalis, sp. nov.

Head with vertex very prominent, dark grey, with a few bristles behind ; the brownish ocelli conspicuous ; upper eye- facets bright brown, lower ones very much smaller, dark red; antennae yellowish, 3rd joint grey-pubescent, arista dirty yellow ; frons, cheeks, and epistoma grey -dusted; proboscis brownish yellow, palpi dark brown, both with strong bristles ; occiput grey-dusted, nearly bare, lower part of head with some longer pule hairs. Thorax and scutellum very deep brown, velvet-like, nearly bare; pleura? dark grey, sides of scutellum a little yellowish. Abdomen with 1st segment black, hind border yellowish, with a fringe of conspicuous soft white hairs; 2nd segment and base of 3rd pale yellowish, former with some conspicuous \\hite hairs; rest of abdomen black or dark brown, dull, with very sparse black hairs ; venter coloured as dorsum, but without the white hairs. Legs Avith coxae black, rest pale yellow ; basal half of anterior femora and a ring before the tip of the hind pair, black; tips of tarsi blackish. Wings quite clear; a small dark brown well-defined stigma ; halteres brownish yellow, clubs blackish.

Length, barely 5 mm.

Described from one specimen from Parambikulam, Cochin State, 3700-3200 ft., 16-24. ix. 1914 (Gravely), in the Indian Museum.

The peculiar white base of the abdomen and the entirely clear wings distinguish this species from all the others.

105. Chrysopilus insularis, Sch.

Chn/sopilus insularis, Schiner, Reise Novara, Dipt. p. 199 (1868).

$ . Eeddish yellow, the whole upper side deeper, with a pale shimmer towards sides of thorax and the emargiuatious of the abdominal segments ; pleurae fawn-colour, shining. Ovipositor prominent, the joints indistinct. Head black; frons rather broad, very shining, with two shining white spots above the antennae ; occiput dusted with whitish grey; epistoma in middle vesiculose, horn-yellow ; antennae reddish yellow, 3rd joint black, very short, quite round, arista long. Palpi approximated, porrect, reddish yellow, nearly bare, as long as the reddish-yellow proboscis. Legs ochraceous yellow, tibiae and tarsi brown. Wings tinged with

CHKYSOPILUS. 141

brownish yellow, stigma honey-yellow ; the two upper veins from the discal cell very approximate at their bases, the upper one a little turned downwards ; anal cell i-losed well before the border.

Length, 8 mm.

Described originally from a single $ from Tillangchong, Nicobar Islands.

This species, which has not been seen by me, is said by Schiner to differ from C. ferruginosus, Wied., by the absence of the brownish wing-tip and the honey-yellow stigma. The two shining white spots above the antennae seem characteristic, otherwise the differences from Wiedemaun's species appear slight.

106. Chrysopilus ferruginosus, Wied.

Leptis ferruyinosus, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag. i, pt. 3, p. 4 (1819);

id., Auss. Zweirt. i, p. 224 (1828). Heliomyia ferrur/inea, Uoleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Iiid. xiv, p. 402,

pi. vi'i, fig. 5 (1857).

Chrysopilus frater, Brunetti, RFC. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 431 (1909). Chrysopilus ferruyinosm, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. liv, p. 287,

pi. xviii, fig. 8 (1911).

cJ . Head with vertex and frons blackish or dark grey, lighter above antennae, with black hairs on vertex : proboscis and palpi tawny, face below antennae grey ; antennae brownish yellow, 3rd joint sometimes a little brownish ; lower facets of eyes only slightly smaller than upper ones, not always clearly demarcated; occiput blackish, with whitish hair behind eyes. Thorax and scutellum light tawny brown, with minute golden-yellow impressed pubescence; sternopleurae sometimes nearly livid; scutellum with pnle yellow hairs on hind border. Abdomen light tawny brown to deep orange, darker towards the tips, with yellowish-grey pubescence and some black hairs intermixed ; posterior borders of segments ^especially the hinder ones) narrowly black; venter similarly marked. Legs tawny; coxae with golden-yellow hairs; tibiae and tarsi gradually becoming darker and browner up to the tips of latter. Wings yellowish grey, sometimes slightly darker towards tips; 2nd posterior cell pointed at base; outer side of discal cell quite straight ; stigma dark brown, oval, distinct ; costal cell yellowish ; halteres yellow, knobs brown.

Length, 10-11 mm.

Described from the two specimens forming the tvpes of my frater from Tenasserim and two ferruc/inosus from Batavia, x-xi. 1907 (Jacobsori], named by Dr. de Meijere ; all four speci- mens in the Indian Museum.

107. Chrysopilus unicolor, Brim. (PI. II, fig. 20.)

Chrysopilus unicolor, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 432, pi. xii, fig. 13 (1909).

<S . Head with vertex very small, raised, dark brown ; ocelli shining, brownish white, semi-transparent ; face grey-dusted ;

142

antennae, proboscis, and palpi bright tawny brown ; upper two- thirds of eyes rich brown, with large facets ; lower third black, with very much smaller facets. Thorax and scutellum bright tawny brown, with scattered golden-yellow hairs, and with black hairs on the scutellum. Abdomen concolorous ; bases of segments (except first and second) narrowly brown ; the whole abdomen covered irregularly with black hairs, including a row on the posterior border of every segment ; venter concolorous, with black hairs. Legs (fore pair, except coxa3, missing) uniformly bright tawny brown, practically bare; tarsi darker brown. Wings pale gre\ , almost clear; stigma distinct, but with ill-defined edges; a very light brownish band extending from it posteriorly, partly across the wing ; veins tawny brown ; halteres tawny.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from one d" in the Indian Museum from Margherita, Assam.

108. Chrysopilus stigma, Srun. (PI. II, fig. 21.)

Chrysopilus stigma, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 43:?, pi. xii, fig. 14 (1909).

J. Head with vertex reduced to a very small elevated black triangle, on the angles of which are the three prominent ocelli ; eyes dark reddish brown, contiguous for a considerable distance, the facets much larger lor a considerable space in front above the- antennae, with a greenish-black tinge and (in certain lights) a narrow, bright green, horizontal stripe across the middle; face much withdrawn between the eyes, light grey above and below antennae ; antennae yellow, 3rd joint blackish, with some hairs and a rather long arista, which is microscopically pubescent; proboscis cinereous grey, lower part tawnv yellow; the palpi tawny yellow, with tips broadly black and hairy; a fringe of light, hairs around the eyes ; back of head light grey. Thorax greenish, with a dorsal narrow brown stripe in front and two small indistinct brown spots in middle of dorsum ; sparse yellow hairs over the whole dorsum ; sides of thorax cinereous grey, yellowish at base of wing; scutellum grey; centre with a slight greenish tinge. Abdomen yellowish, 1st segment blackish grey, segments 2, 3, and 4 with a blackish, rather wide posterior border and dorsal stripe, remainder of segments blackish ; venter yellow, tip blackish ; a few yellow hairs scattered over dorsum of abdomen, black hairs at tip; genitalia bi-lobed, tawny yellow, with stiff black hairs. Legs with coxre and femora pale yellow, with a few yellow hairs near the tip on underside of latter, and with generally distributed microscopic black hairs ; tibiae blacki^-h yellow, with microscopic black hairs and some stronger bristles; tarsi similar, tips black; middle tarsi with two long spines at tip. Wings quite clear; stigma distinct, dark brown, but without well-defined limits; traces of a pale yellowish stripe towards tip of wing. Inner cross-vein placed before one-fifth of the discal

CHRYSOPILTJS. 143

cell ; anal cell closed well before wing-border ; halteres yellow, knobs black.

Length, 5-6 mm.

Described from a single <S in the Indian Museum from the base of the Dawna Hills, Lower Burma, 2. iii. 1908 (Annandale).

109. Chrysopilus latus, sp. nov.

2 . Head with frons yellowish grey, one-fifth of the head in width just above antennae, slightly broader on upper part; the brownish ocelli on an elongate, barely elevated tubercle ; frons whitish immediately above base of antennae ; antennas blackish, 2nd joint yellowish, arista black ; proboscis yellowish, with soft short pale hairs; palpi brownish yellow, pubescent; occiput grey, with short sparse bristly black hairs. Thorax yellowish brown ; two narrow whitish well-separated median lines and the whitish edges of the dorsum give the appearance of three almost con- tiguous yellowish-brown stripes ; traces of short golden-yellow pubescence towards sides and hind margins ; pleurae grev-dusted ; sctitellum yellowish brown, with traces of vellow pubescence. Abdomen dark chestnut-brown ; 1st segment wholly, 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments with hind margins broadly and rather irregularly yellow ; remaining segments much contracted, yellow ; ovipositor brownish yellow, with two small terminal yellow lamellae ; venter similar to dorsum, both surfaces with limited short dark brown pubescence ; some pale finer hairs towards sides of 1st segment. Legs with coxae brownish yellow ; femora yellow, hind pair a little darker above towards tips ; tibiae dirty yellow ; tarsi brown, black at tips. Wings pale yellowish grey ; stigma large, dark brown, not clearly outlined ; halteres brownish yellow, knobs more or less darkened.

Length, 5k mm.

Described from a single § in the Indian Museum from Guiudy, Madras.

110. Chrysopilus sordidus, sp. nov.

5 . Head with frons practically parallel-sided as far as antennse, one-fourth width of head, dusted with light grey dust ; ocelli and oc-ellar triangle darker; face and proboscis grey-dusted, former with soft whitish hairs near eye-margins; labella brownish yellow, palpi rather darker ; autennal 1st joint hlacldsh, 2nd and 3rd brownish yellow, arista black; occiput grey-dusted, with some whitish hairs. Thorax rather dark brown, with two well-separated narrow indistinct grey dorsal stripes and short whitish sparse pubescence ; scutellum concolorous. with similar pubescence ; metanotum dark brown ; pleurae moderately dark grey. Abdomen dark brown, hind margins of 1st and 2nd segments broadly, and of the remaining segments narrowly, yellowish; some whitish pubescence, more conspicuous at sides ; venter dark brown, base

144 KEMESTRINID^E.

yellowish, hind margins of segments narrowly yellowish ; genitalia yellow, with two rat her exposed terminal lamellae. Legs yellowi.-h ; coxae, femora (except base and tips), tips of hind tibiae brosidly and all tarsi (except base of middle pair) dark brown. Winys grey ; two slightly darker streaks over the " cross-veins " ; stigma larjje, dark brown ; halteivs large, dirty yellow.

Lenytli, 5 mm.

Described from a single 2 in the British Museum in fair condition from Naini Tal, 7000 ft., vi. 1900 (Lt.-Col. Giles}.

A rather thick-set species.

A $ taken by Mr. T. B. Fletcher may be this or a very closely allied species, differing in possessing distinctly longer, wholly blackish-grey antennae, no signs of yellowish margins to abdominal segments, and being wholly more grey than yellowish ; Ha/ara District, Dungagali, 8000 ft., 21-24. v. 1915.

111. Chrysopilus alternatus, sp. nov.

c? . Head with the lower and hinder facets of eyes slightly smaller than front ones, but not sharply demarcated and of the same dark brown colour ; vertical triangle small, blackish, ocelli inconspicuous ; frous and front of head greyish ; antennae bright ye'low, 1st joint greyish, arista hlack ; epistorca blackish ; pro- boscis and palpi bright yellow, with some soft hairs; some pale yellow h:iirs on inner side of head; occiput grey, with short hairs towards margin. Thorax and scutellum yellowish brown, with short, rather coarse, bright yellow pubescence ; pleurae greyish. Abdomen with 1st segment and base of 2nd yellowish; ot the remainder, rather more than basal half of ench blackish brown, the remaining part yellowish ; the whole dorsum with short pale yellow hairs ; venter similar. Legs yellow, tibiae and tarsi very slightly but uniformly duskier. Wings pale yellowish grey ; stigma 1'irge, dark brown, its outline not clearly defined; halteres yellow, knobs brownish.

Length, 8 mm.

Described from a single <$ in the Indian Museum from Guindy, Madras; and two subsequent specimens from Coorioor, 5.ix. 1911 (Fletcher); and Lebong, 4500 ft., 2-9. vi. 1909 (Uowlett).

Family NEMESTEINID^.*

Head transverse, as wide as or a little narrower than thorax, set close upon it ; eyes generally widely separated in both sexes, but in some cases narrowly separated or contiguous lor some dis- tance in d and then only narrow ly separated in $ , generally bare, occasionally with dense or long pubescence; facets gtneially of uniform size ; three ocelli. Proboscis varying from very long (porrect or bent down) to very short and thick ; labella variable

* This family has occasionally been called the Hirmojicurtdee, but the claims of the title here retained have been fully established.

NEMESTKIMD.E. 145

in size ; palpi 1- to 3-jointed, often indistinct. Antennae remote at their bases, small ; the two basal joints with stiff hairs, 3rd barelv longer, onion-shaped or pointed, with a long bristle-like, generally 2-pointed style, which is longer than the antenna?, and sometimes pointed at tip.

Thorax approximately quadrate, humeri inconspicuous, seutel- lum oval, variable in size, unarmed.

Abdomen comparatively short, a little longer or shorter than and about as wide as the thorax.

Leys comparatively slender, moderately long; tibiae unspurred ; three pulvilli, slightly variable in form, cla\vs long.

Wings of moderate size, often narrowed and elongate, always with very characteristic venation, all the veins in the distal half of the wing being practically parallel with its longitudinal axis, except the so-called " diagonal vein," and all the veins ending above the wing-tip, except the tips of two or three. This pecu- liar venation gives a general resemblance to that of the MYDAID^, but there is no close affinity between the two types. Auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins long and straight, ending towards wing-tip ; prsefurca very short, beginning a little before middle of wing, 2nd and 3rd veins diverging almost immediately ; 2nd nearly straight, undulating, simple, but sometimes joined by an addi- tional veinlet to upper branch of 3rd vein (FaUenia, Nemetlrina); 3rd vein projected diagonally and turning up suddenly before or at about half its length, shortlv afterwards forked, the branches either parallel (Nemestrina, Hirmoneura, Rhynclioceplialus) or widely open, reuniting to form a small subtriangular cell (Fal- lenia). Anterior cross-vein absent, as the 3rd and 4th veins always anastomose at that spot* (i. e. at about two-thirds the length of the discal cell) ; 4th vein with upper branch forked, the two prongs parallel and ending above wing-tip ; lower branch ending in (or united with) upper branch of 4th vein (just before it forks) at distal angle of discal cell ; posterior cross-vein nor- mally present (absent in Fallenia] • 5th vein forked, both branches forming rather pronounced curves; upper one joining upper branch of 4th vein between its upper and lower prong, thence diverging and running for the very short remaining space to the wing-margin ; lower branch of 5th vein turning down to wing- margin after quitting posterior cross-vein, sometimes meeting anal vein, closing anal cell ; anal vein undulating ; axillary vein short or rudimentary. First basal cell long, narrow, pointed at the tip; 2nd broader, shorter, roughly speaking three-sided; anal cell long, narrow, open or closed just before wing-margin ; two submarginal and four orfive posterior cells, 4th always closed. There is an apparent vein running diagonally across the wing, beginning with the prafurca and ending in the hind margin of

* I am not quite sure about this point. Even if a short cross-vein occurs here I do not think it is the anterior cross-vein, but an entirely supernumerary •vein. (See notes under Lasia in CYRTID/E.)

L

146 NEMESXRIXIDjE.

the wing some distance before wing-tip. This is no real indi- vidual vein, but is composed of the praefurca, the basal portion of the 3rd vein up to its junction with the 4th, the outer side of the discal cell (upper branch of 4th vein), the continuation of the same branch and, finally, the united ends of the lower branch of the 4th vein and upper branch of 5th vein. The last two sections of this "diagonal" vein (as it is conveniently called) are occasionally joined by a very short veinlet, which may be regarded as the upper prong of the lower branch of the 4th vein. It has no parallel in any other family of Diptera. Additional veinlets occur in some genera and species connected with the 3rd vein, the exact identi- fication of which is perhaps unimportant, especially as no such cases are known amongst Oriental species. In Nemestrina, a non- Oriental genus, but one which may possibly occur in India, the most characteristic venation in the family is reached, presenting a curious, somewhat dragonfly-like network of veins, owing to all the spaces between the 2nd vein and the lower prong of the upper branch of the 4th vein containing a number of transverse veinlets, dividing that part of the wing into a considerable number of small squares. A few similar additional veinlets occur between the lower branch of the 4th vein and the wing-margin.

Life-ldstory. Larva amphipneustic ; head very small, retractile; twelve body-segments ; posterior spiracles terminal, well separated, placed in a transverse fissure. Of the only species of which the life-history is known, a Ilirmoneura, the larva is parasitic on the early stages of the common Europeau beetle, liliizotrogus solstitiaUs.

This family is sometimes divided into two subfamilies, (1) the NEMESTRININ^E, with a very long proboscis and short palpi, and (2) the HiRMONEURiNJE, with a very short proboscis, to which character Verrall adds " palpi very long and upturned," but this latter does not hold good. The erection of subfamilies therefore merely on the length of the proboscis does not seem advisable. In any case all the Oriental genera would fall in the Hm- MONEURijO*;.

Talle of Genera.

1. Ocelli present 2.

Ocelli absent (auxiliary vein very short,

not extending much beyond origin of [p. 154.

4th vein) ATRIADOPS, Wand.,

2. Palpi moderately long, and with mouth-

opening always obvious (auxiliary vein [p. 147.

nearly as Ions1 as 1st vein) HIRMONEURA, Mg.,

Palpi, proboscis, and mouth-parts wholly

indistinct 3.

. Auxiliary vein united to 1st longitudinal fp. 153.

until beyond middle of wing TRICHOPSIDEA, Westw.,

Auxiliary vein distinctly separate, nearly [p. 155.

as long as 1st longitudinal CEYLONIA, Licht.,

H1RMONEURA.

147

Genus HIRMONEURA, Mg.

Hirmoneitra, Meigen, Syst. Besch. ii, p. 132 (1820) ; Blanchard, Hist.

Nat. Ins. iii, p. 587 (1840).

Hyrmoiieura, Rondani, Archiv. Zool. Modena, iii, p. 50 (1863). Myrmopkksba, Rondani, op. cit. p. 51 (1863). Hennoheura, Pbilippi, Verb. z.-b. Ges. Wien, xv, p. 655 (1865). Parasymmictus, Bigot, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, (5) ix, p. Ixvii (1879).

GENOTYPE, Hirmonewa obscura, 3Ig. (Europe) ; by original designation.

Whole body of about uniform width. Head transverse ; eyes bare or pubescent, in c? contiguous, in ? wide apart, or distinctly though narrowly separated in rf , in which case they are less widely separated in $ ; three ocelli. Proboscis very short, hardly extended beyond mouth-opening ; palpi moderately long, curved

Fig. 9. — Hirmoneura opaca, Licht., and enlarged figure of antenna.

upwards. Antennae short, porrect, remote at base, 3-jointed, 1st and 2nd suhglobular or cylindrical, subequal in length, 3rd onion- shaped, longer, produced in a long arista-like style longer than the antennae. Thorax suhquadrate. Abdomen rather longer than thorax, the tip pointed in both sexes, more so in $ ; whole body and legs devoid of any strong bristles, but bearing longer or shorter soft pubescence of varying extent. Legs moderately long, slender, minutely pubescent. Wings moderately or rather long ; auxiliary. 1st, and 2nd longitudinal veins long, ending towards wing-tip ; 2nd beginning about or before middle of wing, nearly straight ; 3rd beginning near base of 2nd, projected diagonally across the wing, anastomosing (even if only in a punctifonn manner) with 4th, thence bent suddenly upwards, shortly after- wards forking, the branches long and approximately parallel,

L2

148 NEMESTRIN1DJE.

gently curved ; 4th vein forked ; upper branch again forked, the branches straight, parallel with those of 3rd vein and with hind margin of wing ; lower branch forming basal and lower sides of discal cell, meeting upper branch and thence turning down to the hind margin, receiving the upper branch of the 5th vein just before ; 5th vein forked ; posterior cross-vein technically present but very short. Two subinarginal and five posterior cells, 4th always closed; a discal cell, wider at base than tip, elongate; 1st basal cell reaching nearly to tip of discal ; 2nd basal long;, anal cell long and narrow, open. Squamae small.

Range. Central and South Europe. North, Central, and South America, South Africa, Central Asia, the Orient, and Australasia.

Life-history. This is known to some extent of U. obscura, Mg., a European species, as described by Handlirsch.* The eggs have been found in holes in the bark of silver firs, and the fully developed larva has been found in the pupa of a beetle, llliizotrogus solstitialis. The larva? resemble those of the LEPTID^E.

As regards the spelling of the generic name, ffermoneura has been suggested, but " Dr. A. W. Verrall is of opinion that Neme- strina and Hirmoneura are so impossible as Greek compounds as to be beyond correction" (G. H. Verrall).

Table of Species.t

1 . Eyes bare 2.

Eyes pubescent J 3.

2. Legs all yellowish ; eyes narrowly sepa-

rate in (^ annandalei, Licht., p. 149.

Hind tibije and tarsi dark brown ; eyes

contiguous in c? basalts, Licht., p. 149.

3. Legs black (tibiae with thick brownish

pubescence) opaca, Licht., p. 150.

Legs principally yellowish 4.

4. Smaller species ; 11-12 mm 6".

Larger species ; ] 6-20 mm 6.

•5. Small grey species with abdominal bands

of pubescence cinf/ulata, Licht., p. 151.

Larger coffee-brown, rather bare species . brwuiea, Licht., p. 151.

0. Eyes with yellow hair ochracea, Licht., p. 151.

Eyes (presumably) with black or dark

brown hair 7.

7. Body deep dark brown, with longer woolly

pubescence austeni, Licht., p. 152.

Body coffee-brown, rather bare coffeata, Licht., p. 152.

* Wien. Ent. Zeit. i, p. 224, and ii, p. 11 (1882. 1883).

t It has been difficult lo draw up a satisfactory table owing to the close affinity of all the species, and from my knowledge of most of them being limited to German descriptions. In the case of the eight species included herein, annandalei, cingulata, and hasalis are redeseribed from Indinn Museum specimens (all seen by Lichtwardt), that author's descriptions being also incorporated. The descriptions of the remaining species are the best trans- lations of Lichtwardt I can offer.

J Presumably ; no definite statement is given in the descriptions of coffeata and bruiniea.

HIBMONEURA. 149

112. Hirmoneura annandalei, Liclit.

Hirmoneura annandalei, Lichtwavdt, Rec. Ind. Mas. ix, p. 333 (1913).

d1 5 . Very like E. cingulata in size and colour, but separated from all other species except II. basalts by the bare eyes. Head with frons hardly narrower in d1 than $ , more than twice as wide at level of antennae (where it forms a little more than one- fourth the width of the head) than at vertex ; frons with long soft black hairs, face with y el tow hairs ; antennae and proboscis both bright yellow ; sides of face narrowly yellow. Thorax blackish, with blackish pubescence in middle of disc, yellowish and thicker on anterior margin and towards sides, on shoulders, and in front of and just below wing-base ; soft yellow pubescence on sides of thorax and scutellum ; metanotum pale grey. Abdomen with black anterior half and slate-grey hinder half of 1st segment; remainder of segments blackish ; 1st segment with black hairs on the black part and thin pale yellowish hairs on the slate-grey part; remainder of segment with thick, long, bright yellow pubescence on anterior halt' and shorter black pubescence on hinder half; venter blackish, with short uniform pale yellow pubescence, hind margins of segments yellowish. Legs entirely bright yellow. Wings grey, anterior border brownish; halteres blackish brown.

Length, 11-13 mm.

Described from several of each sex in the Indian Museum from Simla, 7000 ft.. 9. v. 1910 and 16. v. 1910 (Annandale), 3. v. 1914 and 29. v. 1914 (Capt. Evans); KuEti, Simla Hills, 11. v. 1909 (Annandale) ; Kufti to Phagu, 21. v. 1916; Mahabaleshwar, Satara Distr., 4200 ft., 13-16. iv. 1912 (Gravely}.

This species is extremely like H. cingulata, but in addition to the bare eyes it may be recognised by the black hairs on the abdomen being much shorter than the yellow ones, whereas in H. cingulata they are nearly or quite as long as the yellow ones.

In the present description of this species I have incorporated Lichtvvardt's main characters.

113. Hirmoneura basalis, Licht.

Hirmoneura basalts, Lichtwardt, Dent. Ent. Zeits. p. 595, fig. 3 (1910); id., Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 333 (1913).

c? . Head with eyes bare, closely contiguous for a considerable distance, leaving a grey frons of the shape of an isosceles triangle, covered with long black pubescence ; vertex reduced to the very small ocellar tubercle, with a few black hairs ; face blackish, with yellow margins and pale yellowish hairs; blackish hairs round base of antenna; ; latter yellowish brown, basal joint with long stiff black hairs, 3rd joint onion-shaped. Thorax greyish brown, shortly pubescent at sides ; on breast the hairs more greyish white ; scutellum with dense yellowish-brown pubescence. Ab- domen characteristically coloured ; anterior half of 1st segment

150 HEMESTBlJftDjE.

black, hind half of 1st and anterior half of 2nd ivory-white, with pale yellowish- white pubescence ; remaining segments cinnamon- brown, with short blackish-brown pubescence; a little yellowish or whitish pubescence at sides of abdomen from 4th segment to tip; venter reddish brown, with some short yellowish pubescence. Legs : anterior pairs wholly brownish yellow ; hind femora brownish, hind tibise and tarsi dark blackish brown. Wings pale brownish grey, darker anteriorly ; venation typical, as iu H. obscura, Mg.

Length, ] t> mm.

Described originally by Lichtwardt from a type J in his col- lection, which, purchased from a dealer, bore the label " Ecuador, iii. 1899." This author subsequently received from the Indian Museum for examination the c? specimen from which the above description is drawn up — from the Dawna Hills, Burma, 2000- 3000 ft., 3. iii. 1908 (Annandcde).

Type in Herr Lichtwardt's collection.

114. Hirmoneura opaca, Liclit. (PI. II, fig. 22.)

Hinnoncura o))aca, Lichtwardt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 643, $ (1909) ; id., Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 334, <j (1913).

cJ $ . An obscure, blackish, grey-dusted species, with thin soft grey pubescence. Head with eyes dark brown, pubescent ; frontal stripe in $ not at all broad, barely wider above antennae than at vertex, with thick black pubescence, which is longest above antennae; proboscis, palpi, and antennae black, 1st and 2nd joints of latter grey-dusted and with yellowish-grey hairs ; similar hairs on epistoma, underside of head, and sternum. Thorax with the pubescence more yellowish and longer at the sides ; entire dorsal surface with soft greyish blue hoary dust. Abdo- men with a hardly discernible pattern on the middle of each segment, consisting of a central spot and two oblique lateral spots of a dull blackish-grey colour; ovipositor rather long, with pale hairs. Leys black ; tibiae, especially hind pair, with such dense bright brown pubescence, that they appear brown. Wings with a blackish tinge and a brownish shading on anterior border.

Length, lomm.

Described originally from a single $ from the Kangra Valley, N.W. Himalayas, 4500 ft., xi. 1899 (Dudgeon). Fur- ther notes and the <$ described by Lichtwardt in the Bee. Ind. Mus. (I. c.). Several specimens are in the Indian Museum from Mussoorie, the Kangra Valley, 4500 ft., xi. 1899 (Dudgeon}, and Simla, but are in very bad condition, nearly all appear to have been immersed in spirit; it also occurs atDehraDun, x. 1911 (Hoivleli).

Type in the British Museum.

The above description is almost entirely Lichtwardt's.

HIHMOXET1RA. 151

115. Hirmoneura cingulata, Licht.

Hirmoneurn tinyulata, Lichtwardt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 644, $> (1909) ; id., Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 333, $ (1913).

<$ 2 . A small grey species with abdominal bands. Head with eyes thickly pubescent, especially in •$ , narrowly separated in c? ; frons scarcely wider in $ , bearing sparse black hair, around the antennal base with thicker yellowish-grey hair ; antennae, palpi, and legs all yellowish red,* tarsi hardly darker. Thorax blackish, wifh grey pubescence, which at the sides is longer and more yellowish. Abdomen with basal part of 1st segment dark brownish, apical part pale slate-grey; rest of segments grey, with thin yellow pubescence and brown margins ; in the tf the rows of abdominal pubescence are more erect and prominent, forming in both sexes on the side-margins almost bunches of yellow and black hairs intermixed. Wings grey, light brown anteriorly ; halteres blackish brown.

Length, 11-12 mm.

Described originally from the $ sex only from India; the tf subsequently described from two specimens from Phagu, Simla Hills, 9000 ft., 12. v. 1909.

Type ( $ ) in the British Museum, from the Saunders collection ; of the c? c? referred to, one is in the Indian Museum.

The above description is mainly Lichtwardt's, to which I have added a note or two from the Indian Museum specimen.

116. Hirmoneura brunnea, Licht.

Hirmoneura brunnea, Lichtwardt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 645, £ (1909).

$ . Near H. coffeala, possibly a seasonal form of it.

In this species the wings are proportionately much shorter, being only 11 mm. long to a body of 11 mm., plus ovipositor of 2 mm. to 3 mm. Apart from the difference in the proportions, the charac- ters are mainly as in II. coffeata ; the pubescence on the sides of the thorax and at the base of the abdomen is yellow, not pale brown ; legs all yellowish red; wings rather duller in colour, and the fore border darker.

Described by Lichtwardt from a single $ in the British Museum from Trincomali, Ceylon, 3. iv. 1892 (Col. Yerbury).

117. Hirmoneura ochracea, Licht.

Hirmoneura ochracea, Lichtwaidt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 643, <^ (1909).

c? . Very near H. austeni. Body pale brown, with short velvety yellow pubescence, which is longer behind the scutellum and at the base of the abdomen. Eyes with distinctly yellow hairs,

* According to Lichtwardt ; I call the legs bright yellow, as in H. annandalei.

152 NEMESTBINID^E.

closely contiguous, so that only a very small frons remains, which latter is clothed with yellow ochre and dark brown hairs inter- mixed. Antennae brownish ; eye-margins bent, reaching to base of antennae. Legs wholly yellow ochre. Wings yellowish grey, fore border yellow ochre.

Length, 18mm.

Described by Lichtwardt from a single 3 from the Tau Plateau, Burma, 4000 ft., ii. 1890 (Col. C. T. Bingluam).

Type in the British Museum.

118. Hirmoneura austeni, Licht.

Hirmoneura austeni, Lichtwardt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. G43, rf (1909).

c? . A large robust species. Body deep dark brown, evenly clothed with long, erect, woolly, pale brown pubescence, which is thicker on the sides of the thorax and abdomen, where in certain lights it has a kind of bronze tinge. Head semicircular; eyes closely hairy ; frons broad, forming one-sixth the width of the head with dense deep black pubescence ; epistome a little broader, black, with concolorous pubescence ; a few light, brown hairs only about the mouth-opening and around the short proboscis ; antennae and palpi black ; the latter curving upwards, lying close along the eye-margins and reaching to base of antennae. Lower surface of head and sternum with yellowish hair; venter with yellowish pubescence ; the extreme base of abdomen writh a narrow band of deep black hairs. Legs stout, reddish yellow: anterior femora brownish, with dense pale pubescence, which makes them appear even thicker. Wings brown, anteriorly darker.

Length, 18-20 mm.

Described by Lichtwardt from five 3 <3 in the British Museum from the Khasi Hills, Assam.

119. Hirmoneura coffeata, Licld.

Hirmoneura coffeata, Lichtwardt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 644, $ (1909).

? . A large species with coffee-hrown body, rather bare, with some pale brown pubescence only on sides of thorax between the shoulder and wing-base ; underside of thorax with patches of pale hairs above the front coxae and under the wing-base ; every- where else, including the venter, only very thinly pubescent. The pubescence on frons rather longer, and towards vertex it is blackish brown, at base of abdomen a narrow band of all black hairs. Wing surface uniformly coffee-brown, with bronze and cinnamon-brown reflections ; alulae very reduced so that the wing is almost clavate; legs paler brown than the body.

Length, 16mm. H- ovipositor 4mm.; wing, 24mm., breadth of wing, 5| mm.

Described by Lichtwardt from a single $ from Eambodde, Ceylon (Nietner).

Type in the Berlin Museum.

THICHOPSIDEA. 153

Genus TRICHOPSIDEA, Westw.

Trichoptidea, Westwood, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. ii, p. 151, pi. xiv (183G) ; Maequart, Dipt. Exot. ii, pt. 1, p. 397, pi. iii, fig. 1 (1840);* Wandolleck, Ent. Nach. xxiii, p. 250 (1897).

GENOTYPE, Trichopsidea cestracea, Westw. ; by original desig- nation.

Of the normal Nemestrinid type ; the species smaller than those of Atriadopz, with exceptionally long wings, allied to Triclioplitlialma and Meyistorliynclius. Three ocelli on a small conical tubercle ; epistome (Estrid-like, mouth-parts very reduced and indistinct, mouth itself very rudimentary ; abdominal seg- ments puffed up ; genitalia in male clubbed ; $ unknown. First and Just tarsal joints each as long as the other three together. Auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins apparently united until beyond middle of wing, the former then turning up to costa rather suddenly ; upper branch of 3rd vein turned up suddenly, meeting 2nd vein about its middle; both branches of 4th vein apparently united at tip of discal cell, upper branch eitlier single or, if forked, the lower prong may consist also of the tips of both the lower branch of the 4th vein and upper branch of the 5th. If this reading of the veins be correct there is a somewhat long posterior cross-vein. Anal cell open, axillary vein and squamae absent.

llanye. Except dolirni from the Andamans and Sumatra, the only other known species (cestracea, Westwood) is from Australasia.

120. Trichopsidea dohrni, Wand.

Trichopsidea dohrni, Wandolleck, Ent. Xacli. xxiii, p. 251, figs. 7, 8 (1897) ; Liclitwardt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 648 (1909).

3 . Ground-colour reddish brown, with not very reddish- yellow hairs. Head rather broader than thoi-ax, shining golden brown ; eyes contiguous below vertex, upper facets much larger than lower ones; three yellowish-brown ocelli on prominent vertical tubercle, with black and reddish-brown hairs : epistome (Estrid-like, with thick reddish-brown pubescence ; antennae 3- jointed, 3rd joint rod-shaped, with undulating outline; at tip with some very short fine pellucid hairs ; mouth-opening indistinct. Thorax brown, with fine velvet-like tomentum, showing several darker and lighter indistinct longitudinal stripes ; in front and at sides with long thick reddish-yellow pubescence ; scutellum pale brown, anterior margin darker ; squama3 absent ; halteres greenish yellow. Wings pale yellowish brown, with six clear-cut hyaline spots, which in certain lights show a pearly lustre; 1st longi- tudinal vein present ; anal vein absent. Abdomen yellow, with velvet tomentum; 1st segment pale yellowish, 2nd with a pale

•* Macquart's figure shows the broad elongale-conical labrum ; the longer, concave, round-tipped labium ; and the long filamentous organs, all as described by Westwood, who assumed the latter to be "analogous to palpi" and stated that the mouth was rudimentary and concealed. Wandolleck also describes the mouth as rudimentary.

354 NEMESTRINID-S.

band interrupted in middle and with two pale side-spots ; these spots occur on each succeeding segment also, and are visible, with the interrupted band, through absence of tomentum ; venter pale yellowish red, with a darker mark at sides of each segment. Legs with coxa?, trochanters, and femora of both anterior pairs yellowish red, with moderately long concolorous pubescence ; tibiae fawn- yellow with reddish-brown tips ; hind femora long, thin basally, thence distinctly clubbed; the thin part fawn-coloured, the clubbed part reddish yellow ; last tarsal joint and pulvilli reddish yellow, the other joints fawn-colour with darker tips ; claws dark brown.

Length, 10mm ; wing, 11'4 mm.

Described by Wandolleck originally from a type tf from Sumatra, and Lichtwardt subsequently recorded another 3 from Boss I., Andaman Is., v. 1904 (Col. C. T. Bingham}.

Type in Herr Dohrn's collection at Stettin ; the second speci- men in the British Museum.

Genus ATRIADOPS, Wand.

Atriadops, Wandolleck, Ent. Xach. xxiii, p. 245 (1897).

Colax, Wiedemann (nee Hiibner, 181G), Analec. Ent. p. 18, pi. i,

fig. 8 (1824); id., Auss. Zweifl. ii, p. 260, pi. ix, fig. 11 (1830) ;

Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii. pt. 1, p. 34, pi. iii, fig. 2 (1840);

Westwood, Cab. Orient. Entom. p. 38, pi. xviii, fig. 5 (1847) -r

Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pi. v, fig. 4 (1850).

GENOTYPE, Colaxjavana, Wd., or C. macula, "Wd.*

Moderate-sized species with peculiar tomentose-like pubescence and dark-coloured and spotted wings. Epistome (Estrid-like ; eyes in cf subcontiguous for a short space ; ocelli absent ; proboscis not. obvious, if projecting from mouth-opening, hidden in the long hair of the face ; antennae 3-jointed, much as in Hirmoneura. Thorax subquadrate, rather broader than long ; abdominal seg- ments somewhat puckered-up just before the hind margins, forming a blunt ridge ; genitalia in c? short, tip with a broader base, in £ longer with sabre-shaped lamella. Hind femora slightly thicker ; first and last tarsal joints each as long as remaining three together. Wings with auxiliary vein short, ending free at about opposite origin of 4th vein ; 1st longitudinal and greater portion of vein " diagonal " considerably thickened ; 3rd vein forked ; 4th vein forked, anastomosed as usual for some distance with 3rd ; lower prong of upper branch not always reaching wing-margin ; f anal cell open, axillary vein present; thoracic squama? well developed ; two submarginal and four posterior cells, 1st sometimes divided

* Both originally described together on the same page. I cannot per- sonally decide and have seen no species set up as genotype.

f It does not do so in the one example of A. javana that I have seen, but Waiidolleck figures it running to the wing-margin, with also a short cross-vein between it and the vein in front (Ent. Nacb. xxiii, p. 246, fig. 1, 1897).

AT1UADOPS. — CEYLONIA. 155

by a cross-vein, 3rd closed ; discal cell sometimes narrowly open ; * anal cell open.

Range. The very few species known come from China, Brazil, Ceylon, Sumatra, Java, and South and West Africa.

121. Atriadops javana, Wied.

Colax javana, Wiedemann, Analec. Ent. p. 18 (1824) ; id., Auss.

Zweifl. ii, p. 261 (1830). Atriadops javanaj Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pi. v, fig. 4 (1850) ;

Wandolleck, Eut. Nach. xxiii, p. 246, fig. 1 (1897).

c? . Head with eyes contiguous for a short space ; frons pale brownish grey, with greyish-white hairs ; antennae pale brownish yellow. Thorax (?) blackish (discoloured, probably brownish in life), sides with longer whitish-grey hairs. Abdomen brighter brown, each segment towards hind border drawn up slightly, forming a slight ridge ; anterior half of each segmeiit with fine golden-grey pubescence, which towards sides becomes longer, thicker, and whiter, and laterally on the hind margin of each segment is some long black pubescence. Wings dark brown, the darker parts blackish, hind margin rather broadly greyish, except at extreme wing-tip, at tips of lower prong of upper branch of 4th vein, tips of both branches of 5th vein, two or three intermediate spots situated rather close together, and at tips of anal and axillary veins, at each of which is a small blackish-brown spot ; similar dark spots occur on the distal side of the diagonal veins, at the juncture of the veins, and larger ones at the forking of both 4th and 5th veins ; at the distal end of the 2nd basal cell is an ill-defined clearer space, and a similar subtriangular one extending from the 3rd vein just before it meets the 4th, which, inclining distally and diagonally, nearly reaches the costa. Thoracic squamse considerably developed, with long greyish fringe.

Length, 8 mm.

Ee- described from a single c? in the Indian Museum from Trincomali, Ceylon, 10. ix. 1909 (Col. Yerbury}, presented by Herr Lichtwardt, the species having been originally described from Java.

Genus CEYLONIA, Licht.

Ceylonia, Lichtwardt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 646 (1909). GENOTYPE, Ceylonia magnified. Licht. ; by original designation. Body robust, linear. Proboscis hidden by the long hair of the face; palpi small, thin; "j" epistome pointed, as in Trichopsidea,

* In Wandolleck's figure of A. macula, Wd. (/. c. p. 247, fig. 2), a Brazilian species, the discal cell is prolonged narrowly to the wing-margin, remaining open through the failure of the lower branch of the 4th vein to meet the lower prong of the upper branch. The species seems abnormal, as the 2nd longi- tudinal rein is either absent or the 3rd vein must be unforked. Also in the basal angle of the last posterior cell is a very small quadrate additional cell.

t I follow Lichtwardt in sfating that the face has long hair, but I have not noted this fact in describing my nivea. In any case in my type of that species the palpi are perfectly obvious.

156 NEMESTRINID^.

Dicrotrypana, and Symmictus. • Eyes in J contiguous for some distance, upper facets larger than lower ones ; vertex very small, tliree ocelli on small prominent tubercle. Antennae short, of normal Nemestrinid type ; 1st joint cylindrical, 2ud half; as long as 1st, 3rd globular, with apical bristle longer than the whole antenna. Wings with auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins verv long, straight, close together, ending at a little distance before wing-tip ; 2nd vein beginning at half the wing's length, straight ; 3rd begin- ning immediately afterwards, projected diagonally downwards, anastomosing as usual with 4th vein, forking shortly beyond; 4th vein with upper branch forked, the branches of 3rd and 4th veins all parallel with 2nd vein and with hind margin of wing; all ending above wing-tip, except the lowest, which ends exactly there ; lower branch joining upper one just before forking of latter; 5th vein rather peculiarly forked, so that the shape of the last posterior cell at base is that of a slightly curved cone ; posterior cross- vein absent; anal cell open, axillary vein long. Two submarginal and five posterior cells, 4th closed.

122. Ceylonia magnifica, Licht. (PI. II, fig. 23.)

Ciylonia magnifica, Lichtwardt, Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 646, rf (1909). Atriadops n'ivea, Brimetti, Rec. Ind.fMus. vii, p. 477, tf (1912).

J . Head blackish grey ; palpi thin, small, of same colour ; eyes brown, very large, contiguous for half the distance from the very small vertex (bearing tliree small ocelli) to base of antenna?, the lirst two joints of which are brown (3rd joint missing); underside of head with some grey hairs. Thorax thickly clothed with pale yellowish-grey hairs, which become white on the sides. Abdomen thickly clothed with pale yellowish-white hairs, which, seen in front, appear silvery white ; venter dark grey, with grey hairs. Legs dark reddish brown. Winys clear, narrowlv dark brown at base; also a narrow, irregular but clearly-cut, stripe across the middle from the costa nearlv to the hind border; a second wider similar band towards tip, which reaches the hind margin, spreading over both sides of the "diagonal" vein, and connected along the costa with a small apical spot, and proximally less distinctly with the median band, leaving a well-marked clear oblong spot between the 1st and 2nd longitudinal veins ; a small brown spot on wing- margin at tip of 5th longitudinal vein and a larger one at tip of 6th.

Length, 12 mm.

The species was described originally by Lichtwardt from a single J from Pundaluoya, Ceylon (Green}, in the British Museum. At the time of describing my nivea I had overlooked this author's paper on Oriental NEMESTRIXID.T:, and the description given here is that of the type of my species from a single S in mv collection from Haldumulla, Ceylon (Green").

157

Family CYRTID^E.

Head very small, subglobular, almost wholly consisting of the enormous eyes, which tire contiguous in both sexes ; vertex very small ; frons generally very small. Proboscis varying from very thin and elongate (MS in some BOMBYLIID.E) to very short or obsolete; palpi generally obsolete. Antennae approximate at base, placed in some genera well above, in others well below the middle line of the -head, 3-jointed, variable in shape, 1st joint sometimes minute.

Thorax greatly humped ; prothorax sometimes (PHILOPOTIN^E, non-Oriental) enormously developed ; pubescence moderately thick, sometimes furry ; scutellum lai-ge, without bristles ; rneta- uotum generally concealed by it.

Abdomen very broad and gibbous, often quite globular and pellucid, normally 5-segmented ; pubescence variable ; genitalia inconspicuous.

Legs simple, comparatively short, rarely with a short blunt spur on middle tibiae, or with one developed and one less developed spin- on posterior tibiae, or a circlet of very short spines on front tibiae : 3 pulvilli; empodium as pad-like as outer pulvilli; claws long. The entire body is wholly devoid of spines or strong bristles.

Wings diverging and deflexed when at rest, longer in § than in J ; venation very characteristic, but a general interpretation of its varied forms would be out of place here, as only four genera are Oriental. Ambient vein at times quite absent, even above the wing-tip ; auxiliary and 1st veins long, 2nd vein often absent; praefurca beginning about opposite the base of the discal cell ; anterior cross-vein near base of discal cell, sometimes very short or absent; 3rd longitudinal vein generally forked ; posterior cross- vein present or absent, 4th vein with manifold ramifications ; 5th vein generally forked; anal vein present, sometimes weak and, with the axillary vein, possibly absent. Technically two submarginal cells and from three (sometimes apparently only two, owing to the dividing vein being obsolete) to five posterior cells. The venation in this family is, perhaps, not thoroughly understood yet.* Thoracic squamae enormously developed and very promi- nent, wrinkled, and generally pubescent, their size being one of the chief characters of the family.

Life-history. The metamorphoses of several species are knownf, the larvae being parasitic in the egg-cocoons or the abdomens of spiders. The larva is amphiueustic (though Konig describes that of Oncodes as metapneustic), short, thick, 12-segmented, with very

* See Verrall, Brit. Flies, v, p. 447 et seq.

t At-tomclla linden it, Ericlis., Brauer, Verh. zool.-hot. Ges. Wien, xix, p. 737, pi. xiii, figs. l-(i (1869), and in Denks. Ak. \Viss. Wien. xlvii, pi. v, figs. 89-92 (1883). Oncodes pallipes, Lntr., Menge, Schrift. Danzig. Natur. Ges. i, p. 37 (18C>6); Oncodes fumatiis, Erichs., Brauer, Verb, ssool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xix, p. 737 (186'J). Henops brit, List, xx, p. 100, pi. x(1888).

158 CYIlTIDjE.

small head and small mouth-parts ; the posterior spiracles accom- panied by peculiar large plates. Pupa free, with a median longi- tudinal row of spines on dorsum of thorax. Lundbeck writes of one species : — " The larva was lying in the abdomen of a Cteniza ariana with the terminal spiracles in one of the lungs of the Cteniza. Before pupation the larva left the now dead Arachnid and transformed in the nest." Stein and Konig state that the eggs of some species are deposited on branches of trees, also that the young larvte possess considerable leaping powers.

The globular shape of the CIBTIDJE with the very large squamae and characteristic venation stamp the members of this family with a facies peculiarly their own, except for a few short, hump-backed BOMBYLIID^, but from these the three (not two) pulvilli and the venation at once separate them.

This family is by some authors called the ACUOCEIUD^, but the name is " absolutely contradictory to most of the genera " (Verrall). The term CYRTLD.E was used as far back as 1841, the genus Gyrtus antedates Acrocera, and the family name is sup- ported by Verrall, Osten-Sacken, and others.*

The range of the family is world-wide, but only about two hundred species are known.

Table of Subfamilies.

Prothoracic plates enormously developed, united dorsally, forming a. large shield between meso-

notum and neck , PHiLOPOTiN^E,p.l58.

Prothoracic plates not conspicuously developed. Third antennal joint long and strap-shaped ;

no trace of style or apical bristle PANOPIN^:, p. 160.

Third antennal joint generally short ; apical

bristle or stiff hairs always present .... CYETIN^:, p. 163.

There are different views as to the location of some of the genera, as to their synonymy and their limits. I follow Verrall in keeping Pterodontia in CYRTIN^E.

Subfamily PHILOPOTIN^l.

The principal character is the enormous development of the prothoracic plates. Only one species is Oriental.

Genus PHILOPOTA, Wied.

Philopota, "Wiedemann, Ausser. Zweifl. ii, p. 17 (1830). GENOTYPE, Philopota conica, Wied. (Brazil). Head much puffed out behind eyes; three ocelli t; eyes con-

* The family has been called by various other names by different authors; INFLATE, for instance, and ONCODID*, Kertesz even retaining this latter name to the present day.

t According to Wiedemann ; the lower ocellus in my species is not discernible, but it is impossible to state definitely that it is not present.

PHILOPOTA. 159

tiguous, pubescent ; frons slightly prominent on lower part ; antennae elongate, porrect, approximate and bulbiform at base, situated immediately above base of proboscis, 3rd joint with apical bristle. Proboscis very long and thin, projected below the body to a considerable distance. Thorax with prothoracic lobes enor- mously developed, prominent, their inner angles touching one another. Abdomen conical (conica, Wied., type) or rounded (viridcenea). Legs of moderate length and size, of the normal Cyrtid type. Wings with auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins long, nearly parallel, prsefurca beginning just before middle of wing; 2nd longitudinal vein long, ending much above wing-tip; 3rd vein simple, dying away a long distance from border of wring ; anterior cross-vein present ; 4th vein simple, nearly straight, almost attaining border; 5th vein simple, twice bent towards tip; anal vein long, reaching wing-border.*

Range. South Europe, Asia Minor, India, Japan, Mexico, and South America.

The above is an attempt at an augmented description of the genus, as Wiedemann's was so short.t When additional species are known a further description may be given.

123. Philopota viridsenea, sp. nov.

Head much extended behind the eyes, the surface shining aeneous green, closely punctured, covered with rather dense, moderately short, vellow pubescence ; eyes touching from just below the small vertex bearing the ocelli,]; and with moderate! v short, not, dense, dark brown pubescence, facets of uniform size; frons of moderate size, flush with eyes at apex, but rather prominent on lower part, dark shining blackish brown, more or less yellow on lower margin; antennae elongate oval, dark shining brown, with long, yellow, translucent stvle; cheeks blackish grev ; the large, smooth, oval, shining black base of the proboscis beginning just below the antenna? ; the rest of the proboscis bright yellow, bnre, in length reaching under the body to tip of abdomen, the tip widely bifid. Thorax with the entire surface of dorsum and sides, and of scutellum, shining aeneous green, closely punctured, covered with very short yellow pubescence. Prothoracic lobes very large and prominent, subt ri angular, their inner angles contiguous, the upper angles tipped with yellow. Abdomen aeneous green, closely punctured, with very short yellow pubescence, which on the last two segments and towards sides of previous segment is changed to greyish ; extreme side-margins of most of the segments

* Verrall suggests a different reading of the veins, calling them in order, auxiliary, 1st and 3rd longitudinals, and 4th vein (forked, the anterior cross- vein being therefore absent).

t " Antenna; porrect, approximate, small, inserted above base of proboscis, bulbiform, bristles apical. Proboscis elongate, deflexed before thorax. Eyes contiguous, hairy. Three ocelli. Abdomen conical."

} Only the two upper ones are obvious; there should be three.

160

narrowly brownish yellow ; venter dull aeneous, with short whitish pubescence ; geuitalia concealed, somewhat yellowish. Legs black- ish with short grey pubescence ; femora black, extreme base and nearly the apical halt' yellow ; rest of legs wholly yellow ; ail legs with very short inconspicuous pale pubescence ; the three yellow pulvilli and the black claws distinct. Wings yellowish grey, considerably iridescent and rippled ; veins in anterior part of wing black and distinct, the remainder yellowish and less distinct. Thoracic squamae enormous, grey, with short greyish pubescence on disc arid edge, sufficiently transparent for the brownish-yellow halteres concealed below them to be seen.

Described from a perfect unique from Dungagali, 8000 ft., Hazara District, 21-22. v. 1915 (T. B. Fletcher).

Type sent to British Museum.

Subfamily PANOPIN^E.

Little can be added to the characters given in the table. The basal and discal cells are generally well defined.

Genus PIALEA, EricJis. Pialea, Erichson, Entomographica, i, p. 160 (1840).

GENOTYPE, Pialea lomata, Erichs. ; by original designation.

Body of the normal Cyrtid type. Head very small, mostly occupied by the densely pubescent, contiguous eyes ; occiput flattened, three ocelli ; proboscis very short, no obvious palpi. Antennae deflected, placed on the underside of a distinct tubercle in the middle of face between the eyes ; 1st and 2nd joints short, bristly, 3rd very large, elongate, leaf-shaped with obtuse tip, much longer than two basal joints together. Thoracic squamae enor- mously developed. Abdomen thick, oblong, conical, longer than thorax, densely pubescent, 6-segmented. Legs of normal Cyrtid type, tibiae ending in a small blunt tooth-like projection on inner aide. Wings of moderate size, slightly elongate ; costa ending at tip of lower branch of 3rd vein, immediately before wing-tip ; auxiliary vein ends at from two-thirds of wing (aurifrila) to nearly end of wing (lutescens) ; 1st longitudinal vein very long; 2nd begins at one-fourth of the wing, straight or gently curved towards tip, ending just beyond 1st; 3rd begins very near origin of 2nd, widely forked towards tip, nearly straight, with lower branch ending below wing-tip (lutescens), or bent upwards, both branches ending before wing-tip (aurtpt&s); anterior cross-vein very near origin of 3rd vein, at basal end of the elongate discal cell; 4th vein with apparently both branches forked, upper prong of upper branch closing the 1st posterior cell and giving the appearance of another discal cell in front of and parallel with the true one. In lutescens upper prong of lower branch throwing off a veiulet

PIALEA. 161

closing discal cell (or it may be regarded as a discal cross-vein) ; in auripila, if such veinlet is a discal cross-vein, the 4th vein's lower branch is not forked, joining upper branch of 5th a little before margin of wing. Posterior cross-vein short; 5th vein forked, lower branch closing anal cell ; axillary vein present (at least in auripila). Three submarginal cells ; three or four posterior cells (first and last closed).*

Range. The only other known species (P. lomata) is from Brazil. " .

Life-history unknown.

124. Pialea auripila, Brun. (PL II, figs. 24, 25.)

Pialea auripila, Brunetti, Rec. lud. Mus. vii, p. 472 (1912). cJ . Head about half the full height of the thorax ; eyes closely touching from the extremely small vertex to the base of the antennae, rather densely covered with long brownish-yellow hair; vertical triangle with three ocelli, slightly elevated; occiput much flattened, with brownish-yellow hairs ; proboscis very short, sub- conical, blackish, with some yellow hairs at tip; palpi not obvious ; frontal triangle black, very small, projecting over basal joints of antennae, which are short, a little broader at tip, blackish, with black bristles; the third joint of the shape of an elongated leaf, flattened, with obtuse tips, three times as long as the two basal joints together, yellowish, with dark brown lower margins. Tliorax higli, robust, nearly quadrate; ground-colour dark shining brown, closely covered with rather long thick bright golden-yellow hair. Scutellum and metanotum concolorous in ground-colour and hair with the dorsum ; sides of thorax dull yellowish, with long thick golden-yellow hair; a little brownish hair is intermixed here and there with the yellow hair of the thorax. Abdomen robust, thickened, longer than thorax, oblongo-conical, tip pointed. Brownish yellow; 1st segment, very short; the dorsum of each segment, mainly occupied by a large semi-circular dark brown spot at base, and extending in the middle of the segment to the hind margin, leaving the sides of the segments mainly yellow; 5th and 6th segments all black, the latter very small. Venter blackish brown, practically bare, emargination of segments narrowly yellow. The whole upper side of the abdomen with bright golden-yellow hair, which is brownish towards the tip. Legs with coxae half as long as femora, yellowish, with pale yellow hairs. Tibiae (which are a little longer than the femora) and tarsi black, with blackish-brown hairs ; underside of tibiae brownish yellow, and ernargi nations of the tarsal joints below narrowly yellowish ; tibiae a little broadened at tips, where they end in a small blunt tooth-like projection on the outer side. Tarsi a little longer than tibiae, base of metatarsus (which is equal in length to

* My reading of the venation in my description of P. auripila was slightly faulty, the present interpretation being more probably correct.

If

162 CYBTIOS:.

the rest of the tarsus) pale yellow. Winys barely as long as abdomen, rather broad, tip rounded, pale grey ; costal vein very distinct, ending at tip of lower branch of 3rd vein, immediately before the extreme tip of the wing; auxiliary (subcostal) and 1st longitudinal veins thick, the former ending at about two-thirds of the wing, the latter a little beyond it, both nearly straight, distinctly separate (though approximate) from just beyond the humeral cross-vein ; the 2nd and 3rd longitudinals with the anterior cross-vein have the appearance of springing from a common stem (or else the 3rd longitudinal and the anterior cross- vein spring simultaneously from the 2nd vein at a little beyond its base) ; 2nd vein nearly straight, but curved upward at its tip, to thecosta; 3rd vein nearly straight, and in a straight line with the praefurca, forking widely towards its tip, and becoming suddenly much thinner, both branches ending in the costa distinctly before the wing-tip; anterior cross-vein short, near base of discal cell; 4th longitudinal vein forking just before anterior cross-vein ; upper branch nearly straight for more than half its length, thence with a slight curve, forked, the upper

Fig. 10.--Pialea auripila. Brim., Fig. ll.—Pialca auripila, Brun.,

antenna. wing.

prong erect, closing 1st posterior cell, lower prong running to wing-margin ; lower branch of 4th vein also comparatively straight, forked so widely towards its tip that the prongs are nearly in the same straight line with one another, upper one closing discal cell, lower one joining upper branch of 5th vein towards its tip, closing 3rd posterior cell. Posterior cross-vein very short, placed at about middle of discal cell ; 5th vein thickened, forked near its junction with posterior cross-vein ; lower branch closing anal cell. First basal cell rather large and broad, bounded distally by the anterior cross-vein ; 2nd basal cell much longer and narrower, bounded distally by the posterior cross-vein; discal cell elongate, about 3^ times as long as its greatest breadth. The 1st submarginal cell nearly as long as the marginal and narrowed at wing-margin; 2nd submarginal cell small, subtriangular. The 1st posterior cell embraces the wing- tip, but the upper prong of the upper branch of the 4th vein divides the cell at two-thirds of its length; 2nd posterior cell large, of irregular shape; 3rd closed, much wider distally; 4th subtriangular, formed by the branches of the 5th vein ; anal vein slightly curved ; axillary vein short, axillary cell large. Alulae

LAS1A. 163

very small ; squamae pale yellowish, the upper ones small, the lower ones very large and pubescent. Halteres yellowish.

Length, 12 mm.

Described from a single perfect <$ in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 6000 ft., 26. viii. 1909 (D'Alreu).

This species is undoubtedly a Pialea, though it offers a slight variation from the venation of the type species,* and the shape of the abdomen is different. In my remark after my original description of auripiki. about Westwood's figure of the antennae, I overlooked his statement in his description of the tubercle on the face and the fact that the antennae are placed on the under- side of it. This fact further convinces me that my species is correctly placed in Pialea.

Subfamily CYRTIN.E.

Prothorax not forming a dorsal shield in front of mesonotum. Third anteunal joint normally short, with apical arista or hair- like rays.

Three genera are Oriental, and are easily distinguished as follows : —

An additional cell in wing above the discal and

about as long LASIA, Wd., p. 163.

No such cell.

Costa with an angular projection at tip of 1st

longitudinal vein; antenual tip with three fp. 165.

stiff' hairs, or a style bearing three such hairs. PTERODONTIA, Gray, Costa without such projection ; antennae ending [p. 168.

in a long arista ONCODKS, Latr.,

Genus LASIA, Wiedj

Lasia, Wiedemann, Analec. Entom. p. 11 (1824); id., Ausser. Zweitl.

i, p. 329 (1828). Mesophysa, Macquavt, Dipt. Exot. i, pt. 2, p. 166 (1838).

Feriexutemma,aiyot) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (3) iv, p. 65 (1856).

Verticistemma, Bigot, op. cit. vii, p. 200 (1859).

GENOTYPE, Lasia splendens, "Wied. (Brazil).

Body of the usual Cyrtid type. Head with eyes bare, con- tiguous in both sexes, facets very small, of uniform, size ; no ocelli ; proboscis from a little shorter to a little longer than the body, narrow, cylindrical ; palpi apparently absent or obsolete. Antennae 3-jointed, porrect, approximate at base, diverging; 1st joint cylindrical, short ; 2nd broader than 1st, wider towards the

* P. lomata, Erichs. (as P. lutescens, Westw., sp. nov.) Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. (1876) pi. vi. This is the only other known species, and is from Brazil.

t Kertesz in his catalogue ranks Ijasia as synonymous with Panops, Lam. (Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. iii, p. 263, 1804). Nearly all the species have been described under Lasia, and, as Verrall accepts it without comment, I follow him. It is a moot point if Lasia should belong to the PANOPIN*; or OYETINJK,

M2

164 CYRTIDjE.

bluntly truncate tip; 3rd elongate lance-shaped, bare, shining, produced into a long style, which is longer than the entire antenna. Tlioracc and abdomen densely pubescent. Leys of moderate length, simple. Wings with auxiliary vein ending about middle of eosta ; 1st longitudinal ending towards wing-tip, nearly straight; 2nd starting soon after humeral cross- vein, nearly parallel with 1st, both slightly upturned at tips; 3rd beginning immediately beyond base of 2nd, descending in a straight ine diagonally across the wing, forking abruptly beyond its middle, the two branches curving upwards, practically parallel, ending above wing-tip; 2nd stibuiarginal cell truncate at base; anterior cross-vein just beyond origin of 3rd vein, very near base of discal cell, short ; upper branch of 4th longitudinal vein forked at tip of discal cell, at which point a short transverse vein connects with the forking of the 3rd vein; lower branch of 4th vein simple, suddenly recurrent towards tip, ending jointly with upper branch of 5th vein at about middle of hind border of wing ; di^cal cross-vein long, closing discal cell ; 5th vein forked at half its length ; upper branch meeting 4th vein at middle of discal cell ; lower branch closing anal cell well before margin ; posterior cross-vein absent, axillary vein foreshortened. Two submarginal cells ; five posterior cells, 1st divided by a transverse vein,* 4th closed. Squama) very large.

llniige. Europe, India, Australia, North and South America.

Life-Tit 'story apparently unknown.

The present description is built up mainly on L. aurata, as the genus does not appear to have been diagnosed since Wiedemann founded it. Some of the characters herein given may require modification, as no other species is available for comparison.

125. Lasia aurata, sp. nov.

Send with vertical triangle black, roughened, elevated, with long chrome-yellow, rather drooping, bristly hairs; eyes black, facets very small, of uniform size, with no trace of any transverse channels ncross the discs; frontal triangle elevated, black, shining, bare. Antennal 1st and 2nd joints bright yellow, short; 2nd

* In his notes on the genus Lasia (Brit. Flies, v, p. 450) Verrall distinctly states that the extra cell "is a second portion of the upper basal cell and not a basal part of the 1st posterior cell," and he compares the venation with that cf the NEMESTRINID./E. but I venture to think that the anterior cross-vein (also recognised by Verrall as such) cannot be pluced in the biisal cell, but must, when present, invariably divide the 1st basal from the 1st posterior cell. It seems to me that the short, cross-vein connecting the 3rd and 4th veins in Lasia and one or two other genera in this family (Eulonchus, P(ernpe.nts, etc.), represents the point at which in the NEMESTRTNID.B the 3rd and 4th veins anastomose, which in that family occurs in contact with the discal cell and not distinctly beyond it as in CYKTID*. Even if in NEMESTRINID/E this usually punctiform contact is replaced by a short cross-vein, it should be regarded as identical with the same extra cross-vein in CYETID^. and not as the anterior cross-vein, which would, therefore, be wholly absent in NKMESTKIKID*.

LA.SIA. — PTEIIODONTIA. 165

subcylindrical, narrower at base, tip almost rounded; 3rd shining chestnut-brown, base yellowish, lance-shaped, the tip drawn out into a long concolorous style, which is about as long as the whole antenna; 2nd joint with yellow hairs. Face, except immediately below antennae, deeply sunken between the eyes, shining bla«-k, bare, narrower on upper part; occiput grey, covered along the margin apparently with long bristly bright yellow scale-like pubescence.* Thorax moderately shining black on disc, with apparently a slight aeneous tinge, the dark colour extending forward in a broad b'and to anterior margin ; rest of dorsum bright yellow, including shoulders, humeri, and mesopleurae ; ground-colour of scutellum brownish yellow, that of remainder of the pleurae grey or yellowish grey ; whole thoracic dorsum, scutellum, and pleurae covered with dense long bright yellow bristly scale-like pubescence, which becomes a little paler over- shoulders and lower part of sides of thorax, and more orange over scutellum and on hinder part of thoracic dorsum. Abdomen yell.nvish brown, lighter on 1st segment and deeper on 3rd and 4th; a'l segments with a well-defined lemon-yellow hind border of moderate width, broadest and least well-defined on 1st, and 5th segments, on which latter it occupies more than half the surface. "Whole dorsal surface covered with moderately short light brown pubescence, and towards tip some microscopic pale yellow depressed hairs. Venter mainly yellowish, with a blackish median band on hinder part and some transverse black marks on 3rd and 4th and following segments ; genitalia inconspicuous, hidden. Legs * holly lemon-yellow with short soft concolorous pubescence. Wings practically clear to base, distinctly ribbed; veins brown ; thoracic hquuuae pain yellow, with long bright yellow fringe.

Described from a single specimen in the British Museum, labelled simply "Ind."

Genus PTERODONTIA, Gray.

Pterodont.ia, Gray in Griffith's Anira. Kingd. xv, p. 779 (1832). Plerethntin, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt, ii, p. 514 (1835).

GBNOTYPE, Pterodmtia ftnvipcs, Gray ; by original designation.

Body of the normal Cyrtid type, pubescent. Head extremely small, nearly wholly occupied by the eyes, which are very large, contiguous in both sexes, densely pubescent; three ocelli; mouth- opening more or less concealed; proboscis short. Antennae situated at bottom of h -ad, 3-jointed; 1st cylindrical, 2nd short, 3rd conical, with (according to Macquart) a long bare style, but in P. <tor*alis with three very long fine stifl' hairs.t Thoracic lobes developed ; thoracic squama? enormously so. Abdomen

* The head is so closely affixed to the thorax that it is difficult to state whether the adjacent pubescence belongs to the thorax or the occiput.

t These might easily cling together, giving tho appearance of a long bare style.

166

short, rounded, very thick, 6-segmented. Leys of normal Cyrtid type; tibiae ending in a well-developed blunt spine on front side, with a smaller less developed one on inner side. Three pulvilli greatly developed ; claws long and strong. Wings with a very conspicuous singular projection in the costa at tip of 1st longi- tudinal vein, at about three- fourths the length of the wing, the costa being considerably thickened at the spot ; auxiliary vein ending in costa at about middle of wing; 2nd vein beginning just before middle of wing, curving upwards towards its tip and ending only just beyond tip of 1st vein ; 3rd vein beginning soon after origin of 2nd, simple, forming a decided upward curve and ending much before the wing-tip, at which spot the costa ends; anterior cross-vein absent ; forking of 4th vein enclosing a discal cell, closed distally by the discnl cross-vein ; posterior cross-vein absent; 5th vein forked, the upper branch forming lower side of disc.-il cell ; anal cell closed ; axillary vein absent. One sub- marginal and two posterior cells, the 1st exceedingly large, embracing wing-tip.

Range. Europe, N. and Cent. America, Brazil, Somaliland, Australasia.

Life-history unknown.

Macquart gives a figure of a wing and head of Pterodontia* in his Hist. Nat. Dipt. (pi. xxi, figs. 5 b and 5 a, respectively), but while the wing is of this genus, though very incorrectly drawn, the head is that of an acalyptrate Muscid, and he acknowleges this error later (Dipt. Exol. ii, p. 1), where he gires (pi. i, fig. 2) a correct wing, and states that the acalyptrate previouslv figured is Triyonosoma perilampiformis.

126. Pterodontia kashmirensis, Licht.

Pterodontia kaehmirensM. Lichtwardt. Deut. Ent. Zeits. p. 124 (1909).

The two species described here are evidently very closelv allied, if not Identical. Their only distinctions appear to be as follows : —

Sides of thorax clay-yellow, with a round black

spot ; coxte all pale kashmirensis, Licht.

Sides of thorax black, except mesopleura, which

is brownish yellow with a square black

spot ; coxae blackish dorsolineata, Brun.

rf . " Distinct by the globular body, the low-placed head, and the remarkably shaped wing; a conspicuous clay-yellow species with black markings. From the head hindward runs a narrow black stripe up to about one-third of the thorax, where it widens into an oval spot which reaches to the scutellum ; sides of thorax clay-yellow, with a distinct round black spot directly in front of the wing-base ; scutellum bearing an elongate transverse middle

* /'. macquarti, Westxv. (Jlavipes, Macq., nee Gray).

PTEKODONTIA. 167

spot, leaving a pale margin all round of uniform width ; underside of thorax shining black. Abdomen with 1st segment wholly black ; 2nd broadly black in the middle, se that about one-fourth of the segment on each side remains pale ; 3rd and 4th segments each with a blackish triangular mark, with rounded angles and with the apex directed backwards, both segments bearing also a black rounded spot towards the anterior angles ; 5th segment wholly black, except for a narrow yellow hind border with a tooth-like extension in the middle ; 6th segment similar, with rather stout genital organs. The' yellow antennae, which are placed so low that they touch the front coxae, consist, so far as can be seen, of a cylindrical joint and a globular one, half as large as the 1st ; on the latter is a yellow bristle, which at a magnification of '27 (Zeiss) is seen to be composed of two hairs separated at the base. The distinct ocelli are placed on the occipital margin almost directly over the antennse ; eyes very hairy. "Whole body with short pale pubescence, with which some darker hairs are intermixed only on the blackish markings and on the middle coxae. Legs wholly pale ivory-yellow, with large yellow empodia, the claws wide apart, black on the apical half. Wings hyaline, with yellow veins, the costal projection rather pointed.

" The species is distinct from Pt. ivaxelu, Klug, with the type of which in the Berlin Museum I have compared it, and from flavipes, Macq.,by the entirely pale coxae and femora." (Lichtwardt.)

Length, 8 mm. ; wings, 8 mm.

Xulu, Kashmir, 5000 ft.

Type (presumably) in Lichtwardt's collection.

127. Pterodontia dorsolineata, Brun. (PI. II, figs. 26, 27.)

Pterodontia dorsolineata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 475, pi. xxxvii, figs. 8, 9, 10 (1912).

$ . Head with eyes very large, black, closely contiguous, rather thickly pubescent ; occiput moderately puffed out, dark grey ; vertex small, three dull red ocelli. Antennae yellowish, the three joints nearly equal in length, but the 3rd rather the longest, with three very long straight bristly hairs at tip. Proboscis distinct, but short, cylindrical, pale yellow. Thorax brownish yellow, the dorsum mainly occupied by a large black shining spot, which is continued forward as a stripe as far as the anterior margin ; sides of thorax black, except the mesopleura, which is brownish yellow, with a square black spot in the middle. The whole thorax covered with brown or yellowish hair, concolorous with the colour of the surface. Scutellum brownish yellow, pubescent, with a large basal, nearly circular, black spot. Abdomen brownish yellow ; 1st segment all black ; 2nd all black, except towards the sides ; 3rd, 4th, and 5th with a black spot on each segment, widest in front, extending from fore to hind margin, except on the 5th segment, where the spot fails to reach the latter; these spots

168 , CYBTIDJE.

form, with the black colour of the 2nd segment, a conspicuous, clear-cut, dorsal band of irregular width ; 6th segment wholly black; on each of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments is u subquadrate black spot placed contiguous to the anterior and lateral margins. Venter yellowish, the segments faintly emar- ginate with brown, unmarked. The whole abdomen bears brown or yellow pubescence, concolorous with the colour of the surface. Leys wholly yellowish, except the blackish coxae. The middle femora and tibiae are distinctly longer than the fore pair, and the hind pair are proportionately longer than the middle pair. Tarsi long; the anterior ones about equal in length, but the hind pair are distinctly longer, proportionately. The tibiae end in a well- developed (almost Bibio-like) blunt spine on the front side, with a smaller one (easily seen on the hind legs only) on the inner side. The pulvilli, three in number, elongate, very greatly developed ;

Fig. 12. — Pterodontia dorsolineata, Brun., wing.

the claws very long and strong, curved. Wiwjs colourless, veins yellow, venation normal ; upper squamae quite small, nearly circular, lower pair very large, with a short yellow fringe, both practically colourless; halteres black.

Length, 7 mm.

Described from a single specimen in the Indian Museum from Mayinyo, 3800 ft., near Mandalay, Upper Burma, v. 1910 (H. L. Andrewes).

This species must be very near and possibly identical with Tcaslimirensis, Licht.

Genus ONCODES, Latr.

Oncodes, Latreille, Precis Caract. Gen. Ins. p. 154 (179G). Henops, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 226 (1803).

GENOTIPE, Musca yibbosa, L.; by original designation.

Head nearly all eyes, which are larger in c? than $ , bare ; vertex very small ; two ocelli ; frons slightly produced ; proboscis and palpi apparently absent, the aperture closed by a membrane. Antennae placed at extreme lower part of head, 2-jointed ; 1st joint short, thick, cylindrical ; 2nd oval, ending in a long thin arista-like style, dilated at base, and with a hair-like bristle at tip. Thorax spherical ; humeral, prealar, and postalar calli large, but not very conspicuous ; pubescence moderately dense ; scutel- lum large, with very deep rounded margin, leaving only a small disc ; metanotum rather small. Thoracic squama3 enormous, with

ONCODES. 169

dense pubescence ; alar squamae with soft down ; balteres short. Abdomen dorsally arched, lower side more or less flat, 5-segmented ; short ovate in c? , short and round in $ ; pubescence moderate ; genitalia concealed. Legs rather short and stout, simple, no spurs, tarsi with 1st and 5th joints longer than the others ; pulvilli and claws distinct. Wings in rf short, in J larger and longer, venation imperfect, the veins failing to reach the margin; 2nd longitudinal vein absent, 3rd nearly straight, unforked, projected in a direction much below wing-tip; anterior cross- vein apparently present, though weak; 4th vein forked, lower branch again forked; 5th vein forked widely, the upper branch sharply angled, at which point it seems anastomosed with the lowest branch of the 4th vein, so it is difficult to say if the posterior cross-vein is present or not ; * anal and axillary veins present, wenk. Two basal cells, fairly distinct ; no discal cell ; posterior cells merged in the open hind part of wing ; anal cell open owing to the foreshortened anal vein.

Range. Europe, N. America, N. Africa, Asia, Australasia.

Life-history of two or more European species more or less known.f

Table of Species.

1. Abdomen without bands fuscus, Brun., p. 171.

Abdomen with pale transverse bands 2. [p. 170.

2. Conspicuous pale spots on abdomen octomaculatus, Brun.,

Without abdominal spots 3.

3. Posterior corners of thorax and hind margin [p. 171.

of scutellum distinctly pale rufomaiyinatttt, sp. n.,

These parts not pale 4.

4. Thorax unmarked; wings brownish yellow; [sp. n., p. 171.

basal half of tibiae tawny ; length 5 mm. . . atu/ustimarffinatus, Thorax with two tawny stripes ; wings clear ; legs black, except coxae below and knees ; length 3 mm costalis, Walk., p. 169.

128. Oncodes costalis, Walk.

Henops costalis, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 203 (1852).

"Head black; feelers tawny ; chest and breast pitchy, clothed with pale tawny hairs ; chest adorned with a tawny border and two tawny stripes ; abdomen pitchy ; hind borders of the segments whitish; legs pitchy; hips beneath, knees, and fore feet tawny ; wings colourless, wing-ribs and veins dark tawny ; veins partly pitchy along the fore border ; scales pale grey, with tawny borders. Length of the body 1.* lines, of the wings, 3 lines. East Indies." (Walker.)

A specimen is in the British Museum, labelled simply " lnd.,:' and I am informed that it probably came from India proper.

* Verrall says it is absent. t See p. 157.

170 CYRTLDJE.

129. Oncodes octomaculatus, Brim. (PI. II, figs. 28, 29.)

Oncodes octomaculatus } Brunetti, Ilec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 476 (1912).

3 . Head with eyes very dark reddish brown, bare ; vertex and back of head blackish ; two ocelli present. Antennae normal (apparently, as they are not properly visible), terminated by a long arista, which is slightly thickened at the base, and is thinnest in the middle, the tip provided with two minute stiff hairs. Thorax brownish yellow, with three dorsal clear-cut black stripes of moderate and equal width, the median one attaining the anterior margin , the outer ones considerably foreshortened ; hinder part of dorsuin all blackish, the colour extending to the scutelluin ; the metanotum brownish yellow ; a short black streak (which in one specimen forms nearly a complete circle) on each side in front, below each shoulder, sometimes joined to the tips of the outer dorsal stripe ; a small blackish mark afc base of wing, and the underside of the thorax mainly blackish. Thorax with a little light yellow pubescence generally distributed both on dorsuin and sides. Abdomen mainly blackish, with light yellowish pubescence ;

Fig. 13. — Oncodes octomaculatus, JBrun., wing.

hind margins of segments narrowly pale yellowish white, the colour widest on 5th segment ; 2nd segment with two large oval greyish-white spots nearly filling the clorsum, b'.it quite clear of the borders in all directions ; 3rd and 4th segments each with a pair of moderate-sized brownish-yellow spots, one on each side of the middle ; 5th segment with an elongated similarly coloured spot, clear of the borders in all directions, and nearly filling the segment ; 6th segment much smaller, practically a replica of the 5th ; lateral margins of each segment occupied by a shining black elongate spot, which does not overlap the pale hind margin. Venter pale yellowish ; sometimes (iu one example) a black spot towards the lateral margins as on dorsal surface. Leys brownish yellow ; hind pair with coxae more or less at base, femora at base and a broad subapical band, and tibiae and tarsi almost wholly, brown or blackish. Wings yellowish grey ; venation normal ; squamse dirty grey, shortly and closely pubescent, and of the normal enormous size.

Length, 4 mm.

Described from two c? d" in the Indian Museum, from Igat- puri, Western Ghats, Bombay Presidency, 20. xi. 1909 (Annan- dale}; Nasik, Bombay Pres., iii. 1911.

OX CODES. 171

130. Oncodes fuscus, Brun.

Oncodes fuscns, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 477 (1912).

? $ . Head wholly blackish ; eyes closely contiguous ; vertex a little prominent; two ocelli; some black hairs on the rather puffed-out occiput. Arista pale yellowish, nearly transparent, shaped as in 0. oclomaculatus, Brun. Thorax wholly dark shining brown, with greyish-brown pubescence. Abdomen dark nut- browu, with greyish-brown pubescence ; the sides and venter a little darker; hind margins of segments with a trace of a narrow black border. Legs uniformly brownish yellow ; coxse darker brown. Winys colourless, the stronger veins brownish yellow.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from a single specimen in the Indian Museum from Sahelwa, Bahraich District, United Provinces, India, 2. iii. 1909.

Prom the relatively smaller size of the head and the more puffed-out occiput 1 infer that the present specimen is a $ .

In the Pusa collection is an Oncodes representing a new species allied tofuscus from Bengal, but the abdomen is missing.

131. Oncodes angustimarginatus, sp. nov.

Head with f rons and antennae brownish yellow ; eyes and vertex black ; occiput blackish, with a row of bristly black hairs towards the margin. Thorax moderately shining black, covered . with moderately short, rather deuse, brownish-yellow pubescence ; scutellum similar. Abdomen moderately shining black, with minute black pubescence ; hind margins of all segments clearly denned, narrowly cream-yellowish ; venter mainly yellow, basal part black. Legs shining black, minutely pubescent ; basal half of all tibife brownish yellow, the colour rather more extended on inner side ; tarsi dark brownish black, more than the basal half of meta- tarsi brownish yellow, claws black. Wings distinctly brownish yellow, veins very dark brown ; thoracic squama? shining black, with minute yellow pubescence ; halteres yellow, knobs black.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from a single specimen in the British Museum from Pirivipancheram, Ceylon, 21. i. 1892 (Col. Yerbury). A note adds: — " Only example seen; at top of hill, found near form of a sambur." A second specimen from Pusa, 6.xii. 1911, with the thorax all black.

132. Oncodes rufomarginatus, sp. nov.

Head with eyes black ; the triangular frons blackish, with microscopic grey pubescence; extreme margin white-dusted. Antenna) with 1st and 2nd joints black, with microscopic grey pubescence; 3rd of normal shape, basal swollen part shining brownish black, remainder brownish yellow. Thorax moderately shining black ; dorsum wholly covered with fairly dense, pale

172 CYRTID.t.

yellowish-grey pubescence, which extends over the upper pleurae and the scutellum ; the large posterior calli reddish brown, as is the posterior margin of the scutellum wholly (type) or in part (cotype) ; a similarly coloured spot on pleurae about halfway between base of wing and middle coxae ; lower part of pleura; blackish grey, bare of pubescence, but with microscopic grey dust. Abdomen with ground-colour black, surface slightly roughened ; the very short 1st segment with an extremely narrow bone-white hind margin ; remainder of segments with similarly coloured hind margins, narrowest on 2nd segment, especially in the middle, broadest on 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments ; the white margin does not reach the actual sides of the dorsal plates (except on 5th and perhaps 6th segments), thougli a fine pale yellowish-white line does actually continue right through to the extreme edge. The side-margin of the dorsal plate is occupied by a moderately broad black baud, which practically dies away just beyond middle of 5th segment. Venter mainly bone-white ; base of most segments blackish brown, narrowly in middle and broadly towards sides, leaving a whitish stripe below the black side-margins ot the dorsal plates ; towards each side of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments is a rather large reddish-brown spot, fairly well demarcated from the black and bone-white parts. Legs with coxa? and about basal two-thirds of anterior femora and three-fourths of hind pair shining black, remainder reddish brown ; tibiae reddish brown, aboutMniddle half of hind pair blackish ; all tarsi black. Wings absolutely clear and transparent practically to the extreme base ; veins yellow, costa dark brown ; thoracic squamae pale dirty white, with whitish microscopic pubescence and a very narrow pale yellowish border; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, type 6 mm., cotype 4£ mm.

Described from two specimens in the British Museum from Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon, IS. v. 1891 (type), and 14.viii. 1891 (Yerbury).

In the cotype the reddish-brown spots towards the sides of the abdomen are less well delimited; the general ground-colour of the abdomen is more nearly very dark brown than black ; the pale hind border on the 2nd segment is broader than in the type; and the red on the scutellar hind border is confined to the central part. This specimen bears a label: " rare, seated on grass stalks.''

On comparing the present form with the very lengthy description of O. gibbosus given by Verrall, the agreement is certainly striking ; but, though that author says he examined a large number of speci- mens, he makes no mention of the very conspicuous reddish- brown posterior calli and hind margin to the scutellum. Jt seems justifiable, therefore, to regard the present form as a distinct species.

BOMBYLIIDJE. 173

Family BOMBYLIID^].

Head rounded or transverse, generally narrower than, some- 1 imes as wide as, rarely wider tlian thorax, and set closely on it ; frons and face not sunk between the eyes, occiput generally en- larged posteriorly, except in SYSTROPINJE ; ocelli present. Eyes bare, usually contiguous or subcontiguous in the tf , but in ANTHRACITE always considerably separated in both sexes, but sometimes more so in the $ ; in SYSTROPIN^E contiguous in both sexes. Proboscis generally very long, slender, and porrect, in some genera and in AXTHRACINYE short and thicker ; labella small or very small, rarely of moderate size ; palpi with one or two joints, often inconspicuous. Antenna? porrect, approximate or remote at base ; 3rd joint not annulated, but in some species with a suture near the base of the joint ; style generally present, even if minute, sometimes with a constriction in the middle ; some- times it is replaced by a pencil of stiff hairs (Argyr amoeba).

Thorax in Bonibylius and some other groups of genera with dense furry pubescence, often thicker and scale-like about the wing-roots ; chaetotactic bristles frequently present. In AN- 1'HRACiN^E clusters of distinct scales often present, generally about the wing-roots, and when abundant the furry pubescence usually less dense. Metapleura? generally densely pubescent, but hypopleuraa usually bare. Scutellum generally clothed like the thorax, sometimes with bristly hairs or with scales ; metanotum small, hidden.

Abdomen in BOMBYLIINJE " almost globular and clothed with dense furry pubescence, intermingled with which may be some longer straggling hairs ; or (A:NTHRACIIO<:) more elongate, with almost parallel sides and less furry pubescence on at least the disc ; or (Cyllenia, Midio) with strong hind-marginal bristles ; or (Sijstropus) very elongate, slender, and bare ; the 6th to the 8th segments often difficult to trace under the furry pubescence " (Verrall). Genitalia inconspicuous ; in the c? sometimes turned to one side ; in ANTHRACIN^; the ovipositor in many species with a circlet of spines.*

Legs generally rather long, slender, and weak, used for alighting only. Thickened bristles " like little sticks " occur sometimes on the femora, especially on the hind pair ; rows of inconspicuous spicules on the tibia?, in Toxopliora replaced by stick-like bristles; tibiae generally with an apical circlet of bristles ; tarsi with numerous short, bristles; pulvilli two, often vestigial, empodia minute, claws of moderate size or small, or the front pair only smaller than the others.

* It. has not, always been possible to examine the genitalia satisfactorily. In such cases I have assumed the sex from the comparative width and shape of the frons.

174 UOM.BYLIIDJB.

Wings of moderate size or elongate. Venation conspicuous by the absence of the posterior cross-vein, the upper branch of the 5th vein forming for a longer or shorter distance (rarely puncti- form) the lower side of the discal cell. Subcostal cell usually narrow, the auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins sometimes almost touching. Submarginal cells normally two or- three, rarely one only (Cyrtosia), sometimes four (Hypcralonia) ; * 3rd vein simple or forked, when the latter, the fork encloses the wing-tip. Discal cell normally present, rarely absent.f Three or four posterior cells ; anal cell open or closed. Wings bare, but the costa bears small spines at the base, where there is often a patch of them of considerable size, often intermixed with scales. Alulae small : alar squamae rather large, with a thickly-set, rather long, broad, flattened scale-like fringe (Anthrax), or with a woolly, long mar- ginal fringe, or moderately developed, with a short delicate fringe. JFrenum sometimes distinctly widened before the angle, and bearing long hairs similar to those surrounding it, but otherwise the thoracic squamae absent. Halteres small, often not easily seen.

Life-history. That of many species is more or less known. They are mostly parasitic on Lepidoptera, especially on the genus Acjrotts and other Noctuids : also on the larvae of bees, wasps, ichneumons and Tachinids that are themselves parasitic on Lepi- dopterous larvae. Callistoma is parasitic in the egg-capsules of a locust. The Bombyliid larva is amphipneustic, cylindrical, rather flattened, 13-segmented ; an obvious, though small, re- tractile head with well developed mouth-parts, papillate antennae, and no eyes. The young larva is elongate, each thoracic seg- ment with a pair of long setae, the penultimate segment with two spiracles: the adult larva is obese and without setae. Pupa free, mummy-like, with strong spines on head and anterior part ; abdominal segments with chitinous booklets. The pupa has pro- thoracic and seven pairs of abdominal spiracles, some species bearing transverse rows of spines on most of the segments. The BOMBYLIIDJE contain many of the most brilliantly coloured Diptera and attain considerable size, the wings being frequently verv prettily marked, whilst the body is often adorned with bright tufts of gorgeous pubescence or patches of coloured scales. The family is a very large one and is of world-wide range, occurring mostly in dry sunny or sandy localities, many of the species being exquisite hoverers. The members of the family may be recognised by absence of the posterior cross-vein (although this is not alwavs obvious to the inexperienced), the few posterior cells, and the furry pubescence of most of the species. They are most nearly related to the CYRTID.E and the THEREVIDJE.

* Additional cross-veins occasionally cause five submarginal cells in indi- viduals, or, more rarely, in species, t Cyrtosia, and Apolysis, for example, amongst Paltearctic genera.

BOMBYLIID.E. 175

Table of Subfamilies.

1. Praefurca comparatively long, 2nd longitu-

dinal vein originating in knee-shaped form from it, approximately opposite anterior cross-vein __ (at most half-way between origin of praefurca and the cross-vein, and this onlyin some species of Argyramceba);* antennae widely separated at base ; frons

in $ nearly as wide as in $ ANTHRACIN^E, p. 176.

Praefurca comparatively short, 2nd vein ori- ginating acutely (not in knee-shaped form), always much nearer origin of praefurca than of anterior cross-vein ; antennae nearly always approximate at base ; eyes in J normally contiguous or nearly so, sometimes distinctly separated, but irons always much narrower than in $ f

2. Abdomen, hind legs, and antennae conspi-

cuously long; eyes normally contiguous

. in both sexes; only three posterior cells;

thorax not unusually humped ; occiput

concave ; bare species SYSTROPINJE, p. 289.

Abdomen, legs, and antennae (taken together) not conspicuously long; eyes normally contiguous in J , wide apart in $ ; pos- terior cells usually four; thorax often considerably humped ; occiput generally inflated ; bare, moderately or densely pubescent species 3.

3. Abdomen rounded or oblong ; often furry ;

antennae never conspicuously long 4.

Abdomen more or less cylindrical, bare or with bristly hairs ; antennae very long, especiallv 1st joint ; proboscis nearly always 'long. (Thorax more or less humped, generally with conspicuous bristles ; abdomen drooping ; prothorax sometimes forming a shield ; body often with scaly pubescence) TOXOPHOUIN^:, p. 286.

4. Abdomen short and rounded; thorax and

abdomen generally with dense furry pu- bescence ; proboscis long and with small labella;! thorax generally arched ; 2nd longitudinal vein never with a strong loop near tip : head generally narrower than

thorax .' BOMBYLJIJWE, p. 2o9.

Abdomen oblong, rather flattened, seldom really furry ; proboscis generally short and with larger labella ; thorax generally

* At least two (European) exceptions are known, Callistoma &ndMulio t Some species of Usia have the eyes in the rf widely separated, bu are easily recognised by their short, rounded bare abdomen. | Except in a few non-Oriental genera.

] 76 BOMBTLIID^.

flattened, thinly haired, but with some strong bristles towards sides ; 2nd vein generally with a strong loop near tip ; head generally as wide aa thorax. (Four posterior cells ; anterior cross- vein often sloping) LOMATIIN^E, p. 265.

The exact limits of the subfamilies is still to some extent a matter of opinion, as is also the location of certain genera. "Williston ignores subfamilies altogether, and Verrall discusses their affinities in some detail.*

Subfamily ANTHRACIN^E.

Head broadly rounded or transverse, closely applied to the thorax, even though the occiput be enlarged ; nearly as wide as thorax. Three ocelli. Eyes widely separated in both sexes ; frons often barely narrower in $ than § , and often with an indentation in the middle of the hind margin. Proboscis porrect, short, rather thick; palpi inconspicuous, labella of moderate size. Antennae widely separated at base, short, never elongate, 3rd joint conical or onion-shaped.

Thorax barely arched, oblong or nearly quadrate, with rounded corners, moderately or often densely pubescent. No bristles on dorsum, but presutural, supra-alar, and post-alar bristles frequently present, mingled with the pubescence. Scutellum semicircular, usually similarly clothed to the thoracic dorsum, sometimes with conspicuous bristles (Hyperalonia, Exoprosopa); metanotum usually hidden.

Abdomen a little longer than the thorax, slightly arched, gener- ally approximately oblong, not infrequently obconical, but never tubular or depressed, usually with sparse or dense pubescence like the thorax, often with bands of scales on some of the segments and at the extremity or underside, and frequently with bunches of such scales or thick scale-like hairs at the basal corners.

Leys moderately long, comparatively slender ; femora often with small spines on lower side; tibise nearly always with rows of small spicules and an apical circlet of small spines ; tarsi with the joints more distinctly defined in some genera than others ; pulvilli small or absent; ungues with or without a small tooth at the base.

Wings with prsefurca long, extending nearly or quite to anterior cross-vein, the 2nd longitudinal vein originating in a knee-shaped angle, the 3rd vein being in a straight line with the prafurca. Auxiliary vein long ; 1st longitudinal vein long, 2nd vein often forming a loop towards its tip, as does often the upper branch of the always forked 3rd vein. Two, three, or sometimes four (Hyperalonia) submarginal cells ; t three or four posterior cells,

* ' British Flies,' v, p. 478.

t An additional veinlet adventitiously or specifically sometimes causes five submarginal cells.

BOMBYLIIDJE. 177

the first usually open, this character not being of generic value. Upper branch of 5th vein forming a considerable portion of lower side of discal cell ; the contact occasionally only punctiform. Anal cell always open to wing-border.

This subfamily is easily recognised from all others by the com- paratively long praefurca and the sharp angle at the base of the 2nd longitudinal vein. The body is flattened and broad, the eyes well separated in both sexes, and the antennse comparatively wide apart at the base.

Table of Genera.

1. Four submarginal cells HYPEBALONIA, Rond.,

Three submarginal cells 2. [p. 178.

Two submarginal cells , 3.

2. Third antennal joint elongate conical,

with terminal style bearing microscopic [p. 189.

bristle EXOPROSOPA, Macq.,

Third antennal joint short onion-shaped,

with styliform prolongation bearing a [p. 213.

distinct pencil of hairs at tip SPOGOSTYLTJM, Macq.,

3. Third antennal joint short onion-shaped

(sometimes more conical), with styliform

prolongation always bisected near tip, [p. 214.

and bearing an apical pencil of hairs . '. ARGYRAMCEBA, Sch., Third antennal joint forming a style-like cone with microscopic apical bristle ; no pencil of hairs 4.

4. Contact of discal cell with 3rd posterior

not greatly longer than with 4th pos- [p. 232.

terior. ... , LEPIDANTHRAX, O.S.,

Contact of discal cell with 3rd posterior at least twice as long as with 4th, the latter contact sometimes merely pnnctiforni . . ANTHRAX, Scop., p. 234.

Several authors have endeavoured to split up some of the above genera, but such groups must be adopted with much caution.

When Osten-Sacken wrote on Hyperalonia in the 'Biologia Centrali-Americana,' his knowledge was admittedly confined practically to North and Central American species, and though Verrall, possessing the late Mr. Bigot's collection, in which numerous exotic species of both this genus and Exoprosopa are represented, includes the character " claws not toothed near the base " as generic in Hyperalonia, and " claws toothed near the base " in Exoprosopa, I am compelled to omit it as being incorrect. In three species of the former genus (chrysolampis, sphinx; and sujfusipennis) a pair of perfectly distinct teeth are present on the posterior tarsi, and they are present, though small, in tantalus. In some other species they are absent, though I have not examined specimens of all the species available. It may be observed that Loew, in his treatise on the South African species, noted that some species of Exoprosopa had this tooth at the base of the ungues, but declined to regard it as a generic character. In those species of Exoprosopa that I have specially examined for this character the

x

178 BOMBTLI1D.E.

teeth are present. The development or otherwise of the pulvilli in Argyramceba and Anthrax is likely to be inconstant, as it is hard to believe that species of an intermediate nature do not exist. After a more critical study of the species in this subfamily at my disposal and an examination of additional specimens, it has been possible to offer improved descriptions of some of my own species.

Genus HYPERALONIA, Rond.

Hyperalonia, Rondani, Archiv. Zool. Modena, iii, p. 57 (1863) ; Osten-Sacken, Biol. Cent.-Amer., Dipt, i, p. 89 (1886) ; Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 438 (1909). Velocia, Coquillett, Can. Ent. xviii, p. 158 (1886).

GENOTYPE, according to Coquillett (1 910), " Stomoxys morio, F. (Anthrax erythrocephalus, P.), the 5th species, by present designa- tion."

This genus differs from the other genera by having four sub- marginal cells ; in some non-Oriental species even five are present. There are also four posterior cells. Further general characters are : the face moderately projecting ; the third antennal joint forming an elongate cone with a distinct suture demarcating it from the style, which latter is nearly as long as the cone, with a minute appendage at its tip. The posterior legs are as strong as in Exoprosopa ; the fore tarsi indistinctly jointed, without stronger bristles, but with delicate erect hairs on both sides ; ungues minute.

Range. South Europe, Asia, North and South Africa, Australia, and North and South America.

As regards the Indian species of ffyperalonia, the general plan of chsetotactic bristles is : several on the humeral calli (of different lengths), a few prealar ones and about four very powerful spines on the posterior calli, directed backwards, whilst there is always a row of strong bristles on the hind margin of the scutellum.

The vestiture of the legs consists generally of closely applied scales on the femora (often less easily discerned on the middle pair) and at least on the posterior tibise, being most conspicuous on the hind pair* The front legs generally bear soft pubescence only, the posterior femora and tibia? with a row or rows of bristles.

One species, H. Jlaviventris, Dol., is described at additional length for the purpose of emphasising the generic characters.

Table of Species.

1. Wings dark blackish brown, without any con- siderable clear or nearly clear part ; the clear part confined to a well-defined limited space

in tristis and dives only 2.

"Wings with apical part and a considerable portion of the posterior half, wholly or prac- tically clear, but without any clear line of demarcation " 7.

HYPERALONIA. 179

2. Wings very dark brown, but always with a

single limited clear space " 3.

Wings very dark brown, violet- tinged, no clear spaces whatever ; in one species wings mo- derately dark smoke-brown 4.

Wings pale or dark grey 6.

3. Hind margin of wing narrowly clear; remain-

der of wing wholly dark dives, Walk., p. 180.

Wing-tip rather broadly clear ; remainder of wing wholly dark ; 2nd posterior cell much broader at base than tip tristis, Wulp, p. 180.

4. Wings uniformly very dark blackish brown,

posterior part hardly lighter ; 2nd posterior

cell much broader at base than tip (except in

semifuscata) 5.

Wings very dark blackish brown, fading to dark

grey towards hind border ; 2nd posterior cell [p. 180.

not' greatly wider at base than tip , aurantiaca, Guer.,

Wings moderately dark smoke-brown (vari- able) ; 2nd posterior cell much broader at

base than tip sphinx, F., p. 1 87.

o. Median stripe of pubescence on venter white ;

antennae all black tantalus, F., p. 181.

Median stripe of pubescence on venter yellow ; [p. 182.

1st antennal joint reddish brown chrysolampis, Jaen.,

6. The 2nd posterior cell slightly narrower

at base than tip; wing colour fading gradu- [p. 188.

ally from costa to hind margin semifuscata, Brim.,

The 2nd posterior cell nearly twice as wide

at base as at tip ; wing colour pale grey, with [p. 188.

small darker suffusions suffusipennis, Brun.,

7. Median stripe of pubescence on venter bright [p. 183.

reddish yellow ; antennae red-brown faviventris, Dol.,

Median ventral stripe of pubescence snow-white: [p. 185.

antennae all black cenomaus, Roud.,

Though the characters adopted in the foregoing table may be somewhat difficult to follow, especially by the inexperienced student of: this family, they are actually more reliable than any drawn from the coloration of: the body or pubescence, and more- over are much more lasting. The following further notes may prove of assistance in separating these closely allied but perfectly valid species, of nearly all of which I have seen more than one example. Of the ten species in the table, only the last two,/an- ventris and cenomaus, have any considerable extent of clear or practically clear surface of the wing, this being confined to the apical and posterior portions, and without any clear-cut line of demarcation, the dark part of the wing being the baso-costal band so common in ANTHHACI^. Secondly, of the remainder, tristig and Mori have wholly dark wings, except for a very definite and clearly-cut pale space, in the former at the wing-tip, in the latter on the hind border.* Of the remaining species, tantalus, chryso-

* As regards dives, Walker is my authority, because if the clear part is not so sharply defined as he says, the species will fall into the group containing Jtavivcntris and cenomaus, and a doubt as to its exact identity may then ar.se,

x 2

180 BOMBTLIIDJE.

lampis, and aurantiaca stand out by the deep blackish brown, violet-tinged wings, and of these the latter has a strikingly marked abdomen, whilst the other two are quite definitely separated from one another by the colour of the stripe of pubescence on the belly. H. sphinx, F.,*has wings of a smoky-brown shade that is not easily confounded with the violet-brown of the species of the tantalus group ; whilst the two remaining species, semifuscata and suffusi- pennis, have dark grey wings, and are somewhat easily recognised. As regards H. purp uraria, Walk. (Anthrax), recorded in Van der Wulp's catalogue from East India, it is probably not Indian. "Walker described it from Java, but it has not been recorded since, and the specimen is not in the British Museum.

133. Hyperalonia dives, Walk.

Anthrax dives, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. ii, p. 40 (1849).

c? . " Head black, with an orange-tawny tuft above between the eyes, which are dark red ; there are also a few tawny hairs about the mouth, which, like the feelers, is black ; chest brown, clothed with short brown and a few long black hairs, and adorned with a fringe of orange-tawny along the fore border and along each side ; breast brown, having also a fringe of orange-tawny hairs along the fore border, and some hairs of this colour extend into the disc and mingle with the long black hairs that clothe it; scutcheon ferruginous, beset with stout black hairs and on the hind border with long black bristles ; abdomen black above, clothed, especially towards the tip, with brown hairs and adorned along each side with orange-tawny hairs ; these latter are most thick at the base, and there they slightly extend across the back ; a band of white hairs occupies nearly the whole breadth of the 3rd segment ; the tip of the abdomen and the whole of the underside are also clothed with orange-tawny hairs ; legs ferruginous, clothed with short black hairs ; hips, knees, and feet black ; wings dark brown at the base and along the fore border till near the tip, the outline of this colour is regular and very oblique, and runs nearly to the base in a line almost parallel to the hind border ; rest of wing colourless ; veins black ; poisers piceous.

" Length of body 8 lines, of the wings, 18 lines. Sylhet."

Type in the British Museum.

134. Hyperalonia tristis, Wulp.

Exoprosopa tristis, Wulp, Tijd. v. Ent. xi, p. 107, pi. iii, fig-. 11 (1868).

c? . Head with frons not much narrower at vertex than above antennae, where it is distinctly less than one-fourth the width of the head; blackish, with black hairs only on upper part, but with very small narrow yellow scales as well as'black hairs on lower part ; face reddish orange, the colour encroaching for a little distance on

HYPEKALONIA. 181

the frons along the eye-margins, clothed with stiff black hairs and small yellow scales and some short bright yellow hairs around the yellowish mouth-opening ; proboscis black ; antennae black ; occiput black, with small yellow scales, at least near eye-margins, probably extending much further hindwards also, with a fringe of yellow hairs on the hinder margin. Thorax dark olive-brown, nearly black ; anterior margin with thickly placed, long orange- yellow scales ; a bunch of reddish-orange scales below the shoulders, and also apparently in the same places as they occur in H '. flaviventris : short yellow hairs above the wings and on hind margin of dorsum ; posterior calli reddish brown ; scutellum red- brown, base more or less black, hind margin with short yellow hairs ; macrochaetae of thorax and scutellum as in H.flaviventris. Abdomen black, with a slight violet tinge ; a bunch of elongate orange scales at sides of 1st segment and traces of a few silvery- white scales on 6th towards the sides ; venter black, with some scale-like yellow hairs and much longer fine yellow hairs, forming together a median stripe; genitalia very dark brown, shining, knob-like, with a row of spines at tip. Legs dark yellowish brown; femora and tibiae with small bristles, strongest on hind tibiae; femora with closely applied small concolorous scales. Wings rather dark brown ; outer fourth of marginal cell and the three outer submarginal cells wholly or nearly wholly pale grey; alulae and alar squamae with a fringe of dark brown scales; halteres blackish brown, tips of knobs paler.

Length, 11—12^ mm.

Eedescribed from one d1 in the Indian Museum from Tenmalai, Travancore, 22. xi. 1908 (Annandale).

135. Hyperalonia tantalus, F.

Anthrax tantalus, Fabric! us, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 260 (1794) ; Wiede- maiin, Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 255 (1828); Macquavt, Hist. Nat. Dipt, i, p. 401 (1834).

Exoprosopa tantalus, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 1, p. 37 (1840) ; Kerte"sz, Kat. Poloearc. Dipt, ii, p. 169; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. 1, p. 239 (1907). Hyperalonia tantalus, Rondani, Ann. Mus. Geneva, vii, p. 453

(1875); Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 438 (1909). Anthrax cceruleopomis, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. xiv, p. 400,

pi. ix, fig. 2 (1857).

c? $ . Head with frons barely one-third the width of the head above antennae, narrowing to two-thirds of this width at vertex ; black, with black hairs on upper part, and with black hairs mixed with yellow scale-like hairs on lower part ; face reddish brown, with a blackish median longitudinal stripe, irregular in extent; mouth-border varying from reddish brown to yellowish white; proboscis and palpi black, concealed; antennae wholly black; occiput black, with small yellow depressed hairs. Thorax black, with black pubescence, bearing bright orange or yellowish-orange scaly hairs on anterior margin and in bunches and patches as in

182 BOMBYLIID^E.

H.fftviventrisand chrysolampis, and yellow hairs above wing-base and on hind margin of dorsum ; macrochaetae as in those species ; posterior calli reddish brown. Scutellum reddish brown, base more or less black, with black pubescence and with a row of spines- and short yellow hairs on hind margin. Abdomen almost entirely as in H. clirysolampis, but the silvery-white scale-spots on 6th and 7th segments more elongate, nearly attaining the side-margins ; a median ventral stripe of small whitish scaly hairs, no yellow hair whatever being present ; genitalia concealed, yellowish brown, with black bristles in d , and yellowish with an apical circlet of short black spines in $ . Legs black, sometimes a very dark brown tinge to the tibiae ; vestiture as in H. clirysolampis. Wings very dark brown, with a violet tinge; alulae, alar squamae, and halteres as in H. clirysolampis.

Length, 13-16 mm.

Eedescribed from several specimens in the Indian Museum.

Ranjitsing, Darjiling Distr. ; Jvhatgoelam. Naini Tal Distr., 23. ix. 1915 ; Katmandu and Soondrijal, Nepal ; Sadiya and Sibsagar, Assam ; Tranquebar ; Tenasserim ; Sumatra ; Java ; Berlinhafen, Papua ; Borneo ; Celebes ; China ; Japan.

Type in the Wiedemann collection.

136. Hyperalonia clirysolampis, Jaen.

Exoprosopa clirysolampis, Jaennicke, Abh. Senck. Xat. Ges. vi,

p. 344, pi. xli'ii, fig. 8 (1867). Hyperalonia chrysolampis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 439 (1909) ;

de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. liv, p. 295 (1911).

d1 2 . Head with frons barely one-third width of head above antennae, narrowing to two-thirds of this width at vertex ; dark olive-brown, with short black pubescence, with which is mixed on the lower half small bright yellow scale-like hairs ; ocellar triangle small, reddish brown ; face" darker, blackish, more or less reddish brown along inner margin of eyes, clothed with more bristly black hairs than the frons, and yellow scale-like hairs ; mouth-opening with short yellow hairs ; proboscis and palpi black ; 1 st antennal joint reddish brown, 2nd and 3rd black, two basal joints bristly ; occiput with short yellow hairs, its hind border with a fringe of similarly coloured hairs. Thorax black, with short black pubescence ; thick bright orange-yellow scale-like hairs on an- terior margin, and bunches or patches of concolorous hairs situated as in H. flaviventris, a few short yellow hairs above the wing-base and on hind margin of dorsum ; sides and lower part black; scutellum black, with posterior part more or less dull reddish brown, black pubescent, hind margin with short yellow hairs and a row of spines. Macrochaetje as in H. flaviventris. Abdomen black, with short black depressed pubescence; 3rd segment with a distinct basal band of small silvery-white narrow scales which is narrowest in middle, and more than half the length of the segment towards the sides ; a basal spot of similar

HYPEEALONIA. 183

scales on each side of the middle on 6th and 7th segments ; at sides of 1st segment a bunch of bright orange elongate scales, sides of the remaining segments with long black bristly pubes- cence. Venter blackish, with very short black pubescence ; towards middle of hind margin of most of the segments are some small bright yellow scales and a median band, not attaining tip of abdomen, of long, fine hairs of similar colour ; genitalia concealed, apparently much as in H. flaviventris. Legs black ; fore femora and tibite with soft pubescence, posterior pairs with black bristles ; all femora with closely applied minute black scales ; tarsi with short black pubescence ; general vestiture of legs much as in H. flaviventris. Winrjs wholly dark brown, with a distinct violet tinge ; alulae and alar squamse as in H. flaviventris ; halteres dull brown.

Length, 13-20 mm.

Redescribed from several specimens in the Indian Museum : Sikkim; Bhim Tal, 22-27. ix. 1906 (Annandale) ; Java; Kina Balu, Borneo ; Moluccas.

Type in the Frankfort Museum.

Jaennecke's original description of this species is wonderfully accurate. It may be recognised by the trio of characters, the red 1st antennal joint, the yellow stripe of hairs on the venter, and the wholly black legs.

137. Hyperalonia flaviventris, Dol.

Anthrax flaviventris, DoleschalJ, Nat. Tijcl. Ned. Ind. xiv, p. 400

(1857).

Hyperalonia flavicentris, Osten-Sacken, Berl. Ent. Zeits. xxvi, p. 112 ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 441 (1909).

(51 $ . Head with frons above antennae one-third of the width of the head, narrowing to half this width at the vertex, dull mouse-brown, clothed with rather numerous short erect black hairs, with some small narrow yellow scale-like hairs intermixed, the latter preponderating on lower part ; ocellar triangle dull reddish brown ; face orange, liberally besprinkled with short blacl- hairs and some soft golden-yellow hairs around mouth-opening; lower part of head immediately below eyes (where it joins the occiput) yellowish white, bare. Antennae reddish brown ; 2nd joint barely half as long as 1st, both with black bristles ; 3rd joint elongate conical, bare, nearly as long as 1st and 2nd together, and with a style three-fourths as long as the joint, bearing a micro- scopic apical appendage. Proboscis blackish brown, with large reddish-brown labella, slightly pubescent. Occiput much puffed out, mouse-brown, covered with small narrow bright yellow scales or scale-like hairs, closely affixed; posterior edge o occiput with a fringe of light yellow hairs. Thorax blackish, with sparse short blackish hairs ; ' anterior margin with dense, long, narrow, bright fiery reddish-orange scales, and dense bunches of similar orange scales or scale-like bristly hairs occur below the

184 BOMBYLII.DJ3.

anterior margin, on the mesopleurse and inetapleurae, and below the posterior calli; while short bristly concolorous hairs occur above the wing; humeral calli greyish, with some long black hairs ; some powerful black spines in front of and above the wing- base ; posterior calli brownish, with short black hairs and about six powerful black spines directed posteriorly; scutellum reddish brown, with soft short black pubescence and a row of slightly curved black spines on hind margin. Abdomen black, with short black bristly depressed pubescence; 3rd segment nearly covered from the base with small yellowish-white scales, 6th and 7th segments with similar though narrower bands. A bunch of long narrow reddish-orange scales at the sides of the 1st and the base of the 2nd segments, and coarse bristly concolorous hairs ex- tending along the sides of all the segments to the tip, where they are continued across the posterior margin of the last segment ; ground-colour of 2nd segment a little dull reddish brown at the side : venter brownish grev, hind margins of segment with short yellow scale-like hairs ; there is also a more or less distinct median stripe of much longer similarly coloured hairs, and a few of such longer hairs are scattered irregularly over the surface. Genitalia bright orange, placed sideways, with yellower parts ; an oblong dorsal plate with rounded, rather projecting, carmine-tinted hind corners, a pair of claspers and an upper tubular piece are apparent, all with yellow pubescence, but the whole organ is withdrawn considerably. Legs with coxa3 blackish grey, with some stiff black bristles, especially on hinder pair, and a few reddish-orange hairs ; femora and tibia? ferruginous, tarsi blackish ; femora covered with small closely applied yellow scales, and with tiny black bristles, the fore pair with a moderate amount of longer soft black hairs, the posterior pairs with a row of obvious black spines of moderate size below ; fore tibia? with a few closely applied yellow scales, black pubescence, and a fe\v bristles ; middle and hind tibia? with more obvious scales and distinct rows of short black bristles, both scales and bristles stronger, and the former more outstanding on the hind pair; tarsi with very short bristly black pubescence. IVinys clear, hyaline, ribbed ; a powerful curved black spine at base of costa, which latter as far as the humeral cross-vein is closely set with short black spines, as well as the upper basal corner of the wing-surface itself ; venation normal, veins reddish brown ; an oblique dark brown band extends from the tip of the auxiliary vein (though the colour fills out the sub- costal cell to its tip) to the anal border of the wing, embracing the anterior cross-vein, basal half of discal cell, 2nd basal cell wholly, basal half of anal cell and less than basal half of axillary cell, the limitation of the colour approximately parallel with hind border of wing ; anal angle distinct, with fringe of dirty brownish elongate scales ; alar squama? large and compact, with a similar fringe of longer brownish-yellow elongate scales : lialteres brownish yellow. Length, 13-20 mm.

HYPEEALOKEA. 185

Redescribed from 3 tf <f and 2 $ $ in the Indian Museum in hidiffei-eut condition, the characters drawn mainly from a <5 from Mergui, Tenasserim ; Trivandrum, S. India ; Amboina.

138. Hyperalcmia oenomaus, Bond.

Hyperalonia oenomaus, llondani, Ann. Mus. Gen. vii, p. 453 (1875) ; Brunetti, Eec. lud. Mus. ii, p. 442 (1909).

c? $ . Head with frons (slightly narrower in o than $ ) and face dark mouse-brown or blackish, with black hairs on upper part of former, and the same, mixed with thin scale-like yellow hairs, on rest of frons and on face ; frons in 5 only a little narrower at vertex than above antennae, where it is distinctly less than one-third the width of the head ; face sometimes a little reddish at margins ; mouth-opening from reddish brown to pale brownish yellow ; proboscis dark brown ; antennae black or nearly so, sometimes tinged with dark reddish brown ; remainder of head as in H.flaviventris. Thorax black, with black pubescence, adorned with orange scaly pubescence and bristles as in H.flavi- ventris ; scutellum black, posterior half more or less reddish brown, vestitureas in H.flaviventris. Abdomen black, with black pubescence ; a bunch of long orange-yellow scales at sides of 2nd segment, and from thence to the tip the sides with coarse black bristly hairs ; 3rd segment with a transverse band as in H.flaviventris, but the colour of the scales graduates from yellow (in the median line) to white (towards the margins of the segment) ; the 6th and 7th segments each bear a pair of white or yellowish-white scale spots, which are more remote from each other than in H. chrysolampis and nearer the edges of the abdomen. In the d1 the whole dorsum of the 5th, 6th, and 7th segments is covered with silvery-white scales. Venter black, 2nd and 3rd segments covered nearly to the side-margins with small whitish scales, and these scales continued in the median line only on the next two segments ; over the four segments is a median stripe of fine long white hairs ; genitalia apparently as in other species, placed completely sideways in tf . Legs very dark brown, almost black, vestiture as in allied species. Wings in $ nearly clear, •with the dark oblique band with a less well-defined margin than in H.flaviventris, running irregularly from tip of 1st longitudinal vein, passing well beyond anterior cross-vein to anal angle of -wing, thus filling the "inner submarginal cell and the 2nd basal cell, and half filling the discal, anal, and axillary cells : 2nd posterior cell about as wide at base as at tip. In one specimen the brown band fades away more gradually and extends further posteriorly. In the d1 the hinder limit of the dark colour is practically straight, the discal half (diagonally) of the marginal •cell is clear, as is also the 1st submarginal cell, except at its base ; the clear part of the wing is more hyaline in the d .

Length, 13-15 mm.

186 BOHBYLIIDJE.

Eedescribed from a <$ from Peshoke Spur, Darjiling Distr. (Lister) ; 3 $ $ from Kungpo, Sikkim, 1400 ft., 6. ix. 1909 ; 2 $ $ from "Sikkim"; 1 $ from Mergui; and two c? d from Sadiya — all in the Indian Museum ; Sarawak ; Philippines.

Type in Genoa Museum.

139. Hyperalonia aurantiaca, Gutr.

Anthrax aurantiaca, Guerin, Icon. Regne Anini. iii (Ins.), p. 539,

pi. xcv, fig. 6 (? 1843). Ht/peralonia aurantiaca, Brunetti, llec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 440 (1909,1.

Head with f rons a little narrower on vertex than above antennae, where it is barely one-third the width of the head ; dark olive- brown with black pubescence, intermixed with small narrow bright yellow scale-like hairs, which are most numerous on the lower part ; face yellowish, becoming pale creamy white about mouth-opening and on lower part of head ; rather closely covered with similar yellow pubescence to that of the frons, but more hair-like, especially round the mouth-opening; proboscis as long as height of head, blackish brown, with a few whitish hairs ; antennie black, 1st and 2nd joints bristly ; occiput black, with short yellow scale-like hairs around eye-margins. Thorax black, with bright yellow pubescence as in H. sphinx ; paler hairs on sternopleurae ; posterior calli dark reddish brown ; scutellum dark reddish brown, blackish at base, covered with short yellow hair, and the usual marginal row of spines. Abdomen black, with black pubescence, clothed almost entirely with yellow scale-like hairs, which ai-e apparently absent from a broad median space from base to tip ; a bunch of concolorous elongate scales at each side of base of abdomen, and a patch of silvery-white scale-like hairs at each side, contiguous to the margins, of the tith and 7th segments ; sides of abdomen with coarse black hairs. Venter black, with silvery-white scales; almost wholly covering 2nd and 3rd seg- ments and continued broadly in the median line over 4th and 5th segments, a median line also of sparse long fine white hairs ; genitalia concealed, apparently normal. Leys very dark brown, nearly black; coxae ash-grey, with long pale yellowish hairs and some strong long black spines ; femora and tibiae with small closely applied grey scales, difficult to perceive on middle femora and fore tibiae ; fore femora and tibia3 without obvious bristles, but these are present on posterior femora and tibiae ; tarsi black, pubescent. Wings moderately dark brown on anterior half, the colour fading to grey posteriorly, with a violet iridescence in certain lights ; sometimes the discs of the cells on the hinder half of wing a little paler; 2nd posterior cell distinctly wider at base than tip ; halteres brownish yellow ; alar squamae with a fringe of long yellow scales. Length, 11-13 mm.

Eedescribed from a perfect $ from Siripur, Saran, North Bengal, 25. ix. 1910 ; it occurs also at Chapra, Bengal (Mackenzie).

HYPERALONIA. 187

140. Hyperalonia sphinx, F.

Bibio sphinx, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. ii, p. 329 (1787). Anthrax sphinx, Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 126 ; Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. r, p. 258 (1828) ; Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 1, p. 37(1840). Hyperalonia sphinx, Brunetti, Eec.Ind. Mus. ii, p. 440 (1909).

$ . Head with frons not greatly wider above antennae, where it forms one-third of the width of the head, than at vertex ; dark reddish brown; face of similar colour, both closely covered with short elongate bright yellow scale-like hairs, some broader con- colorous definite scales near eye-margins below antennae, and some concolorous soft hairs around mouth-opening, which latter is pale yellowish white ; frons with black bristles from vertex nearly to antenna? ; proboscis dark brown ; palpi elongate, filiform, pale yellow, with a few concolorous hairs ; antennal 1st and 2nd joints yellow, 1st with rather long yellow hairs, 2nd with a row of small black spines above at tip ; 3rd joint black ; occiput blackish, with small depressed vellow hairs. Thorax andscutelluin dark reddish brown ; dorsum of both, with the humeral calli, wholly covered witii close bright yellow scale-like hairs : anterior margin, mesopleursD, sternopleura?, and metapleurae covered with dense yellow elongate scales : a bunch of similar scales just below- posterior calli ; some isolated long black hairs on anterior part of dorsum and about hind margin ; three or four powerful black spines in front of wing-base, and four exceptionally strong ones on each posterior callus, directed backwards. Abdomen dull dark reddish brown, covered with short black bristly hairs and short yellow scale-like hairs, and with rather thick longer concolorous hair at sides ; a bunch of concolorous elongate scales at sides of 1st segment ; venter lighter reddish brown, with a moderate amount of rather long yellow hairs placed mostly towards hind margin of segments. Lef/s rather bright ferruginous ; femora and tibiae with closely applied small elongate pale yellow scales, some- times not readily discernible on middle femora, and apparently absent from apical part of fore femora ; middle femora rather broadened and flattened vertically, with several distinct short black spines near tip on front side ; front femora with soft yellow hairs, both front and middle femora with a few small black bristles ; hind pair with rows of black bristles of moderate size below ; tarsi black, with normal pubescence. Wings uniformly smoke-grey, sometimes with a slight yellowish-brown tinge and a similar fringe at base ; 2nd posterior cell twice as wide at base as at tip ; alula; with a fringe of elongate smoke-grey scales ; alar squama? with a similar fringe of yellowish scales ; halteres small, bright tawny yellow.

Lenqth, 9—12 mm.

Eedescribed chiefly from a perfect $ in the Indian Museum from Puri, Orissa, 16-20. viii. 1911, and an example from Bulsar, Bombay, 20. vi. 1904 ; near Bombay City, 21. iii. 1905, on sea- weed ; 'Chapra, Bengal ; Chandipore, Orissa Coast, 3-7. vi. 1915

138 BOMBYLIIDJE.

(Gravely}-, Trivandrum, 13. xi. 1908 (Annandale) ; Coimbatore, S.India, 29. vii. 1912; Colombo, 1. vii. 1904 (Brunetti), vi. 1894 (E. E. Green) \ Trincomali, 17. vii. 1890 (Col. Yerbury). Types in Fabricius's and Wiedemann's collections.

141. Hyperalonia suffusipennis, Brun. (PL III, fig. 1 .) Hyperalonia suffusipennis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 462

(1909).

Head with vertex dark grey to blackish ; frons orange, paling gradually to the yellow face, or face also all orange, both with elongate chrome-yellow scales, with black hairs intermixed on upper part of frons ; lower part of frons and the face with yellow pubescence ; mouth-opening with pale yellow hairs ; proboscis blackish brown ; palpi long, thin, yellow ; antennae orange-red, 1st and 2nd joints with bristly yellow hairs on each side and some short black bristles above ; 3rd joint black. Thorax black, with rather thick short yellowish depressed hairs on dorsum, and thick- long bristly whitish hairs below the wings ; elongate yellowish scales thickly on anterior margin, below shoulders, and on posterior calli ; scutellum tawny brown, with short thick yellow hairs and a row of stiff long black spines on posterior border. Abdomen blackish, dark reddish towards the sides of the 2nd and 3rd segments ; dorsum covered with moderately thick yellowish scale- like hairs, intermixed with black pubescence ; a large fan-like bunch of elongate dirty yellowish scales at sides of 1st and 2nd segments ; venter with whitish hairs. Legs brownish tawny, coxae with whitish hairs, tarsi nearly black. Wings pale grey, darker and more yellowish on anterior margin and at base ; a slight but distinct suffusion at nearly all the junctures of the veins and cross-veins; halteres pale yellowish white; alulae and alar squarn» with a thick fringe of yellow scales.

Length, 15 mm.

Described from two $ $ in good condition, in the Indian Museum, from the Purneah District, India, and one from Jaulasal, Nairn Tal Distr., 11. iv. 1910; a fourth specimen from Dehra Dun, v. 1914 ( Chatto-jee) • and a darker variety from Coorg, S. India, 1. xi. 1915 (Hannyngton).

A very distinct species.

142. Hyperalonia semifuscata, Brim. (PI. Ill, fig. 2.)

Hyperalonia semifuscata, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 266 (1912).

$ . Head much developed behind eyes ; frons one-third of width of head at level of antennae, narrowing at vertex to half this width, blackish, with yellowish scales and long black hairs; face with brighter and thicker yellow hairs ; mouth-border broadly orange-yellow, with yellow hairs ; proboscis dark brown ; antenna? reddish brown,* 3rd joint very elongate-conical, with a distinct * The 2nd and 3rd joints of the antennae haTe since turned blackish.

HYPEBALOITIA. — EXOPROSOPA. 189

style ; occiput blackish, with some pale yellow scales on orbital margin and yellow hairs over the hind border. Thorax black ; front part of dorsum and around and below shoulders with thick long bright yellow scales ; centre of dorsum with only sparse short yellow and black hairs ; below the wing the hairs are nearly white and bristly, behind the wing some long bright yellow scales; some strong and very long black bristles on posterior corners of dorsum, and two or three (or thereabouts) before the wing; some long stiff black hairs on humeral calli; scutellum dull reddish brown, with sparse depressed short yellow hairs, erect short black hairs, and a row of black bristles along hind border. Abdomen black, with uniformly distributed short black hairs ; 3rd, 6th and 7th segments each with a band of small dirty white scales (those of the 3rd more yellowish) occupying the- greater part of their dorsal surfaces, the bands on the 6th and 7th segments less conspicuous ; sides of 1st and 2nd segments with long scale-like yellow hairs ; venter blackish, with yellowish pubescence, the basal part a little paler, with whitish hairs. Leys- with coxae black ; femora brownish yellow, hind pair blackish towards tips ; tibiae a little darker brown, hind tibiae and all tarsi black ; fore femora with some black hairs on hinder side ; posterior femora and tibiae with rows of short black bristles. All femora and posterior tibiaa with closely applied yellow scales ; the whole of the tibiae and tarsi with minute black microscopic pubescence. Wings dark grey, the anterior half (about), except at tips, moderately dark blackish brown, the colour insensibly dying away along the veins behind the middle of the wing ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 10 mm.

Described from two $ $ from Mahabaleshwar, Satara District,. Bombay Presidency, 4200 ft., 13-16. iv. 1912 (Gravely); in the Indian Museum.

Genus EXOPROSOPA, Macg.

Exoprosopa, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, pt. i, p. 35 (1840) ; Brunettv

Rec. led. Mus. ii, pp. 443, 447 (1909). LitorJnjnchus, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, pt. 1, p. 78 (1840). Trinariu, Mulsant, MǤm. Acad. Sci. Lyon, (2) ii, p. 20 (1852).

Argyrospila, Verrall apud Scudder, IS omen. Zool. p. Exoptata, Coquillett, Can. Ent. xix, p. 13 (1887).

GENOTYPE, Bibio capucina, F. (as pandora, F.) ; by Eondani s- designation.

Head approximately semicircular, as broad as or a little broader than the thorax; occiput inflated, often considerably so; eyes moderately approximate on vertex or wide apart ; irons barely narrower in rf : ocelli present ; face generally conically projecting.

190 UOMBYLIIDJE.

sometimes convex only ; proboscis variable in length, often with- drawn ; palpi small, thin. Antennae porrect, short, wide apart at base ; 1st joint short, cylindrical ; 2nd short, wider at tip than base ; 3rd forming an irregular elongate cone, with a longer or shorter style,* separated from the 3rd joint by a distinct suture, with a microscopic bristle at the tip. Thorax quadrate or short oblong, with rounded corners, often with fan-like bunches of distinct scales or scale-like bristly hairs in front, below the humeri, around the wing-roots, on the pleurae, and occasionally on other parts; scutellura broad, rather large, generally with bristles on posterior margin ; metanotum concealed ; thorax and scutellum generally with rather thick pubescence. Abdomen slightly curved, longer than thorax, but often not greatly so, oblong, in a few species almost obconical, usually with depressed short pubescence and with transverse bands of scales or scale-like hairs on dorsum and frequently on underside also, the pubescence generally longer and thicker on each side at the base. Leys rather long and always slender ; all tibiae without spinules ; tarsi rather indistinctly jointed ; fore legs shorter, posterior legs stronger and longer, in some species with scaly pubescence; ungues small, generally with a small tooth at their base ; pulvilli absent or vestigial. Wings with three submarginal cells ; often a short space along the base of the costa with brilliant white or coloured scales ; venation otherwise as in Hyperdlonia.

Range. World-wide.

It is probable that some of the characters admitted as generic are more or less plastic, such as the distinctness of the tooth at the base of the ungues, which Osten-Sacken claims to be always present, even if very small. He also asserted that the front tarsi are more tapering towards the tip in the cJ than in the $ , and that "the length of the antennal style is variable, usually in inverse ratio to the length of the 3rd joint." His characters were drawn up on North and Central American species, a few European and two Australian forms. I have not ventured to include all these points as definite generic characters.

Table of Species.

1. First posterior cell closed 2.

First posterior cell open t 3.

1. Wings wholly bright yellow to beyond

middle, a narrow brown band in apical f p. 192.

Part favipennis, Brun.,

Wings yellow at base, with two broad

brown bands, one before, one bayond, the [p. 193.

middle flammea, Brun.,

* Exceptions occur. E. stupida, Rossi, a European species, has no distinct antenna! style, the 3rd joint being a long tapering cone ending in a microscopic bristle. Probably there are also other exceptions.

t Often closed adventitiously in E. insulata.

EXOPEOSOPA. 19J.

3(a). Wings wholly black or blackish brown, or with a very small clear spot only .... 4.

(6). Wings clear, with a broad basal and median transverse band, the latter some- times reaching hind border, both bands joined on the costa ; a somewhat isolated species lar, F., p. 194.

(c). Wings dark or light grey, yellowish, or nearly clear; always with a pattern of darker marks, with small infuscations, or with baso-costal band 5.

(d). Wings clear, or at most with a very narrow dark anterior margin 12.

4. Hind tibiae with dense black hairs penntpes, Wied., p. 197.

Hind tibiae without such hairs latipennis, Brun.,p. 198.

5. Second posterior cell twice as wide at base

as tip lateralis, Brim., p. 198.

Second posterior cell as wide at tip as at base or wider 6.

6. Baso-anterior half of wing considerably

dark, with or without small infuscations

on the veins in the clear part 7.

Baso-anterior half of wing barely darker than the pale grey remainder; slight suffusions only on some of the veins .... 11.

7. Abdominal ground-colour chestnut-brown ;

antennae yellowish ; legs brown ; no abdo- [p. 199.

minal white scale-spots annandalei, Bruu.,

Abdomen and antennae black 8.

8. Dorsum of abdomen with white scale-spots 9. L>orsurn of abdomen without white scale- spots 10.

9. Larger species, 14 mm. ; aatennal style [p. 200.

normal maculiventris, sp. n.,

Smaller species, 8 mm. ; antennal style as long as 3rd joint stylata, sp. u., p. 201.

10. Clear part of wing with several isolated dark

spots insulata, Walk., p. 203.

Clear part of wing without any isolated dark spots puerula, sp. n., p. 205.

11. Scutellum and antennae black; all the

abdominal segments with a band of yel- [p. 206.

lowish white pubescence benyalensis, Macq.,

Scutellum and antennae reddish yellow or brown ; the 2nd abdominal segment with basal band of whitish pubescence* .... brahma, Sch., p. 206.

12. Length 20 mm niveiventris, Brun.,

Length 7-10 mm 13. [p. 207.

13. Antennae reddish brown ; pubescence on

anterior margin of thorax whitish ; scu- tellum all black; wing wholly clear; venter with small snow-white scales at [p. 209.

bases of segments , vitripennis, Brun.,

Antennae black ; thorax with bright yellow thick scale-like pubescence; scutellum

* After Schiuer; E. bengalensis and brahma may possibly be synonymous.

192 BOJIBYLIIDJE.

reddish brown ; wing clear, costal and subcostal cells pale yellowish grey; venter with soft snow-white hairs in

middle vit>'ea> BiS-» P- 21°-

Antenna} black, ferruginous at base; "thorax with tawny hairs"; scutellum and thorax ferruginous ; dorsum of abdo- men with fringe of pale yellow hairs on fore border of each segment, and " more completely clothed on the underside " ;

wings a little greyish, slightly tawny at [p. 211.

base and on fore border basifascia, Walk.,

143. Exoprosopa flavipennis, Bnm.

Exoprosopaflampennis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 465 (1909).

2 . Head with frons and ocelli as in flammea ; frons orange, with close short golden-orange hairs ; mouth-border yellow : proboscis brown, shorter than the head; eyes reddish brown, bare, with small, uniform facets ; back of head reddish orange, bare, considerably prominent, with a narrow fringe of very short bright yellow hairs on the margin of the cavity behind. Antennae orange; first two joints sub-cylindrical, wider at tip, with yellow hairs ; 2nd shorter than 1st ; 3rd joint twice as long as first two together, bare, the upper side quite straight, the underside rapidly narrowing from base to tip, a very distinct cylindrical style at tip. Thorax ferruginous orange, with black dorsum and blackish- grey underside ; a fringe of long yellow hair-like scales on anterior margin ; a bunch of fiery orange-red bristly scale-like hairs on shoulders, and shorter similar ones on the humeral calli ; the dorsum clothed with moderately close, short orange hairs ; several long fiery orange-red bristles, directed backwards on the posterior calli ; underside nearly bare, a few blackish hairs here and there. Scutellum orange-red, covered with short, similarly coloured pubescence ; posterior margin with a horizontal row of concolorous strong bristles. Abdomen sub-conical ; ground-colour black, apparently with short, close, black pubescence. A bunch of elongate orange-red scales at the shoulders of the 1st segment ; sides of 2nd segment dull reddish ; venter black, unmarked ; genital apparatus in one specimen, orange, subspherical, slightly protruding, and apparently twisted to the left. Leys with coxa? and femora dark brown ; anterior tibiae brownish yellow, hind pair black ; all the knees pale ; tarsi black ; fore legs practically bare, posterior ones minutely pubescent and with distinct black bristles, which are stronger on the hind pair; posterior tarsi closely pubescent, with black bristles .on underside. Wings with first posterior cell closed some distance before the border ; rather more than the proximal half bright orange-yellow, apical part and a narrow border along the posterior margin almost to the base, quite clear; an intermediate dark brown, ill-defined cross-band, commencing at the upper edge of the marginal cell opposite tip

EXOPEOSOPA. 193

of auxiliary rein, the width of the baud being about one-third of the length of the 1st submargiual cell, across the middle of which it passes ; continuing across the middle of the closed portion of the 1st posterior cell, the distal half of the discal cell, and the bases of the 2nd and 3rd posterior cells, after which it is narrowed to a streak and turning, extends towards the base of the wing, separating the yellow part from the clear margin. Alulae with fringe of dirty grey elongate scales ; alar squamae reddish orange, with a short dense fringe of concolorous elongate scales.

Length, 14-18 mm.

Described from two specimens from Pusa, Bengal. One (type) in the Pusa collection, taken 19. iv. 1907; the other in the Indian Museum collection, taken 25. v. 1906, now partly greasy.

E. flammea, Brun., and flavipennis, Brun., are distinguished from all the other Eastern Exoprosopa known to me by the 1st posterior cell being closed at some distance before the border, the 4th longitudinal vein meeting the 3rd before the origin of the anterior branch of the latter (\i\flammea\ or just below it (in flavipennis). They therefore belong to the group for which llondani established the genus Argyrospyla (emended by Verrall to Argyrospila), but which the late Baron Osten-Sacken says (Biol. Cent.- Am., Dipt, i, p. 78) cannot be sustained, this character in various species showing all stages between a closed and open cell, sometimes even in the same species.

144. Exoprosopa flammea, Brun.

Exoprosopa Jiammea, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 466 (1909).

$ . Head with entire frons and face orange-yellow, covered with short golden-yellow hairs ; lemon-yellow round the mouth, •\yjth short bright yellow hairs; frons at level of antenna} one- third the width of the head, narrowing towards vertex: ocelli small, close together in front of the vertex; antennae missing, except 1st joint which is reddish ; proboscis brown, shorter than length of head ; eyes dark reddish brown, facets very small, uniform ; occiput brick-red, rather prominent, with sparse short golden-yellow hairs. Thorax cinereous ; humeral and posterior calli orange-tawny, the latter bearing five or six concolorous spines pointing backwards; the anterior border and shoulders are covered with thick long fiery reddish-yellow bristle-like scales, which are also abundant below the shoulders and behind the wings ; the dorsum (slightly denuded) is evidently lightly clothed with short orange-yellow hairs ; underside of thorax cinereous, with a moderate amount of orange-yellow hair. Scutellutn red- dish brown, the posterior margin bearing a row of concolorous strong bristles directed backwards ; dorsum with sparse yellowish hairs. Abdomen sub-conical ; ground-colour chiefly reddish brown ; 2nd segment with a narrow anterior and rather wider posterior baud connected by a thin dorsal stripe ; a rather wide irregular,

o

194 BOMBYLIID^.

not well-defined black transverse band on 3rd segment, which is- repeated less distinctly on the following t\vo or three segments. The extreme posterior border of all the segments is reddish brown, and the whole dorsum is covered lightly with short, bright orange hairs, which become brightest, longest, and fiery red at the abdominal tip ; a bunch of fiery-orange elongate scales at sides of 1st segment. Venter cinereous, covered with short orange hairs; posterior borders of all the segments orange-yellow. Legs with coxa3, femora, and most of the tibiae reddish orange ; the tibiae towards the tips (especially the hind pair) and all the tarsi black ; the middle femora have a few black short spines below, the hind pair a row of stronger ones ; the posterior tibiae are beset with short black bristles (longer on the hind pair) and have a circlet of strong black spines at the tip, and the whole legs, especially the tibiae and tarsi, are minutely but densely spiuose. Wings clear ; first posterior cell closed at some distance before the border, the 4th longitudinal vein joining the 3rd half- way between fork of latter^ and the wing-border. Two broad dark brown bands ; base of wing bright orange-yellow, the colour extending across the wing from the costa to (and including) the alula, and reaching distally to just within the two basal cells ; the costal cell orange-yellowish, also a spot on and over the discal cross-vein, and another small spot in the centre of the upper basal cell. The first brown band begins in the upper basal cell, which it fills, extending posteriorly, filling the 2nd basal cell and basal fourth of discal cell, thence narrowing to the hind border of the wing, leaving about the distal fourth of both the anal and axillary cells clear ; the second band begins approximately on the costa, blending with the orange colour of the costal cell* fills three-fourths of the 1st submarginal and 1st posterior cells> thence narrowing somewhat, it fills nearly the distal half of the discal cell and terminates distinctly deal of the posterior margin of wing, entering the 2nd and 3rd posterior cells ; a small round quite clear spot is in the extreme upper angle of the lower basal cell. A few very short stiff black bristles at the base of the costa, and some short close yellowish-orange hairs on the margin of the alulae and the orange tegulae ; halteres yellow.

Length, 18 inm.

Described from a single 5 (now headless) in the Indian Museum collection, taken at Pusa, Bengal, 17. iv. 1907 ; other specimens are from Pusa, l.v. 1911, at light (Hoivlett) ; Pusa, 3.iv. 3914; Trincomali, Ceylon, 25. vi. 1891 (Col. Yerbun/).

This species closely resembles E. Zar, K, in the shape of the wing-markings.

145. Exoprosopa lar, F. (PL III, fig. 3.)

Bibio lar, Fabricius, Sp. Ins. ii, p. 414 (1781). Anthrax lar, Wiedenmnn, Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 268 (1828). Anthrax collaris, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 271 (1828) Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. ii, p. 247, 2 (1849).

EXOPSOSOPA. 195

Litorhynchm collaris, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 1, p. 80 (1840). Anthrax ruyicollis, Saunders, Tr. Eiit. Soc. Lond iii n 59 iil v

tig. 5 (1841).

Exoprosopa binotata, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Supp. 5, p. 89 (1855) Exoprosvpa collaris, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 444 (1909).

c? . Head with f rons distinctly narrower at vertex than above antennae, where it equals one-third the width of the head; dark nut-brown, with a slight pink or orange tint, covered with short black pubescence, and a few minute elongate pale brownish -yellow scales or scale-like hairs on lower part; face of similar colour to frons, with black pubescence and similar scales ; proboscis dark, withdrawn ; anteunal 1st and 2nd joints ferruginous, 3rd black • occiput yellowish brown, with minute black bristles, which con- tinue over the vertex nearly to the ocelli; and with whitish scales forming a band of irregular width contiguous to the eve- margins. Thorax black, with sparse black pubescence, covered with very short depressed yellowish (almost pinkish) brown scale-like hairs ; anterior margin with a thick fringe of very long narrow brownish-yellow (varying to bright ferruginous) hair-like scales; a bunch of similar scales below the humeri, on prothorax, and below posterior corners of dorsum : coarse hairs of similar colour cover the mesopleurae, with some black hairs intermixed below wing base; sides of thorax dull orange-brown; humeral calli reddish brown, with^numerous black bristles ; posterior calli reddish brown, covered with pubescence like that of the thorax, with several long strong spines projected hindwards. Scutellutn uniformly dark reddish brown, with similar pubescence to the thoracic dorsum ; hind margin with a row of spines. Abdomen black, the sides often more or less reddish ; posterior margin of 1st segment narrowly, 2nd and 3rd segments from base to tip (covering one-third of the surface on each side) dull but distinct reddish brown ; the whole dorsum with short depressed blac-k pubescence ; a fan-like bunch of rather dirty white very elongate scales at sides of 1st segment ; a patch of long yellowish-white scales towards each side of 3rd segment, contiguous to the margin, and 6th segment (and possibly 7th also) covered with similar scales ; the sides of the abdomen from 2nd segment to tip with coarse black bristly hair. Venter moderately dark brown, barely tinged with vellowish, but with paler hind margins to the segments and a few soft yellowish hairs ; genitalia rather largo, ferruginous. Legs reddish brown, metatarsi more or less darker, rest of tarsi black ; fore legs, apart from the usual minute pubescence, with rows of very short bristles on tibiae ; middle femora with at least two rather strong bristles of unequal length on inner side towards tip ; hind femora with a row of stronger bristles below, posterior tibiffi with the usual rows of small bristles; tarsi with short stiff black pubescence below. Wings best described as pale grey with the basal third dark brown, filling the anal and axillary cells except their tips, the colour continued along the costa nearly to the tip of the 1st longitudinal

c>2

196 BOMBYLIID.E.

vein and extending bindwards to the upper side of the discal cell, thence spreading out and embracing the apical third of that cell, the base of: the 2nd posterior, and just entering the 3rd posterior, the colour sharply delimited distally by a line drawn from its costal limit to where it ends posteriorly in the 3rd posterior cell ; .a small clear spot at upper corner of 2nd basal cell, with a small yellowish spot immediately above it, and a slight pale yellowish tinge about the middle of the 1st posterior cell ; the brown colour is only very slightly variable in its extent. Alulze and alar squamae with a fringe of dirty brown scales ; halteres black. Length, 14-16 mm.

Bedescribed mainly from a 3 in good condition in the Indian Museum from Bara Banki, United Provinces, 14. x. 1910, and others iu less good condition from Kangra Vallev or Sikkim (Dudgeon] ; Allahabad, i. 1910 (Chatterjee) ; Bandhara^ Cent. Prov., India, l.xii.1912 (Imms); Sahibganj, Bengal; Bellary, South India, 10. viii.-ll. ix. 1913 ; Surat, Bombay, 11. xi. 1911 (Fletcher); Bangalore ; Trivandrum ; Mahagany, Ceylon, 15. ii. 1891 ; Nila- velli, Ueylon, 30. v. 1891 (Col. Yerbury).

Types in Fabricius's, Westermaun's and Wiedemann's collections. It must be remembered that the foregoing description is chiefly from an individual specimen. Wiedemaun noted the close affinity between collaris and lar, claiming for the former the more fox-red collar, the absence of white tomentum at the tip of the abdomen, the absence of white pubescence towards the sides at the base of the abdomen, the wholly black ground-colour of the body, the black-haired abdomen, and the shortening of the second trans- verse black band (so to speak) on the wing, so that it does not reach the hind border.

Most of these characters are more or less variable, especially the distance to which the more distal of the two extensions of the costal dark border reaches, and the reddish-brown colour of the sides of the abdomen. Saunders's figure of his rugicollis shows the limits of variation in three characters, the ferruginous collar, the shortened wing-band, and the all-black abdomen. Wiede- mann's characters of the absence of white vestiture at the base and tip of the abdomen are negative ones, and it may reasonably be supposed that his specimen was somewhat worn.*

Two specimens in the British Museum from Mahagany, Ceylon {Col. Yerbury), appear to represent an undescribed species allied to E. lar, but are not in sufficiently good condition to describe properly.

One of the specimens bears a label : " ? E. binotata, Macq." This hitter I concluded t to be synonymous with collaris, Wied.,J beinu; further convinced by a specimen of the latter in the Indian

* As the nrst few examples of this species seen by me answered fully to Wiedemann's collaris, a certain number of specimens were identified by me as such and returned to correspondents. These should bear the name of lar.

t Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 444.

\ E. collaris, Wied., is now regarded by me as synonymous with lar, F.

EXOPEOSOPA. 197

Museum, labelled " E. bimaculata, Macq." in Bigot's handwriting. Bigot evidently wrote bimaculata in mistake for binotata, but the two specimens described above are certainly distinct from lar. In the event of binotata, Macq., being a good species, they may be representatives of it.

146. Exoprosopa pennipes, Wied.

AntJtra.r pennipes. Wiedemann, Dipt. Exot. i, p. 129 (1821) : id..

Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 272 (1828). Exoprosiipa pennipes, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, 1, p. 49 (1840);

Bruuetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. ii. p. 443 (1909). Hyperalonia pennipes, Rondairi, Ann. Mus. den. vii, p. 452 (1875).

Head with frons more than twice as wide above antennae (where it equals one-third the width of the head) as at vert ex, blackish, with black hairs on upper part, and below with black hairs mixed with a number of short silvery scales of rather greater width ; face black, with black bristly hairs and small silver scales ; proboscis yellowish brown ; antennae black, possibly sometimes reddish brown at base ; occiput black, with small silvery scales at least near the eye- margins, probably a considerable part of the surface thus covered in perfect specimens. Thorax black ; dorsum with a dark indigo- blue tinge, caused bv the whole surface being covered in perfect specimens with brilliant small subquadrate blue scales, longi- tudinally striated, black pubescent ; anterior margin with long narrow black scales ; bunches of similar scales or bristly hairs below shoulders, on mesopleurae and metapleurae, and below hind corners of dorsum ; apparently some black bristly or coarse hairs around the wing-base. Scutellum black, covered with scales like those of the thorax, pubescent, dull dark brown towards hind margin, which bears a row of spines. Abdomen black, covered with blue-green or green scales, with black pubescence; some long, thin, very dark brown scales in a bunch at sides of 1st seg- ment ; venter dark blackish indigo, with a little black pubescence and no trace of scales. Legs black; fore tibiae and metatarsi yellowish brown ; middle tibiae very dark brown ; hind femora towards tips and hind tibiae from base to tip with rows of dense long dark brown narrow scales. (No distinct bristles are visible on the legs, but this may be due to the bad preservation of the specimens.) Wings deep brown, violet-tinged, fore border about the middle a little yellowish, also just a little paler about the cross-veins ; tip of wing quite clear, limited by tip of 2nd longi- tudinal vein, and hindwards on the wing-border by the proximal side of the 2nd posterior cell.* Alulae and alar squamae fringed with long narrow dark brown scales ; halteres blackish brown.

Length, 11-18 mm.

* In the second specimen (from Karachi) the wing is pale along the hind margin of the 3rd posterior cell.

198 BOMBYLIID-S.

Eedescribed mainly from a specimen (? <J ) from Koliima, Assam, in the Indian Museum ; a second specimen from Karachi and other specimens from Pusa; and lower ranges, X. Khasi Hills, IMS (Chemnett).

The Karachi specimen shows the following differences : — The 1st antennal joint (the only one remaining) is distinctly reddish brown, there is a bunch of dirty white scales at the sides of the 1st abdominal segment; the abdomen is longer, narrower, and more pointed, the last segment distinctly reddish brown, with the ovipositor protruding considerably, and the venter has indis- putable traces of a median row of white scales. The only remain- ing leg is a hind one, on which the scales are identical with those of the Kohima specimen.

147. Exoprosopa latipennis, Brun.

Exoprosopa latipennis. Brunetti. Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 404 (1909).

c? . Head with frons barely one-third width of head at level of antennae, two-thirds of this width at vertex ; dark olive-brown, rather velvety, with a few scattered hairs ; lower part and face with small elongate pinkish-yellow scales ; ocelli on a minute protuberance on vertex ; antennae blackish brown : underside of head blackish brown ; mouth-border narrowly yellowish. Thorax black, with thick bright orange hairs on lateral margins ; black bristly hairs on lower part in front ; anterior margin and below both shoulders and posterior calli with thick bunches of elongate orange scales ; scutelluin black, with a row of black hairs or tine bristles on hind margin. Abdomen black, elongated, sides parallel, tip rounded, with sparse black pubescence ; sides of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments narrowly brick-red ; a bunch of pale yellowish elon- gate scales at sides of 1st segment; sides of abdomen with rather thick yellow hairs, which become thinner and paler towards tip ; venter black, with black hairs, central segments paler in middle. Legs dark brown ; hind femora with a row of long bristles below. Wings uniformly rich dark brown, unusually wide across the middle.

Length, 18 mm.

The present description is from the type, from Shillong, in the Indian Museum (which is a J , not a $> ), and two <5 tf in the British Museum (Khasi Hills and Cherrapunji, Assam).

148. Exoprosopa lateralis, Brun. (PI. Ill, fig. 7.)

Exoprosopa lateralis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 467, pi. xii, tig. 17 (1909).

$ . Head with frons and face dark olive-brown, becoming more

or less orange towards the lower part of the latter, both covered

, with black pubescence and (except the upper part of the frons)

with small pinkish-yellow scales ; proboscis dark brown, palpi

EXOPBOSOPA. 199

yellow; antennae brown, 1st and 2nd joints bristly; occiput dark grey, with yellowish scales around eye-margins. Thorax black, with long bright ferruginous scales or bristly hairs on anterior margin, below shoulders, and on posterior calli ; dorsum (denuded) evi- dently more or less covered with very short yellow scale-like hairs closely applied, which towards the "sides and hind margin are thinner and longer ; lower part of thorax bare, with ferruginous marks.* Abdomen elliptical ; black, the sides more or less broadly brick-red ; this coloration is very variable in quantity, as in one specimen it only moderately narrowly borders the abdomen, and in another one it extends so far inwards as to reduce the black part almost to a dorsal row of spots. Bunches of ferruginous elongate scales at each side of 1st and 2nd segments, and a small tuft of stiff black hairs at the sides of each segment ; dorsum thinly covered with short tawny yellow scales and black hairs ; last segment red- dish, black at the middle of the base ; Tenter brownish brick-red, with sparse yellow hair-like scales. Leys (mainly missing) tawny brown : fore coxae with rather long yellow hairs ; hind femora and tibiae with short black spines. IVinys dark brown, tip and posterior border nearly to the base irregularly and indistinctly clear, the clear part extending into the discal cell ; traces of a small round clear spot in upper corner of 2nd basal cell : alulae and alar squama? with dirty brown elongate scales.

Length, 14-18 mm.

Described from three £ ? in the Indian Museum from Calcutta ; and Talewaddi, N. Kauara Distr., 3-10. x. 1916 (Kemp).

149. Exoprosopa annandalei, Brun. (PI. Ill, tig. 8.)

Kvoprosopa annandalei, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 469, pi. xii, tig. 20 (1909).

$ . Head with vertex, frons, and face blackish, with short sparse yellowish hairs, and some stiff bristly black hairs on frons, which is considerably narrowed on the vertex, where the ocellar triangle is very small ; mouth-opening yellowish, proboscis dark brown ; palpi black, short, filamentous, with a single row of hairs ; antennae yellowish, first joint hairy, third rather elongated, with moderately long style ; back of head dark grey ; eyes dark brown, with some yellowish hairs, which are whitish behind the eyes. Thorax blackish ; tawny-yellow hairs rather thickly placed on fore border, and on the sides, where there is a pale tawny spot on the pleurae ; dorsum nearly bare (? denuded). Scutellum light brown, posterior border with a row of black spiny bristles and short sparse yellowish hairs ; metanotum bidden. Abdomen ovate, chestnut- brown (ground-colour), with a row of irregularly oval dorsal black spots at the base of each segment, and with traces of a narrow black line almost on the posterior borders of some of the segments ; a sparse band (interrupted in the middle) of short

* Possibly due to discoloration.

200

whitish hairs on the anterior part, and a similar band of blackish hairs on the posterior part, of each segment ; the second segment possessing a basal row of short sparse tawny hairs and a bunch oi longer white hairs on each side at the base ; the short whitish hairs on the dorsum may possibly extend over the greater part of the surface, and appear more like scales than hairs. Venter chestnut- brown, with irregular black marks and with short white scaly hairs generally distributed over it. Legs tawny brown, fore coxae similar, posterior coxa3 blackish brown ; hind femora with a few hairs below, posterior tibise moderately covered with short bristles ; tarsi blackish brown, minutely pubescent below. Wings pale grey, with a dark brown oblique baso-costal band, which has an indenta- tion on the lower side : the brown colour extends along the costa to the tip of the first longitudinal vein, its outer edge extending posteriorly to just behind the second posterior cell, the colour thus filling slightly more than half the first longitudinal and discal cells, and extending in an irregularly straight line from the latter cell to the base of the wing, filling half the anal cell ; round brown spots, all of equal size, are placed at the tip of the second longi- tudinal vein, at the base of the fork of the third longitudinal and at the tip of the veinlets dividing the second, third, and fourth posterior cells; on the upper corner (adjoining the base of the discal cell) of the lower basal cell a small bluish opalescent spot ; at extreme base of wings and along the stronger veins a distinct tawny colour ; halteres yellowish white.

Length, 9-12 mm.

Described from the two original females in the Indian Museum from Moulmein, Lower Burma, 6. iii. 1908 (Annandale).

150. Exoprosopa maculiventris, sp. nov.

J . Head wholly blackish grey ; frons about half as wide again at level of antennae as at vertex, with fine black hairs, intermixed with short yellow ones on lower part ; face with sparse short yellow hairs and on lower part with rather short black hairs ; antennae and mouth-parts black ; the considerably puffed-out occiput with a few short yellow hairs, and on hied border a narrow fringe of them. Tliorax and scutellum black, with mode- rately short black pubescence, which is longest on the scutellum ; anterior border narrowly with short yellow hairs, and a con- spicuous bunch of long bright yellow pubescence below each shoulder ; some yellow hairs along the sides below the wings and a large bunch below the posterior angles of the dorsum ; the posterior calli themselves having a few much shorter and paler yellow hairs on the hinder side. Abdomen black, surface of seg- ments (except 1st) mainly covered with small closely-set black scales, and bearing long fine black hairs, except at base and hind margins ; 1st segment dark blackish grey, unsealed, with short yellow hairs on dorsum and a bunch of long bright yellow hairs

EXOPEOSOPA. 201

towards and over each side ; on the 2nd segment towards each anterior corner is a circular spot of yellowish- white scales ; this pair of spots is duplicated on the 3rd and 4th segments, the scales forming them being less yellow on the 3rd segment and nearly white on the 4th ; oih segment bearing no white spots, but 6th and 7th each with a similar pair of white scale-spots ; sides of 2nd segment with long yellow hairs anteriorly (as in 1st segment) and black hairs posteriorly ; sides of remaining segments with thick black pubescence. Venter black, with small closely impressed black scales and thin black pubescence ; sexual organs too con- cealed for observation. Leg* wholly black, with ordinary pubes- cence ; tibia? with obvious closely impressed small black scales and two distinct rows of bristles on hind pair, with numerous others more or less arranged in longitudinal rows ; hind femora with a little soft black hair and a row of distinct, fairly long bristles on underside. Wings with about anterior half deep blackish brown, the colour filling the marginal cell except the tip, thence running parallel to the hind margin of the wing, filling half the 1st posterior cell ; thence retreating, filling barely half the discal cell ; thence extending to the hind angle of the wing, filling half the anal and axillary cells. An oval spot at tip of 2nd vein, joining the costa and also the extremity of the costal darkening ; a spot at fork of 3rd vein, another over the cross-vein joining the 2nd vein, and another over the posterior cross-vein ; all the spots concolorous and contiguous to the main expanse of colour. Alar squamae black, with short fringe of bright yellow hair; halteres black.

Length, 14 mm. ; expanse, 34 mm.

Described from a single perfect specimen in the Indian Museum from Kousauie, Garb wal State, 6075 ft.,22. vii.1914 (Col. Tyiler).

The wing-markings are very nearly similar to those of E. annan- dalei, figured in Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, pi. xii, fig. 20, except that in this latter species the colour is of a much lighter brown.

151. Exoprosopa stylata, sp. nov.

tS • Head with f rons at vertex about two-thirds as wide as at level of antenna?, where it is less than one-third the width of the head ; covered with dull brownish tomentnn or dust with a tinge of yellow, sparsely beset with stiff black hairs ; lower part of f rons with depressed black scales, which in certain lights exhibit a silvery lustre; face distinctly produced into a blunt cone, covered thickly with similar black scales (shining silvery) and long bristly hairs as on frons ; upper edge of mouth-opening furnished with very long, thin, dark brown scales ; mouth-opening and proboscis brown, latter extending forward as far as tip of antennas. Antenna? black, 3rd joint elongate conical, as long as 1st and 2nd together, with a style as long as the joint itself, bearing a pale elongate thick bristle at, tip. Thorax black, faintly shining ; at least hinder part with small impressed black scales (which possibly cover the entire

202 BOMBTLIID^I.

surface) : dorsum also with stiff black pubescence of moderate length ; anterior margin with a thick fringe of very elongate bright yellow scales projecting forwards, forming a sort of dense collar ; shoulders entirely covered with a dense bunch of very elongate black scales, which extend (diminishing in strength) over the mesopleura, and continue as short stiff hairs over part of the sternopleura ; pteropleura bare, shining, but the metapleura with a thick bunch of black scales on its posterior part ; sternopleura with a slight greyish tinge on lower part. Scutellum black, with minute adpressed black scales covering its entire surface, and a row of curved black bristles on hind margin. Abdomen black, faintly shining, entirely covered with minute adpressed black scales, which, if viewed at a low angle from in front, show a silvery sheen ; and with a row of black bristles on hind margins of at least the last two or three segments, the hind margins of which bear a row of rather short but obvious dark brown scales ; the outer two- tliirds of 1st segment with a dense covering of very elongate, bright chrome-yellow scales, the actual sides with elongate black scales ; sides of other segments also with elongate very narrow dark bro\vu scales, and a few other quite broad dark brown ones, intermixed posteriorly with black bristly hairs ; six spots coin- posed of scales, which, viewed from in front, appear silvery, and from behind dull milk-white, are placed as follows : one towards each side of the dorsum on 3rd segment, one at base in centre of 4th, one towards each side of 6th, and an elongate one at base of 7th extending over the greater part of the segment. Venter covered uniformly with minute brownish-black scales that appear silvery when viewed at a low angle either from in front or behind ; a row of bristles on hind margin of each segment. Genitalia rather large, apparently consisting of a small sub-globular reddish- piece and a greyish cone-shaped piece of larger size, pubescent. Legs black, coxse with bristly hairs ; femora closely covered with black scales that appear silvery in certain lights ; tibiae apparently reddish brown, but in certain lights the scales shine silvery; tarsi brown, Wings pale grey, iridescent ; a brown baso-costal band, limited distally by tip of 1st longitudinal vein, the hinder margin of the band nearly a straight line thence, through the anterior cross-vein and extreme base of 4th posterior cell, and thence to base of wing, encroaching narrowly on anal cell; discal cell nearly clear, a darker brown spot jointly over tip of praef urea and anterior cross-vein ; another over base 'of discal cell and forking of 5th vein, a small one at base of 3rd posterior cell.

Length, 8 mm.

Described from a unique specimen from Hadagalla, Ceylon (T. Bainbrigge FletcJier).

Type in the British Museum, presented by Mr. Fletcher.

The conspicuous silvery-white spots on the abdomen placed like the " 5 " of a playing card, in addition to the exceptionally long antennal style, render this species easily recognisable.

EXOPEOSOPA. 203

152. Exoprosopa insulata, Walk. (PI. Ill, fig. 4.)

Anthrax (s. g. Litorhi/nchus) insulata, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. iii, p. 11-2 (1852)'.

, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mas. ii, p. 440 (1909). Head with frons about half as wide again above antennae, where it forms one-third the width of the head, as at vertex ; dull olive- brown (in well-preserved specimens, otherwise blackish), with black pubescence and minute elongate pinkish-yellow scales or scale-like hairs ; face concolorous, but yellowish about the mouth-opening, with similar hairs and small scales ; proboscis black, projecting some distance beyond tip of antennae ; antennas black ; occiput dark grey, with very small yellow scales in the neighbourhood of the eye-margins, hinder edge with a fringe of short yellow hairs. Thorax dark olive-grey or olive-brown (in perfect specimens), with short black pubescence and very minute elongate yellow scales, which perhaps are sparser about the centre of the dorsum ; anterior margin with long brownish-yellow scales, which are also fairly abundant from below the shoulders to below the wing-base, and, again, below the posterior corners of the dorsum. Lower part of prothorax, the mesojileurge, pteropleurae, and sternopleurse with long black bristly hairs; scutellum concolorous with thoracic dorsum, with small yellow scales and a few black hairs, arid a row of rather sinuous thin black hairs on posterior margin. Abdomen rather dull black, slightly shining: 1st segment with a bunch towards each side of comparatively short, very erect, elongate, brownish-yellow scales, and a narrow band of such erect scales extends across the segment on the anterior half ; 2nd segment with broad band on anterior half of small elongate closely-applied yellow scales, the posterior half being covered with black scales of similar nature ; 4th and following segments with similar black scales on anterior part and yellow scales on hinder part ; 4th seg- ment with a pTitch of silvery-white scales towards each side, and 7th segment mainly covered with such scales ; sides of abdomen with long brown scales and long black hairs ; venter black, with a little black pubescence and covered with minute yellow scales. Legs black ; tibiae more or less dark brown ; femora with small closely-applied pale scales, posterior femora and tibiae with the usual bristles. \Vin(/s pale grey, with a broad oblique dark brown or blackish-brown band extending on the costa to tip of 1st longi- tudinal vein, and distinctly beyond bifurcation of 2nd and 3rd veins, and anterior cross-vein, embracing basal third of discal cell and crossing anal and axillary cells about their middles ; several blackish spots are present, variable in number and size, four on the clear part of the wing being always present, placed respec- tively (l)near tip of 2nd vein, (2) at fork of 3rd vein, (3) on 2nd "vein at the junction of the veinlet joining this vein to the •3rd, and (4) over outer side of discal cell, generally elongate and sometimes reduced to two separate spots ; on the brown part of the wing, the spots being much darker in colour, there are generally one over the anterior cross-vein, one at the fork of the

204 BOMBTLIID^.

4th vein, and at the base of both the 3rd and 4th posterior cells ; adventitious spots freely occur about the tips of the 2nd and 3rd longitudinal veins, and occasionally in other parts, and the 3rd posterior cell is often more or less bisected longitudinally by an additional incomplete veinlet. The 1st posterior cell is not infre- quently closed just before the border. Htilteres black. Length, 7-10 mm.

Redescribed from several specimens, mostly in inferior condition, in the Indian Museum from Soondrijal, Chitlong, Nagorkote, Pharpiug, and Khumdhik, iii. 1909 — all in Nepal ; Dehra Dun, xi. 1907 [Lt.-Col. Wyville Thomson'] ; Nairn Tal District, 4. iv. 1910 ; Mussoorie, ix. 1906 ; Simla, x. 1911 ; Allahabad, v. 1911 and xii. 1910 (Chatterjee); Bandhara, Central Provinces, l.xii.1912 (Imms}; Mahagany, Ceylon, 17. i. 1912 (Col. Yerbury); Castle Eock, K". Kanara District, 11-26. x. 1916 (Kemp); Madhupur, Bengal, 16. x. 1909 (Paiva); Pipera, Gondo District, United Provinces, 9. iii. 1909; Ootacamund, S. India, 24-31. xii. 1913 (Fletcher) ; lower ranges, N. Khasi Hills, 1878 (Chennell).

There seems no reasonable doubt of this being Walker's insulata, described originally from the " East Indies." It is common through Nepal and extends to the Indian plains. Walker says the sides of the abdomen are fringed alternately with black and yellow hairs, but this does not appear to be the case, though possibly in perfect specimens the white scales on the 4th and 7th segments may overhang the margin sufficiently to produce this effect. His description also of the wing-spots does not quite agree with mine, but these markings are admittedly variable.

A specimen in the Indian Museum from Dehra Dun labelled " E. S-notdta, Big., sp. nov/' is certainly identical, and is apparently merely a MS. name ; a second specimen with precisely similar markings is from Calcutta.

A further specimen from " Thingaunyinaung to Myawadi," Lower Burma, 900 ft,, 24-26.xi. 1911 (Gravely), has tha spot* in the clear part of the wing all so enlarged and blurred that hardly any grey surface remains.

Some notes of mine on the variation of the wing-markings appeared recently (Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 446).

In comparing the descriptions of insulata, Walk., bengalensis, Macq., and brahma, Sch., it will be seen that they are somewhat similar. The latter I have not seen, but a number of specimens of both insulata and bengalensis in the Indian Museum (both iden- tified by me, but, I think, without possibility of doubt) prove that at least these two are quite good and distinct species. E. insulata is known by the black or deep blackish-brown colour of the baso- costal band, which, though not actually clearly defined, stands put if a number of specimens be glanced at collectively ; whereas in bengalensis the colour is brown, without any trace of' black, and there is no apparent line of demarcation between the anterior half and the posterior half, the latter being only a little lighter.

EXOPROSOPA. 205

The spots in insulate stand out distinctly, especially those nearest the wing-border ; they are black or blackish brown, and some of them are placed elsewhere than on the cross-veins. The "spots" in bengalensis are small, moderately light brown infuscations, and occur only on the cross-veins, although the veius themselves are often lightly infuscated for considerable distances. E. brahma has distinct spots, apart from infuscations of cross-veins, and should therefore in this character approximate to insulata, but Schiner distinctly describes the anterior part of the wing as only smoke-brown. Again, in brahma the scutellum and antennae are reddish yellow or brownish, whereas in both Insulata and bengalensis these parts are black. The presumption is that all three are good species.

153. Exoprosopa puerula, sp. nov. (PI. Ill, fig. 9.)

Head with frons distinctly broader at level of antennae, where it is one-third the width of the head, than at vertex ; both frons and face blackish, former more or less cinereous grey towards vertex, latter orange yellowish around the mouth ; the lower half, or rather more, of the frons and the major part of the face covered with closely-applied yellowish scales and a little fine black pubescence ; some yellow hairs about the lower part of the face ; proboscis blackish ; antennae blackish grey ; occiput blackish, with a con- siderable amount of dirty white scales, closely applied. Thorax blackish, thickly covered with very thin yellowish hair-like scales ; anterior border with a fringe of long brownish-yellow scales ; some long bristly black hairs on lower part of prothorax ; pleurae with bristly scale-like brownish-yellow hairs ; scutellum black, about the apical half reddish brown, the whole dorsum (apparently) covered with short yellowish scales like those of the thorax. Bristles of thorax normal. Abdomen blackish, dull ; hind border of segments rather narrowly brownish yellow, the colour spreading out considerably towards sides of 2nd and 3rd segments ; the whole dorsum covered with black hairs and closely-applied small brownish-yellow scales, which towards sides of 3rd segment are whitish ; a bunch of elongate pale brownish-yellow scales at sides of 2nd segment and a similar bunch of shorter small black scales at sides of 3rd segment. Venter yellowish, marked here and there with black, and mainly covered with small yellow scales. Legs black ; femora and tibiae with yellowish scales and the usual bristly hairs ; tarsi black. Wings clear, the dark oblique band running diagonally from tip of auxiliary vein, crossing the centres of the anal and axillary cells ; a loop extending from the middle of the 1st posterior cell, along the outer side of the discal cell ; the colour also encroaches well into the base of the 4th posterior cell ; a pale yellowish spot around the anterior cross-vein and base of 4th posterior cell, a semi-hyaline small spot about the base of the discal cell; halteres brown ; clubs dull yellow. Z/ength. 4|-6 mm.

Described from two specimens in the Indian Museum from Madras (Capt. Cragg).

206 BOMBTLIIDJB.

154. Exoprosopa bengalensis, Macq. (PI. Ill, fig. 5.)

Exoprosopa bengalensis, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, p. 49, pi. xviiir fig. 4 (1840) • Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mug. ii, p. 445 (1909).

c? $ . Head with frons at vertex half as wide as at level of antennae, where it is barely one-third the width of the head ; dull olive-brown or cinereous, the amount of yellowish tinge variable ; whole frons and face with black pubescence in moderate amount, also (except towards vertex of former) covered with short narrow yellowish scales, closely applied to the surface ; mouth-border brownish yellow, with black hairs ; proboscis blackish brown, labella narrow ; palpi black, thin, with fine black hairs ; antennal 1st and 2nd joints brownish yellow, with black bristles, 3rd joint black ; occiput blackish, with yellowish scales around eye-margins. Thorax brownish grev, dorsum covered with short coarse yellowish scale-like hairs ; anterior margin with elongate orange-yellow scales, thickly placed, and bunches of similar or slightly paler scales below the shoulders, on the mesopleurse, and around and behind the wings ; black spines on humeral and posterior calli ; scutellurn blackish, hind margin more or less reddish brown, covered with short yellowish hairs and with a row of black bristles on posterior margin. Abdomen blackish (?) or reddish brown, wholly covered with very small elongate yellowish scales and black bristly hairs ; a bunch of elongate yellowish scales at sides of 1st segment ; venter blackish or reddish brown, with a few long yellow hairs ; hind margins of segments more or less pale, with some yellowish scales. Legs blackish ; femora and tibiae with rather thickly -placed, closely-applied, yellow scales, which extend over the upper side of the metatarsi, and apparently occasionally to the remaining joint also; the whole of the legs with black bristles, the tarsi with black pubescence. Winr/s yellowish grey; a slight infuscation over practically all those parts of the veins that, lie transversely; the veins themselves more or less darkened basally ; halteres yellowish, knobs a little darker; alulae and alar squamae with a dirty brown and yellowish fringe of scales respectively.

Length, 10-12 mm.

Described from several examples in bad condition in the Indian Museum, labelled "? India"; Hadagalla, Ceylon, ix, x. 1911 ; Trincoraali, 14. i. 1891, and Mahagany, Ceylon, 15. ii. 1891 (Col. Yerbury).

The genitalia are quite hidden ; the sex of the specimens is therefore uncertain, and no difference in the width of the frons in any of them is apparent.

Type in the Paris Museum.

155. Exoprosopa brahma, Scli. (PI. Ill, fig. o.)

Exoprosopa bralima, Schiuer, Reise ' Novara,' Dipt. p. 199 (1868).

"Brown ; venter and scutellurn reddish yellow, latter at base

blackish, \\hole ground-colour of body can be seen to be pale

EXOPROSOPA. 207

brown through the dense pale pubescence. Thorax in front and at sides with longer golden-yellow hairs ; in front of and around wing-base with black bristles. Abdomen at the base with thick and long golden-yellow hair; 2nd segment on fore border with a whitish- yellow cross-band. Head reddish brown, epistome paler, frons darker; pubescence short, bright golden yellow; frons black on hinder part. Antennas brown, 3rd joint very elongate, gradually tapering and produced into the style. Legs reddish yellow, knees rather darker ; tarsi brown ; femora with shining scales ; all bristles black ; pulvilli rudimentary. Wings sooty brown, darker on front margin and more reddish, with eight black spots : two at base of outer marginal (cubital) cell,. two at base of 2nd posterior cell, one each at bases of 3rd and 4th posterior cells, one on outer side of discal cell, and the last one suffusing the anterior cross-vein. Cross-vein joining upper branch of cubital vein to subcostal vein, with a recurrent appendix ; only three submarginal cells. Length 4 lines. Two specimens ; Ceylon."

The above is Schiner's description ; he compares it with E. alexon, Walk., and punctulata, Macq.

Type presumably in the Vienna Museum.

156. Exoprosopa niveiventris, Brim.

Exoprosopa niveiventris, Brun. Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 214 (1909).

2 . Head : froiis at widest (level of antennae) one-third the width of the head, narrowing at vertex to half this width ; dark brown, covered with close, light brownish-orange scales, which become lighter coloured below the antenna ; the whole frons covered with short black hairs ; ocelli small, black, close together, placed on a small tubercle ; mouth-border yellow, proboscis dark brown. Antennae black; 1st and Und joints thickly beset above and at the sides with strong black bristles ; 3rd joint rather long, absolutely bare, with a very distinct style, which itself bears a microscopic but distinct apical joint. From the base of the antennae obliquely to the edge of the eye there is on each side of the frons a narrow groove, quite destitute of scales or pubescence. Back of head broad behind the eye, with minute black pubescence, and covered towards the sides with soft yellowish-white scales, which may perhaps extend over nearly all the back of the head in some specimens; a fringe of short, bright orange-yellow hairs encircles the back part of the head, meeting the dense pubescence of the thorax. Thorax dull black, with some short black hairs towards anterior border, and in front of the scutelluni ; front part of thorax (not extending to the dorsum proper) covered densely with narrow, elongate, bright yellow scales, which also extend to the sides of the thorax, and form fan- shaped bunches below each shoulder and behind each wing;. these scales become almost thick pubescence at the sides of the dorsum, being especially thick above each wing. The true dorsum-

208 BOMBTLIID.E.

is very sparsely covered with very short yellowish scales, which probably even in perfect specimens never wholly cover the surface; scales at sides of thorax more yellow than orange. Posterior calli prominent, ferruginous, covered with irregular small black bristles, with some long yellowish-white scaly pubescence on the outer side, and there are four powerful long black spines placed close together and directed horizontally backwards. Scutellum ferru- ginous brown, with an irregular double row of black spines on posterior margin, and short yellow scales round the dorsum, which is quite bare in the middle, both of scales and hairs. Abdomen black, covered with microscopic black scales ; thick, scaly, whitish pubescence at the sides of the 1st segment; at the base of the '2nd segment (which is the widest) a wide band of scaly yellowish- white pubescence ; the remaining segments also bear similar bands at their bases of more whitish scaly pubescence, this being shortest on the 5th segment ; on the posterior borders of the 1st, 6th, and 7th segments a row of rather strong black bristles, directed backwards. Genital organ distinct, black, encircled towards the posterior part and at the sides by a rather thick fringe of orange hairs ; the tip itself more greyish, and bearing two vertical rows (containing seven in each) of rather long, roseate scales, like the teeth of a comb. Venter black, nearly covered, except towards the tip, with close, nearly snow-white, scaly pubescence, the tip with black bristles. Legs black ; coxae with yellowish-white scales and distinct black bristles; femora with similar scales and short black hairs, the middle pair with two rows of short, distinct spines on underside ; the hind pair with a similar row ; fore tibiae bare, middle tibiae beset somewhat irregularly with four rows (one on each side) of conspicuous but moderately short bristles ; hind tibiae closely beset with elongate dirty white scales, lying close to the surface, and intermixed with strong, moderately short, black bristles, and with an irregular circlet of black spines at tip, most of them on the underside ; tarsi minutely but closely pubescent, with a row of minute spines below, being longest on hind pair. Wings pale grey, costal cell and the basal parts of all the veins ferruginous brown ; costal vein apparently bare, but viewed microscopically, it presents a very closely-placed row of minute black spines, which are conspicuous on the extreme base of the costa, where they are larger and are intermixed with clo?e-lying, dark greyish scales ; at the extreme base of the costa is a very powerful, thick, black, curved spine. Tegulaa bright orange, with a fringe of elongated scales, which are black on outer part of the edge and dirty white towards the base; alula of wing grey, with a fringe on posterior border of grey scales, which continue for a short distance along the posterior margin of the wing ; halteres with stem brownish, club very pale creamy orange.

Length, 13-20 mm.

Described from two $ 2 in the Indian Museum, taken by Dr. Annandale at the base of Paresnath Hill, West Bengal,

EXOPEOSOPA. 209

16. iv. 1909 (1000 ft.) ; South Coorg, S. India, 15-26. v. 1914 (Fletcher) ; Trincomali, 15. ix. 1890 ; and Mabagany, Ceylon, 8. ii. 1891 (Col Yerbury).

A conspicuous species, resembling a Ilyperalonia of my fourth group (Kec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 443).

A single <S was taken by Dr. Annandale in company with niveiventris $ , of which species I conclude it to be the tf . The frons is barely appreciably narrower, therefore the narrowness of the back of the head above, the difference in shape of the genital organs, and the nearly clear wings are the only points in which it materially differs from the previously described species.

Head almost exactly as in niveiventris, except that the first joint of the antennae is pale, and the back part of the head is less puffed out behind the eyes, where it is covered closely with very small creamy-orange scales ; mouth -border whitish, bare. Thorax dusky olive-brown, with two faint but distinct, narrow, widely separated, blackish lines ; anterior part and sides with pubescence as in niveiventris, except that it is whitish below the posterior calli ; scutellum as in. niveiventris. Abdomen as in niveiventris. The genital organ is concealed within the body, but is covered with whitish shimmer and fine black bristles, its tip apparently con- sisting of a pair of rather complex orange-coloured claspers, the upper side of the tip being covered with thick, black, bristly spines. Legs with the underside of the fore femora pale and the spines below the hind tarsi less conspicuous. Wings wholly very pale grey, including costal cell ; the veins in the middle at the base of the wings are pale orange, as are also the subcostal, third and fifth longitudinals ; halteres cream-coloured.

Length, 16 mm.

157. Exoprosopa vitripennis, Brun.

Exoprosopa vitripennis, Brunetti, I»ec. lud. Mus. vii, p. 469 (1912). c? . Head : frons above antennas nearly one-third the width of the head, lessening to one-third of that width at the vertex, shining black, with short black pubescence and pale whitish-yellow scales above the antennae and over the shining black face also ; these scales show prismatic colours in certain lights ; antennas dark brownish yellow, 3rd joint ending in a fine point; oral opening whitish yellow, bare, or with a few very short pale yellow hairs ; proboscis rather long, blackish ; palpi black, carved, very slender, with short hairs ; occiput and underside of head black, a few scales closely pressed to the surface, behind the eyes. Thorax shining black, with milk-white bristly hairs on the sides, anterior border of dorsum, and around the wings. Scutellum dull coffee- brown, some small white scales below its hind margin, closely applied. Abdomen black, moderately shining, almost bare; small milk-white scales at the bases of the segments towards ihe sides ; venter black, with the basal part of most of the segments covered with small snow-white scales. Legs wholly black, except for a

210 BOMBTLIIDJ3.

slight dull brown reflection on the tibiae in certain lights. Wings absolutely clear, vitreous, highly iridescent ; costal, auxiliary, and 1st longitudinal veins and those at base of wings yellowish, the remainder black ; halteres yellow.

Length, 10 mm.

Described from a single J in the Indian Museum from Maha- baleshwar, Satara District, Bombay Presidency, 4200 ft., 13-16. iv. 1912 (Gravely}; in the British Museum, from Trincomali, 4.iv.l892, and Mahagany, Ceylon, 12. ii. 1891 (Col. Yerbury).

Very near E. vitrea, Big., differing by the wholly reddish-brown antenna, the whitish hair on anterior margin of thorax, the wholly black scutellum, the wholly clear wings, and the absence of any reddish colour towards the sides of the dorsum.

158. Exoprosopa vitrea, Big.

Exoprosopa vitrea, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, Ixi, p. 344 (1892) ; Brunetli, liec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 468, pi. xxxvii, fig. 5 (1912).

<3 $ . Head : frons at level of antennae barely one-third the width of the head, narrowing to nearly one-third of that width at vertex in c? and to half that width in $ , black, with black hairs, the lower half with short bright yellow scales ; face with similar scales and a few short bright yellow hairs ; facial bump fairly large ; mouth-border pale whitish yellow; proboscis black ; antennae black, no trace of lighter colours ; back of head moderately protruding, black, with an irregular narrow fringe immediately behind the eyes of very small greyish- white scales lying close to the surface ; hind margin of head with a fringe of short yellow or yellowish- white haird. Thorax dark blackish brown ; anterior margin and shoulders with thick bright yellow scale-like hairs, which are continued around the whole of the prothorax, but in the tf they are quite black for a considerable space on the lower part (imme- diately below the mouth), whereas in the £ they are sometimes uniformly yellow and sometimes similar to those of the cf ; surface of dorsutn covered with short depressed brownish-yellow hairs ; pleurae with yellowish-grey or grey hairs, and some around the base of the wing. Abdomen black, with very short depressed bright yellow hairs and black pubescence in the cf ; the sides of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments are broadly and completely covered with small snow-white depressed scales, which also form an entire band across the basal half of the two latter segments ; these scales are practically absent in the $ , but a few are usually present. Venter blackish, the middle part a little paler, generally with a considerable space covered with soft short white hairs ; tip inclined to be reddish. A considerable amount of white hairs in both sjxes at anterior corners of abdomen. Legs wholly black, with the usual fine pubescence and very short black bristles. Wings clear, costal and subcostal cells very pale yellowish grey ; halteres pale yellow.

Length, 7-13 mm.

Eedescribed from a cf and $ in cop. from Helwak, Koyna

EXOPROSOPA. 211

Valley, Satara District, Bombay Presidency, 2000 ft., 28-30. iv. 1912, and several others of both sexes from other localities in the same neighbourhood, up to 3500 ft., and from the 23rd to the 30th ; Khemsa, Western Ghats, 2650 ft., 5. v. 1913.

The amount of yellow hair on the abdomen and the extent of the white scales are both variable.

159. Exoprosopa basifascia, Wall-.

Anthrax basifascia, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. ii, p. 248 (1849).

" Head. ta\vny and clothed with tawny hairs ; mouth black • «yes piceous ; feelers black, ferruginous at the base ; chest piceous, clothed with tawny hairs, which form a fringe along the fore border and on each side ; scutcheon and breast ferruginous, the latter clothed with tawny hairs ; abdomen dark piceous, with a fringe of pale yellow hairs on the fore border of each segment and more completely clothed on the underside ; legs black, thighs piceous ; wings slightly grey, tawny at the base and on the fore borders and along the margins of the veins ; wing-ribs and veins ferruginous, the latter piceous towards the tips ; poisers tawny.

" Length of body 8 lines, of the wings 18 lines. Xorth Bengal."

Type in the British Museum ; unique.

The following four species are probably from India, although recorded by Walker merely from the " Ea&t Indies " : —

180. Exoprosopa alexon, Wall:

Anthrax alexon, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. ii, p 246 (1849).

" Body ferruginous ; head and chest piceous ; head thickly covered with ferruginous down ; eyes very dark red ; feelers tawny ; chest clothed with tawny hairs ; breast with longer pale yellow hairs ; scutcheon ferruginous ; back of the abdomen clothed with tawny and white hairs, aud along the hind borders of the segment with piceous hairs and thereby banded ; underside rather paler aud clothed with white hairs; legs ferruginous; thighs and shanks clothed with very short pale yellow hairs and beset with black bristles ; feet piceous, clothed beneath with short black bristles ; wings brown, which colour passes into brownish grey towards the hind border near the base, and the disks of some of the areolets in the middle of the wing are also grey ; the brown has likewise a very oblique branch, which becomes grey and irregular as it approaches the hind border, which, like the tips of the wings, is grey, with the following exceptions : a brown spot on the 1st and sometimes another on the second of the longitu- dinal veins where their upward curve approaches the fore border ; two brown spots on the cross-veins near the tip, one of them mostly on the brown part, from which it is distinguished by its darker colour; \\ing-ribs and veins ferruginous; poisers tawny.

" Length 5 lines, expanse of the wings 13 lines. East Indies.

"From Archdeacon Clerk's collection."

Type in the British Museum.

*2

212

161. Exoprosopa semilucida, Walk.

Anthrax semilucida, Walker, Ins. Saimd., Dipt. pt. iii, p. 170 (1852).

$ . " Black ; head grey above, hoary beneath, clothed in front and beneath with tawny hairs ; feelers black, dark ferruginous at the base ; 1st joint short, hardly twice the length of the 2nd, 3rd slightly tapering from the base to the tip, about thrice the length of the 1st ; 4th slender, linear, not more than one-fourth of the length of the 3rd ; chest and breast clothed with tawny hairs ; scutcheon dark ferruginous ; abdomen slightly obconical, a little broader but not longer than the chest ; each segment adorned with a band of pale yellow hairs ; the hairs beneath are hoary and occupy a large part of each segment ; wings pale grey, tawny at the base and along the fore border for full three-fourths of the length ; wing-ribs tawny ; veins black, tawny towards the base and along part of the fore border ; poisers tawny, with paler knobs. Length of the body 8 lines, of the wings 18 lines. East Indies."

162. Exoprosopa auriplena, Walk.

Anthrax auriplena, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. iii, p. 171 (1852).

$ . " Black, clothed with tawny hairs ; head adorned with a tawny covering, clothed with short black and taw:ny hairs ; peri- stoma yellow ; mouth and epistoma prominent ; breast hoary, clothed with pale hairs ; scutcheon ferruginous ; abdomen nearly elliptical, a little longer than the chest; fore borders of the segments adorned with bands of yellow hairs ; hind borders slightly ferruginous above, distinctly so beneath, which is clothed with hoary hairs ; legs clothed with short black hairs, armed with black spines ; shanks dark tawny towards the base ; wings grey, bright tawny at the base beneath the fore border and along the borders of most of the veins, adorned with eight grey spots, which are mostly on the cross-veins ; there are also two paler and indistinct grey spots towards the base ; poisers tawny, with yellow knobs. Length of the body 4| lines, of the wings 10 lines. East Indies."

163. Exoprosopa albida, Walk.

Anthrax albida, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. iii, p. 171 (1852).

$ . « Black, thickly clothed with pale yellow hairs ; head clothed above with yellow hairs ; peristorna whitish yellow ; epi- stoma prominent; 1st joint of the feelers pale tawny': breast and underside of abdomen clothed with white hairs ; scutcheon ferru- ginous ; abdomen mostly ferruginous, slightly obconical, not longer than the chest, clothed with whitish-yellow hairs ; legs tawny, armed \vith black spines, clothed with pale yellow hairs ; feet

SPOGOSTYLUM. 213

and hind shanks black ; wings whitish, yellow at the base and along the fore border ; disks of the areolets very pale grey ; an irregular very oblique grey band extending from three-fourths of the fore border to one-sixth of the hind border, on approaching which it becomes very indistinct ; wing-ribs tawny ; veins black, tawny towards the base and along the fore border ; poisers pale yellow. Length of the body 9 lines, of the wings 16 lines. East Indies."

Genus SPOGOSTYLUM, Jlacg.

Spogostylum, Macquart, Dipt. Exot, ii, 1, p. 63 (1840). Spongostylttm, Kertesz, Cat. Dipt, v, p. 68 (1909).

GENOTYPE, Spogostylum, mystaceum, Macq.

$ . Generic characters of Anthrax. Pace not prominent, with rather short hairs: frons tomentose ; 3rd antennal joint short, tip rounded, style of two distinct segments, cylindrical ; 1st joint as long as 3rd, 2nd rather shorter, with a few hairs at tip. Wings three times as long as abdomen ; three submargiual cells, 1st and 2nd cells with an appendix.

Range. North Africa, Asia Minor, India, Chile.

Macquart specially notes the " moustache " covering the face, the antennal style, the shortness of the abdomen, and the length of the wings. The genus is allied to Exoprosopa by the three submarginal cells and to Aryyramcela by the antennal style, the shortened abdomen, and the long wing.

164. Spogostylum austeni, sp. nov.

? $ . Head : in profile, frons and face only slightly projecting ; former at level of antennae rather less than one-third the width of the head, diminishing to two-thirds of that width at vertex ; black (or blackish grey?), covered with depressed small brownish-yellow scales and rather dense stiff black hair; face blackish, with dense, very elongate yellowish-grey scales and long bristly pubescence intermixed; mouth-opening large, proboscis short, labella large; antennae black, 3rd joint short, onion-shaped, style black ; occiput yellowish, upper and side eye-margins with a broad fringe of minute yellowish-grey scales. Tliorox blackish, dorsuin (appar- ently) covered with minute depressed brownish-yellow hair-like scales ; anterior margin with a rather thin collar of very narrow and elongate milk-white scales ; humeri with black bristles, and behind these a number of strong black well-curved bristles and spines nearly reaching to the wing-roots ; further strong bristles occur along margin of thorax from wing-roots to hind corners ; * a number of bristles curving hindwards along posterior margin of dorsuin ; pleura with grey pubescence intermixed with black bristles. Scutelluin with brownish-yellow minute depressed

* There are probably iu perfect, specimens some very strong spines on the posterior calli, and the scars of these are visible in the present example.

214 BOMBVLIID^E.

scales aud black hairs, traces of a marginal fringe of not very strong bristles ; a bunch of yellowish-grey elongate scales below* each posterior callus. Abdomen black, 1st segment short, covered at each side with a bunch of elongate, dirty milk-white scales ; 2nd and following segments covered (except, perhaps, more or less narrowly at base) with whitish hair-like scaly pubescence, and with a transverse row of black bristles along, or just behind, the middle of each segment; some parts of the surface seem to be covered with minute black scales ; a bunch of elongate dark brown scales on hinder half of sides of 2nd segment, a similar bunch of blackish-brown scales on sides of 4th segment, and others around the tip of the abdomen ; sides of abdomen (except when occupied by brown scales) covered with elongate whitish scales. Venter blackish, hind margin of segments narrowly pale brown ; basal half of surface with ragged whitish scaly pubescence and black bristles, hinder half apparently with less pubescence, but tip with long black bristles. Genitalia concealed, but covered with dense long bright orange scales. Legs black ; femora with more or les» greyish minute depressed scales on hinder sides and a row of black bristles below ; tibiae with usual bristles and covered closely with dark brown scales. Wings pale grey ; costal and subcostal cells brownish yellow, the colour spreading more faintly hindward* and basally ; veins dark brown, those in centre of wing distinctly and narrowly infuscated, the remainder just perceptibly suffused also, except tips of 2nd aud 3rd veins ; lialteres black, with milk- white clubs.

LengtJi, 15 mm. ; expanse, 42 mm.

Described from a single specimen (probably a $) in the British Museum, from Lahore, 1910 (G. H. Ganger}.

Genus ARGYRAM(EBA, Sdi.

Argyromceba, Schiner, "VVieii. Ent. Monats. iv, p. 51 (1860) • E & L Coucke, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. xxxviii, p. 286 (1894)

Agyramvba, Kertesz, Cat. Dipt, v, p. 59 (1909) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. 11, p. 448 (1909).

sP°ff<Myto^ gWilliston (nee Macq.), Man. X. Amer. Dipt, 2nd Ed.

Coquilkttia, Williston, Man. N. Amer. Dipt, 2nd Ed. p. 65 (1896). !

- ; by Coquillett's designa-

This genus differs from Antlirax in the following characters : (1) the presence of a style to the 3rd antennal joint, distinctlv bisected by a suture and with a pencil of hairs at its tip, this being the most constant generic character ; (2) the face is shorter not at all protruding, but rather withdrawn; (3) the male* gemtaha are practically symmetrical, not asymmetrical as in Anthrax and Exoprotopa ; (4) the ovipositor, the tip of the abdo- men being covered with rather long silky hairs as in Bombylius

AEGYEAM(EBA. 215

etc. ; (5) the fore tibiae are beset with spinules ; the tarsi have distinct joints, the ungues are rather large ; in the d1 the front tarsi are generally longer and more slender than in the $ ; (6) the knee-shaped basal angle of the '2nd longitudinal vein and the fork of the 3rd vein generally each bear a short appendix directed backwards.

The basal antennal joints are very short, the 3rd short, cone- shaped, or flattened onion-shaped, bearing a more or less slender but distinct style, which is bisected about its middle, the relative lengths of the proximal and apical portions being often a good specific character.

** Sometimes the stout basal portion of the 3rd joint is more elongate, more gradually attenuate, with a short pencil- bearing style at the end, thus showing that the portion of the style before the suture in the ordinary ArgyramoebcB is nothing but a portion of the 3rd joint, and that the style beyond the suture alone is homologous to the style of Exoprosopa " (Osten-Sadceri).

Range. World-wide, except Australasia.

Life-history. The larva of one European species, A. trifasdata, Mg., feeds on the larva of a mason-bee (Clialicodomci), to which it has to find its way through any small crack or gap in the masonry, after which it undergoes a complete change of form. The pupa is provided with special apparatus for penetrating the masonry to escape.*

Table of Species.

1. Anal cell closed f/entilis, Brun., p. 230.

Anal cell open 2.

2. Wings very dark blackish brown at base,

the colour diminishing distally and poste- riorly, but the lightest part of the wing

at least pale brown bipunctata, R, p. 217.

Wings always with some clear surface, with or without various markings 3.

3. Wings with distinct baso-costal oblique

band, with or without isolated spots .... 4. Wings without distinct baso-costal oblique

band 10.

4. Wings with isolated spots on the clear part 5. Wings without such isolated epots 6.

5. Distal margin of dark wing-band limited

to enclosing anterior cross-vein and bases of discul and 4th posterior cells ; spot on fork of 2nd vein and that at base of 3rd posterior cell quite isolated from the band itself and of some size ; spot at base of 2nd posterior cell smallfindistiuct or absent distiyma, Wd., p. 218.

* An excellent translation of Fabre's description is given by Dr. Sharp (Camb. Nat. Hist., Insect?, pt. ii, p. 486) and by Verrall ( ' British Flies, v, p.475).

216

BOMBYLIlDjE.

Distal margin of dark wing-band including the spot on fork of 2nd vein and filling basal half of 1st posterior cell (with two lighter patches), also filling half of discal cell and including spot on base of 3rd

posterior cell ; spot on base of 2nd poste- IP- •""•

rior cell large and distinct obscnrifrons, Brim.,

6. Legs principally yellow ; * tip of abdomen

without white scales ' •

Legs all black ; t tip of abdomen with con- spicuous white scales 8.

7. Legs practically wholly yellow; bifur-

cation of 2nd and 3rd veins only just

before anterior cross-vein limdans, Bran., p. ^U.

Basal half of anterior, and all hind femora, black ; bifurcation of 2nd and 3rd veius lialf-way between base of discal cell and anterior cross-vein intermedia, sp. n.,p. 221.

8. Wing-band extending to middle of marginal

cell, enclosing fork of 2nd vein, all the

discal and anal cells, and nearly all 4th [p- 2-7.

posterior cell argentiapicalis, Bruu.,

Wing-baud extending (apart from costal and subcostal cell) only to anterior cross- vein, base of discal cell, and nearly all the

anal cell ;•;•••• °-

9. Outer margin of wing-band distinctly oblique, lighter or darker Jtroicn, with a few lighter parts ; anal and axillary cells always with tips quite clear for a" short

distance yestroi, Brun., p. 222.

Outer margin of wing-band practically transverse, nearly black, with no lighter

parts ; anal and axillary cells with barely [p- 224.

their extreme tips clear ". niveicauda, Brun.,

10. Wings clear, costa slightly darker ; several [p. 225.

isolated spots present \ duvaucelii, Macq.,

Wings practically or absolutely clear .... 11. [p. 228.

11. Femora and tibiae wholly yellow claripennis, Brun.,

Femora mainly or wholly black 12.

12. Larger species, 7-8 mm. ; abdomen appa- [p- 229.

rently covered with snow-white scales . . niveisqnamis, Brim., Smaller species, 5 mm. ; abdomen with

short yellow pubescence, no snow-white [p- 230.

scales nigrofemorata, Brun.,

A. varia, F., was introduced to the Indian fauna by me (Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 450) on a single specimen from Bhim Tal in the Indian Museum. The example is now headless, and it is therefore impossible to describe the species, no other specimens

* A. appendiculata, Big., comes here ; it is impossible to plac« it any closer from the description.

t Occasional specimens of gestroi have the legs pale brown.

\ A. instituta, Walk. (p. 227), comes with duvaucelii, and is possibly iden- tical, but must be regarded for the present as requiring confirmation as Indian.

ABOYRAMCEBA. 217

being available. It seems wiser to await further material rather than give an unsatisfactory description, though I still believe the Bhim Tal specimen to be correctly identified. Should varia really occur in India, it will be distinguished from duvaucelii, Macq., by the yellowish tibiae.

A. degenera, Walk. (Anthrax) also comes here, but requires confirmation as Indian. It was introduced by me on three speci- mens in my collection from Kandy, which were identified as probably this species, but they have been sent to England and are not available for comparison.

165. Argyr amoeba bipunctata, F.

Anthrax bipunctata, Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 118 (1805) ; Wiede- manu. Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 286 (1828) ; Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus ii, p. 448(1909).

Anthrax- carbonaria, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. iii, p. 173 (1852).

cJ $ . Head : frons blackish grey with black hairs, in rf at vertex less than half as wide as it is just above antennae, where it is rather more than one-third the width of the head ; in $ less narrow at vertex and almost exactly one-third of the head just above the antennae ; face of similar colour, with black hairs and a considerable number of black bristles in the region of the mouth, the border of which is brownish yellow ; proboscis dark, with dark brown labella; antennae blackish, 3rd joint reddish brown ; ocellar triangle reddish brown ; vertex blackish crey, rather shining, with some brown hairs on hind margin. Thorax black, moderately shining, with very sparse pubescence ; long black bristly hair on anterior margin, carried downwards, forming a complete collar : also on and below shoulders and on mesopleurae ; humeral and posterior calli dark brown, latter with strong black spines ; some spines towards sides of thorax ; pleurae blackish grey, sparsely pubescent. Abdomen black, with short sparse black pubescence and a patch of small elongate snow-white scales towards each side of dorsum of 1st segment ; a bunch of scale-like black bristles on the actual sides of that segment ; sides of all segments with stiff black hairs ; venter black, with moderately long stiff black hairs. Genitalia in c? large and complex, turned slightly but distinctly to the left, shining bright brown, with sparse hairs, a little blackish here and there ; consisting of an oblong slightly curved dorsal plate, a pair of claspers, the 1st joint large and conical, the 2nd very small, finger-like, horny, pointed, slightly curved ; a large bulbous lower piece ; an intermediate pair of pale yellow filamentous organs, and a very large semicircular ventral plate; genitalia in $ concealed. Legs black, tibiae often more or less dark mahogany-brown ; coxae with numerous black bristly hairs, femora and tibiae with small grey scales closely applied, and Avith black bristles : both scales and bristles more conspicuous on hind legs; tarsi with black pubescence and short bristles, which are stronger on hind pair. Wings dark blackish brown on anterior

218 BOXTBYLlIDjE.

part fop three-fourths of their length, the coloiu- gradually diminishing in intensity hindwards to the wing-margin, which is dark grey ; halteres dark brown.

Length, 15-16 mm.

Described from four tf 6 and two $ 2 in the Indian Museum, mostly in inferior condition, from Karachi, Calcutta, and Purneah (Bengal); also seen from Kumaon, v. 1910 (Chatterjee) ; Pusa, Bengal, 16. vi. 1909, 3. vii. 1906 ; Chapra, Bengal ; Surat, Bombay, 14. iii. 1904 ; Assam, v. 1913; Konau Kuppam, 16-20. vi. 1913. This is a very marked species, and cannot be confused with any other in the family.

Types in the Copenhagen and Vienna Museums.

166. Argyramceba distigma, W-ied. (PL III, fig. 10.)

Anthrax distiyma, Wiedemnnn, Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 309 (1828). Sfiof/ostylwn distigma, Coquillett, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxi,

p. 318(1898). Aryyramceba distigma, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. 1, p. 241 (1907)

Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 449 (1909). Anthrax argyropyya, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. xiv, p. 401

(1857) and xvii, p. 93 (1858). Anthrax tripunctata, AVulp, Tijd. v. Ent. xi, p. 109, pi. iv, fig. 1

(1867) ; Osteu-Sacken, Ann. Mus. Gen. xvi, p. 433 (1882).

6 $ • Head : frons a little more than one-third the width of the head above antennae, about three-fifths of this width at vertex, blackish grey, with black pubescence, and over more than the lower half the usual small grey scales ; face dark grey, with fine black hairs at sides and bristly hairs around mouth-border, which latter is yellowish white ; proboscis dark brown, with large dark brown labella ; occiput blackish grey, with greyish -white scales near eye- margins and a fringe of dark brown hair on hind border. Antennae black; 1st and 2nd joints very short, with black bristles ; 3rd short, stumpy onion-shaped, the produced part very narrow at base,, cylindrical; the style distinct, rnther long, with a conspicuous pencil of hairs at tip. Thorax black ; dorsum wholly covered with minute ad pressed hairs like grey scales ; a rather thick collar on anterior margin of elongate very narrow grey scales, behind which are numerous rather long bristly black hairs; a large patch of similar elongate grey scales over the humeral region and in front of the wing-base ; hind margin of dorsum with a little longer grey pubescence mixed with bristlv black hairs, and a row of curved black bristles near the edge ; black bristles of various sizes occur along both side-margins of the dorsum, whilst the hind corners of the thorax bear fine powerful black spines directed backwards ;. pleurae covered with short grey pubescence, with black bristly hairs intermixed. Scutellum black, with minute adpressed grey hair-like scales and a row of ten or more strong black bristles on hind margin, besides numerous irregularly-placed black hairs. Abdomen black ; 1st segment rather dark bluish grey, with fine black pubescence, and at each anterior corner a large "conspicuous

AKGYRAM(EBA. 219

bunch of very elongate narrow milk-white scales ; rest of dorsum covered with minute black adpressed scales, with numerous black hairs intermixed, and a row of longer curved ones towards hind border of each -segment ; towards and over the sides of each seg- ment after the 1st, a bunch of long dark brown scales with longer black hairs ; a small white scale-spot occurs towards each side on hind borders of 2nd and 3rd segments ; along the base of 3rd and hind margins of 3rd, 4th and 5th segments are small silvery-white scales irregularly placed, or sometimes forming a narrow complete band ; tip of abdomen more or less covered with long broad white scales, extreme tip with copious long black hairs ; genitalia mainly concealed, the surrounding pubescence long, light brownish yellow. Leys black; upper side of femora more or less with minute adpressed whitish scales ; posterior pairs with some black bristly hairs below, which are much stronger on hind pair ; tibiae and tarsi dark brownish yellow, latter blackish towards tips ; anterior tibia) with minute whitish scales, middle pair with dark brown overlapping scales. Winr/s nearly clear, with dark brown baso- costal band, extending from towards end of costa, leaving extreme tip of subcostal cell clear, slightly irregularly to anterior cross- vein, thence encroaching narrowly over the edges of basal half of discal cell, thence to anal margin, cutting anal and axillary cells about their middles, generally leaving anal margin itself nearly clear. The outline of the brown colour is thus in general direction straight, yet actually always more or less zigzag. A small roundish brown spot over fork of 3rd vein and reaching to 2nd vein ; a similar smaller spot over base of 3rd posterior cell ; and distal margin of discal cell narrowly infuscated ; halteres dark brown, with yellowish-white knobs.

Lemjih, 6-11 mm.

Described from a good series of both sexes in the Indian Museum, Pusa, Dehra Dun, and my own collections. It is generally distributed in India from February to May, and in September and October, so that it may be two-brooded yearly. Eecorded from Pusa practically all the year round. Darjiliug, 1000-3000 ft. ; Singla, Darjiling Distr. ; "Eunjit Valley, ^Sikkim ; Naini Tal ; Calcutta ; Lucknow ; Parasnath ; Siripur : Kushtea ; Medha ; Purneah ; Pophli ; Chiplun ; Hamirpur ; Guindy, Madras ; Ootacainund, S. India, 7500 ft. (Fletcher); Mettupalaiyam, S. India ; Bangalore ; Khasi Hills ; Moulmein ; Kawkareik, Ainherst Distr., Tenasserirn ; Kandy, Ceylon.

Type in the Ley den Museum.

This species shows considerable variation, mainly in the extent of the small white scales on the abdomen and in the wing- markings, the three isolated spots being often much reduced in size, or one or more may be absent ; in one specimen, taken on board ship 10 miles off the Madras coast, all three are absent. The variety tripunctata, Wulp, has these three spots reduced exceedingly, and the dark band fills the whole of the anal and axillary cells.

220 BOMBYLIID.E.

167. Argyramceba obscurifrons, Brun. (PL III, fig. 11.)

Argi/ramceba obscurifrotis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 216 (1909).

$ . Head : frons moderately wide at vertex, increasing to double the width at level of antennae, where it forms one-third the width of the head, grey, with blackish patches, covered rather thickly with black hairs and with some whitish scales intermixed just above the antennae ; ocellar triangle distinct, small, with some hairs ; antennae with 1st and 2nd joints black, bristly ; 3rd grey-dusted, bare, apical style rather short ; underside of head blackish grey, with a moderately thick band of bristly hairs across lower part of face ; proboscis withdrawn, apparently dark brown ; occiput dark grey, minutely pubescent, with some minute pale scales just behind the eyes, which latter are black. Thorax blackish grey, with a rather thick fringe of bristly hairs in front, reaching over the shoulders and continued below ; bristly hairs between the shoulders and the roots of the wings ; sides lighter grey, with occasional whitish reflections, nearly bare ; scutellum blackish grey, with soft black hairs. Abdomen black, covered mainly with sof1; black hairs ; a thick bunch of white hairs on each shoulder, behind which, on the posterior border of the 1st segment, near eacli side, are a few snow-white scales ; there is also a row of white scales (more or less interrupted in the middle) on the posterior border of the 2nd segment, and another on the last segment. Venter black, softly pubescent, with some whitish hairs in centre, and a longitudinal stripe of short yellowish hairs near the tip. Legs black, minutely pubescent ; femora with a few soft black hairs below ; posterior tibiae with short bristles on outer and hinder sides. Wings very pale grey, with the oblique baso- costal dark brown band occupying nearly half the wing, passing across the middle of the discal cell (where it is somewhat extended) to the hind margin of the wing, which it reaches just before the tip of the anal cell ; the colour is extended also from the costa to about the middle of the first posterior cell, enclosing a clear spot near the base of the first submarginal cell, and another near the base of the first posterior cell ; on the outer cross-vein there is a circular spot, and a trace of a small one on the costa, near the tip of the marginal cell ; halteres yellowish.

Lenytlt, 7 mm.

Described from a single specimen in the Indian Museum from Phagu, 9000 ft., Simla District, 14-15. v. 1909 (Annandale).

168. Argyramceba limitaris, Brun.

Argwarnaeba limitaris, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 217 (limitarsis, lapsus) (1909).

$ . Head : frons one-fourth of head and vertex, widening to one-third at level of antennae, with rather thick brownish-black

ARGYRAMCEBA. 221

hairs ; ocellar triangle inconspicuous ; face blackish, with hairs which from above appear whitish grey ; antennae with 1st joint black (remainder missing) ; proboscis withdrawn, with mouth- border reddish brown ; back of head only slightly puffed out, blackish grey, with some whitish hairs. Thorax shining black, with some yellowish-white hairs and stiffer bristles towards the posterior corners ; sides of thorax black, with some whitish hairs ; scutellum dark cinereous grey, with vestiges of some short yellow hairs, and a few pale yellow bristles on posterior margin. Abdomen blackish grey, with a slight brownish fringe, covered more or less sparsely with short pale yellow hairs, most con- spicuous on borders of segments ; a bunch of whitish hairs on each shoulder of the 1st segment ; venter with whitish hairs. Legs : coxae yellowish grey, with whitish pubescence ; femora and tibiae pale yellow, the latter with minute bristles ; tarsi blackish towards tips. Wings nearly clear; a rather bright yellowish- brown baso-costal band extends along the costa just beyond the middle, thence extending posteriorly along a line comprising the inner cross-vein, the base of the discal cell, and the outer side of the second basal cell ; below this cell the colour immediately fades away to a pale grey, which covers the anal and axillary cells. Appendix of the upper fork of the 2nd vein short but distinct. Halteres creamy yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from a perfect specimen (except for the missing antennas) in the Indian Museum from Hatbikund, Garhwal District, base of Western Himalayas, 3. v. 1909.

169. Argyramoeba intermedia, sp. nov.

c? $ . Closely resembling ApJia'bantus ceylonicus, Brun. An- terinal 3rd joint short onion-shaped, prolonged into a long style, with the tip bisected, bearing the normal pencil of hairs and a central microscopic bristle ; 1st nntennal joint flattened and spread out, whitish, with white, not black, bristles.

It differs from ceylonicus as follows : — (1) In the subfamily character of the comparatively long prrefurca, which in ApJicebantus is relatively short ; in intermedia the 2nd and 3rd veins diverge opposite half-way between base of discal cell and the anterior cross-vein. (2) Trons in J of appreciable width at vertex (in ceylonicus the eyes are almost contiguous there) ; frontal pubes- cence more whitish than yellow. (3) General pubescence of thorax, pleura, and abdomen yellowish grey or whitish, never bright yellow. (4) Abdomen wholly blackish grey. (5) The baso-costal half of wing rather bright brown ; the line of demar- cation running from tip of 1st vein to tip of anal cell, cutting the discal cell at about its middle ; the outline mainly straight, but not sharply defined. (G) Basal half of anterior femora, and all the hind femora (except narrowly at base and, perhaps, tip)

222 BOMBYLIIDJE.

blackish grey, though covered with white scales and pale pubescence.

Length, 6 mm.

Described from two specimens in good condition in the Indian Museum from Puri, Orissa Coast, 24-28. i. 1918 (type) (Annan- dale and Gravely) ; Allahabad, iii. 1916 (Hoivlett). Two other specimens in bad condition in the British Museum are from Trincomali, 24. ix. 1891 (Yerbury).

The four examples in the Indian Museum from Allahabad differ from the typical form by the sides of at least the 2nd and 3rd abdominal segments being more or less yellowish ; and by all the legs being yellow, except the black band at the base of the fore femora and a broad apical or subapical one on the hind femora. The specimens are also slightly larger.

Two 5 5 in the Indian Museum differ from typical Intermedia only in all the legs being orange, with at most the extreme tip of the hind femora on the upper side with a very small black streak and a few tiny black bristles. The wings are wholly clear, the costal cell pale yellowish. In one specimen a faint basal suffusion, extending only a short distance, is apparent. The 1st antennal joint is as in true intermedia.

170. Argyr amoeba bigoti, nona. nov.

Argyramceba ajipendiculata, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Eut. Fr. Ixi, p. 347 (1892).

" Antenna?, face, and frons black ; thorax black, with a little grey pile and some black hairs, bright in front as well as on the sides ; scutellum dark brown, with a little grey pile ; halteres tawny, knobs yellowish white. Abdomen (denuded) black, some black hairs at tip, also at sides ; legs reddish, except the femora, which are black nearly to the tip. AVings hyaline, at base broadly dark brown, this colour extending to two-thirds of the anal cell, covering by a light extension the external transverse vein ; the angles formed by the 3rd vein and the forking of the 4th (Roridani)* with rather long appendices.

" Pondicherry, 2 specimens."

Type in the Bigot collection.

The name appendiculata has been used twice before in this genus, on both occasions by Macquart, firstly in 1849 for an Algerian species described as a Lomatia, and secondly in 1855 for a species from North China under the genus Anthrax.

171. Argyramceba gestroi, Srun. (PI. Ill, fig. 12.)

Argyramceba qestroi, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 470, pi. xxxvii, fig. 7 (1912).

d1 . Head: froris immediately above antenna? one-third the width of the head, diminishing to half that width at vertex, * Meaning Rondani's terminology.

AKGYHAMffiBA. 223

covered not very closely with elongate bright yellow hair-like scales, these being absent towards the vertex ; also with stiff black hairs from vertex down to and below antennae. Antennae blackish grey, 3rd joint shortly conical, with rather long style, and the usual pencil of short hairs at tip. Underside of head black, some stiff black hairs and a small quantity of deeper yellow hair- like scales on each side below, but not contiguous to, base of antennae ; mouth-opening small, black ; occiput rather widely produced behind eyes, black, with a patch of small yellow scales behind the middle of each eye, and a fringe of very thick short dark brown hairs at hinder margin of occiput. Thorax (somewhat denuded) Mack, with moderately thick bright yellow and whitish- grey bris:ly scale-like hairs intermixed around the shoulders, the sides and anterior margin of dorsum, the whitish-grev scalv hairs in this latter part being more prominent ; dorsum with verv short recumbent bright yellow hairs ; the usual strong bristles towards the sides ; a certain quantity of stiff black hairs on anterior and posterior parts of thorax, whilst the dorsum is lightly covered with softer sparser black pubescence. Scutellum blackish, some- times dull reddish brown, with very short recumbent bright yellow hairs and soft black pubescence, arid a row of about twelve long curved brownish-yellow bristles on posterior margin. Abdo- men blackish, with short bright yellow recumbent hairs and longer yellow bristly hairs, more or less in a row towards the hind border of each segment ; at each side at the base of the abdomen a large bunch of long milk-white scale- like bristly hairs, the edges of the segments bearing rather thick yellow bristly hairs, with some similar long black hairs about the middle of the actual edges of each segment ; the last three or four segments bear some large elongate milk-white scales, and isolated similar scales are attached here and there towards the sides of the posterior margins of some of the other segments. Venter blackish, with rather thick yellow and white hairs on the posterior borders of all the segments; genitalia rather large, concealed, brownish yellow, apparently consisting of a pair of plates. Legs with coxa? and femora dark brown ; fore coxae, at least, with some yellow hairs and black bristles; tibiae and tarsi brownish yellow, both, with tlie femora also, with very short bristles. Wings hyaline; basal half blackish brown, the limits of the colour forming an irregular diagonal line from the fork of the 2nd longitudinal vein (which is immediately above the anterior cross-vein) towards the anal margin ot the wing (though the colour dies away at the border), and just enclosing the base of the discal cell and the posterior cross-vein; costal and subcostal cells blackish brown to their tips; a semi-hyaline elongate spot in marginal cell immediately proximad of fork of 2nd longi- tudinal vein, another similar spot just below it, in first basal cell, in which same cell there is a third similar spot towards its base ; an irregularly-shaped semi-hyaline spot of some little size at, upper outer angle of 2nd basal cell ;"halteres yellowish, with whitish clubs. Lenyth, 6-8 mm.

224 BOMBYLIIDjE.

Described from several specimens in the Indian Museum from Medha, Yenha Valley, Satara District, 2200 ft., Bombay Presi- dency, 17-23. iv. 1912 (Gravely— type) ; Pallode, Travancore, 13. xi. 1908 (Annandale) ; Bangalore, iii. 1910 ; Chapra, Bengal (Mackenzie).

This species is very near A. (Anthrax) eor&o, Rond., but Prof. Gestro has very kindly compared a specimen with Eondani's type in the Genoa Museum and pronounced it quite distinct, in spite of the similarity of characters contained in the description of that species. It is with pleasure, therefore, that I name the present species after Prof. Gestro.

The legs are sometimes much paler, occasionally wholly pale brown.

172. Argyramceba niveicauda, sp. nov.

cJ $ . Head: frons in <S two and a half times, in 5 less than twice as wide at level of antennae as at vertex, dark grey, covered rather thickly with stiff black hairs, and on lower part with small elongate snow-white scales intermixed ; face dark grey, with black bristly hairs and some pale softer hairs around mouth- opening; antennae black, 3rd joint microscopically grey-dusted; occiput considerably puffed out, with a fringe of short brown hairs around hind margin, and some minute snow-white adpressed scales around eye-in argins. Thorax black, clorsum with short black pubescence ; anterior margin with collar of whitish-grey scaly pubescence, with a fringe of long black scales immediately behind it ; some whitish scaly pubescence from shoulder nearly to wing-base, surmounted by a fringe of black bristly pubescence ; pleurae blackish grey, with black softer pubescence. Scutellum black, with black pubescence and apparently a few minute whitish scales ; hind border with black bristles. Abdomen black, with recumbent black bristly pubescence and (apparently) the surface covered, except where scales are present, with minute dead-black adpressed scales ; 2nd and 3rd segments, at least towards sides, with small snow-white scales on hind margins,* 5th segment with a small patch on hind margin near each side ; 6th and 7th wholly covered with larger brilliant snow-white scales; hind borders of all segments, including the last two, with a row of h'ne bristly hairs ; genitalia light brown ; venter black, with some fine pubescence; actual sides of abdomen, except 6th and 7th segments, with very long dark brown scaly or bristly pubescence. Legs dark brown ; femora and tibia) with closely-impressed dull greyish scales that shine in certain lights ; pulvilli white. Wings clear, distal half highly iridescent ; basal half brown or blackish brown, the colour filling costal cell, and otherwise limited by a slightly irregular line from tip of 1st vein to tip of anal cell, embracing anterior cross-vein, but not encroaching on 3rd posterior cell. Anal cell just closed on border in type d1 and second $ ,

* In more perfect specimens these scales may form a complete transverse band.

ABGYHAMCEBA. 225

narrowly open in type $ : halteres dark brown, with dull creamy- yellow knobs.

Length, 6|-7inm.

Described from three specimens in rather good condition : Pallode, Trivandrum, Travancore, 15. xi. 1908 (Annandale), type c? ; Calcutta, 1. vi. 1909, type $ ; Sylhet (Maj. Hall) ; Chapra, Bengal.

Types in the Indian Museum.

This species evidently bears some resemblance to de Meijere's fallux, from Java, and was recorded erroneously by me as that species (Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 449, and iii, p. 221).

173. Argyramceba duvaucelii, Macq. (PI. Ill, fig. 13.)

ArqyramcRba duvaucelii, Macquart. Dipt. Exot. ii. 1. p. 63, pi. xx.

tig. 7 (1840). Anthrax- duvaucelii, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 452 (1909), and

iii, p. 219 (1909).

cJ $ . Head : frons at level of antenuaB one-third the width of the head, narrowing at vertex to one-third of this width ( c£) or about half this width ( $ ), blackish grey, with short soft black hairs ; face with moderately long and thick white hairs ; mouth- border very narrowly yellow; proboscis dark brown, shining, hairy. Antennae black, with a slight greyish-white shimmer ; first two joints with black bristles ; third bare, prolonged into the usual style, which is pale at the tip, the pencil of hairs quite distinct. Vertex of head with a distinct but short and deep indentation, from which a central dark grey hairy protuberance arises, bearing the red ocelli, placed closely together. Thorax dark cinereous, the dorsum with sparse yellowish short hairs round the edges ; anterior part with a dense fringe of very narrow long greyish-white scales, intermixed behind with long soft black hairs, these latter continuing more or less over the whole dorsum, but rather shorter ; sides of thorax with long thick greyish-white scaly pubescence, thickest and most scaly below the humeral region, thinner, shorter, and whiter posteriorly, and extending somewhat sparsely above the insertion of the wings. Scutellum blackish cinereous, covered with ratherspar.se but long soft black hairs and with traces of short yellow hairs around the whole scutellum ; a row of stiff hairs on posterior margin. Several strong black spines below the edge of the dorsum anterior to insertion of wing; the posterior calli also moderately conspicuous and bearing a few stiff long bristles. Abdomen blackish grey ; 2nd segment distinctly but not greatly longer than the five remaining ones ; the whole dorsum apparently covered with small yellowish-white or quite white scales, which may be thickest at the bases and posterior margins of the segments ; the whole surface is also covered lightly with moderately long soft black hairs, and there is a bunch of long whitish scaly pubescence at each side of the first segment, which is continued along the sides of the abdomen. Venter blackish, with short white hairs ; longer white pubes- cence towards the base, and the last segment (in the 6 only)

Q

226 BOMBYLIIDjB.

with rather closely-placed, somewhat large, and elongated snow- white scales, which sometimes spread over the last two, or even three, segments and extend round over the sides. In the $ these white scales below the abdomen are absent, and are replaced by long black hairs on the ultimate segment. The genital organs in the <J consist of a pair of stout upper claspers (?}, the apical half tapering to a blunt point, each with a small lamella at the tip ; this large organ is rufous brown, a little blackish above at the baseband with some reddish-yellow hairs on the inner sides ; below these large claspers are some further, apparently complex organs, which are not easily visible, the whole being protected by a large black curved ventral plate, bearing on its margin reddish hair near the base and black hair posteriorly. In the $ the genital organs consist of a rather large subconical process with dense reddish or yellowish hair; in one example this organ is almost wholly withdrawn within the abdomen. Legs black ; coxae with rather long silky white hairs ; femora and tibiae with small whitish scales, which extend, more sparsely, to the tarsi ; all the femora with soft hairs below and some irregular weak bristles : the tibia? generally with small, apparently irregularly-placed spines, the most regular being a row on the outer side of the hind tibiae; all the legs minutely pubescent. Wings almost clear, first posterior cell rather widely open ; fifth generally narrowly open, but in two specimens closed exactly on the margin ; the lower side of the discal cell occasionally with the beginning of a very small appendix. Costal cell and extreme base of wing brownish yellow; subcostal cell dark brown, very narrow. Fork of the third longitudinal vein sharply angled, and with only a tendency to appendiculation (which actually occurs only in two or three specimens, in two of which, moreover, there is an additional veinlet in one wing only, this veinlet producing the cell usually characteristic of Hyperalonia). A dark brown suffusion, distinct but small, occurs at the base of the second vein, joined to that of the inner cross-vein ; suffusion also at the angle of the fork of the third vein ; over the outer cross-vein the colour carried upwards along the inner side of the discal cell; also over the lower extremity of the veinlet, connecting the two branches of the fourth longitudinal. Costa minutely spinose, with the usual spiny portion at the base. Halteres light brown, tip of club creamy ; tegulae milk-white, with snow-white hair ; alulae concolorous with wing, bearing a fringe of minute black hairs.

Length, 8-1 Omm.

Described from several of each sex taken at Bhogaon, Purneah District, N. Bengal, 19-26. iii. 1909 (Pawa) ; the Indian Museum also has a specimen from Sahelwa, Bahraich District, United Provinces, 11. iii. 1909 (Hodcjart) ; and the British Museum one from the Kangra Valley, 4500 ft., vii. 1899 (Dudgeon). Other specimens seen by me are from Pusa, iii, iv, ix, x (common), bred from cells of the wasp, ScelipJiron coromandelianum ; also taken at light: Lahore, 29. iii. and 16. iv. 1909; Dum Dum, vi.1913 (Chatterjee), 4. viii. 1913, 9. vii. 1913; Murree Hills, 4500ft,,

ARGYRAMCEBA. 227

2. vi. 1913 (Beeson) ; Chapra, Bengal (Mackenzie) ; Allahabad, 24. iii, 7. iv. 1906 (Howlett). Type in the Paris Museum.

174. Argyramceba argentiapicalis, Brun. (PI. Ill, fig. 14.)

Arqyramccba argentiapicalis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 470 pi. xxxvii, fig-. 6 (1912).

$ . Head : frons at level of antennae rather less than one-third width of head, black with black hairs, with which are intermixed on the lower part some dirty greyish scales ; antennas black, normal ; face black, with thick black bristly pubescence and some greyish scales ; proboscis dark ; mouth-opening very narrowly pale; occiput wholly black. Thorax blackish or blackish grey, with very short black pubescence and with mainly black bristly hairs on anterior margin, around the wings, and about the shoulders and pleurae ; a few grey hairs intermixed adjacent to the head. Abdomen black, shortly black pubescent ; a spot formed of silvery- white scales towards the sides on the hind borders of 1st and 2nd segments ; a few intermediate scales suggest the possibility that in some specimens the whole hind border of at least the 2nd segment may be similarly scaled ; the tip of the abdomen (two segments) covered with very conspicuous, elongate, shining silvery-white scales, which are sparser or nearly absent on the median line ; venter black, black pubescent ; genitalia comparatively prominent, dull brown, consisting of a pair of large lamellae and other parts ; anterior corners of abdomen with copious greyish-white hairs; sides with black hairs. Legs : femora black, bearing a little sheen through the presence of very small, greyish, closely-impressed scales ; tibiae and tarsi reddish brown ; the usual pubescence. Wings clear, more than the basal half dark brown ; the line of demarcation, which is emarginate at each of the veins it crosses, running from the tip of the 1st longitudinal vein to the middle (on wing-margin) of the posterior cell, thus passing distad of the base of the 3rd vein and the discal cell. Anal cell closed just before or actually on the wing-margin ; the endings of the 4th longitudinal vein are liable to variation, as in the type there is an extra cell formed below the discal cell (in one wing only), caused by the upper prong of the lower branch of the 4th vein curving towards and joining the lower prong, thus closing the 4th posterior cell. In the dark part of the wing are small lighter yellowish spaces irregularly disposed ; halteres black.

Length, 5-7 mm.

Described from three $ $ in the Indian Museum from Maha- balesh\var,Satara District, 4200 ft., Bombay Presidency, 13-16. iv. 1912 (Gravely}.

175. Argyramceba instituta, Walk.

Anthrax instituta, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 183 (18o2).

5 . u Black, narrow, head clothed above with brown hairs, in

front with tawny hairs; chest beset with black bristles; breast

228 BOMBYLIIDJ2.

hoary, clothed with whitish hairs: abdomen grey, obconical, a little shorter than the chest, beset with a few black bristles, clothed on each side and at the base with dull pale yellow hairs ; legs black, clothed with short black hairs and bristles; shanks pitchy, thighs tinged with grey ; wings grey, rather long and narrow, adorned Avith four brown spots which cloud the cross- veins ; wing-ribs pitchy, veins black, pitchy at the base and along the fore border; poisers pitchy, witlrtawny knobs.

"Length of body 3| to 4| lines, of the wings 10-12 lines. East India." (Walker.)

Type in the British Museum.

176. Argyramceba claripennis, Brun.

Argyramaiba claripennis, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 218 (1909). Argyramceba hottentotta, L., var. claripennis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind.

Mus. ii, p. 452 (1909).

cJ . Head : frous one-fourth width of head at vertex, broadening at level of antennae to one-third, dark grey, with yellowish hairs,, which on the face become greyish or nearly white ; ocellar triangle inconspicuous. Antennae black, with the uppersides of the joints greyish ; basal joints with rather thick hairs ; bisection of style obvious, pencil of hairs small. Proboscis dark, withdrawn; occiput dark grey, with thick yellowish -grey hairs in the middle. Thorax blackish grey, with short yellow hairs, of which a bunch of a paler colour is placed on each shoulder ; a long and a shorter yellow spine in front of each wing, and five or six long yellow bristles towards each posterior corner, also some yellow bristles- towards posterior margin of dorsum. Scutellum dark grey, with short yellow hair, and some yellow bristles on posterior margin. Sides of thorax ash-grey, white-dusted, with a bunch of greyish- white hairs below each shoulder and whitish hairs below this again. Abdomen blackish, hardly shining; posterior margins of segments with rather wide, light brown bands ; whole dorsal surface apparently covered with short, soft, bright yellow hairs, which become longest towards the sides on the posterior margin of the anal segments, where the brown segmental margins are also widened. Venter blackish grey, with minute elongated whitish scales, and becoming reddish yellow towards tip ; there are two long pendent bristles towards the posterior margin about the middle of each ventral segment. Genitalia not conspicuous, but withdrawn. Legs uniformly pale yellow, except the blackish tips of the tarsi ; the coxae and femora rather thickly, the tibiae slightly, covered with minute whitish woolly scales, the tibiae bearing moderately short black bristles in addition, as do also the hind femora near the tip ; there is a row of microscopic bristles on the hinder side of the hind tibiae. Wings quite clear ; submarginal cell brownish yellow ; appendiculation not obvious ; 2nd vein originating half-way between base of discal cell and anterior cross-vein, its upper branch forming a very distinct downward loop towards its end ; halteres yellow. Length, 7 mm.

ARGYEAM(EBA. 229

Described from a single perfect example in the Indian Museum from Lahore, 8. v. 1908.

177. Argyramceba niveisquamis, Bntn.

Argyramccba niveisquamis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 472 (1909).

$ . Head : frons widening gradually from one-fifth the width of the head on the moderately wide vertex (where the ocelli are very close together on a very reduced tubercle) to fully one-third the width at the level ot the antennae ; frons and face densely covered with long drooping snow-white scales, with a few longer thin black hairs intermixed, also (more numerously) white bristles, which are longer than the scales ; oral orifice oblong, white ; pro- boscis (in one specimen, the other is headless) wholly withdrawn ; antennae black, second joint very short, third blackish grey, onion- shaped, tip drawn out into a blunt definite style; (there is no trace of the usual pencil of hairs, but the antenna?, of which only one remains, may be incomplete) ; back of head and underside dark grey, thickly covered with snow-white scales. Thorax black, almost wholly covered witli snow-white bristly hairs, which are longest in front (below), in front of the wings and below them ; the hairs become scaly in places, and on the posterior border of the scutellum is a moderately thick band of white scales. Abdomen black, the segments covered thickly with short creamy- white and snow-white scales; a fan-shaped bunch of sno*v-white, comparatively softer, long hairs on the anterior corners; a few long scattered black bristles on the dorsum, and, rather more numerously, along the sides of the abdomen. Venter with scaly and bristly hairs mixed ; tip of abdomen with a few rather long brownish-yellow bristly hairs, with some longer fine black hairs below. Leys: femora dark brown, with closely-set small snow-white scales ; posterior femora with isolated strong black bristles ; tibiae pale brown, with silvery snow-white scales and more numerous short black spiny bristles ; tarsi brown, with scattered small white scales, tips of each joint blackish, claws black. Wings clear, at the base of the costa a bunch of snow-white scales with some black bristles intermixed; a very small brown suffusion at the base of the third vein and on the discal cross-vein; mediastiual and marginal veins brown, also the narrow intervening space. A strong appendix at the base of the second vein and at the base of the fork of the third vein; discal cell rather long; second posterior cell two-and-a-half times as wide on wing-border as at base. Halteres pale brown, club much lighter; tegulae whitish, nearly transparent, with a fringe of very short white hairs.

Length, 7—8 mm.

Described from two specimens in the Indian Museum from Baluchistan (one headless).

I thought this might be nivea of Koss or perhaps Griffini s var. lioiji, but no mention is made by them of the scales with which it

230

is covered ; moreover, the other differences are sufficient to warrant regarding my species as distinct.

178. Argyramceba nigrofemorata, Brun.

Arffyramceba nigrofemorata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 219 (1909).

c? . Head: irons very narrow, about one-twelfth of the width at vertex, enlarging to nearly one-third at level of antennae, dark grey in colour, becoming gradually ash-grey on the face below the antennae, with moderately thick black hair ; face with thick soft white hair ; antennae black, normal, bisection of style distinct, pencil of hairs very short ; proboscis brown ; back of head ash- grey, with minute pubescence and some rather short thick yellowish hairs towards lower part. Thorax blackish grey, with short yellow hairs intermixed with stiff short black bristly hairs ; anterior margin with rather long bristly yellow hairs ; a longer and a shorter yellow spiny bristle in front of each wing-base ; sides of thorax light grey, with pale yellowish or whitish hairs ; scutellum concolorous with thoracic dorsum, and with some longer bristles towards posterior margin. Abdomen subconical, blackish grey, with soft short yellow hairs; venter mainly yellow, with longer yellow hairs ; genitalia apparently large and complicated, but with- drawn. Legs: coxao blackish, with reddish-yellow tips and whitish hairs ; femora black, with bases and tips reddish yellow, whitish- grey scales, and a little soft whitish hair below ; tibia; reddish yellow, with small black bristles, and with thicker shorter black bristles on hinder side, all the bristles on the hinder pair being stronger than on the other pairs ; tarsi brown, closely pubescent, black towards tips, pulvilli yellow. Wings quite clear; subcostal cell yellowish brown ; 2nd vein originating in a knee just beyond half- way bet ween baseof discal cell and anterior cross-vein : appendi- dilation distinct ; upper branch of 2nd vein forming a very distinct downward loop towards its end ; halteres rather deep yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Describedfrom a perfect 3 in the Indian Museum taken at Hathi- kund, Garhwal District, base of Western Himalayas, 3. v. 1909.

A second specimen in the Indian Museum is probably this species, but the black on the anterior femora only extends to a little beyond the middle, and the sides of the abdomen are distinctly orange; from Helvak, Koyna Yalley, Satara Distr.» Bombay, 4. v. 1913.

179. Argyramceba gentilis, Brun. (PI. Ill, fig. 15.)

Arffyramceba gentilis, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 470 (1909). c? $ . Head : frona and face dull black, with black hairs ; antennae black, third joint much flattened, forming an irregularly oval disk; style distinct, black, no apparent bisection, with small pencil of short hairs at tip ; proboscis short, thick ; back of head blackish grey, bare. Thorax black, with a collar of stiff black

AEGYBAM(EBA. 231

hairs on anterior margin, and soft black hairs on dorsum and sides, intermixed with some black bristles on the shoulders and posterior calli ; posterior margin with some long black bristles deflected backwards ; scutellum black, with short black pubescence, and some longer, curved bristles on posterior border. Abdomen dull black, with short, rather sparse, black pubescence, and a bunch of long black hairs on each shoulder ; some black hairs at the sides and some longer thicker black hairs at tip ; venter black. Legs black, minutely pubescent; tibiae a little lighter, with short black bristles (including fore pair). Wings clear, elongated, anal cell closed ; a blackish-brown band from the base, extending along the costa to just above the fork of the third longitudinal vein; the rather irregular external border of this band extends to the posterior wing-border, just in front of the anal cell, which the dark band wholly fills ; the band does not quite reach the fork of the third vein nor the outer cross-vein ; near the wing-tip an oblong (almost subtriangular) blackish-brown spot on the costa, barely united to the broad band, and extending downwards and outwards to just below the proximal end of the fork of the third rein, thus leaving the absolute wing-tip narrowly clear. The second longi- tudinal vein forms a distinct angle at the commencement of the downward loop, somewhat as in Lepidanthrax.

Length, 4| mm.

Described from a 6" (type) in the Pusa collection, taken, 24.iii. 1906, at Larksom, Bengal, and from a $ in the Indian Museum collection from Margherita, Assam.

I retain this species under Argyramoeba, mainly because the pencil of hairs at the tips of the antennal style is regarded by Osten-Sacken as the most important generic character, and, though email, these hairs are present in this species. The bisection of the style is, however, not apparent, nor does the fork of the third vein show the usual appendix. The very flattened, irregularly oval, third antennal joint, the long, rather narrow abdomen, and the long wings approximate it to Aryyramceba rather than to Anthrax. In one or two respects it resembles Astrophanes, O.-S., a genus containing but one species (from Mexico); these are the " almost rudimentary development of the base of the costa and the closed anal cell." These two characters, in conjunction with the contiguity of the eyes on the vertex in the c? , are regarded as the main generic distinction of the genus. As, however, I believe both sexes to be before me, my species cannot be an Astrophanes. The angled loop of the second vein approximates it to Lepidanthrax, O.-S.. so that "for the present it should be regarded as a some- what aberrant species. It seems to bear some resemblance to Bigot's Argyramoeba appendiculata, and it is just possible it may be identical with it, but the $ in the Indian Museum collection is labelled as a distinct species by Bigot (erroneously as a 6\ and I therefore treat it as such. When the two sexes are placed side by side the difference of width in the frons is sufficiently noticeable.

Genus LEPIDANTHRAX, O.-S.

Lepidanthrax, Osten-Sacken, Biol. Cent.-Amer., Dipt, i, p. 107

(188

232

GENOTYPE, Anthrax clisjuncla, Wied. ; by designation of Coquillett (1910).

" Antennae widely separated at base, inserted quite near the orbits ; 3rd joint short, onion-shaped, with a long filiform style, undivided by a suture, and with a microscopic bristle at the tip. Front comparatively broad in both sexes ; proboscis considerably prolonged beyond oral margin, slender. Front tibiae with a series of distinct spinules on uppersicle, front tarsi varying in structure, stout or slender, always with distinct, joints; the minute hairs and bristles of the underside distinctly differentiated from those of the upper ; no pulvilli, ungues without teeth. The contact of the 4th posterior cell with the discal cell unusually long, about as long as the 3rd vein issuing from the discal cell ; the distal end of the discal cell is not expanded, its sides being more or less parallel ; anal cell open. The sides of the abdomen are fringed, not with hairs only but with real scales.

" Lepidanikrax will be easily recognised from the genus Anthrax, not only by the general appearance and colouring, but by its long proboscis, the more distinct spinules on the front tibiae, and the venation." (Osten-Sacken.)

The exact generic characters as set up by Osten-Sticken are quoted, but those of the antenna! 3rd joint and the base of the 4th posterior cell appear variable. The first species referred here to Lepidanthrax possesses a considerably elongate 3rd antennal joint, with a moderate-sized style ending in a nearly transparent microscopic stumpy thick bristle. In all other characters com- pacta fulfils the generic requirements. In the second species the 3rd joint and its style are nearly normal. I have not examined the pubescence of the front tarsi, as being of little value, but the comparatively elongate proboscis and the slight though distinct difference of venation will distinguish the species. The proboscis reaches forwards (in the c? specimen) as far as the tip of the face, or downwards (in the 5 specimen) to a distance equal to the height of the head. The face is considerably produced, and the contact of the 4th posterior cell with the discal is very nearly equal to that of the 3rd, whereas in all Indian species of Anthrax it is never more than half that length, often ^ or \ only. In Z. transversa this generic difference is less pronounced. The species of Lepidanthrax known previously come from Central America.

The two Indian species may be differentiated thus : —

Third abdominal segment with band of whitish scales ; base of wing more or less infuscated, sometimes up to anterior cross-vein compacta, sp. n.

\Vhole abdomen without whitish scales ; wing

clear, except the yellowish subcostal cell °. transversa, sp. n.

LEPIDANTHRAX. 233

150. Lepidanthrax compacta, sp. nov.

6 $ . Head of d with frons half as wide at vertex as at level of antennae, where it forms rather more than one-fourth of the head, (apparently) dark brownish grey, covered with yellowish- grey scales, with which some fine black hairs are intermixed ; face similarly clothed ; mouth-opening very large, with some golden-grey hairs round anterior margin ; proboscis dark brown, with long yellow bristles at tip ; antennae black, first two joints very bristly ; occiput blackish, with small yellowish-grey scales. In $ , frons rather broader at vertex, and forming nearly one-third of head at level of antennae. Thorax blackish, with very short, yellowish-grey, flat-lying scales on dorsum, and with brownish- yellow or yellowish elongate scaly pubescence on anterior margin and towards sides; the usual fan-shaped bunches of similar structure below shoulders and below hind corners of dorsum ; some light yellowish pubescence on pleurae ; scutellum with yellowish-grey scales and some black bristles on hind margin. Abdomen blackish, covered with short yellowish-grey depressed scales ; those at base of 3rd and towards sides at bases of 5th and 6th segments are whitish ; on 7th segment they are longer and almost silvery ; some sparse soft brown hairs on abdominal dorsum and stiffer ones on hind margins of segments ; venter blackish, covered with short yellow scales and hairs. Legs black, tibiae brown ; hind legs with rather broad, very thin, short, yellowish-white ( d ) or yellow ( § ) overlapping scales covering entire surface, except underside of tarsi, giving in the <j> a distinct yellow colour to the legs. Wings clear, costal and subcostal cells and extreme base of wing yellowish brown ; halteres pale yellow.

Length, 5—7 mm.

Described from a few specimens in the Indian Museum and Pusa collections from Allahabad, 26. iii. 1906 (type d ), 10. iv. 1906 (type $ ), 14. x. 1905 (Hoivlett).

Type d and $ sent to British Museum.

151. Lepidanthrax transversa, sp. nov.

? $ . General characters as in L. compacta. Head : frons gradually widening from vertex to level of antennae, where it is rather narrower than in compacta ; covered with small yellowish depressed scales and erect black pubescence ; face covered with dense elongate pale yellowish scales, no black bristles; 3rd antennal joint short onion-shaped, black, with long black style ; proboscis lying along mouth-opening, but apparently long enough to project as far as in compacta if pointed forwards ; occiput black, with small white scales around eye-margins and yellowish scales in the middle. Thorax as in compacta. Abdomen with a broad basal band of small depressed yellowish scales on each segment except the 1st ; rest of dorsal surface with depressed dull black scales; posterior margins of 5th and 6th segments

234

with black bristles ; latter also with a fringe of yellowish scales, which become white at their tips ; 7th segment covered with yellowish scales and black bristles, hind border with a dense fringe of long snow-white scales ; venter black, wholly covered with small pale yellowish scales. Legs black ; femora and tibiae covered with yellowish scales, middle tibiae brownish yellow- tarsi black, joints distinct. Wings quite clear, vitreous, subcostal cell brownish yellow ; base of 3rd posterior cell more sinuous than in cornpacta ; halteres chalk-white.

Length, 9 mm.

One specimen (? $ ) in the British Museum from Dehra Dun, Western Himalayas, 1907 (Lt.-Col. Wyville Thomson).

Genus ANTHRAX, Scop.

Anthrax, Scopoli, Ent. Cam. p. 358 (1763) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind.

Mus. ii, pp. 451, 455 (1909).

Villa, Lioy, Atti Istit. Veneto, (3) ix, p. 732 (1864). Hemipenthes. Loew, Bevl. Ent. Zeits. xiii, p. 28, note (1869). Dipalta, Osten-Sacken, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iii, p. 236 (1877). Chrysanthrax, Osten-Sacken, Biol. Cent.-Amer., Dipt, i, p. 121

(1886).

Isopenthes, Osten-Sacken, op. cit. pp. 80, 96. Pcecilanthrax, Osten-Sacken, op. cit. p. 119. Stonyx, Osten-Sacken, op. cit. pp. 80, 94. Thyridanthrax, Osten-Sacken, op. cit. p. 123. Hyalanthrax, Osten-Sacken, op. cit. p. 134 (1877). Aspiloptera, Kiinckel, Bull. Sci. France et Belg. xxxix, p. 145, note

(1905). ? Paranthrax, Bigot, Bull. Soc. Ent, France, (5) vi, p. Ixvi (1876).

GENOTYPE, Anthrax morio, F. ; by Rondani's designation.

Head semicircular, inflated behind, but slightly inarched at the middle, as broad as or a little broader than thorax ; face very short, sometimes conically projecting or gently convex ; proboscis short, withdrawn into the large mouth-opening, labella rather broad ; palpi small, thin, cylindrical, apparently one-jointed ; three ocelli ; eyes in both sexes wide apart ; frons rather narrower in c? , an indentation at middle of hind margin in both sexes. Antennae porrect, short, wide apart at base ; 1st joint short, cylindrical; 2nd cup-shaped; 3rd varying from elongate conical to flattened onion-shaped, with an apical microscopic bristle, never with an apical pencil of hairs. Thorax quadrate, with rounded angles, broadest behind, with indistinct preesutural but distinct postalar bristles. Scutellum broad, short, bare of bristles ; metanotum concealed. Abdomen flat, oblong, longer than thorax, 7-segmented. Genitalia small, mainly concealed, placed asym- metrically ; ovipositor with a circlet of short blunt spines. Legs moderately long, hind pair lengthened and often bearing con- spicuous scaly pubescence ; all femora and tibiae with short scaly pubescence in some species ; fore tibiae sometimes quite bare, sometimes with small spicules; posterior tibiae with

ASTHBAX. 235

an apical circlet of spines ; fore tarsi variable in shape and pubescence ; front claws varying in size ; pulvilli very small or absent, occasionally well developed. Wings Avhen at rest half open. Venation as in the other Antbracine genera; only two submarginal cells ; 3rd vein sometimes with a short appendix at its fork ; 2nd vein not infrequently with a recurrent veinlet at its rectangular bend; both 2nd vein and upper branch of 3rd often sinuous and parallel towards their tips. A prealar hook near base of wing, generally hidden by the pubescence.

Ifange. World-wide ; a very extensive genus.

Life-history. Larva amphipneustic, 13-segmented, nearly cylin- drical, a little flattened below, tapering at each end. Several European and North American species have been bred from Lepidopterous larva?, and one from the egg-cases of a locust, others being known to live in the cocoons of Hymenoptera. "In cases where the Anthrax larva lives in other Iarva3 these latter pupate before they are destroyed, and the Anthrax larva lies in the pupa of its host " (Lundbeck). The images occur in sandy or dry districts, bare open spots and pathways ; their flight is short but swift.

Several subgenera of Anthrax were suggested by Osten-Sacken, founded primarily on the wing-markings : Thyridanthrax for species with brown wings with more or less hyaline spots; Anthrax (s. sir.) for those with clear wings, except for a broad baso-costal dark baud ; Hyalanthrax for those with practically wholly clear wings or at most an inf uscated costal margin ; and one or two others. It was urged that these characters were supported by others, and also by the fact that the species of each group were parasitic on a totally different group, or even order, of insects. As, however, intermediate forms are sure to occur, and the subgenera have not been adopted by subsequent authors, they are herein ignored. So far as the Indian species go, fletcheri and guttatipennis belong to a group with wholly dark wings; afra, semifuscata, and himalayanus would fall in Anthrax (s. s.) ; whilst all the other* belong to Hyalanthrax.

Table of Species.

1. Anal cell closed clttusa, Brun., p. 253.

Anal cell open 2.

2. Wings nearly wholly dark brown .... 3. Wings always with an appreciable

clear part 4.

3. No clearer spots in any of the wing-

cells fletcheri, sp. n., p. 23G.

Clearer spots on basal half of wing . . guttatipennis, sp. n., p. 237.

4. A distinct oblique baso-costal wing-

band 5.

No such distinct band ; costa generally narrowly, dark, light brown, or yel- lowish, the colour not extending behind anterior cross-vein (nor- mallv) ; or wings practically clear . . 7.

236 BOMBYLIIDJE.

•5. Hind margin of \ving-baud nearly

straight C.

Hind margin of wing-band with deep indentations himalayanus, Brim., p. 238.

6. Wing-band filling less than g of the

wing; hind margin clear cut afra, F., p. 240.

Wing-band filling fully half the wing ;

hind margin indistinct semifuscata, sp. n., p. 241.

7. Legs mainly yellow 8.

Legs all black 9.

8. Femora with a considerable part black ;

wings practically clear albofulva, Walk., p. 251.

Femora all yellowish ; basal half of wings brownish aureohirta, Brun., p. 252.

9. Abdomen uniformly densely pubescent,

without obvious transverse bands of

scales 10.

Abdomen with transverse bands of yellowish, grey, or white scales ; pubescence sparser II.

10. Wing with deep brownish-black costa ;

larger species, 14-16 mm manifesto, Walk., p. 242.

Wing less extensively brown ; smaller species, 10A-11 mm dara, Walk., p. 243.

11. Pubescence on sides of abdomen

wholly snow-white, except for few bunches of scales on each side near

tip aperta, Walk., p. 245.

Pubescence on sides of abdomen never as wholly white as in aperta, generally yellowish grey or black and white, and not arranged as in aperta 12.

12. Ground-colour of abdomen or tomen-

tum (apparently) reddish brown. . . . dia, Wied., p. 250. Ground-colour of abdomen black 13.

13. Costal cell yellowish baluchiattus, sp. n., p. 250.

Chottentotta vav. clanpennis, \ [Brun., p. 247.

Costal cell lighter or darker brown*. .•( paniscus, Rossi, p. 248.

| fuscolimbata, Brun., p. 246. ^ approximate, Brun., p. 244.

Four species that appear to require confirmation as Indian are not included in this table, but descriptions are appended (pp. 254, 255).

182. Anthrax fletcheri, sp. nov.

c? . Head black ; frons at level of antennae between one-third and one-fourth width of head, less than half this width at vertex ; frons and face (apparently) covered with bright chrome-yellow

* These species are too closely allied to be satisfactorily differentiated in tabular form.

ANTHRAX. 237

small impressed scales, with the addition of black hairs on the former : antennae all black ; apical end of proboscis brown ; occiput (apparently) with minute yellow impressed scales and very short concolorous pubescence ; a fringe of such pubescence on hind margin of occiput. Thorax black, with small bright chrome-yellow impressed scales on dorsum and with bright concolorous long scaly pubescence on anterior and side margins and on pleura, where it is a little paler below shoulders and wings. Scutellum black (denuded), apparently with small yellow scales as on thorax and a row of black bristles on hind margin. Abdomen black, surface apparently covered with minute black impressed scales, which are longest on the 2nd segment ; an upper clothing of bright yellow small impressed scales ; sides of first four segments with bunches of concolorous elongate scales ; sides of oth and most of the sides of the 6th with elongate black scales, hind part of sides of 6th with bright yellow elongate scales; 7th segment with elongate black scales on hind margin. Venter black, with minute black scales ; some fine yellow hairs at base and small yellow scales on hind margins of most of the segments. Legs black ; coxa3 with some fine yellow hairs ; femora and tibiae with traces of small yellow scales (mostly denuded) and the usual black bristles ; middle femora with some pale fine hairs on inner side. Wings wholly dark brown, the anterior part still darker ; anterior cross-vein distinctly before middle of discal cell ; anal cell narrowly open ; halteres creamy yellow.

Length, 12 mm.

Described from a unique $ from Mysore, 4400 ft., 25. iii.- 29. v., sent for examination by Mr. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher, and presented by him to the British Museum.

183. Anthrax guttatipennis, sp. nov.

Head : f rons at level of antenna? one-third width of the head, diminishing to one-third as wide at vertex, black, covered (apparently), as is the face also> with bright chrome-yellow elongate scaly pubescence, intermixed (at least on frons) with long black hairs ; antenriaB black, 1st joint bristly, 3rd short onion-shaped, with long style ; occiput black, with minute greyish- white scales on eye-margins. Thorax black (denuded), with bright chrome-yellow scaly pubescence forming a collar and towards sides of dorsum, covering shoulders and extending over pleura; scutellum black, with minute bright yellow scales on posterior margin and some concolorous bristles, with which are mixed some long black ones. Abdomen black ; 1st segment with a little ragged bright yellow bristly pubescence; all segments except 4th* with broad basal bands of depressed small bright yellow scales, the bands narrowest at the centre of each segment ; rest of dorsal surface apparently covered with depressed small

Possibly an individual aberration.

238 BOMBYLIID^E.

dull black scales ; a few long black bristles on hind margins of at least last two segments ; sides of first four segments with long shaggy bright yellow scaly pubescence ; venter black, basal halt' covered with small depressed bright yellow scales and some- what longer concolorous pubescence, and apparently two or more narrow transverse rows of similar scales on apical half. Leys black ; coxae with long yellowish hairs and black bristles at tip, directed backwards ; femora, at least on hinder side, with minute pale yellowish adpressed scales and a few black bristles below ; tibiae with some yellow scales on hinder side, rest of surface with closely-impressed, very dark brown scales and the usual bristles ; tarsi 'black. Wings dark brown, darker anteriorly ; centre of both basal cells, discal cell, and 3rd arid 4th posterior cells narrowly pale : a small elongate pale streak in marginal cell just before bifurcation of praefurca, and another towards tip of that cell ; two similar streaks in 1st submarginal cell ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 13 mm.

Described from a unique specimen (sex uncertain) in the British Museum from Trincomali Hot Wells, Ceylon, 15. x. 1891 (Yerbury).

184. Anthrax himalayanns, Brun.

Anthrax liimalayanus. Brunetti, Rec. Irid. Mus. ii, p. 222, figs. 1, 2

(1909). Anthrax maura, Brunetti, op. cit. ii, p. 451 (1909).

S $ • Head black : frons in J and £ fully or over one-third width of the head at level of antennae, between one-third and one- fourth this width at vertex in J and about two-fifths in $ ; frons and face with prominent long black pubescence and minute elongate yellow scales, which latter are rather longer on face, where there are also a few yellow hairs ; antennae black, 3rd joint short onion-shaped, witli a long style ; proboscis black, withdrawn ; occiput black, with minute yellowish-white scales. Thorax black, with rather long, fine, very dark brown hairs; the surface apparently sparsely covered with minute depressed elongate yellow scales ; anterior margin with a row or fringe of long brownish-yellow scales ; side margins with long, pale yellow, almost scale-like pubescence. Sides of thorax light grey, with elongate brownish- yellow scales and coucolorous pubescence on lower part ; an elon- gate bunch of long black scales below shoulders and a fringe of similar scales in the centre of the lower anterior margin, imme- diately below bead, with elongate brownish-yellow scales on each side. Scutellum black, with minute orange-yellow depressed scales on dorsum and with fine black hairs; a row of black bristles on hind margin. Abdomen black ; 1st segment with some long yellowish-grey scaly pubescence towards sides, which stretches across the anterior margin also, posterior margin with a

ANTHRAX. 239

narrow row of minute orange-yellow (varying to yellowish-grey) scales ; surface of 2nd and 3rd segments, posterior half of 4th, hind margins, and more or less of the clorsum of 5th, 6th, and 7th with minute reddish-yellow depressed scales ; anterior half of 4th seg- ment occupied by a transverse baud of whitish scales ; hind margins towards the sides of 6tli and 7th segments with similarly coloured scales. Whole surface of abdomen with fine long black pubescence, there being apparently no row of bristles on hind margins of any of the segments ; sides of 1st, anterior lialf of 2nd, and all the 4th with white scaly pubescence ; hind half of 2nd and all the 3rd, 5th, and 6th with black scaly pubescence. Venter rather light

frey, with minute yellow scale-like depressed hairs and long tine lack pubescence, with longer more bristly black hairs towards tip; genitalia blackish, tip brown. Legs dark brown: fore coxae with a few fine yellow hairs, hind pair with black hairs : femora with minute depressed yellowish-white scales ; tibise with similar but apparently less numerous scales ; some fine black hairs on underside of femora ; femora and tibiae with the usual rows of bristles ; tarsi blackish. Wings very pale grey, with a broad deep brown baso-costal band occupying about half the surface ; the colour extending along all the costa to tip of upper branch of 3rd vein ; posteriorly the colour filling axillary and anal cells except their tips, nearly half the 4th posterior cell, less than a third of the 3rd posterior cell, and basal half of discal cell ; a downward extension (blob) stretching across the 1st posterior cell and filling half of the 2nd posterior cell, the colour limited by the outer side of the discal cell ; the colour also fills the basal half of the 1st submarginal cell and the whole of the marginal cell, except a small space in a line with the proximal limit of the clear half of the marginal cell ; a small oval sub-hyaline spot in upper corner of 1st basal cell, with a narrow longitudinal (not transverse, as I erroneously noted in my first description of the species) streak above it.*

Length, 7-11 mm.

Described from three J rf and three $ $ in the Indian Museum, Kufri to Phagu, 18. v. 1916 ; Phagn, Simla Distr., 9000 ft,, 12. v. 1909, type rf ; Simla, 7000 ft,, 16. v. 1909, type $ (both Annandale) ; two rf <5 , Naini Tal, v-vi. 1893 (Lucknow Museum ); two $ $ , Simla, 16. v. 1909 and 9. v. 1910, on the flowers of the white stonecrop (Annandale) ; Khasi Hills, Assam (Brit. Mus.).

This species is very close to A. maura, L., of Europe, and was referred to under that name in my first paper on this family (I. c.). I have already detailed the differences between the two species (llec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 222).

* A more rough-and-ready description of the wing would be: antero- proxiuial half dark brown, tlie colour cutting the 4th posterior and discal cells about their middles ; a large blob from the dark part at two-thirds the wing-length reaching nearly to the hind margin, a similar smaller blob falling the curve in the 2nd longitudinal vein, and a minute 3rd blob between the 2ud one and tip of upper branch of 3rd longitudinal vein.

240 BOMBYLIIDyE.

185. Anthrax afra, F.

Anthrax afra, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 258 (1794) ; Schiner, Fauna Austr. i, p. 50 (1862) ; Brunetti, llec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 451 (1909;.

Anthrax fimbriatus, Meigen,Klass. i, p. 205 (1804) ; id., Syst, Beach. ii, p. 154, pi. xvii, %. 13 (1820).

cJ $ . Head : frons one-third as wide at vertex as at level of antennae, where it forms one-third the width of the head, dark olive-brown or blackish, with black hairs and small elongate yellow scales ; ocelli pale, ocellar tubercle quite clear of eye- margins; face clothed as frons ; eyes dark brown ; antennae black, 2nd joint often dull red, 1st joint with long, 2nd with short black bristles ; proboscis marked with blackish brown ; occiput black, with very small yellow scales and minute white scaly pubescence in centre and around upper half of margin. Thorax from dark olive-brown to blackish, more or less covered on upper surface with very small yellow flat-lying scales ; towards the sides with from pale yellow to brownish-yellow bristly pubescence, which on anterior margin changes to very narrow elongate yellow bristle-like scales, a large fan-shaped bunch of which (of deeper yellow) occurs below the shoulders, extending nearly to the wing- base ; on the shoulders and extending posteriorly for a short distance the scales are often yellowish white and nearly silky in nature ; on the posterior calli a large fan-shaped bunch of bright yellow- elongate bristle-like scales, with some whitish ones in front of them. Sides of thorax with some black hairs and apparently a few yellow hairs around wing-base ; scutellum with short flat-lying yellow scales and a row of long black bristles towards hind margin. Thorax with usual macrochsetae. Abdomen black, 1st segment with small yellow and white scales inter- mixed ; anterior half of 3rd and 6th segments with small white scales ; most of the 2nd segment and a band on hinder part of 3rd to 6th segments, yellow-scaled ; rest of dorsal surface with black scales ; the 7th segment bears white and black scales, and there is a large fan-shaped bunch of very elongate milk-white scales on anterior corners of abdomen. Genitalia with a circlet of reddish-yellow spines ; venter mainly with black scales and a few long pale hairs, a narrow row of small yellow scales on hind borders of segments. Leys black or dark brown ; femora with small, dark-brown, closely-applied scales and others that reflect a greyish lustre in certain lights ; fore femora with a few stiff, moderately long hairs below, hind pair with a row of moderate- sized bristles below ; anterior tibiae with short pubescence, hind pair with dark brown and greyish-lustred scales and rows of small black bristles ; tarsi blackish. Wings clear ; a dark brown oblique band on anterior margin extending nearly to tip of costal cell and defined posteriorly by a line drawn, with slight angu- lations at the veins, from that spot diagonally to the base, cutting the anal cell at one-third of its length ; halteres yellow.

Length, 4g-7 mm.

ANTHRAX. 241

Described from a good number of specimens in the Indian Museum, Pusa, my own, and other collections. A widely distri- buted species in India : Dehra Dun, iv. and ix. 1904 (Chatterjee) ; Anamalai Hills, 4000 ft., 24. i. 1912 (Fletcher) • Allahabad, 24-29. iii. 1906, 6 and 19. x. 1905 (Hoivlett) ; Satara Distr., 3200 ft., Bombay, 23. iv. 1912 (Gravely); Puri, 24-28. i. 1911 (Annandale, Gravely), 29.ii.1908 and 2.iii. 1908 (Paiva) ; Gonda Distr., United Prov., 26. ii. 1907, 9. iii. 1909 ; Madhupur, Bengal, 14. x. 1909 ; Pusa, common, ii, iii, iv, vi, xi : Pipera, Gonda Distr., United Prov., 9.iii. 1909 (Hocl/art) ; Muttra, 22. iv. 1905 ; Meerut, 25. iv. 1905; Ferozepore, 28. iv. 1905 (all Bnmetti) ; Guindy, Madras (Capt. Cragg) ; Dawna Hills, Burma, 2000-3000 ft., 2-3. iii. 1908 (Annandale) ; Trincomali, Ceylon, 21.viii. 1890 (Col. Yerbury)-y Port Blair, Andaman Is., 15. ii. to 15. iii. 1915 (Kemp).

186. Anthrax semifuscata, sp. nov.

cJ 5 . Head : frous at level of antennae less than one-third width of the head, at vertex less than half this width, blackish grey, with minute bright yellow scaly pubescence, which latter also covers the face ; antennas black, 3rd joint short, with long style; occiput blackish grey, a fringe of small snow-white scales on lateral eye-margins. Thorax black (denuded), hind corners of dorsum dull reddish brown; in good specimens the dorsum, anterior margin, and sides of thorax are probably covered with bright chrome-yellow scaly pubescence, which extends to the scutellum also. Abdomen black ; 1st segment with a band of depressed bright yellow scales ; 2nd, ,3rd, 4th, and 6th segments each with a basal band of similar scales, broadening towards and at the sides, where it is augmented by concolorous long scaly pubescence covering all the sides of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments ; 5th segment apparently devoid of such a band ; dorsal surface of abdomen not covered by yellow scales, furnished with small depressed black scales; venter black, basal half with depressed bright yellow scales, concolorous scales about the tip. Legs black ; femora with whitish scales on hinder side (those on fore pair appear more yellowish); tibiae with some yellowish- white scales ; tarsi black. Wings pale grey, basal and anterior parts moderately dark brown, the colour fading away distally, its approximate limit running from tip of 1st vein, just escaping fork of 3rd vein, filling discal cell and bases of 3rd and 4th posterior cells and filling anal and auxiliary cells; halteres pale yellow.

Length, 7—8 mm.

Described from three specimens in indifferent condition in the British Museum from Trincomali, Ceylon, 2. x. 1890 (type a <? ), 9 and 15. x. 1890 (Col Yerbury).

Although not one of the three specimens is in good condition, the species is a quite a well-marked one by the extent of inf uscation of the wing. A noticeable point is the variability in the exact position of the bifurcation of the prsefurca.

187. Anthrax manifesta, Walk.

Anthrax manifesta, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 178 (1852).

c? $ . Head: frontal sexual differences as in A. aperta ; frons at level of antenna forming one-third the width of the head, black, with dense short stiff black hairs, which become denser round base of antenna) and are continued along the middle of the face ; frons also with very small recumbent hair-like bright yellow scales ; face, except just below antennae, covered with bright chrome-yellow or orange-yellow elongated scales, inter- mixed with yellow hairs. Antennae black, 1st joint broader at tip, with long black bristles on outer and inner sides and yellow hairs below ; 2nd and 3rd joints normal ; proboscis blackish ; occiput black, upper margin with very small whitish scales, centre with short yellowish pubescence. * Thorax black, dorsum with soft dark brown hairs, and some small yellow scales about middle of hind margin, opposite which are some dead-black thin scales on the scutellum. Anterior border, shoulders, and sides of thorax with long dense chrome-yellow or orange bristly, almost pcale-like pubescence, which becomes paler or sometimes even whitish on underside; fan-shaped brushes of this pubescence occur as in A. aperta. Abdomen black ; base of first four seg- ments with small short flat-lying bright yellow scales, thickest on 2nd and 4th segments ; 5th and remaining segments with longer similar scales; the rest of the dorsal surface with small dead- black flat-lying scales and sparse long black or brown hairs. Sides of abdomen with dense scale-like bristly pubescence or very thin real scales, this vestiture varying from deep orange to yellowish in different specimens, and being, generally speaking, deeper coloured on anterior half and paler, sometimes whitish, on hinder half of abdomen ; sides of 5th and 6th segments with elongate dark brown scales and longer dark brown or blackish thick bristly pubescence. Venter black, covered with small bright yellow scales and sparse fine yellow hairs, both scales and hairs 'longer and denser towards tip ; hind margin of last segment with elongate dark brown scales. Legs scaled as in A. aperta ; femora with soft yellow hairs below; hind tibiae with numerous dark brown or black elongate scales, intermixed with black spines and some smaller yellow scales, which latter appear to occur more or less on the middle tibiae also and to cover most of the femora. Wings pale grey; costal and subcostal cells dark brown, the colour ex- tending in diminishing intensity into the marginal and filling the 1st basal cell ; halteres dull yellowish, variable ; squamae brownish, with a fringe of elongate orange or yellowish scales.

Lcnf/th, 14-16 mm.

Reclescribed from two rf c? and three $ $ from Mussoorie ix. 1906; Jhajjur, Kashmir, 22.xi.1911; Simla, 26. v. 1914 (Capt Evans) ; Lower Eanges, Khasi Hills, 1878 (Chennell).

Type in the British Museum.

ANTHHAX. 243

188. Anthrax clara, Walk.

Anthrax cltira, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 179 (1852) ; Brunetti, Rec. lud. Mus. ii, p. 452 (1909).

c? $ . Head: frons in d six times, in $ three times as wide at level of antennae (where it forms nearly one-third the width of the head) as at vertex, black, and, as is also the face, covered thickly with dense erect stiff black pubescence, amidst which numerous small bright yellow depressed scales are visible, more numerous on the face, where they are intermixed with yellow hairs; antennae black, 3rd joint moderately elongate, with rather long style ; mouth- parts reddish brown or blackish ; hind margin of eyes with a narrow fringe of small white impressed scales, which perhaps may extend over most of the occiput. Thorax black, dorsum covered with minute bright yellow impressed scales, either placed on top of (forming an upper layer) or intermixed with similar dull black scales;* fine long black hairs are scattered irregularly over the dorsum ; margins of dorsum with thick bright yellow scaly pubescence, a few black bristles at sides in front of wings and three or four brownish-yellow spines on posterior corners, directed backwards. Scutellum like thoracic dorsum ; hind margin with a row of long yellow hairs and (apparently) some yellow bristles and some elongate black scales. Abdomen : integument between thorax and abdomen whitish grey ; dorsum of abdomen black, mainly (or entirely ?) covered with very small impressed black scales, and apparently the greater part covered in good specimens with small yellow scales ; margins of dorsum. and sides of abdomen with dense long fine scaly pubescence, the dorsum covered more thinly, though, when viewed at a low angle from behind that part, it appears almost as thickly covered as the sides ; this pubescence is rather darker yellow in the $ ; on hinder part of dorsum in $ the pubescence is black. Hind margin of 6th segment narrowly, and basal three-fourths of 7th, with yellow scales ; remainder of 7th with black scales ; sides of 5th and 6th segments with thick bristly black pubescence ; ground-colour of side margins of first three' segments in £ yellowish; venter black, with minute black and yellow impressed scales and some fine yellow pubescence. Legs black ; femora with closely-placed small black scales, which in certain lights have a greyish tinge ; small yellow scales also present; tibiae and tarsi with small black scales and bristles. \Vinys practically clear; costal and subcostal cells dark brown, the colour extending irregularly over praefurca and also at extreme base proximadto basal cells; anterior cross-vein just before middle ( 3 ) or at first 3rd ( 2 ) of the discal cell ; halteres pale yellow.

Length, 10£-llmm.

Eedescribed from a rf from Majkhali, Western Himalayas,

* The dorsum of the c? specimen is mainly denuded, that of the £ partly so, but probably a double covering of scales is present in perfect specimens.

B 2

244 BOMBYLIID^.

6000ft., 4.x. 1907, and a ? from Naini Tal, 6300ft, 11. v. 1911 (Kemp), both in rather inferior condition but with all the charac- ters fairly obvious, and both in the Indian Museum, as are also two others— one named by Bigot from Dehra Dun, the other from the Garhwal Distr., 21. x. 1907. These two specimens have been compared by Mr. P. W. Edwards with the types in the British Museum, where the species also figures from Dehra Dun, xi. 1907 (Lt.-Col. Wyville Thomson), and the Khasi Hills, Assam. Type in the British Museum.

189. Anthrax approximata, Brun.

Anthrax approximata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xiii, p. 74 (1917).

$ . This species is very close to A. clara, "Walk., yet certainly distinct. The scales on the frons and face vary from yellow to snow-white, in one specimen only being yellow on both parts, in others yellow on frons and white on face, those of the latter colour encroaching to some extent on lower part of frons ; in one example snow-white on practically the whole of both frons and face ; sometimes some yellow scales around the mouth-parts amidst the white ones. Abdomen not uniformly pubescent, as is pro- bably the case in clara, hut with distinct transverse bands of yellow or whitish scales at base of segments, those on the 2nd and 4th being widest, extending on the former segment nearly to the middle, and on the latter much further, especially towards the sides ; hind borders of 6th segment with conspicuous snow-white scales and a large bunch of longer ones on about the hinder half of each side; sides of 5th segment and anterior half or more of 6th with long very dark blackish-brown scales ; dorsum of abdo- men, except for the transverse bands, with black scales, wholly covered with soft fine pubescence, and with a row of black bristles on hind borders of 5th, 6th, and 7th segments, becoming stronger on each successive segment ; a row of fine yellow hairs before the hind border on first four segments and a few fine yellow hairs on dorsum of basal segments. Costal cell clear or faintly obscured ; subcostal cell dark brown, the colour not extending further hind- wards ; anterior cross- vein a little before middle of discal cell, the exact position apparently rather variable. In all else as in A. clara.

Described from five rf 3 in the Indian Museum : Simla, 7000- 8000ft., 28. v. 1914, type (Cap*. Evans), and 16. v. 1909 ; Siliguri, base of Darjiling Hills, 28. iii. 1910 ; Dawna Hills. Tenasserim, 2000-3000 ft., 2-3. iii. 1908 ; Kawkareik, Amherst Distr., Tenas- serim, 5. iii. 1908,* and 23. iii. 1910 (Annandale). In the British Museum from Khasi Hills, 1878 (Chennell); Trincomali, Ceylon, 12.x. 1890, 12. xi. 1890 (Col. Yerbury); Nilaveli, Cevlon, 19. vii. 1891 (Col. Yerbury).

* Erroneously quoted as 5. ii. 1908 in Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 474.

ANTHBAX. 245

The two specimens alluded to by me in my first paper on BOMBYLIIDJE as allied to A. dam, Walk., are amongst those now referred to approximata.

190. Anthrax aperta, Walk.

Anthrax aperta, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 180 (1852).

3 <j> . Head : f rons in tf sufficiently narrow at vertex for the small ocellar tubercle to touch the eye on each side, in $ broad enough for this tubercle to be quite clear of the eyes ; in both sexes frons broadening to base of antennae, where it forms one- third of the head, black, covered wholly with black bristles and on the lower part with elongate black or dark brown scales and some shorter yellow or yellowish-white scales intermixed ; face in c? wholly and thickly covered with elongate bright yellow scales, with which are intermixed long black hairs, and in the median line from base of antennae to mouth-opening a stripe of dark brown scales : in $ the face-scales mostly whitish, those in the median line yellowish ; eye-facets small, uniform ; antennas black, 1st and 2nd joints bristly, 3rd onion-shaped, produced into a long bare style. Thorax black, covered with moderately short blackish-brown hairs ; anterior margin with a thick fringe of reddish-tawny bristly hairs, which extend to a considerable portion of the under- side. Sides of thorax with long whitish-grey scale-like pubescence, forming fan-shaped bunches about the humeral and posterior calli, near the wing-base and on the pleurae ; this pubescence varies from nearly white to dirty grey and yellowish. Along the hind border of the mesonotum there 'is always, in the narrow depression occurring just before the extreme margin, a row of very small flat- lying bright yellow scales.* Scutellum black, with some soft black hairs and (probably) with whitish pubescence.f Abdomen black ; at base of 2nd segment a moderately wide band of very small flat-lying white scales; a similar but narrower band of yellow scales at base of 3rd segment and a row of yellowish or whitish (or apparently both intermixed) at base of remaining segments; rest of surface covered with small flat-lying black scales ; entire dorsum covered with rather long fine dark brown hairs, which along the basal bands of pale scales appear to be replaced by whitish ones. Sides of abdomen thickly clothed on first two segments with long bushy scale-like whitish hairs ; on 3rd segment with long very dark brown scales and hairs, which extend a little over the sides of the 2nd segment; on 4th segment with elongate white scales, connected with the basal cross-baud

* A few of these generally remain even in badly-denuded specimens, but there seems no reason to infer that they extend beyond the narrow space

t This is conjecture, not one of the specimens before me bearing any pubescence.

246 BOMBYLILD.S:.

of whitish scales (which, after those on the 2nd segment, are the most conspicuous of these transverse scale-bands) ; on 5th and 6th segments with elongate dark brown scales and hairs ; and on the 7th segment with white scales. This vestiture of the sides of the abdomen is quite distinct from the dorsal, and of much finer pubescence. Genitalia dark brown or blackish, with some line black hairs. Yenter black, with flat-lying dull black scales and sparse black hairs; hind margins of segments with a more or less broad border of whitish or yellowish scales. Legs black ; coxae with long yellowish-grey hairs ; femora with closely-placed very dark brown scales and a further clothing on underside of yellowish- white scales, also with some long fine hairs ; tibiae with very short bristles, hind pair with short but distinct very dark brown scales. Wings quite clear ; base of costa with thick dark brown scales, over which lies a covering of elongate silvery snow-white scales; costal cell dark brown up to humeral cross-vein ; subcostal cell wholly brown, the brown colour also extending very narrowly across the wing at the extreme base ; halteres dull pale yellow.

Length, 8-14 mm.

Eeclescribed from several specimens fi-om both Mussoorie, ix. 1906, and Simla, 16. v. 1909 (Annandale) ; Simla, x. 1911 ; Dehra Dun, xi. 1907 (Lt.-Col Wt/ville Thomson"); Sukli, Dawna Hills, 2100ft., 22-29. xi. 1911 (Gravely); Khasi Hills. Found on Sedum and the common marguerite.

Type in the British Museum.

This species is fully redescribed here from four c? c? and five $ § , mostly in tolerably good condition, and this must super- sede my former description, drawn up from a single specimen.

191. Anthrax fuscolimbata,

Anthrax fuscolimbata, Brunetti, Kec. lud. Mus. xiii, p. 75 (1917).

$. Head: frons one-third width of head at level of antennae, less than half this width at vertex, covered with yellowish impressed scales and black pubescence, the scales near the antennae sometimes becoming gradually whitish ; on face all snow-white in type, and yellowish white and yellowish respectively in the other two specimens ; antennae black, 1st joint with long black bristles, 2nd with a ring of shorter bristles, 3rd elongate conical, tapering to a rather long style; proboscis dull yellowish or obscure; occiput with a border of snow-white minute scaly pubescence behind eyes, and some yellow scales on upper part. 'Thorax black, more or less covered with small impressed yellow scales ; anterior and side margins, shoulders, and pleurae covered with dense elon- gate brownish-yellow scales, which are paler on the mesopleura and sternopleura or sometimes altogether paler; a rather short fine sparse black pubescence on dorsum, sometimes remaining after nearly all the yellow scales have been worn off. Scutellum black, with small yellow impressed scales ; a few fine yellow hairs and a

ANTHKA.X. 247

row of black bristles on hiud margin. Abdomen black, with trans- verse bauds of small yellowish, yellowish-grey, or whitish scales, broadest on 2nd and 4th segments, where, especially towards sides, they reach up to .and beyond middle of segment ; a narrow basal band on 3rd segment and a narrow band on hind margins of 5th and 6th ; a large bunch of elongate brownish-yellow scales towards and on sides of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd segments ; dorsum of 1st with sparse concolorous fine hairs. Sides of 3rd and 4th segments with elongate brownish-yellow scaly pubescence, which is paler on the latter ; sides of 5th and 6th segments with numerous elongate dark brown scales and long black bristles ; posterior part of side of 6th segment with a conspicuous bunch of elongate snow-white scales ; 7th segment with black scales only ; all the dorsal surface of abdomen, not occupied by pale scales, covered with minute impressed black scales ; sparse fine pale hairs on about basal half of dorsal surface, replaced on posterior half by black ones ; hind margins of segments with a row of black bristles. Venter with a broad transverse band of yellowish scales beyond middle ; remaining segments with white scales ; whole surface of venter plentifully covered with long yellowish or yellowish-grey hairs, with fine black hairs towards tip. Genitalia brownish yellow, with a circlet of blunt reddish-brown spines and black pubescence. Leys black, coxae with rather long grey or whitish pubescence; femora and tibiae with small white or yellowish-grey scales and rows of black bristles. Winys nearly clear, the brown suffusion on anterior part in type-specimen limited to subcostal cell ; in 2nd and 3rd specimens extending from costa up to but not encroaching on discal cell, dying away towards tip; anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell ; halteres cream- yellow.

Described from three paratype $ ? in the Indian Museum, neither one being in sufficiently good condition to regard as the ultimate type; Simla, 7000-8000 ft., 26. v. 1914 (Copt Evans); Mussoorie, 6500 ft. (Bond) ; Guindy, Madras (Capt. Patton).

192. Anthrax hottentotta, //., var. claripennis, Brun.

Anthrax hottentotta var. claripennis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 452 (1909).

$ . Head : f rons half as wide at vertex as at level of antennae, where it is one-third of the head, black, covered (at least on lower part) with minute yellow impressed scales, and wholly covered with stiff black pubescence ; face black, wholly covered with dense elongate yellowish-white scales ; antennae black, 3rd joint con- siderably elongate ; proboscis obscure, withdrawn ; occiput black, apparently covered with minute scales, which are yellow behind the vertex and white near the lower eye-margins. Thorax black, dorsum (apparently) covered with minute elongate yellow scale- like depressed pubescence ; anterior margin, sides of dorsum, and the shoulders with dense elongate upright brownish-yellow scales;

248 BOMBYLIIJXE.

sides with similar scales of a yellowish-white colour or concolorous long hairs. Scutellum black, hind border (probably whole surface, more or less) with minute impressed yellow scales (no bristles present on hind margin, but these have probably been broken off). Abdomen black, base of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments with broad transverse bands of minute pale yellow impressed scales, the band on 2nd segment the broadest ; 5th, 6th, and 7th segments nearly wholly covered with yellowish-white scales, which are longest on the hind margins ; 7th segment with a thick fringe on hind margin of very elongate yellowish-white scales ; surface of abdo- men which is not occupied by yellowish scales, covered with similar minute black scales. Sides of 1st segment with elongate yellowish-grey scaly pubescence, which extends as long fine con- colorous hairs across the dorsum ; sides of 2nd segment with scaly pubescence as on 1st, this pubescence being continued along sides of rest of abdomen, but in gradually diminishing quantity. Tenter obscure, with minute snow-white impressed scales and long yellowish hairs on basal part, and with white hairs towards tips ; genitalia brownish yellow. Leys black ; coxae with rather long yellowish or grey pubescence ; femora and tibiae with minute yellow and whitish impressed scales, often intermixed ; the white ones predominating at base of middle femora and below hind femora. Wings entirely clear, hyaline ; subcostal cell yellowish brown ; bifurcation of 2nd and 3rd veins exactly in a line with anterior cross-vein, which latter is just before middle of discal cell ; halteres pale creamy yellow.

Length, 12% mm.

Described from the unique type in the Indian Museum from Bhura, in the plains of the Naini Tal District, Western Hima- layas, 14-17. iv. 1907.

The differences distinguishing this variety from typical A. hot- tentotta of Europe are the clear wings, the wholly black-haired frons, the whitish scales on the face, and minor characters.

193. Anthrax paniscus, Rossi.

BiUo paniscus, Rossi, Fauna Etrus. ii, p. 256 (1790). Anthrax bimaculatus, Macquart, Suites a Buff, i, p. 403 (1834). Anthrax cingulatus, Meigen, Syst. Besch. ii, p. 145 (1820). Anthrax hottentottus, Walker, List Dipt, Brit. Mas. ii, p. 259 (1849).

<S . Head : frons narrow, at vertex less than one-twelfth the width of the head, widening to nearly one-third of the head at the antennae, dull black, with abundant black hairs and dark orange scales ; face not projecting over mouth, dull black, with long yellow or orange scales and some long yellow hairs ; mouth- border with some black scales; erect inconspicuous black hairs on upper eye- margins and on face ; mouth-opening long, black. Occiput considerably puffed out, slaty black, lower part with whitish scales, which become silvery and less numerous behind upper eye-margin; extreme back of occiput with dense short

ANTHRAX. 249

yellow pubescence. Proboscis long, narrow, labella brown ; palpi long, narrow, black, concealed. Eyes with facets equal. Antennae black, basal joints with dense black bristly hairs ; 3rd joint slightly brownish, in the shape of a blunt triangle, tip produced to a long point with a minute apical bristle. Thorax dull black, with dense tawny scaly pubescence, which is thinnest on the disc, the latter bearing numerous adherent black scales and blackish- tawny hairs ; furry pubescence extending from shoulders to wing- base and along dorsal side margins and hind margin ; posterior calli with three to six long yellow spines or bristles, and about five smaller ones above the wings ; a snow-white patch of scales in front of the absolute wing- base, not easily visible; pleurae with dense tawny pubescence, thinner and more greyish on the lower parts. Scutellum with closely-adhering black scales and pale tawny pubescence, a row of black bristles on hind margin, and some small yellow scales towards side margins. Abdomen black, sides of first two segments rufescent ; first four segments densely covered with tawny pubescence, paler and thinner on disc, the whole of which is covered with closely adhering black scales ; side pubescence on 5th and 6th segments deep black ; on 7th snow-white, the middle of the hind margin bearing black scales. Venter black, with closely adhering black scales, and with pale yellow pubescence and some elongate black scales and long black hairs towards side margins ; hind margins of 2nd to 5th segments with some pale scales ; genitalia very small, orange. Legs dull black ; coxae with pale yellow pubescence in front, more brownish behind, and bristly black hairs at tip ; anterior femora with inconspicuous yellowish or blackish pubes- cence behind and beneath, hind femora with such at base only ; pale scales on fore femora in front and behind, on posterior femora nearly over all the surface, and on basal half of posterior tibife and to a less extent on parts of the fore tibiae; pulvilli absent. Wings quite clear or very pale grey, iridescent ; base and fore margin yellowish brown down to 1st longitudinal vein or sometimes a little further, basal parts of veins black or brown ; dense black scales on broadened base of costa, sometimes with some pale ones intermixed ; occasionally a black spine at extreme base of fore margin ; squamae brownish yellow, margin darker, root black, fringe yellow or orange ; halteres small, orange.

$ . Pubescence 'sparser than in J ; 2nd. 3rd, and 4th abdominal segments with a band of pale scales. Frons at vertex one-eighth the width of the head, fully one-third at level of antennae, Ayith more numerous golden scales than in rf . Silvery patch at wing- base absent. Abdominal pubescence longer; pale tut'ts at tip more yellowish than silvery, pubescence on disc thinner ; a con- spicuous band of golden scales on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments, the first one the widest, that on the 3rd segment the narrowest, all the bands narrower in middle ; 6th segment with a narrow hind marginal band of scales, which is sometimes present on the 5th also ; 7th segment with black scales on the disc, and yellow scales

250 BOMBYLIID-ffi.

and long yellow hairs on basal corners, besides conspicuous black pubescence. Venter black, white scales on 4th, oth, and 6th segments, less abundant 011 7th ; hind margins of segments more or less with a narrow band of yellow scales and hairs ; ovipositor orange.

LengtJi, normally 12 mm., varying from 10 to 14 mm.

Nttini Tal, 6000-7000 ft. (R. E. Lloyd). One specimen in the Indian Museum from Simla, x. 1906 (Lefroy).

The above description is an abbreviated one from Verrall, as the only Indian specimen and the three European specimens before me are in very indifferent condition, though there seems no doubt as to the identity of the species.

194. Anthrax dia, Wied.

Anthrax dia, Wiedemann, Anal. Ent. p. 23 (1824) ; id., Auss» Zweifl.i, p. 293(1828).

" cJ. Antennae black (3rd joint missing). Epistoma and frons sparsely, the vertex a little more densely clothed with grey hairs. Occiput blackish, grey-haired, margins of eves white. Collar grey; thorax with reddish-brown pile and grey hairs, mixed at sides with whitish hairs. Scutellum blackish, with traces of reddish-brown pile ; sides of thorax with whitish hairs. The 1st abdominal segment with reddish -brown pile on the hind margin, with whitish hairs at sides ; 2nd reddish brown with whitish band at base ; 3rd with a narrow baud across the middle ; 4th with a very broad whitish band, so that only the reddish brown hind border remains ; 5th and 6th whitish, only at the base narrowly reddish brown ; 7th and 8th, on the contrary, only whitish at sides ; venter blackish, with whitish hairs. Wings quite clear ; brownish at extreme base and in the costal cell, the colour extending a little below this cell ; halteres yellow. Legs black, with yellowish pile. Length 5| lines. Tranquebar." ( Weidemann.)

Type in "Westertnann's collection.

195. Anthrax baluchianus, sp. nov.

<5 $ . Head : frons in c? from a quarter to one-fifth, in $ one- third, as wide at vertex as at just above antennae, black, covered with yellowish-grey depressed scales and erect long fine black hairs ; ocelli dull reddish brown ; face clothed similarly to frons, but the scales longer and with yellow hairs instead' of black; proboscis reddish brown; antennae black, 1st joint with long black bristles, 2nd with shorter ones, 3rd elongate onion-shapedr with moderately long style, which becomes reddish brown towards tip ; occiput covered exclusively with short depressed yellowish- grey scales. Thorax blackish, dorsum covered with minute yellowish-grey depressed scales ; a thick collar of long yellowish scaly pubescence on anterior margin; side margins and the whole of the pleurae similarly clothed ; sides of dorsal margins with long

ANTHRAX. 251

yellow bristles and a bunch of them on each posterior corner ; scutellum with depressed small yellowish-grey scales and a row of strong deflexed yellow spines on hind margin. Abdomen black, each segment closely covered (in good specimens) with very small greyish depressed scales, which occupy about the basal half or rather more of the first two or three segments, covering more and more of each successive segment till the last ones are nearly wholly covered, the remainder of the dorsal surface bearing small black closely-impressed scales ; before the hind margin on each segment is a row of strong black bristles ; the moderately long; pubescence sometimes yellowish (in the type $ it is wholly bright yellow on head, thorax, and abdomen) ; venter black, covered with depressed greyish scales and rather loug concolorous fine hairs. Legs black; coxae with pale yellowish -grey depressed scales and long concolorous hairs ; femora and tibia? with a close covering of small overlapping yellowish-grey scales ; both femora and tibiae with rows of black bristles ; tarsi with a little short rich brown pubescence on underside. Wings practically clear ; costal cell yellowish, the colour basally extending a little further hindward ; another cross-vein just before middle of discal cell ; a small bunch of short silvery-white scales at extreme base of costa and posterior to the strong black scales on the adjacent costal margin ; halteres pale brownish cream-colour, hidden in the pubescence.

Length, 13 mm.

Described from several specimens, mostly in inferior condition, except the type c? and $ , in the Indian' Museum, from Balu- chistan (Cle'ghorn), and several others in good condition from Kashmir, 1915 (H. T. Pease) : Bahisht Khal, 6 and 8. ix. 1908 (Nadir Khan) ; Bhittani, on camel.

196. Anthrax albofulva, Walk.

Anthrax albofulva, Walker, Ins. Saund.,Dipt. pt. 3, p. 182 (1852) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 454 (1909).

d $ . Head : frons in both sexes at level of antennae barely one- third width of head, less than one-fourth of that width at vertex in rf, and half that width in $ , dark grey, with long, rather dense pale yellow scaly, almost bristly pubescence, and a space in the middle with long black similar pubescence ; face with similar pubescence, which is sometimes yellowish on upper part and white on lower part, or wholly snow-white throughout ; antenna? black, first two joints with bristly yellow pubescence, 3rd joint elongate onion-shaped, with a minute pale style-like thick bristle at tip ; mouth-opening very large, proboscis obscure, withdrawn ; occiput dark grev, with more or less minute scaly pubescence round hind bonier of eyes. Thorax blackish, with minute yellow depressed scales on dorstun ; anterior and side margins with pale yellowish-grey elongate scaly pubescence, which (apparently) is not dense ; two or three long yellow spines on posterior corners ; sides of thorax bluish grey, with nearly whitish pubescence.

252 BOMBYLIID.J;.

Scutellum concolorous with dorsum, with minute yellow depressed scales and some longer pubescence and a row of yellow bristles on hind border. Abdomen dark grey or blackish, wholly covered with minute yellow depressed elongate scale-like pubescence ; a large fan-shaped bunch of nearly white long scaly pubescence towards sides of 1st segment, extending inwards across the disc ; sides of rest of segments with soft whitish outstanding hairs ; ground- colour of sides of first five segments more or less orange or brownish yellow, the colour sometimes entirely absent. Y enter varying from pale yellowish to dark grey, with darker marks, some depressed minute white scales and some longer whitish hairs; genitalia large, brownish yellow, with long pale hairs. Legs yellowish ; coxa3 more or less bluish grey, with a little whitish pubescence ; in the d the basal half of the anterior femora and nearly all the hind femora black, with minute whitish scales ; in the $ basal half of fore pair narrowly at base in middle pair, and apical half or less of hind femora black, with minute whitish scales ; apical third or half of tarsi in both sexes blackish. Wings clear, subcostal cell yellowish ; 2nd longitudinal vein normally with a distinct upward curve, followed by a distinct downward one just before tip ; anterior cross- vein at one-third (or a little beyond) of discal cell, placed some distance beyond tip of praefurca ; anal cell rather narrowly open.

Venation rather variable : in one specimen from Allahabad the anal cell is very broad, and equally so for the whole of its length to the wing-border ; in others the degree of curvature on apical half of 2nd vein varies considerably, as does also the exact position of the anterior cross-vein in its relation to the discal cell.

Length, 4|-6£ mm.

Described from several specimens of both sexes in the Indian Museum and Pusa collections.

Type in the British Museum (the head missing).

197. Anthrax aureohirta, Brun.

Anthrax aureohirta, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 223 (1909). J. Head: frons at vertex one-eighth width of head, widening to barely double this width at the level of the antennae, black, slightly shining ; ocelli on small raised tubercle ; face black ; some white dust on each margin of the lower part of frons and of the face, and yellow and black short hairs intermixed above and below the antennas, which are wholly black, the first two joints bearing some stiff black hairs, the third with soft white microscopic pubescence ; proboscis somewhat large, blackish at base, brownish towards tip, with some hairs; eye-margins rather deeply cut away at the middle of the side ; occiput considerably puffed out, black, with golden-yellow hairs at the sides and a fringe of stiff bright yellow hairs at the back, and with microscopic black hairs on the remaining portions. Thorax black, with short, not thick,

AXTHBAX. 253

bright golden-yellow hairs, also a bunch of bristly yellow hairs on each side, just behind the shoulder, with some yellow bristles ; some yellow haius on anterior margin. A large reclinate yellow spine above each wing-base and three or four black bristles on posterior portion of dorsurn. Sides of thorax ash-grey, with some patches of whitish hairs ; scutellum black, with golden-yellow hairs and some black bristles towards posterior margin. Abdomen moderately shining black, rather closely covered with short, bright golden-yellow hairs, which form a large fan-shaped bunch on each side of the 1st segment, where they become almost scaly ; there are short black hairs intermixed with the yellow towards the sides of the dorsum ; venter with close, soft, bright yellow hair. Legs : coxae black, with whitish hairs ; femora and tibiae yellow, with short black bristles, which are longest on the latter and form a circlet at the tips of the tibiae ; tarsi black, with very short pubescence and bristles. Wings very pale brown up to just beyond the middle, where the colour fades away ; halteres creamy yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from a unique specimen in perfect condition in the Indian Museum collection, from Calcutta, 1. vi. 1909.

This species does not fall quite naturally into any of my temporary divisions of this genus, as the darkening of the wing does not partake of the usual oblique form, the coloration ex- tending over the whole basal half of the wing.

198. Anthrax clausa, Brun.

Anthrax clausa, Brunetti, flee. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 477 (1909). <$ . Head slightly broader than thorax and abdomen ; frons and face black, clothed with dense short black hairs ; eyes distinctly separated at vertex, the ocelli being placed well forward, the frons widening very rapidly, until at the insertion of the antennas it occupies half the width of the head. Antenna? black ; first joint cylindrical, second sub-spherical, much shorter than first ; third onion-shaped, with long style, small, narrower, and shorter than second. Underside of face uniformly black, proboscis almost invisible; back of head dark grey, with a few \\hitish hairs. Thorax dull black ; anterior border with a rather thick fringe of grey hairs, which apparently cover both dorsum and sides. Abdomen linear, with conical tip, of same width as thorax ; dull black (denuded), probably when in good condition the whole abdo- men is covered with whitish-grey hairs. The present specimen has bunches of such hairs at the sides of the abdomen towards the base, also at the tip ; the dorsum shows little traces of hair, and on it the hair is probably always sparser ; at the sides of the abdomen towards the base are patches of all-black hairs ; venter black, nearly bare. Legs blackish, the inner sides of^ the anterior tibiaa with a brown tint ; femora below with some soft moderately long blackish hairs ; fore tibiae with a single row of small black

254 BOMBYLIID.I;.

bristles, middle pair with a similar row on both outer and inner sides, and hind pair rather thickly clothed with them. Wings clear; anal cell closed immediately before the border; discal cross- vein placed just beyond one-third of the discal cell ; first posterior cell widely open ; fork of the third vein showing a ten- dency to form an appendix; halieres cream-white; tegulae small, dirty white, transparent, with a fringe of short grey hairs.

Length, 8| mm.

Described" from a unique c? in the Indian Museum from Moul- .mein, Lower Burma, iii. 1908 (Annandale).

The only species described from the East with the anal cell closed.

The following species have been recorded from " East India," (but may be regarded as requiring further confirmation. They are therefore not included in the table of species : —

i

199. Anthrax troglodyta, F.

Bibio troglodyta, Fabricius, Syst. Ent. p. 759 (1775).

Anthrax troglodyta, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 306 (1828) ;

Wulp, Notes Leyd. Mus. vii, p. 83 (1885); de Meijere, Tijd. v.

Ent. 1, p. 240 (1907). Anthrax hyalina, Wiedemann, Dipt. Exot. i, p. 141 (1821) ; id.,

Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 297 (1828) ; Wulp, Tijd. v. Ent. xxiii, p. 165

(1889). Anthrax lucens, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 180 (1852).

" Black, head tawny beneath : chest and breast clothed with tawny hairs ; a tuft of white hairs on each side above the base of the wing ; abdomen obconical, a little shorter than the chest, clothed on each side with alternate patches of black and white hairs : legs clothed with very short black hairs. Wings colourless, dark brown at the base, adorned on each shoulder with a patch of silvery-white hairs ; wing-ribs and veins black. Length 4^ lines, wings 12 lines. East India." (Walker.)

Type in Fabricius's collection.

The above is Walker's description of lucens, which is said to be jdentical with troglodyta.

200. Anthrax lucida, Walk.

Anthrax lucida, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 179 (1852).

" $ . Black ; thickly clothed with bright tawny hairs ; head • clothed above with black hairs ; abdomen nearly linear, truncated at the tip, hardly shorter than the chest ; tip clothed with black hairs and adorned on each side with a tuft of yellowish-white hairs ; wings colourless, brown along the fore border for two- thirds of the length ; wing-ribs and veins black, the latter pitchy beneath the fore border ; poisers yellow. The brown on the wing •of this species is much narrower than that of A. manifesto,. Length 6 lines, wings 14 lines. East India." (Walker.)

Type in the British Museum.

ANTHBAX. 255

501. Anthrax limpida, Walk.

Anthrax limpida, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 179 (1852).

" Black ; head clothed above with short tawny, and longer black •hairs, beneath with longer tawny hairs ; chest clothed with bright tawny hairs ; abdomen slightly obconical, somowhat truncated at the tip, shorter than the chest, clothed with pale tawny hairs ; legs clothed with short black hairs ; wings colourless, with a very narrow brown stripe along the fore border for more than two- thirds of the length ; wing-ribs pitchy, veins black, pitchy at the base and along the fore border ; poisers pale yellow. Length 5 lines, wings 12 lines. East India." ( Walker.)

Type in the British Museum.

202. Anthrax referens, Walk.

Anthrax referens, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt, pt. 3, p. 189 (1852).

'•' Black ; head clothed with short ferruginous hairs, and on the •crown with some black hairs ; mouth pitchy, each side of the chest adorned with a stripe of white hairs ; breast grey, clothed with ferruginous hairs. Abdomen obcouical, much shorter than •chest, adorned towards the tip with two interrupted bands of white hairs ; base clothed with pale tawny hairs ; hind borders of segments clothed with short ferruginous hairs ; sides adorned with alternate tufts of black and white hairs ; underside ferru- ginous; legs pitchy, clothed with very short black hairs and bristles ; thighs and shanks adorned with a tawny tinge. Wings dark brown from the base along the fore border to the tip and along the hind border to the end of the interior part ; this brown part includes a nearly colourless dot, and its outline has two deep and irregular inward curves ; wing-ribs and veins black ; poisers pitchy, with pale yellow tips. Length of body 4-41 lines, wings 11-12 lines. East India." (Walker.)

Type in the British Museum.

Subfamily LOMATIIN.E.

Praefurca ending, that is to say, 2nd and 3rd veins separating, •nearly opposite base of discal cell. Antennae more or less approxi- mate at base ; proboscis usually short, sometimes porrect ; abdomen rather oblong, but not cylindrical. Head hardly transverse, closely applied to thorax; face generally produced ; eyes in c? approximate •or contiguous, wide apart in $ ; occiput generally puffed out. Thorax not humped, with few or no bristles ; scutellum large, without strong bristles. Abdomen longer than broad, geuerallv oblong, without bristles. Legs with few or no bristles, except -epicules on tibiae. Wings with 2nd vein and upper branch of 3rd strongly looped, more or less parallel to each other towards tips ; .anterior cross-vein placed considerably beyond middle of discal

256 BOMBYLIID.E.

cell, often sloping ; two or three subraarginal cells, four posterior cells, 1st either open or closed ; anal cell generally open.

This subfamily is by no means properly understood, nor its limits satisfactorily defined.

The present acceptance of it is in Verrall's sense, and only one genus with a single species is Indian.

Genus APH(EBANTUS, Lw.

AphoKbanttis, Loew, Berl. Ent. Zeit. xvi, p. 253 (1872). Triodites, Osten-Sacken, Bull. U.S. Geolog. Survey, iii, p. 245 (1877).

GENOTYPE, ApJioebantus cervinm, Loew ; by original designation.

Body and whole appearance Anthrax-like ; wings long. Bifur- cation of 2nd and 3rd longitudinal veins at some little distance (but not greatly) before anterior cross-vein. Frons in $ com- paratively wide. Antennae remote at base ; 1st joint short, 2nd very short ; 3rd short, more or less onion-shaped, with styliform prolongation, not separated by a suture, with or without a bristle at tip. Labella large, fleshy. Angulation of 3rd vein with or without appendix. Small but distinct pulvilli ; generally a long bristle at end of hind metatarsus.

Range. All the previously known species come from North America, except one occurring in Central America.

At the time of describing Argyramceba ceylonica the possibility of it being an Aphcebantus did not occur to me, as the genus was unknown from any part except North America and a single species from Central America. An unnamed specimen of my species in the British Museum, labelled " ? Aphcebantus" first called my attention to the genus, but no authenticated specimen definitely referred to the genus has been available for comparison, so I adopt it with some hesitation.

The species agrees with Osten-Sacken's characters of the bifurcation of the 2nd and 3rd veins, occurring at " some distance before " the anterior cross-vein ; as a matter of fact, it occurs in a line with or just beyond the base of the discal cell. The antennal 3rd joint shows no sign of any pencil of hairs, but a suture (about as far from the tip as in Argi/ramceba) is more or less obvious under a microscope in all the twenty or more specimens, mostly in good condition, examined, and the minute bristle at the extreme tip is apparent. This, however, is hardly my interpretation of Osten-Sacken's words "a minute, sometimes scarcely apparent joint," which seems to refer rather to size than distinctness of outline.

A. ceylonicus is admitted to Aphcebantus herein on the strength of the proximal bifurcation of the 2nd and 3rd veins, in conjunction with the absence of the antennal pencil of hairs.

The existence of my Argyramoeba intermedia and a probable second closely-allied species with nearly clear wings somewhat

APHXEBAXTUS. 257

complicates matters, as these two forms possess a distinct pencil of hairs, whilst the bifurcation of the 2nd and 3rd veins takes place half-way between the base of the discal cell and the anterior cross-vein, its exact position not being constant.

203. Aphcebantus ceylonicus, Brun.

Arqyramceba ceulonica, Brunetti. Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 471, pi. xii, fig. 24 (1909).

<5 $ . Head : irons in tf at vertex very narrow, one-fifth or one-sixth of its width at level of antennae, where it is less than a third the width of the head and widens from the vertex very rapidly ; frons in $ one-third as wide at vertex as it is at level of antennae, where it forms less than one-third of the head ; frous and face dark grey, face sometimes lighter, covered rather densely with bright yellow elongate scaly pubescence, which is generally paler on face, even whitish or quite white ; antennae black, 3rd joint onion-shaped, with a moderately long style, basal joints with black bristles ; proboscis brownish, withdrawn ; occiput ash-grey,, much puffed out behind, especially in the $, covered with minute impressed bright yellow scales ; side indentation of eye-margins very considerable. Thorax black, dorsum covered thickly with very minute bright yellow depressed scales and scale-like hairs,, and with long pale yellow hairs rather thinly interspersed ; a collar of very long elongate pale yellow scales on anterior margin, a bunch of slightly shorter and paler ones on shoulders ; several large yellow spines in front of wing-base and on posterior corners of dorsum, and a row of yellow bristles towards hind margin ;. sides of thorax ash-grey, with a bunch of pale yellowish pubes- cence below shoulders, also in front immediately below head ; sternopleurae with silky white pubescence ; scutellum with yellow pubescence as on thorax, and a row of yellow bristles on hiud margin. Abdomen normally with middle part longitudinally to a greater or less width black, remainder of dorsum brownish yellow ; often the black colour covering nearly the whole surface, whilst sometimes reduced (at least on anterior half of abdomen) to the middle third ; hind margin of abdomen more or less yellowish ; 1st segment mainly black, yellowish towards sides, with a thick bunch of yellowish scales covering each outer third, leaving the middle third bare ; hind margin with minute bright yellow scales ; whole surface of abdomen covered with minute bright yellow semi-depressed thick hairs, with longer black thin hairs inter- spersed ; sides of abdomen with moderately long thin pale yellow hairs, no trace of scales. Venter yellowish, more or less blackish in middle or towards base, sometimes nearly all blackish, covered with minute yellow pubescence ; genitalia brownish yellow, mainly concealed. Leys : coxae ash-grey, with long whitish pubescence ; femora and tibiae yellow ; about apical half of anterior tarsi and all the hind tarsi black, at most the latter a little pale at base in

258 BOMBYLIIDJE.

individuals ; hind femora with a row of black bristles behind; all tibiae with the usual rows of small black bristles ; hind femora with a number of small black bristles on upperside at tip, giving the appearance of the tip being blackish. Winys nearly clear, costal and subcostal cell yellowish or dusky, the colour sometimes ex- tending a little posteriorly, or in some specimens faintly or more distinctly across the wing, even to the hind margin ; tip of wing generally clear ; 2nd longitudinal vein rather deeply looped towards tip ; upper branch of 3rd vein with or without appendix ; halteres mainly yellow.

Length, 5-8 mm.

Redescribed from several of each sex in the British and Indian Museums and the Pusa collection : Kalimpong, Darjiling District, 800-4500 ft., 24.iv.-10.v.l915 (Gravely); Allahabad, 21-29. iii. 1906 (Howlett) ; Pusa, Bengal, not uncommon, i, iii, vii, xi, parasitic in cells of Pseudayenia clypeata (G. E. Dutt}\ Chapra, Bengal; Calcutta, 4. iv. 19 13 (Gravely}, l.vi.1909; Kandy, v.1892 (Yer- ftwry) ; Heneratgoda, Ceylon, 26. vi. 1892 (Yerlury); Pundaluoya, Ceylon (Green).

Types in the Indian Museum.

This redescription varies somewhat from the original, bub must be taken as an improved one, built on the study of considerably more specimens, mostly in good condition.

Description of Hie pupa-case. Pale yellowish, 10-segmented, the 1st with a brown prolongation, bearing six very strong blunt black spines arranged two in an upper and four in a lower row ; two similar but much smaller black spines in middle of underside of segment ; 1st segment smooth and bare ; 2nd similar, but with three or four very long filamentous pale yellow strong curved hairs on each side ; 3rd segment bare, except for a row placed just behind front margin, of very long, closely-placed, similar curved hairs, which are almost 'spine-like at base, but taper gradually so that the major portion is flexible ; there are also three very long yellowish similar bristly curved hairs (their bases not spine-like) on each side of the segment. Dorsum of each remaining segment with a transverse row, placed at about middle of segment, of twelve or more strong bright brown hooks, about three-fourths of the length of each being fixed to the surface, and the tips curved upward and forward, evidently designed to hold the pupa-case tightly, enabling the imago to draw itself free and escape. These hooks are largest in the middle of the row, and gradually diminish in size towards the sides, where are several very long bristly hairs as on 3rd segment ; also between each two hooks, its roots near the upturned portion (of the hooks), is a similar rather shorter (though still actually very long) bristly curved hair. On 4th, 5th, and 6th segments the hooks are very- large and strong, on the 7th considerably smaller, and on the next three segments smaller still; but the "long bristly pale yellow hairs are equally long on all the segments, except the 10"th, or. which they are distinctly shorter. Tip of 10th segment formed

BOMBYLIIISLE. 259

into a blunt cone with two short strong brown blunt spines at •extreme tip and a similar smaller spine above them, placed a little anteriorly. Venter with a transverse row of moderately long pale hairs placed behind the middle of each segment.

Length, 10-12 mm., measured along dorsal line from tip to tip; probably variable.

Subfamily BOMBYLIIN^E.

Head smaller than in ANTHRACIJTJE, rarely transverse or wider than thorax ; back of head much puffed out ; eyes contiguous or subcontiguous in tf , distinctly separated in $ ; if wide apart in c? , then abdomen short and broad. Antenuse approximate at base, variable in structure, with an apical style of variable form, sometimes imperceptible. Proboscis variable in length, generally elongate and porrect. Thorax generally well, often considerably, arched, usually with dense furry pubescence ; in some genera nearly bare. Abdomen usually short, broad and rounded, rarely conical ; frequently with dense furry pubescence. Legs generally long and thin, sometimes bare or apparently so, often with stick- like spines below the femora, or with spicules, or with a circlet of epical spines to the tibiae. Two pulvilli. Wings with the prae- furca short ; one to three subrnarginal cells ; three or four posterior cells ; 2nd and 3rd longitudinal veins usually emerging at an acute angle, the latter approximately opposite base of discal cell ; 3rd vein nearly always forked ; discal cell rarely absent ; anal cell open or closed.

This subfamily differs from the ASTHRACIN./E by the divergence of the 2nd and 3rd veins at an acute angle at some distance before the anterior cross-vein, from the TOXOPHOEIN^E and SYSTBOPINJE by the short rounded abdomen, and from the LOMATIIN.E (less distinctly) by the rounder abdomen, the longer proboscis, and less upturned 2nd vein.

Table of Genera.

1. One submarginal cell only EMPIDIDEICUS, Beck.,

Two or more such cells 2. [p. 260.

2. Four posterior cells 3.

Three posterior cells 7.

3. First and second antennal joints sub-

equal '. PHTHIBIA, Mg., p. 284.

First autennal ioint much longer than 2nd ' 4.

4. First basal cell distinctly longer than

2nd ; anterior cross-vein towards or

at middle of discal cell 5.

The two basal cells suboqual, through anterior cross-vein being near base of cell 6.

5. First posterior cell closed BOMBYLIUS, L., p, 261.

First posterior cell open DISCHISTUS, Lw., p. 273.

s2

260 BOMBYLIID.T:.

6. Underside of head moderately pubescent. SYSTOECHUS,LW.,P. 275. Underside of head densely pubescent ANASTCECHUS, O.-S.,

7. Abdomen rather long, conical, or narrow ; [p. 278.

eyes in rf contiguous ; scutellum more

or less triangular GEKON, Mg., p. 279.

Abdomen short and broad ; eyes in rf generally narrowly separated ; scutel- lum shorter and broader USIA, Latr., p. 281.

Genus EMPIDIDEICUS, Beck.

£mpididcicus, Becker, Zeits. f. Hymen, u. Dipt, vii, p. 97, fig. (1907).

GENOTYPE, Empidideicus carthaginiensig, Beck. ; by original designation.

Very small bare species. Head placed low on the thorax ; antennae with 1st joint microscopic, 2nd extremely short, 3rd comparatively large, elliptical, with small apical thickly pubescent style ; occiput more or less puffed out. Thorax considerably arched. Abdomen of six distinct segments. Legs simple, moderately long, bare. Wings with distinctive venation : aux- iliary vein short, ending free ; 1st vein ending at about middle of costa ; 2nd vein absent (genotype) or present (indicus) • when present, very short, turning sharply upwards and ending in 1st vein near its tip ; 3rd vein simple, ending at some little distance before wing-tip ; 4th vein forked, sometimes indistinct on the portion dividing the basal cells ; 5th vein forked, base of upper branch forming lower side of 2nd basal cell ; 6th vein attaining wing-border ; anterior cross-vein present ; discal cell absent ; one submarginal, three posterior cells ; anal cell open ; squamae absent.

Allied to Glabelhda, Cyrtosia, and Apolysis, only one other species (from the Tunisian coast) except indicus being known.

204. Empidideicus indicus, Brun.

Empididdcus indicus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xiii, p. 77 (1917).

$ . Head : irons apparently about one-fourth width of head, yellowish ; antennae black ; proboscis more than 1^ times height of head. Thorax black, practically bare ; humeri bright yellow. Abdomen black, hind margins of segments pale jellow, and a transverse yellow line across middle of 1st and 2nd segments. Legs black, kiiees and tips of tibiae yellowish. Wings pale grey ; auxiliary vein short, ending free ; 1st vein ending at middle of costa ; pnefurca beginning at middle of 1st vein ; 2nd vein very short, directed abruptly upwards, ending in 1st vein near tip"; 3rd vein in line with praefurca, simple, ending a little before wing-tip ; 4th vein forked at half its length after quitting basal cells, the section dividing those cells hardly less distinct ; 5th vein forked, base of upper branch forming lower side of 2nd basal

EMPIDIDEICUS. — BOJIBYLIUS. 261

«eil ; 6th vein reaching wing-border ; 1st basal cell a little longer than 2nd ; bifurcation of praefurca opposite tip of 2nd basal cell.

Length, 1 mm.

Described from four paratype specimens in the Indian Museum in very indifferent condition, taken by Dr. Annaudale at Simla, 7000ft., 16. v. 1909, on flowers of white stonecrop, and 7. v. 1910, also at Simla.

The species conforms to all the generic characters except in the presence of the 2nd vein, which, according to Becker, is anas- tomosed with the 3rd. In his species, also, the basal cells are «qual in length, and he does not mention the auxiliary vein, which, howeA^er, is easily overlooked in indicus. Temporarily, at least, the species may be located in this genus. Verrall figures the wing of this genus (Brit. Flies, v, p. 484, fig. 272).

Genus BOMBYLIUS, L.

Bomlylius, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 606 (1758) ; Brunetti,

Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 456 (1909).

Parisus, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 1, p. 197 (1852). Choristus, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 1, p. 196 (1852).

GENOTYPE, Bombylius major, L. ; by designation of Latreille,

ffrad small, semicircular, set rather low and closely applied to thorax ; face short, densely pubescent : frons in 9 with long pubescence or scales ; three ocelli ; eyes elliptical, bare, con- tiguons in tf , wide apart in $ , without an indentation at middle of hind margin. Proboscis very long, thin, pointed ; labella small. Antennae porrect, approximated at base ; 1st joint much longer than 2nd, with long stiff hairs ; 2nd short, cup-shaped ; 3rd elongate, variable in shape, conical, peg-shaped, long strap-shaped, or rarely leaf-like, occasionally with dorsal scales ; style jointed, terminal. Thorax oval, short, considerably arched, with dense furry pubescence ; sometimes distinct presutural bristles present. Scutellum broad, semicircular, clothed as the thorax, occasionally with scales only. Abdomen rounded, short, well arched, 7 seg- mented, the terminal ones withdrawn, all with dense furry pubescence, often with longer and more bristly hairs intermixed. Legs long and thin, bearing spicules ; hind legs elongate, hind femora often with stiff bristly spicules below ; all tibia? with rows •of minute spicules and small terminal spurs ; pulvilli distinct, empodium minute. Wings at rest, outspread, rather narrow; subcostal cell very narrow ; 3rd vein forked ; anterior cross-vein at or before middle of discal cell, erect : two submarginal and three posterior cells, all open ; ] st basal cell always longer than 2nd, but sometimes only a little longer ; anal cell narrow, open. The wings often prettily marked either with spots or the diagonal baso-costal band so common in this family.

Eange. World-wide ; a very large genus.

Life-history of a few European species partially known, the

262 BOMBYL11DJE.

larva? preying upon the larvae, and perhaps pupae also, of small bees (Andrena, Halictus, etc.).* The Jarva and pupa of Bomlylius major, L., has been obtained from the nests of Andrena. The pupa of Bomlylms has cephalic spines which act as digging organs.

Table of Species.

1. Wings with narrow black band at base

and a brown suffusion across middle : abdomen with bright red pubescence, and white pubescence at tip; length

10-13 mm oriental**, Macq., p. 263,

Wings without suffusion across middle ; abdomen never as above 2.

2. Wings wholly dark brown except hind

border, where the colour fades away ;

abdomen in c? with silvery-white, in

£ with fiery-red pubescence ; length »

4-5 mm wntyii, Brun., p. 264.

Wings clear, with dark brown band on

fore border, irregular in width, reaching

nearly to tip on costa and posteriorly

nearly to middle of wing; length

8-12 mm major, L., p. 265.

Wings clear, or at most brownish or

brownish yellow at base, the colour

never extending more than half across

wing (in propinquits only) 3.

3. A conspicuous row of erect black spines on

hind border of abdominal segments;

length 8-12 mm ercctus, Brun., p. 267,

Abdomen without such .spines ; length at most 6 mm 4.

4. Legs black ; head with silvery -white

hair-spots t 5.

Legs pale yellow 6.

~). Third antennal joint twice as long as 1st

and 2nd together; extreme base of

wing dark brown ; subcostal cell pale

yellowish maculatas, F., p. 2G7.

Third antennal joint subequal to 1st and

2nd together ; wing practically clear,

only extreme base and the subcostal

cell very pale yellowish comastes, Brun., p. 268.

6. First antennal joint pale yellow ; 3rd joint

nearly double 1st and 2nd together;

anterior cross-vein at one-third of

discal cell ; 1st basal cell very little

longer than 2nd ; only 1st basal cell and

subcostal cell very slightly brownish. . vicinus, Brun., p. 270. Antennae all black ... .7.

* See Verrall (' British Flies,' v, p. 502) for interesting notes on the habits- of B. canescens, a European species.

t .B. albospar&us, Uig., comes here, but I cannot define it more narrowly.

BOMBYLIUS. 263

7. Snow-white pile and hairs at tip of abdo-

men ; 3rd antennal joint nearly double

as long as 1st and 2nd together terminalis, Brun., p. 270.

No white hairs on abdomen 8.

8. Wings clear, brown at base, nearly up to

anterior cross-vein fulvipes, Big., p. 271.

Basal half of wing diagonally brown, the

colour dying away gradually propiiiquus, Brun., p. 272,

In comparisons between the length of the proboscis or abdomen relatively to that of the thorax the scutellum is not included.

205. Bombylius orientalis, Macq.

Bombylius orientalis, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, pt. 1, p. 90, pi, vi,

tig. 2 (1840) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mas. ii, p. 456 (1909). Bombylius tricolor, Guerin, Icon. Kegne Anim. iii, p. 538, pi. xcv (1829-1838).

c? ? . Head : in tf , vertex very small, black, with black hairs ; frons and face black, former witb long whitish or yellowish- white hairs, similar hairs adorning each side of the face ; lower part of head devoid of pubescence ; occiput with brownish-yellow hairs. Antennae black ; 3rd joint twice as long as 1st and 2nd together, tapering; 1st joint with long grey hair above and below.

Fig. 14. — Bombylius orienfalis, Macq.

Proboscis black, as long as from the frons to hind border of thorax ; palpi brownish black. In $ , frons about one-third the width of the head, slightly narrower above, with greyish pubescence; in all else as in the <5 . Thorax and scutellum closely covered with rather short brownish-yellow pubescence. Abdomen black, with thick yellowish-grey hairs towards sides and at base, and with the tip covered with whitish hairs; the remainder of the dorsuni covered with fiery-red or orange-red hairs ; the pubescence in the

264 BOMBYLIIDyE.

median line of the hinder part of the abdomen much thinner ; the pubescence extends thickly over the sides, the central space of the ventral surface bearing short grey pubescence. Legs all black ; hind femora with some rows of short black bristles below ; anterior femora with some short soft hairs below ; very small bristles on all tibiae. Wings pale grey ; a narrow basal black band not reaching as far distally as the humeral cross-vein and the alulae ; a broad, rather pale brownish, distinct but ill-defined band across middle of wing from costa nearly or quite to hind border, beginning before the anterior cross-vein and ending about level with the tip of the 2nd longitudinal vein ; costal and sub- costal cells a little brownish ; halteres black.

Length, 13-15 mm.

Eedescribed mainly from three $ tf in good condition in the Indian Museum from Anwarganj, Cawnpore Distr., 1-13. x. 1911 (Counter); Coorg, S. India ( Hannyngtoii) ; and Karikkuppaur, S. India, 2500ft., 21. x. 1910. Other examples are from Dehra Dun, ix. 1913 and x. 1914 (Chatterjee\ 9. vii. 1913 ; Palamovv, Bengal ; Chapra, Bengal, common (Mackenzie) ; Bangalore ; Ranchi; Hadagalli, Ceylon.

Type in the Paris Museum.

206. Bombylius wulpii, Brun.

Bombylius wulpit, Brunetti, Eec. Itid. Mus. ii, p. 457 (1909) ; id.,

op. cit. iii, p. 26 (1909). Sombylius pulchellus, Wulp (nee Loew, 1863), Tijd. v. Ent.

xxiii, p. 164, pi. x, fig-. 8 (1880).

Comastes pulchellus, Wulp, Cat. Dipt. S. Asia, p. 74 (1896). Eucharimyia dives, Bigot, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, (6) viii. p. cxl

(1888). Bombylins scintillans, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 224 (1909).

S $ . Head in <5 nearly as broad as thorax, black ; eyes contiguous for about half the distance between vertex and antennae ; upper facets much larger than and divided clearly from lower ones ; eyes reddish or dark brown ; vertex distinct, ocelli red ; antennie black, 3rd joint nearly double as long as 1st and 2nd together, long bushy black hairs on 1st joint; clypeus shining dark brown or blackish, the centre part devoid of pubescence ; a small conspicuous spot of silvery-white scales on each side of the antennae and another larger one on each side of the face ; proboscis black ; occiput blackish, with bushy bright yellow hairs on upper part and long black hairs on lower part. In $ , frons nearly one-third of the head, a little narrower above, black, covered with bright deep yellow scaly hairs or scales; four white scale-spots on head as in d ; occiput with bright yellow- pubescence; face nearly bare. Thorax in rf deep black, with black pubescence, the anterior part of dorsum with bright yellowish hairs ; scutellum black, with long black hairs ; a white scale-spot just behind each humerus. In $, dorsum and

BOMBYLIUS. 265

scutellurn with fiery reddish-yellow scaly hairs and a few black bristly hairs along sides of thorax and on scutellum. Abdomen in c? dull shining black, with some long black hairs on 1st segment and on the wholly black venter; remainder of dorsal surface covered closely with shining silvery-white scales. In 5 , abdomen covered with fierv reddish-yellow scaly hairs ; a small white scale-spot at the sides of both 2nd and 4th segments ; remainder as in 3 . Leys black ; anterior femora with short soft black hairs below, hind pair with some rows of small black bristles below ; tibiae with numerous small bristles. Wings deep smoky brown, nearly black at base and on basal pnrl of costa ; hind border paler, the colour dying away gradually ; a blackish spot at upper angle of 2nd basal cell ; halteres black. Anterior cross-vein distinctly before middle of discal cell; 1st basal cell distinctly longer than 2nd.

Length, 4-5 mm.

Eedescribed from several specimens from Dehra Dun, vi. 1913, vi. 1914 (Ghatterjee) • Bellary, 30. viii. 1912; Cheria Island, Chilka Lake, Orissa, 21. viii. 1914; Talewaddi, ]ST. Kanara Distr., 3-10. ix. 191 6 (Kemp}; Kulattupuzha, Travancore, 19. xi. 1908, and Tenmalai, Travancore, at light, 22. xi. 08 (Annandale) ; Param- bikulam, 1700-3200 ft., Cochin State, 16-24. ix. 1914 (Gravely} ; Madulsima, Ceylon, 19.1.1909, and 9. viii. 1908 (T. B. Fletcher); Kandy, viii. 1892 (Green) : Hambantota, Ceylon, 12. i. 1908 ; Maru- thamalai Lashio, Upper Burma, 3000 ft., 23, 24. viii. 19 14 (Fletcher).

207. Bombylius major, L.

Bombylius major, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 606 (1758) ; Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 128 (1805); Meigeii, Syst. Besch. ii, p. 190 (1820); Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt, i, p. 377, pi. ix, tigs. 9, 10 (1834) ; Schiner, Faun. Austr., Dipt, i, p. 60 (1862) ; et auct. plur.*

Bomlylius.sinuatus, Mik, Monog. Bomb. Bohem. p. 35, pi. xi, tig. 4 (1796).

Bombylius variegatm, De Geer, Ins. ed. Goeze, vi, p. 107, pi. xiv, tig. 10 (1782).

<$ . Head with vertex greyish black, triangular, elevated, with long black hairs ; frons brownish grey, with a middle furrow, and long dense hair, which is black on upper part but becomes light brown near the antennae, also with short pale brown depressed pubescence between the frons and the cheeks ; face mainly with dense brownish-yellow hairs and a few black ones intermixed ; the pubescence near the eyes black ; lower part of head with dense long whitish pubescence; eyes contiguous for some distance; occiput much puffed out, with dense dark tawny pubescence and a fringe of long black hairs posteriorly. Antennae black ; 1st joint three times as long as 2nd, with long black hairs; 2nd cup-shaped, dusted with light grey, tip ferruginous : 3rd twice as long as 1st,

* ride Kertesz, Kat. Dipt., for copious references.

266 BOMBYLIID.I;.

rather flattened, style very short, 2-joiuted. Proboscis blackish, as long as from tip of epistome to tip of scutellum. Thorax black, with dense erect pale tawny pubescence, varying in appearance according to .the line of vision from greyish yellow to yellowish brown, the pubescence paler above and behind the wing-base ; no black hairs on upper surface of dorsum. Upper part of pleura> with dark rufous-tawny, nearly black, pubescence, narrowing in width towards wing-base ; lower part of pleurae with a narrow band of whitish pubescence, below which the pubescence is black. Scutellar pubescence concolorous with that of dorsum. Abdomen black, with long dense brownish-orange pubescence ; sides of 3rd segment with black pubescence, which is broader anteriorly, extending across the venter ; isolated long black hairs on hind margins of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments ; 4th and remaining seg- ments with numerous black hairs, scattered irregularly. Venter with whitish pubescence, crossed by the transverse band of black hairs on 3rd segment, and with a similar median longitudinal band. Legs dull orange ; coxae and trochanters black ; fore femora (except narrowly at tip), basal half of middle pair, and basal third (less on upper side) of hind femora black ; tarsi blackish, but pale on first two joints for a greater or less distance ; fore coxae with long dense brownish-white pubescence, middle pair with less dense and darker pubescence, hind pair with blackish pubescence ; femora with long but not dense blackish pubescence on about basal half, also with shorter greyish pubescence merging into adpressed almost scaly pubescence; hind femora with a row of about eight long black bristles on basal half below, and smaller ones on apical half ; fore tibiae with three posterior pairs with four rows of 12 to 20 small black bristles in each row ; fore tibia* with three, middle pair with five, hind pair with a circlet of small black spurs ; tarsi minutely bristly ; pulvilli dirty whitish, em- podium reduced to a minute spine ; claws rather long, black. Wings clear, with an oblique baso-costal band covering the whole of the base, and extending distally in gradually but irregularly diminishing width, ending at about tip of 2nd vein. Roughly speaking, the hind border of the darkened part emits four short but not conspicuous extensions with sloping sides respectively over the alula, over upper branch of 5th vein, up to about middle of 1st posterior cell, and just before tip of 2nd vein ; alar squamae brown, margin darker, with long fringe; halteres small, orange, knob black.

$ . Mainly as the c? . Frons at widest part about half width of head, narrower above, with long thin yellow hairs and short adpressed scaly pubescence, which latter is absent on the centre part and for a transverse space above antennae ; upper part of irons with short brownish pubescence and long black hairs. The stripe of dark hair across the lower part of pleurae paler than in <J , seldom blackish. The black bristles on hind borders of abdominal segments more conspicuous; anus with an outer ring of black and an inner fringe of short tawny ones.

Length, 8 to 12 mm.

BOMBYLIUS. 267

The above description is compiled from Verrall's in his 'British Flies.' Typical specimens occur in the Himalayas in April and May, with others exhibiting minor variations, and the species is not at all uncommon in the Simla Hills.

208. Bombylius erectus, Brvm.

liombylius erectus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 480, pi. xii, fig. 27 (1909).

c? $ . Head : irons covered with short bright yellow hairs, with two arched rows of stiff black bristles, one just above, the other just below, the antennae, and reaching from eye to eye; sides of face with rather long, silky, cream-coloured hair ; lower part of face light grey, with long snow-white hair ; mouth-border reddish ; antennae black ; back of head with yellow hairs ; eves bare, dis- tinctly excavated behind in the middle. Thorax cinereous black, with (in semi-denuded condition) traces of n thick yellow pile, an elongated bunch of strong black bristles at the side, in front of the wings ; sides of thorax with long greyish-white hairs, and yellowish hairs immediately below the wings. Scutelluin ferrugi- nous, black at base, with a row of strong black bristles round the posterior edge, with yellow hairs below it ; dorsum with yellow hairs. Abdomen apparently blackish brown, thickly clothed with yellowish and whitish hairs, which are generally yellowish on the basal segments and apical one, and generally whitish on the others, but variable; sides of 3rd and 4th segments with thick tufts of white hairs, and the sides of the 5th segment with a tuft of black hairs, posterior borders of 2nd and subsequent segments each with a row of closely-placed, black, strong, erect spines, forming two arcs when viewed from behind ; venter blackish, dorsum of segment with white pile, some black spines towards the tip. Leys blackish brown, with small spines and a silvery sheen seen in certain lights. Wings absolutely clear, extreme base slightly tawny, a small row of black bristles at base of costa ; tegulae pale yellow, with a narrow fringe of yellow hairs ; halteres light brown.

Length, 8-12 mm.

Described from thirteen rf <S and twelve $ $ from Bangalore.

Types in the Indian Museum collection; co-types in the British Museum and my collection.

209. Bombylius maculatus, F.

Bombylius maculatus, Fabricius, Syst. Ent. p. 803(1775) ; "Wiede-

mann, Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 342 (1828).

tf $ . Head in rf black ; eyes contiguous for nearly one-third the distance from vertex to antennae, leaving a rather larg^ vertical triangle bearing a few black hairs ; the ocelli large, red, well separated ; frons with elongate white or yellowish-white scales ; face clothed with long snow-white bristly hairs ; autenn®

268 BOMBYLlID.i:.

black, 1st joint about 2| times length of 2nd, with some fine yellowish-white hairs, 2nd with very few short black bristles, 3rd more than double length of 1st and 2nd together ; underside of head with soft snow-white hairs ; occiput with long snow-white scales. In 5 , frons forming one-third of head at level of antennae, barely narrower at vertex; covered, as face is also, with long snow-white scales, intermixed with long white or yellowish-white bristly hairs. Thorax black ; a pair of faint bluish well-separated narrow stripes visible on the denuded surface ; dorsuni covered towards all sides with narrow flat-lying hair-like scales, and a further clothing of long scale-like bristly snow-white pubescence ; probably in perfect specimens the whole dorsum thus covered, possibly less densely in middle ; a large fan-shaped bunch of bristly white hairs behind and below wing-base. Scutellum large, subtriangular, apparently clothed like thorax. Abdomen black, with microscopic flat-lying black scales and a row of dark brown bristly hairs on hind margins of 2nd and 3rd segments, intermixed on 3rd segment with long yellow bristles ; 4th and 5th segments with yellow bristles on hind margins ; from the 2nd segment onwards a large patch of small snow-white scales at the base towards each side, and from at least the 3rd segment onward a similar patch in the middle of each segment's hind margin ; at sides of 2nd segment (behind the white scale-spot) and extending over the whole side of the 3rd segment (beyond the white scale- spot) a bunch of long dark brown bristly, almost scale-like, pubescence ; black hairs surround the tip of the abdomen. Legs black ; coxa? with long whitish bristly hairs in front ; femora more or less clothed with white scales, tibia} with traces of them Wings clear ; costal cell yellowish, whole base of wing as far as humeral cross-vein dark brown ; some white scales at base of costa in addition to the usual patch of dark brown ones ; thoracic squamae dark brown, with a long fringe of snow-white bristly pubescence ; alar squama and adjoining hind margin of wing for a short distance with small pale brownish or yellow scales ; halteres black.

Length, 6-7 mm.

Kedescribed from one rf and two $ 2 in the Indian Museum from Chatrapur, and Balighai, near Puri, 16-20. viii. 1911. Specimens seen from Bellary, 31. viii. 1912, and Coimbatore, S. India, 1. vii. & 7. viii. 1912 (Fletcher).

Type in Fabricius's collection.

210. Bombylius comastes, Brun.

Bombylius comastes, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 225 (1909). d. Head with eyes contiguous for a short distance (about 10 facets); vertex blackish grey, with erect long stiff black hairs, ocelli shining brownish yellow ; frons densely covered with long black bristles, a small patch of elongate snow-white scales on each side contiguous to upper eye-margin ; face with long black bristles

BOMBYLIUS.

and an elongate patch of very long snow-white scales running; somewhat diagonally across each side from eye-margin nearly to centre of face ; antennae black, 1st joint with long bristly pubes- cence ; mouth-o'pening large, grey, with some short pale hairs on margin; proboscis black, as long as abdomen ; occiput black, some small snow-white scales on eye-margins ; vertex with a bunch of long black, hairs. Thorax velvet-black, with a thick collar on anterior margin of elongate yellowish scales ; rest of dorsum with very dense dark brown pubescence of moderate length, some whitish pubescence along hinder margin. Scutellum covered with very small scales, which appear bright emerald-green or pale violet according to the direction of the light. A tuft of long snow- white scales behind wing-base. Abdomen black, with (apparently) long dark brown bristly pubescence on dorsum towards and on sides, where it becomes much longer, thicker, and almost scaly ; a small tuft of snow-white scales towards sides at base of 2nd segment ; 4th segment with a bunch of very long snow-white scales towards each side at base, and a smaller bunch in centre on hind margins of 4th, 5th, and 6th segments. Venter black, with rather long soft whitish hairs in the centre and (apparently) some small snow-white scales; rather bare towards sides, but the very long pubescence of the dorsum and actual sides of the abdomen curve under the venter to some extent. Legs dark brown or black ; coxae with yellowish-grey hairs ; femora and tibia3 with numerous small glistening snow-white scales; soft hairs below anterior femora ; hind femora and posterior tibia3 with spiny bristles. Wings quite clear, costal and subcostal cells yellowish ; halteres black ; squamae yellowish, with short white fringe; veinlet closing 1st posterior cell in a straight line with discal cross-vein.

$ . Head as broad as thorax ; frons dark olive-brown, distinctly but not greatly narrower at vertex than at level of antennae, where it forms one-third the width of the head, apparently covered in good specimens with small snow-white scales ; face with long brilliantly snow-white scales ; 1st antenual joint with rather long black pubescence, softer than in d1 ; two oval callus-like elevations on frons, contiguous to eyes and vertical triangle ; occiput more thickly covered with longer snow-white scales than in cf ; ocelli bright red. Dorsum of thorax covered with very small, brilliantly shining, emerald-green depressed scales with violet reflections ; a patch of small snow-white scales behind the humerus and below the wing-root ; two or three such patches of scales on pleurso ; with rather long yellowish pubescence intermixed; dark brown pubescence of dorsum sparse ; scutellum covered with small emerald-green scales with violet reflections and some rather long black pubescence. Abdomen black, whole surface closely covered with very small brilliantly shining violet scales, showing a bronze tint in certain lights, also a row of stiff black hairs towards hind bolder of each segment. In all else as in J •

Length, tf 7-8 ; $ 5 mm.

270 BOMBYLTID-*.

Eedescribed from two J c? and one $ in the British Museum from the Bombay Presidency (E. B. Fry), and the original type in the Indian Museum.

211. Bombylius albosparsus, Big.

Bombylius albosparsus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Eut. France, (7) Ixi, p. 362 (1892).

<5 . Antennae black, facial pubescence thick, silvery white ; frons black, with silvery pile, and two small tufts of the same colour. The whole body velvety black, anterior part of thorax with dense short grev pubescence. Abdomen with numerous white hairs intermixed, tip with long thick white hairs. Halteres and legs black ; wings nearly clear.

$ (denuded) like d . Frons wide, with four spots formed by silver pile ; proboscis longer than head and thorax together.

Pondicherry. Length, 5i mm.

Type in the Bigot collection.

212. Bombylius vicinus, Brun.

Bombylius vicinus, Bruiietti. Kec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 480 (1909).

$ . This species is so closely allied to terminalis that I had almost decided to regard it as the $ of that species. The differences, however, appear sufficient to be specific. The hair on the front is more whitish, that on the back of the head uniformly greyish yellow, very dense, the posterior orbit of the eyes is snow-white with minute white hairs; first antennal joint pale yellow, second somewhat lighter than in terminal™ ; base of proboscis yellow. The hairs on the thorax appear whiter, those on the sides and underside being quite white. The scutellum, posterior portion of the thorax, and the abdomen are covered with rather short brownish-yellow hairs. Some white hairs at the base of the abdomen at the sides and a few white hairs at the tip, but no snow-white pile at the tip of the abdomen. Legs as in terminalis.

Lenyth, 4 mm.

Described from a unique $ in the Pusa collection from Allahabad, 3.iv. 1906 (Hewlett).

213. Bombylius terminalis, Bwn.

Bombylius terminalis, Bruiietti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 479 (1909). c? . Head with vertex of moderate size, dark grey ; eyes con- tiguous for two-thirds of the distance from the vertex to the antennae, reddish brown. Antennae wholly black ; 1st joint longer than 2nd ; 3rd nearly double the 1st and 2nd together, bearing a short, minute bristle; 1st and 2nd joints with pale hairs. Frons and face with yellowish hairs, and snow-white pile around the antennae, lower part of head white, with white hairs ;

BOMBTLIUS.] 271

proboscis black, 3 mm. long; back of head with short yellowish hairs above and white hairs below. Thorax thickly clothed with yellowish-grey hairs ; scutelluni similar, the dark body-colour being visible through the hairs on both thorax and scutellum ; sides of thorax with similar hairs, which become whitish on the underside. Abdomen with thick yellowish-grey hairs, which are thinnest on the dorsum and thickest at the sides, becoming whitish towards the tip of the abdomen, the last two segments of which are covered with brilliant snow-white silvery pile and some whitish hairs ; venter with yellowish-grey hairs, white towards tip. Leys pale yellow7, the femora and tibiae showing a slight whitish reflection in certain lights ; tips of all the tarsi black, the hind tarsi mainly brownish ; a few soft hairs below the femora and a row of about six well -separated spines on underside of hind pair; tibiae with minute spines, which are longest on hind pair. Winys clear, veins towards base yellowish ; discal transverse vein placed at one-third of the discal cell ; first posterior cell closed half-way between border and origin of fork of fourth longitudinal vein ; halteres yellowish white.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from a 3 in the Pusa collection, captured by Mr. F. W. Hewlett at Allahabad, 3. iv. 1906 ; a second <J from Lahore, iii. 1908.

So far as his brief description goes, my species agrees fairly well with Bigot's albosparsus, but he distinctly says " legs and halteres black," which makes it appear to be a different species.

214. Bombylius fulvipes, Big.

Sombyliusfulvipes, Bigot, Ann. Sue. Ent. France. Ixi, p. 362 (1892) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, pp. 457, 478 (1909).

$ . Bead : frons at the level of the antennas occupying one-third the width of the head, narrowing at vertex to one-fourth, clothed with short golden-yellow pubescence and some longer brownish- yellow hairs ; underside of face with rather close golden-yellow hairs of moderate length; month-border bright lemon-yellow, with moderately long yellow hairs. Antennae black ; 1st joint rather long, sub-cylindrical, widening gradually to the tip, with some long yellow hairs on outer side ; 2nd joint sub-cylindrical, barely half as long as the 1st, with short black hairs ; 3rd joint twice as long as 1st, bare, partly flattened vertically, and "pinched'' just before the middle, terminating in a very short whitish blunt style. Ocelli on a small prominence on the absolute vertex, equi- distant; eyes black, bare, facets small, uniform: back of head covered with rather long bright yellow hairs. Thorax covered with rather long yellowish-grey hairs, extending entirely over the sides and scutellum ; ground-colour of both dorsum and scutellum black. Abdomen densely covered with pale yellowish-grey hairs, which become whitish on the tip ; ground-colour blackish ; venter with close, pale yellowish-grey hairs. Legs : coxa? closely clothed

272 BOMBYLIIDjE.

with yellowish-grey hairs ; femora, tibiae, and base of tarsi pale tawny ; extreme base of femora and apical half of tarsi black ; anterior femora with only a very little soft hair below, hind pair with a row of six or seven moderately strong black spines below ; all the tibia? irregularly beset with short black bristles, which become spinose on the hind pair ; and all the tibia? have a circlet of very short black spines at the tip. Wings hyaline; upper basal cell only a little, but distinctly longer than the lower one ; costal cell and base of wing as far as the origin of the basal cells tawnv yellowish ; the colour then, gaining an admixture of blackish, extends to three-fourths of the upper and the whole of the lower basal cell, leaving the whole discal cell quite clear ; thence extending to the posterior margin of the wing, filling the basal halves of the anal and axillary cells and the whole of the alula? ; the discal cross-vein is almost imperceptibly suffused. The first posterior cell is closed just before the border. %<

Length, 5-6 mm.

Described from a perfect single specimen in the Pusa collection, captured by Mr. F. M. Hewlett at Allahabad, 19. x. 1905. Other specimens from Belgaum, Bombay, 11. ii. 1912 (Fletcher) ; Lahore, Talewaddi, 3- 10.x. 1916, and Castle Bock, 11-26. x. 1916, both IN". Kanara Distr. (Kemp).

Though I cannot be absolutely sure of the identity, I think the present specimens are almost certainly Bigot's species.

215. Bombylius propinquus, Brun.

Eombylius propinquus, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 22G (1909).

<$ $ . This species closely resembles terminalis, mihi, but, intermixed with the yellowish-brown soft hairs on the front part of the head, are numerous long black bristly hairs ; there is no snow-white pile around the antennae; the lower part of the head is brownish yellow (not white), and without white hairs, the base of the proboscis is yellow, and there is no snow-white pile at the tip of the abdomen. The wings have a blackish-brown baso-costal band, occupying nearly half the surface of the wing ; 1st posterior cell closed at some distance from the border. The proboscis is 4 mm. long ; the whole insect only 5 mm.

Type in my collection ; taken at Haragama, Ceylon, i. 1908.

Three in the British Museum from Trincomali, 24. ii. 1891, and Mahagany, 8. ii. 1891 and 20. xii. 1891, Ceylon (Col. Yerbury).

This species is also allied to fulvipes, Big., but the different marking of the wing at once separates them. Described originally from a 6 in my collection from Ceylon. I stated that the all- black antenna? separated it readily from ricinus ; but though this is the case in the type, four males from Gruindy, Madras, un- doubtedly belonging to the same species, show that the antennae are normally more or less pale on at least the underside of the 1st and 2nd joints, and vary from wholly pale to blackish on the

BOMBYLIUS. — DISCHISXUS. 273

upper side. Two rf c? and 1 5 in the British Museum bear this out.

In the $ the frons forms one-third the width of the head at the Jevel of the ante'nnse, slightly but definitely narrower at vertex, yellowish grey, covered (as is also the face) with long silky yellowish scaly pubescence, with which on at least the frons are intermixed some black bristles; 1st and 2nd antenual joints on both upper and lower sides brownish yellow.

This species is easily distinguished from both terminates and vicinus by the dark brown baso-costal band covering approximately half the wing.

Genus DISCHISTUS, Lw.

Disc/iistus, Loew, Neue Beitr. iii, p. 45 (1855).

Bombylisoma, Kondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 164 (1856) ; nee

Rond., Arch. Zool. Modena, iii, p. 67 (1863). Bombylosoma, Marshall, Nomencl. Zool. p. 323 (1873). Bombyliosoma, Verrall, apud Scudd, Nomencl. Zool. p. 47 (1882).

GENOTYPE, Bombylius minimus, Schrk. ; by present designation.

This genus differs from Bombylius solely by the 1st posterior cell being open instead of closed. D. ardens, Walk., has apparently not been recorded since its discovery, and must be regarded as a species requiring corroboration as really Indian. The brilliant scales of D. resplendens will easily distinguish it from Walker's species.

llanyc. Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia.

216. Dischistus resplendens, Bru-n.

Dischistus resplendens, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 481 (1909) : id., op. cit. iii, p. 226 (1909).

6 $ . Head : face below antennas rather prominent, black ; antennas black, very elongated, 1st joint very long, 2nd very short, both with long black hair, 3rd longest of all, flat, with parallel sides and a minute white style at tip ; proboscis strong, black, as long as head and thorax together. In the <S the eyes are contiguous from just below the vertex nearly to the antennae, facets very smsill, those above and towards the front being rather larger ; the whole face is clothed with soft long greyish hairs, surrounded by a fringe of stronger long bristly black hairs placed round the inner orbit of the eyes ; vertex wholly occupied by the ocellar tubercle and a tuft of long black hairs, the three ocelli being placed in contact with the eyes ; underside of head with soft black and grey hairs ; back of head with a thick fringe of long soft yellowish-grey hairs and a single row of long black hairs on the extreme ocular orbit. In the $ the frons is one-third the width of the head, black, with sparse long black hairs and with a number of small brilliant emerald-green and rose-pink scales, intermixed and lying close to the surface ; these are also

t

274 BOMBYLIID.E.

very numerous on the back of the head, where the dense grey hairs are replaced by a moderately thick fringe of pale yellow hairs ; face shining black, bare ; mouth-border pale yellow, bare : underside of head with soft greyish-white hairs. Thorax and scutellum denuded, but ground-colour black, and dorsum sur- rounded in front, at the sides, and behind with a dense border of thick grey hairs in the c? , or a much sparser border in the $ ; the dorsum shows signs of having been covered lightly with yellowish-grey hairs ; attached to the surface of the dorsum of both thorax and scutellum are a number of small brilliant bright green scales, with a lesser number of rose-pink similar scales ; both coloured scales extend numerously over the sides of the thorax. In the 3 a quantity of soft black hairs on the sides just below and in front of the wing-insertions. Abdomen similar to the thorax, with similarly coloured scales. In the c? the shoulders have a bunch of nearly white soft hairs, with a fringe of yellow

Fig. lo.—Dischisdts resplendens, Brun., wing.

hairs between them ; the sides with thick nearly white hairs. In the $ the shoulders have yellow instead of white hairs, and the coloured scales appear more numerous. In both sexes some long black hairs occur over the dorsum, and the venter is black, with grey hairs and a few coloured scales. Leys black ; tibise and metatarsi pale brownish yellow, with short spines, hind pair darker ; tarsi with rather long black bristles. Wings rather dark grey, brownish on anterior part ; venation normal ; halteres blackish ; tpgula) brownish, with yellowish-grey fringe.

Length, 5-6 mm.

Described from one d1 (type) from Dharampur, Simla Hills, 5000 ft., 6-8. v. 1907, and five $ $ from Sukhwani, Nepal, 15. ii. 1908, Nairn Tal, 14-17. iv. 1907, and Mergue, Assam ; all the specimens being in the Indian Museum. It is common at Dehra Dun in March and April ; Theog, Simla Hills, 14. v. 1909 : and in the British Museum from Maha^any, Ceylon, 15. ii. 1891 {Col. Yerbury).

217. Dischistus ardens, Walk.

Bombylius ardens, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. ii, p. 284 (1849). " Body black, clothed with long bright tawny hairs ; head clothed with brown hairs in front and about the base of. the feelers, which, like the mouth, are black ; the latter is more than half the length of the body ; eyes piceous ; legs ferruginous, clothed with black hairs and bristles; thighs darker than the

BISOHISTUS -- STSTCECHUS. 275

shanks; feet piceous; wings colourless, dark brown at the has

"s veSng obLSu° f ^ I"6 b°rderS J the b°rder of this brown ^ery oblique, and it slants towards the hinder base of the wng; its outskirts are confined to the sides of the croL-veins Ming-ribs and veins piceous ; poisers tawny

y™S0f the ""'

Genus SYSTffiCHUS, Lw. Systaec/tus, Loew, Neue Beitr. iii, p. 34 (1855)

(Europe); byCoquil-

This genus differs from Bomlylius chiefly by the two basal cells being practically equal in length, owing to the position of the anterior cross-vein near the base of the discal cell Eyes in rf sometimes separated by a narrow frons. Tip of 3rd antennal joint without the small obvious style present in Bombulius

^S^JKw** " Sald ^ ^ 10ngei< and m°re ragged tha"

Range. AVorld-wide.

Fig. 16. — Systcechus, Lw., win".

Life-history. The early stages of S. autumnalis and S. oreas, a European and North American species respectively, have been observed by Portchinsky and by Eiley. The larva? live in the <?gg-cases of locusts ; they are whitish, cylindrical, ampbipneustk-, and 13-segmented, much as in Bomlylius. The pupa? also resemble those of that genus.

TaUe of Species.

1 . Legs with at least femora black ; abdomi-

nal spines black 2.

Legs wholly or principally yellow 3.

2. Pubescence pale to bright yellow socius, Walk., p. 276.

Pubescence nearly white nioalis, Brim., p. 277.

v>. First and 2nd antennal joints brownish yellow; femora and tibia? wholly bright brownish yellow; abdominal spines [p. 277.

yellow JlavosptROtut) sp. n.,

Antenna? all black; femora brownish. . . . eupogonatus, Big., p. 278.

* This is so in many species ; 1 cannot vouch personally for the constancy of the character.

270 ISOMBYLlID.i:.

The distinctions between these alleged species are not at all clear. I have not seen eui>oyonatus, which may be the same as socius, the words "legs reddish, femora brownish" being applicable to a specimen with the femora more brown than black ; whilst the rest of the description would apply quite well to AValker's species. My nivalis differs from sowts only in the nearly white pubescence, and may represent only an individual variation . There may, therefore, be only two species, sociits and jf?auo«p*no«tt«, with the addition of an undescribed one in bad condition in the British Museum.

218. Systcechus socius, Wall:

Bombylius tocius, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 201 (1852). Systcechus socius, Bruuetti, IJec. Jnd. Mus. ii, p. 458 (1909).

cT 2 • Head blackish grey ; eyes in <5 distinctly but narrowly separated at nearest point of approximation ; vertex with numerous short stiff hairs; ocelli reddish; frons with long black bristly pubescence ; face in tf with a few long whitish scales, more or less depressed, amidst numerous long dark brown bristles ; in $ , with a considerable quantity of long bristle-like whitish scales extending from eye to eye; mouth-opening with dense long blackish-brown scale-like bristles, some whitish pubes- cence around lower part of mouth-opening, which is itself whitish ; lower part of head whitish grey, with dense elongate very thin white scaly pubescence ; antennae black, 1st joint with long dark brown bristles ; probo-cis black, as long as the head and thorax (not scutellum) together; back of head with very dense long bristle-like scales, varying from pale to bright yellow ; lower eye- margins with whitish scales. Thorax black ; dorsum, pleurae, and scutellum wholly covered with dense elongate scales forming a close thick pubescence, varying from nearly whitish to deep yellow, almost orange, that below the shoulders being generally deeper in shade than that on the thoracic dorsum ; scutellum with hind part always more or less reddish brown, sometimes practically entirely so ; a row of yellow spines on hind margin. Abdomen black; densely covered \\ith similar bristle-like pubescence to that of the thorax ; a row of black spines near hind border of each segment from the 3rd onwards ; venter black, with long pale yellow hair-like scale." ; base of some of the middle segments often reddish brown. Legs : femora black, with minute whitish scales ; tibiae paler or darker brown, sometimes blackish at tips, especially the hind pair; tarsi black, underside pale brown. \V-ings pale grey; base, costal cell, and the veins on basal half brownish ; halteres cream-yellow.

Length, 7-11 mm.

Redescribed from several of each sex in the British and Indian Museums, the Pusa and my own collections.

This species extends from the Himalayas to Ceylon: Kashmir, 1915 (II. T. Pease); Dehra Dun, xi." 1907 (Li. -Col. ll'i/ville

81-STGSOHUS. 277

Thomson], iv. 3914, common (Ghatterjee) ; Theog, Simla Hills, 14. v. 1909; Ivumaon, 18 & 27. v. 19 12; Bhowali, 5700 ft., iii. 1910 (CluMerjee) ; Runjit Valley, Sikkim, v. 1894 (Lt.-CoL C. T. JBingJtamf: Kangra Valley, 4500 ft., x. 1899 (Dudgeon); Ooimbatore, 30. v. 1912 ; Hadagalli, Ceylon, x. & xi. 1911.

Type in the British Museum.

The colour of the pubescence is so variable that I am inclined to think my nivalis may be an extreme form. The proboscis in nivalis is distinctly longer than from the tip of the frons to the tip of the scutellurri.

Mr. T. B. Fletcher finds that the larvae prey on the eggs of the Deccan grasshopper.

219. Systcechus nivalis, B,-un.

Sytt&dau nivalis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 472 (1912).

d1 . Head with frons and face blackish grey, darker above, both thickly covered with long black bristly hairs. Antennas rather long, black ; 1st and 3rd joints subequal, each abqut three times iis long as the 2nd ; first two joints cylindrical, 3rd much more slender on apical half. Proboscis Arery long, labium reaching to middle of abdomen (actually bent backwards to this distance below the body in the rype), labrum shorter; palpi extremely short and slender ; underside of head dark grey, with whitisli hairs. Thorax and abdomen closely covered with pale yellowish grey, almost white, bristly pubescence, which is more yellowish on anterior part of former and whitish on pleurae and apical part of abdomen ; underside of thorax and abdomen with whitish hair. Legs black ; tibi* from the base, for the major part, brownish yellow. Wings pale grey, costal cell a little darker grey ; base of wing a little yellowish.

Length, 9 mm.

Described from a unique cf in the Indian Museum from Airadeo, Kumaon Distr., Western Himalayas, 31. v. 3912 (Imms).

Possibly a variety of sodas, AValk.

220. Systcechus flavospinosus, sp. nov.

$ . This species differs from S. sodus only as follows :— Face wholly covered with long dense silky yellowish scales, no black bristles ; 1st and 2nd antennal joints brownish yellow, 1st with some long pale hairs ; 3rd rather shorter and broader basally than in sodas; scutellum almost entirely b rick -red ; spines on hind margins of abdominal segments yellow, not black ; femora and tibiee wholly bright brownish yellow, tarsi gradually darkening to brown at tips.

Length, 7 mm.

One $ in the British Museum from the South Shan Status, Upper Burma, 4000 ft., xi. 1899 (U.-Col. C. T. Bingham).

278 BOMBTLlIDyE.

221. Systceclms eupogonatus, Big.

Systcechus eupogonatus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, Ixi, p. 365 (1892).

" d1 . Antennae black, 1st joint covered above with long blackish hair, and below grey ; face dull vellow, with grey hairs above, hairs on lower part long, black, and thick. Frons black, with long black hairs. All the body covered with thick pale yellow pubescence. Scutellurn black, reddish at tip; halteres tawny, knobs whitish. Legs reddish, femora brownish, with grey tomenturu. Wings nearly clear.

"§. Frons grey, with grev pubescence; proboscis a little longer than head and thorax together. India." (Bigot.)

Length, 10 mm.

Types in the Bigot collection.

Genus ANASTOECHUS, O.-S. Anastccchtis, Osten-Sacken, 'Western Diptera,' p. 251 (1877).

GENOTYPE, Bombylius nitidulus, F. (as barbattts, O.-S.) (Europe); by original designation.

This genus differs from Bomlylius by both basal cells being of equal length. The dense furry pubescence of the underside of the head distinguishes it from SystoKclms (which also has the basal cells subequal in length), but not from Bombylius.

llanye. Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America, and India.

Only one Oriental species has been recorded.

222. Anastcechus longirostris,

Anasta-chus longirostris, Wulp, Notes Levd. Mus. vii,p. 85 (1885).

$ . " Small, black ; pubescence of head and body white, of frons brown ; abdomen with several black bristles ; proboscis longer than head and thorax ; legs pale yellow ; wings grey, base and costa yellowish ; 5| mm.

" Near the American A. barbalus, O.-S. The thorax and abdomen more slender; head broader than thorax, with dense long white hairs on face and dark brown or blackish on frons. Antennas black ; terminal stvle of latter as long as the pyriform 3rd joint ; end of style a little thickened. Proboscis black, as long as two-thirds of body. Thorax and abdomen thickly clothed with long yellowish hairs, with u. white reflection, amidst which are some long black bristles on the sides of the abdomen. Legs and halteres pale rufous. Wings greyish, yellowish at base and costa; at the beginning of the ccsta is "a comb of black- tipped yellowish hairs. Venation as in A. barbatus. One $ from the Himalayas (Felder)" (van der Wulp.}

This species is unknown to me.

279

Genus GERON, Mg. Geran, Meigen, Syst. Besch. ii, p. 223 (1820).

GENOTYPE, Bombylius hybridus, Mg. (Europe) ; bv original designation.

Head semicircular, narrower than thorax and set low down on it ; epistome short ; mouth-opening large ; proboscis prominent, horny, curved, with narrow labella ; eyes in c? contiguous, widely .separated in $ . Antennae porrect, approximate at base, longer than head ; 1st joint long, cylindrical ; 2nd very short ; 3rd as long as 1st, spindle-shaped. Thorax oval, considerably arched, projecting forward ; thinly pilose or with microscopic tomentum ; scutellum triangular. Abdomen extremely short, conical, tip pointed, thinly pilose. Legs slender, minutely pubescent. Winys with 3rd longitudinal vein forked ; anterior cross-vein beyond middle of discalcell, erect ; two submarginal cells ; three posterior cells ; anal cell nearly reaching border of wing; anal vein attaining the border.

Range. World-wide.

Life-history unknown.

The two Indian species are thus distinguished : —

Legs pale brown ; tibiae paler ; length 2£-4 mm. argentifrons, Brim. Legs pale tawny; coxse, tips of femora, and

hind tarsi black ; length 5 mm albescens, Brun.

223. Geron argentifrons, Brun.

Geron argentifrons, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 482 (1909). d1 . Head with eyes contiguous from the very reduced raised vertex to antennae, facets of moderate and uniform size ; vertex with several long black hairs of variable lengths ; ocelli well separated, pale brown ; frons covered with dull yellowish oblong scales, lying flat on surface, and with a second clothing of silvery- white scales ; face bluish white, with silvery reflections seen from above, as are also the lower eye-orbits ; some long black hairs on face ; upper side of mouth-opening yellowish ; occiput black, with long brownish-grey liairs. Antennas black, tip of 1st and 2nd joints sometimes very narrowly whitish, 1st joint about double as long as 2nd ; 3rd distinctly longer than first two together ; basal joints occasionally pale. Thorax black, with long brownish- grey or yellowish-grey pubescence, through which can be seen a lower clothing of very short yellow scale-like hairs ; pleurae bluish grey, with whitish-grey pubescence. Abdomen clorsally like thorax, sides with numerous silvery-white scale-like hairs ; apparently the whole dorsum normally covered with long hairs, which maybe thicker and longer at the sides ; venter like dorsum, except that the long hairs are a tittle shorter. Legs normally dark brown or blackish ; tibiae always paler, varying in shade from yellowish to moderately dark reddish brown ; femora apparently

280 BO11BYL1IJL*.

(and probably coxae also) covered with small silvery-white scales : tibiae with small yellowish scales, short black spines and a circlet of them at tips, which are a little darker ; tarsi black, with usual pubescence, metatarsi partly or almost wholly pale. Wings quite clear, iridescent; veins pale yellow; squamae pale yellow, with short hairs ; halteres large and prominent, clubs egg-shaped, from nearly white to bright yellow.

$ . Frons at vertex forming one-fourth the width of the head, covered with bluish-grey dust and with very small yellow or yellowish-white scales ; a cluster of silvery -white scales around base of antennae ; face as in d1 , except that the long hairs are white, not black. Underside of first two antennal joints pale. Posterior femora and apical part of fore pair, also all the tibia?, pale yellowish.

Length, 2|-4 mm.

Redescribed from type c? from Lahore, 9. v. 1903 (Annandalt), and three other <5 c? , also three $ $ , all (except type J ) from Pusa, Bengal (Hewlett, etc.), where it is common, March to May. Also from Alinora, Kumaon Distr., 5500 ft., v-vi. 1911 (Paiva) ; Parel, Bombay Presid., 26. xi. 1909. In the British Museum from four places in Ceylon, Trincomali, x. 1890, and Nilavelli, 31.viii.1890 (Col. Yerbury); Pundaluoya, ii. 1898 (Green); Madulsima, 19. v. 1908 (T. E. Fletcher).

This species is parasitic on caterpillars found under the bark of the sissoo-tree (Dalbergia sissoo) ; it also occurs on the pipal.

Types in the Indian Museum.

224. Geron albescens, Brun.

Geron albescens, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 229 (1909). <5 . Head black ; eyes contiguous almost to antennae, frontal triangle extremely small, upper facets slightly larger than lower ones ; vertex elevated, small, with a few short black hairs ; ocelli

Fig. 17.— Geron albescens, Brun.; lateral view of head.

red; mouth black, grey bordered; face small, squarish, black, with some snowy-white scales on each side of base of antennae ;

GERON.— USIA. 281

proboscis black ; antennae black, relative length of joints as in argent ifrons, tips of first two joints narrowly pale, with greyish hairs ; occiput black, with long yellow hairs above and greyish ones below ; hind margin of eyes with small white scales. Thorax velvet-black, dorsum covered with bright yellowish hairs, which are greyish on the grey shoulders ; underside ash-grey, with long grey hairs and some grey scales ; scutellum black, yellow-haired. Abdomen black, with minute bright yellow fine scales and hairs ; hind margins of segments with long deflexed grey hairs ; whole dorsum with long thin greyish pubescence, which is denser at the sides ; venter wholly covered with small silvery-white scales and long grey hairs. Legs with coxae and fore femora black, former with grey hairs ; posterior femora and all tibiae pale tawny ; tarsi black, middle metatarsi more or less pale at base ; legs almost

Fig. 18. — Geron albescens, Brun., wing.

bare except for a few short hairs below femora and the usual minute tibial bristles. Wings quite clear, veins pale yellowish on basal half; halteres yellowish, knobs bright pale yellow.

Length, 5-8 mm.

Redescribed from the original type from Balugaon, Puri Distr., Orissa, 14. xii. 1908 (Gaunter), and a second J from Tambi, Satara Distr.; Bombay, 2100 ft., 22-26. iv. 1912 (Gravely), both in the Indian Museum.

^.-The only definite character by which this species differs from argentifrons seems to be the pale posterior femora in the J and the larger size.

Genus USIA, Latr.

r/«Vi, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. xiv, p. 300 (1804). Volucella, Fabricius .(nee Geoff.), Ent. Syst. iv, p. 412 (1794); id., Syst. Antl. p. 114 (1805) ; Meigen, Klass. i, p. 194 (1804).

GENOTYPE, Volucella florea, F. (Europe) ; by Rondani's desig- nation.

Rather small bare or nearly bare flies, sometimes of metallic ground-colour, sometimes with yellow and black markings. Head hemispherical, small, set rather low on the thorax; epistome short, proboscis prominent, at the base membranous, apical part horny with extremely narrow labella ; palpi short, united to the basal part of the membranous portion, which is entirely with- drawable within the mouth-border. Antennas short, porrecl, hardly longer than head, approximate at base ; the first two joints subequal ; 3rd elongate, spindle-shaped above, blunt, with spines

282

BOMBi'LllD-E.

and a short apical style. Eyes in both sexes normally distant, but sometimes contiguous in d" . Thorax oval or nearly rounded, arched ; scutellmn short and broad. Abdomen of seven segments, short oval, broader than thorax. Legs rather stout, bare, without spicules. Wings in rest, halt' open ; venation as in Geron.

Range. Europe, Asia, North Africa.

Life-history unknown.

The two Indian species are distinguished as follows : —

Thorax with two or three elongate light grey

spots on anterior margin stdophila, Brun.

Thorax with anterior margin broadly light grey, produced posteriorly as four short stripes maryiiuita, Brun.

225. Usia sedophila, Brun.

Usia sedophila, Brunetti, Rec. lud. Mus. iii, p. 227 (1909).

cJ. Head: vertex prominent, black, shining, with a few erect long hairs ; ocelli distinct, whitish ; eyes black, bare, contiguous for more than half the distance from vertex to antennae ; facets in front and above distinctly larger than those behind and below, but no distinct dividing line. Antennae black, bare, except for an occasional hair ; first two joints short ; 3rd somewhat flattened, but thick and slightly curved, elongate, and with a peculiar notch towards the tip on upper side, in which is a single hair. Proboscis about twice the length of the head, black, cylindrical, stiff, straight, bent upwards at tip, bare, except for a few minute hairs at tip ; face dark greyish, with some stiff black hairs on each cheek, and

Fig. 19. — Usia sedophila, Brun., wing.

a long elevated shining black callus between the median line and the eye-margins ; back of head black, not produced behind margins of eyes, with long sparse black hairs, continued on underside of head. Thorax dull black, velvety on dorsum, with some black and pale hairs towards the sides, and three whitish-grey elongate spots on anterior border, of which the middle one is often absent, and the outer ones are occasionally indistinct or absent also; lower part of thorax more or less dark grey ; scutellum black, with some erect light tawny hairs. Abdomen dull black, conical ; 1st segment narrow, wholly black ; the remaining six broader, but of diminishing length and breadth to the tip, and with a rather bright yellow narrow posterior border to each segment ; dorsum

USIA. 283

comparatively bare, but the sides of the abdomen with pale yellow hairs. Genitalia small, inconspicuous, conical, blackish. Venter blackish, posterior margins of segments whitish grey. Leys uniformly black; very shortly pubescent ; femora with some soft hairs; hind tibiae with short bristles. IVinr/s nearly clear ; sub- costal cell pale yellow ; venation normal ; halteres dark brown or blackish, knobs large.

$. Head: eyes separated by a wide frons equalling one-third width of head ; upper half of frons, as also whole back of head, greyish yellow, the latter with black hairs as in c? ; upper half of frons with a row of hairs near margin of eyes; vertical triangle distinct, dark , two narrow fuscous vertical lines from the vertical triangle to an irregular transverse dark streak dividing the upper from the lower half of the frons, the latter part being more ash- grey and unmarked ; lower part of the head greyish ; proboscis and mouth larger than in J,thus narrowing the cheeks considerably. Thorax yellowish grey, with a median pair of narrow fuscous lines, with a broader outer stripe, more or less divided into three spots, the anterior one small and conical, the other two more elongate ; also an indistinct central line between the median pair of narrow ones, and a small spot above the insertion of the wings; sides of thorax cinereous grey ; scutellum yellowish grey, with some yellow hairs as in tf . Abdomen black, bare ; posterior margin of segments rather broadly yellow ; sides with a little less hair than in rf ; venter blackish ; ovipositor pale yellow, in- conspicuous. Leys and wings as in c? .

Length, 2f-3| mm.

Described from several of both sexes taken by Dr. Annaudale at Simla, 16. v. 1909, where it was common on ' Sedum roguUtuni (white stonecrop) ; the species was not seen anywhere except on this plant. Phagu, 18-21. v. 1916 (Annandale).

Types in the Indian Museum.

226. Usia marginata, Brun.

Usia marginata, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 228 (1909). rf. Head with eyes contiguous for a shorter space than in sedophila, black, bare ; upper facets larger than lower, and more sharply defined from one another than in sedophila ; frons ash- grey, small, with a few black hairs ; vertex prominent, with some black hairs, ocelli distinct : front margins of eyes and cheeks with long black hair, which is considerably thicker on the under- side, and which extends over the whole of the back of the head. Antennae as in sedophila, but the third joint with a pale ring at the base, giving the appearance of a minute basal joint, and the tip bears on its upper side a minute style-like process, just beyond the subapical depression ; 1st joint with some bristly black hairs 2nd with one or two minute hairs, 3rd bare. Thorax (lull black, almost velvety, covered lightly on dorsutn, and more thickly

284 UOMBi'MIDJE.

in front and at sides with long black hairs ; anterior margin of thorax broadly whitish grey, which in the centre is produced posteriorly into four narrow stripes, of which the outer pair just reach the suture, the inner pair being very slightly shorter ; sides of thorax black, with long black hairs, and the whitish-grey colour of the anterior margin of dorsum extends downwards somewhat below the shoulders. Abdomen dull black, posterior margins of segments narrowly yellowish, with the colour continued over the sides and across the venter ; a row of grey hairs on posterior border of segments, and the sides of the abdomen with rather thick whitish-grey hairs ; venter concolorous. Leas black, minutely pubescent ; femora with rather long soft black hairs on upper and lower sides ; hind tibi«3 very shortly bristly. Wings nearly clear ; subcostal cell very pale yellow ; halteres pale brown, clubs chalk- white.

Length, 4 mm. »

Described from one J taken by Dr. Annandale at Simla, 10. v. 1909, in company with the previous species. A second specimen with the same data; both in the Indian Museum.

Genus PHTHIRIA, Mrj.

Phthiiia, Meigeii, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 268 (1803). Megapaipw, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Ins., Dipt, i, p. 394 (1834). Dasypalpus, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, pt. 1, p. 112 (1840). Cyclorhynchus, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii, pt. ], p. 114 (1840) preocc. Phtyria, Rondani, Arch. Zool. Modena, hi, p. 05 (1863). PcBfilognathia, Juennicke, Abh. Senck. Nat. Ges. vi, p. 3/30 (1863).

GENOTYPE, Bombylius pulicariua, Mikan (Europe) ; by original designation.

Head in d1 nearly ' semicircular, in $ nearly circular, not broader than high viewed from in front, about as wide as thorax ; face broad but short down the middle, because the large and rather wide mouth-opening extends up between the wide side cheeks ; frons in $ broad, depressed in the middle ; three ocelli ; eyes in tf contiguous or subcontiguous, in 5 wide apart. Pro- boscis long, thin, almost bristle-like, directed forwards in a slight arch, labella very small ; palpi rather short and thin. Antenna? porrect, shorter than head, approximate at base; 1st and 2nd joints short, subequal in length ; 3rd elongate, peg-shaped, Avith a terminal style (sometimes indistinct). Thorax oval, longer than broad, slightly arched, in d1 with fairly long erect dense pubes- cence, without bristles; in 5 with only short depressed pubescence; pleura? with only slight pubescence, except for a rather dense tuft on the mesopleurae ; metapleurae bare ; scutellum large, semi- circular. Abdomen 7-segmented, conical in <5 , ovate and rather flattened in $ ; pubesceuce as on the thorax in 5 . Leys long and thin, entirely without bristles except for some tiny spicules on the hind tibia3. Wings longer than abdomen ; 1 st basal cell

pimiiaiA. 285

considerably longer than 2nd, 3rd vein forked, the 2nd sub- margiual cell elengate ; anterior cross-vein at about middle of discal cell ; anal cell closed just before \viug-border.

Range. World-wide.

Life-history unknown.

The adults occur on bare patches of ground among low-growing flowers, and on Composite.

227. Phthiria gracilis, Wall:

Phthina gracilis, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 194 (1852).

<5 $ . Head in c? b)ack ; vertex very small, dark grey, with three or four short black hairs; ocelli dark ruby-red, shining; eyes closely contiguous for nearly all the distance to the small protruding triangular dark grey frons, which bears a few black hairs; mouth-opening extremely large, extending from immediately below base of antennae to lower part of head, black; face and under part of head black, both with long black hairs : antennae black ; 1st and 2nd joints as long as wide, subglobular, with two or three short black hairs each, 3rd joint narrower, flattened, about two and a half times as long as first two together, with microscopic depressed pubescence and a short style-like prolonga- tion at tip on upper side; proboscis as long as whole body, black, slender, gently curved ; palpi half as long as head, porrect, black. Head in $ bright orange-yellow ; frons at vertex about half as

Fig. 20.— Phthiria gracilis, Walk., wing.

wide as at level of antenna3, where it forms nearly one-third the width of the head ; a broad black stripe from vertex to above antennae, sometimes wholly interrupted in middle ; ocelli distinct ; sides of face between antenna? and eyes blackish ; occiput black, broadly orange behind eye-margins, the colour not extending behind the vertex. Thora.r in d1 dark blackish brown, with a little short dark brown pubescenbe, which is longer towards the sides of thedorsum; scutellum concolorous. In 5 greenish grey, lower margin of dorsum rather broadly though somewhat irregu- larly pale yellowish ; scutellum yellow, with a small blackish spot at base. Abdomen in <5 black, with long black hairs, hind margins of basal segments more or less narrowly yellow. In $ yellowish, with short, brown, not very obvious pubescence ; base of segments

286 BOMBYLIIDJE.

more or less broadly blackish, the colour confined to the middle of the disc on the basal ones, but extending to nearly or quite the full width in the others. Venter and genitalia in both sexes black, with some soft hairs. Legsm <S all black ; in $ yellowish; hind pair and anterior tarsi blackish ; all legs devoid of pubescence, except for a few short hairs below tip of posterior femora. Wings brownish in c? , very pale grey in $ , almost clear : subcostal cell yellowish for some distance from tip ; halteres yellowish, knobs blackish ; thoracic squamae very large, yellowish, with a fringe of pale hairs.

Length, 4-5 mm.

Redescribed from one <5 and three $ $ from Simla, x. 1908 (F. M. Hewlett).

Type in the British Museum.

Subfamily TOXOPHOKIN^.

Head moderately transverse, rounded behind eyes, as wide as or a little wider than thorax, generally considerably depressed. Eyes in d contiguous or subcontiguous, the front facets some- times enlarged, no indentation in middle of hind margin ; in $ widely separated. Face usually produced over the long narrow mouth-opening; proboscis generally long, slender, or short and thick in some (non-Oriental) genera '(Cyllenia.); palpi long and thin in Toxophora, short in some genera. Antennae closely approximate at base, porrect, as long as or longer than head. Vertex with a pair of strong bristles in Toxopliora. Thorax very humped, with scaly pubescence in some genera and strong side bristles in Toxophora : scutellum rather large and with strong marginal bristles in Toxophora. Abdomen tubular and elongate, much curved down- wards, so that the whole body seen in profile forms nearly half a circle. Leys with strong bristles behind hind femora in most genera, but on apical half only in Tuxophora ; there are some exceptions. Tibia? generally with conspicuous bristles or spicules on hind pair. Wings with the 2nd longitudinal vein looped or not near its end ; two or three submarginal and three or four posterior cells ; anal cell closed at some distance from the border in Toxophora, open in some genera. Alulae and hind angle of wing well developed in Toxophora, weak or absent in some genera : squanife generally with only a slight fringe, but Toxophora has a long rigid one.

The principal characters of this subfamily are the structure of the antenna?, the usually humped thornx. the' long narrow abdomen, and three posterior cells. The limits of the group are not well defined, and the species all appear to be uncommon.

TOXOPHOUA. 287

Genus TOXOPHORA, Mg.

Toxophora, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii. p. 270 (1803).

GENOTYPE, A$ilus maculatus, Eossi (Europe); by Meigen's designation (Klass. 1804, p. 273).

Head semiglobular, as broad as thorax, placed low on it ; epistoma short ; proboscis porrect, horny, with narrow labella ; palpi long, filiform, thicker at base. Antennae very Jong, promi- nent, horizontal, approximate at the base ; 1st joint cylindrical, as long as 2nd and 3rd together; 2nd cylindrical, about half as long as 1st ; 3rd shorter tlian 2nd, awl-sliaped. Eyes in c? contiguous, in $ wide apart ; three ocelli. Thorax oval, extremely arched, hump-backed; scutelium broad and sbort. Abdomen a little narrower than thorax, 7-segmented, elongate, conical, arched downwards, pointed at tip ; generally with yellow or whitish transverse bands. Leys rather stout, moderately long; tibiae strongly bristly ; tarsi with two pulvilli. Wings with 3rd vein forked abruptly ; three submarginal cells, three posterior cells ; 1st basal cell much longer than 2nd ; anterior cross-vein at or just beyond middle of discal cell ; anal cell closed just before border; alula rather small.

Range. South Europe, Asia, Africa, "North and South America.

Life-history unknown.

These are moderately large, slightly pubescent, rather bristlv flies of a peculiar hump-backed appearance, closely covered with scales on many parts of the body.

228. Toxophorajavana, Wied. (PI. Ill, fig. 16.)

Toxophora jamnd, "Wiedemann, Dipt. Exot. p. 179 (1821) ; id., Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 363 (1828) ; de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. liii, p. 66 (1910) ; Brunetti, Rec. lud. Mus. ii, p. 458. pi. xii, tig. 28 (1909).

3 $ . Head in c? with eyes contiguous nearly to antennae, leaving a small protruding irons concealed by the bunch of long thin bright yellow scales surrounding base of antennas; vertex very small, black, with a pair of strong ocellar bristles; face blackish, with a white shimmer seen from above ; mouth-orbit whitish ; proboscis about If times length of head ; antennae over twice length of head, 1st joint about aa long as 2nd and 3rd together, black, covered with very small brown scales lying close on the surface, and, at least on 1st joint, with more elongate and less depressed silvery scales, on 2nd joint a number of elongate dark brown scales, on 3rd a considerable amount of dark brown hairs ; occiput black, whole middle part with dense elongate conspicuous bright chrome-yellow scales, which extend laterally to the eye-margins, and sometimes are continued upwards behind the eye ; below these scales is a clothing of very small oblong pale brown scales resting flat on the surface, apparently entirely covering it; on lower part of occiput a large bunch of very elongate bristle-like yellow or whitish-grey scales. In $ , frons

288 BOMBYLIHK*:.

at vertex about one-fifth of the greatest width of the head, broadening distinctly to base of antennae. Thorax black, with a coating of verv small oblong brownish scales lying flat on the surface, and a further clothing of dense short bright chrome-yellow hair-like scales covering (presumably) the entire thoracic and scutellar dorsum, this vestiture being a little shorter and longer towards the sides : pleurae covered (apparently entirely) with similar scales of greyish- white colour. Abdomen black, with a layer of small brownish scales as on the thorax, and a clothing of closely-placed, moderately elongate, yellow overlapping scales, evidently covering the entire dorsum and sides in perfect speci- mens ; sides of 2nd segment with four or five long, slightly curved, yellow bristles. Venter bearing at least a broad median stripe of similar scales, which are greyish white ; hind margins and sides of all the segments with small bright yellow scales ; whole venter sometimes covered with small whitish scales, more densely so on hind margins of segments. Legs black ; coxae with white scaled on front sides, hind pair with three long yellow bristles on outer sides ; femora and tibiae closely covered with small brown scales as on the body ; anterior femora on hinder and undersides, hind femora on outer and undersides, with small overlapping silvery- white scales ; hind pair with a few small black bristles below ; tibiae with several rows of strong bristles, outer sides with small depressed whitish scales, their extent apparently variable; all tibia} on inner side with a row of rather longer, dark brown, somewhat outstanding scales, and with a circlet of apical spines ; tarsi black, with short black bristles below. Under moderate microscopic power the whole surface of the tarsi is seen to be covered with extremely minute black scales. Wings grey, more or less brownish on anterior part, sometimes distinctly so as far hindwards as the 4th longitudinal vein ; sometimes the colouring much restricted or almost entirely absent, leaving oolv the trans- verse veins slightly suffused ; halteres pale brownish yellow ; thoracic squamae whitish, with a long fringe of white hairs.

Length, 5-6 mm. (excl. antennae).

Eedescribed from one c? in the Pusa collection (Allahabad, Howlett} and one rf and three $ $ in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, 7. v. 1907 (Gaunter), 7. rii. 1907 ; Allahabad, 21. ii. 1906 (Howlett); Guindy, Madras (Capt. Crayg). De Meijere records it from Krakatua, Java.

Ti/pe in Westermann's collection.

The colour of the body-scales in this species is sometimes uniformly bright yellow and sometimes wholly snow-white; in some specimens scales of both colours are present in variable proportions, those on the thorax and forming a broad median stripe on the abdomen being yellow, whilst those on the pleurae and sides of the abdomen are white. Probably in perfect specimens the whole thorax and abdomen are covered with scales ; but when a specimen is partly denuded, the form usually taken is of a median aud lateral stripes of scales and more or less complete transverse bands of them on the hind margins of the segments.

SYSTROPUS. 289

Subfamily SYSTROPIN.E.

Head distinctly transverse, occiput excavated, bare ; three ocelli on small but distinct tubercle ; neck short ; eyes in both sexes contiguous, bare (with rare exceptions), no indentation at middle of hind margin, front facets in $ rather larger than in $ . Frontal triangle small, bare ; face narrow, one-sixth width of the head at its upper and lower part, and narrowing to one-eighth of the head in its middle, bare. Mouth-opening long and narrow,, extending nearly to the antennae ; proboscis long, slender, porrect, from as long as, to twice the length of the head ; palpi small. Antennae very elongate, thin, porrect, as long as head and thorax together, closely approximate at base and barely diverging till the end of the very long 1st joint, which forms half the full length of the antennae ; 2nd joint one-third of 1st ; 3rd wider, cigar- shaped, with no style or arista. Thorax much arched, especially in front, nearly bare, no bristles, a large prealar depression on each side ; sides of thorax bare or with slight tomentum ; scutellum rather small, slopirtg ; metanotum concealed, except a peculiar pale-coloured membranous tubercle on each side. Abdomen very long and thin, cylindrical, 9-segmented in <S , 8 in $ , bare. Genitalia in cf rather knob-like, in $ sharply compressed. Legs comparatively short and thin ; hind pair much longer and rather thicker ; legs generally bare, except for three rows of spiculesand a few short spurs on hind tibiae, and some " plantar"* spines on the tarsi. In some species there is a spine below the middle- of the hind femora. Wings with anterior cross-vein beyond middle of discal cell ; two, nirely three, submargiual cells ; three posterior cells, always open ; 3rd longitudinal vein widely forked ; anal cell closed; alulae absent, base of wing cuneiform; teguke absent or minute ; halteres long and conspicuous.

The affinities of this subfamily are not definite, there being no close relationship to any of the others. Only two genera and about forty species are known. The extremely long attenuated abdomen and long thin hind legs, three posterior cells, elongate antennae, and bare body characterise them.

Genus SYSTROPUS, Wied.

Systropus, Wiedemann, Nova Dipt. Gen. p. 18 (1820); Loew,

Fauna Sudafr. p. 200 (1860).

Cephenes and Systrophus, Latreille, Fam. Natur. p. 496 (1825). Cephenus and Sijstrophopus, Karsch, Zeits. f. d. ges. Naturw. liii,

p. 656 (1880). Xystropus, Verrall, apud Scudd. Nomencl. Zool. p. 355 (1882).

GENOTYPE, Systropus macilentus, Wied. (S. Africa) ; by original designation.

Body extremely attenuated, with long narrow wings and com- paratively short anterior legs, hind legs very long; practically

* I quote Verrall here.

290 BOMBTLHDJE.

bare species. Head as broad as or broader than thorax ; eyes reaching from top to bottom of the head, closely contiguous in both sexes ; facets very small, of uniform size ; vertex reduced almost to a point ; three ocelli ; frons and face forming an isosceles triangle, slightly prominent at base of antennae, entirely bare ; antennas very long, 1st joint very long, cylindrical, 2nd less than half as long, cylindrical, 3rd joint flattened, style absent; pro- boscis very long and thin, porrect, the bifid tip curled backwards ; palpi thin, short, concealed within or but slightly projecting from mouth-opening. Thorax a little longer than broad, with rounded corners, dorsum slightly arched, lower part of metathorax enormously developed, the hind coxae set at its lowest point ; scutellum broad, very short. Abdomen, except the triangular basal part of 1st segment, very attenuated, about one-fourth as wide as and three or four times as long as thorax ; 8-segmented, tip more or less clubbed ; genitalia small. Anterior legs com- paratively short and thin, hind legs long and thin, stretching considerably beyond tip of abdomen ; the femora, tibia?, and tarsi of about equal length ; metatarsus as long as rest of tarsus ; pulvilli small ; legs bare, except for some moderate-sized bristles on hind tibiaa. Wings long and narrow, cuneiform at base ; alulae entirely absent ; auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins very long, closely approximated ; praefurca very sliort ; 3rd vein widely forked near tip of wing ; two, rarely three, submarginal cells, and only three posterior cells ; discal cell present, anterior cross-vein just beyond its middle ; anal cell closed at some distance from margin of wing ; anal vein long, straight, reaching wing-margin.

Range. Africa, Asia, Korth and South America.

Life-history. Westwood (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1876, p. 571) de- scribes the cocoons of a moth and the pupa of an African species of Systropus (S. crudelis, 'Westw.), found on a accacia-tree in Nntal. The cocoon is oval, slightly flattened on the side attached to the tree, seven lines long, the outer surface smooth, and at one end is a circular piece which is easily removed, allowing the perfect insect to escape. The cocoons were probably of an "Egger" moth,* and inside each was a well-formed Systropus pupa possessing a strong frontal projection (apparently for the purpose of forcing off the lid of the cocoon). The head bears a long appendage below (probably the antennae and proboscis). The abdomen is robust, convex, bearing a transverse row of spines on each segment, which doubtless also assists its escape from the cocoon. In one of the specimens the imago was seen in the act of escaping from its pupa skin, and Westwood notes that the mouth-parts during emergence consisted of four delicate lancet-like pieces. These doubtless united subsequently to form the proboscis. Westwood (Plate x) gives several figures of the pupa and perfect insect.

* [More probably a Limacodid of the genus Parana.— ED.]

SYSTKOPUS.

291

[p. 291. ophtoncus, Westw.,

edwai'dsi, sp.n., p. 294.

Table of Species.

Hypopleura black, with distinct grey pubes- * cence. Frons distinctly wider below than above ;

a yellowish spot on posterior calli

Frons with nearly parallel sides ; no pale

spot on posterior calli

Hypopleura practically bare, yellow on an- terior half, black posteriorly. Thorax mainly yellow, with a heart-shaped

median black spot with short anterior

stripe, two spots toward humeri, and

a cuneate one at base of wing; occiput

yellow ; hind tibiae yellow, a brown

stripe on outer side and subapical [p. 294.

blackish ring ; halteres yellow eumenoides, Walk.,

Thorax mainly black, with yellow marks ;

occiput black, a little grey-dusted ; hind

tibiae black, base narrowly brownish

yellow, tips broadly yellow ; halteres

with club black, narrowly yellow- [p. 295.

bordered flavipleura, sp. 11.,

229. Systropus ophioneus, Westw.

Systropus ophioneus, Westwood, Trans. Eut. Soc. v, p. 233, pi. xxiii,

fig. 6 (1849) ; id., op. cit. p. 574 (1876). Systropns migricaudus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ii, p. 483 (1909).

c? $ . Head with vertex reduced almost to a point; eyes black, bare, contiguous for rather more than half the distance from the

Fig. 21. — Systropus opJiioitcus, Westw.

vertex to the antennae, gradually diverging until at the mouth- border they occupy nearly one-third the width of the head ;

u2

292 BOMBYL1ID.E.

facets small, of uniform size ; the frons and face combined appear as an isosceles triangle, the inner portion being very deeply retracted, leaving a broad white margin on the three sides ; above this the antennae are placed on a slight yellowish-white (almost quite white) prominence, and from the cavity below protrudes the long black proboscis, 3| mm. long, which is brown at the base belusv. Antennae with first joint white at the extreme base, becoming immediately pale yellow, graduating into orange, Avhich forms the centre part, and deepening into black for about the apical third ; the whole joint with scattered short black spines ; second joint half the length of the first, wholly black, closely covered with black spines ; third joint all black, quite bare, slightly shorter than the first. Back of head silvery white, with some short white hairs. Thorax black, finely punctate, with very sparsely scattered, very short, golden-yellow hairs : two rather narrow central grey stripes run close together from the anterior margin to the middle, where they coalesce and continue united to the posterior margin ; these stripes are only visible when viewed from behind. On the shoulders are placed three calli, the upper and largest one being almost bisected, the intermediate one very small and triangular, the lower one as large as the upper and also triangular ; the upper one is contiguous to a more or less oblong spot on the dorsum, directed inwards and backwards ; the remaining calli are placed vertically beneath the upper one, all being contiguous 1o one another, the lower ones touching the concolorous fore coxae ; all these spots are pale yellowish white. A scale-like callus is placed in front of the wing, and is yellowish white on the anterior half, and black on the remainder, which reaches back to the posterior callus which is yellowish Avhite. Below this callus is a small round yellowish-white scale ; by the side of the scutellum and below the wing is an orange-yellow scale-like process, connected by a thin membrane to the just- mentioned scale. The sides of the thorax are black, with a few blackish-brown hairs and some whitish-grey hairs in front of the insertion of the wings and a larger quantity of longer similar hairs on the large sternopleura. Scutellum black, finely punctate, posterior half with some grey hairs. Abdomen at base wider than the scutellum, rapidly contracting posteriorly, forming a triangle ; black, finely punctate on dorsum, with some very short grey hairs ; at the sides are much longer hairs, both black and grey ; second to fifth segments (inclusive) very narrow, dorsum black, sides and venter orange-yellow, fifth slightly widening at tip; sixth, seventh, and eighth segments widened into an elongated club, but the segments themselves are all shorter than the others, the eighth being shortest of all ; sixth segment orange, seventh and eighth reddish brown. The whole abdomen at sides with very short, scattered, golden-yellow hairs; on dorsum with microscopic black hairs, and the last three segments with very short black hairs, which are also present on the posterior borders of these latter. The anal appendage ( d" ) withdrawn within the

SYSTKOPUS. 293

ninth segment (which latter is peculiar to the d only, in accord- ance with Osten-Sacken's views in the Biol. Cent.-Amer., Dipt, i, p. 157), consists of an orange process bearing an upper pair of jet-black conical claspers, there being also an orange-coloured plate projected from tlie eighth segment, bearing a very small pair of black conical claspers at the tip. Legs. Coxa : fore pair wholly pale yellowish white, bare ; middle pair yellowish white, with a large black mark on the outer side, on the basal half, and bearing a few dark hairs ; hind pair black, with a little pale colour on inner side below. Femora : fore pair pale yellowish white, with a dark brown streak behind, about the middle; middle pair black, ex- treme base and tip pale yellowish white; hind pair with basal half pale yellow, deepening to orange on the apical hall', extreme base black above. Tibia? : fore pair pale yellowish white, bare ; middle pair similar, but with a few very black spines at the tip ; hind pair yellowish orange, streaked here and there with black above, with irregularly-placed black spines, and with a circlet of some short black spines at the tip. Tarsi : anterior ones pale yellow, upper side blackish on apical half ; hind pair black, minutely pubescent, slightly yellowish at extreme base, and with a row of minute black spines below. Wings light brownish grey, unmarked ; halteres lemon-yellow.

Length, 17-23 mm.

I described this species as nigricaudus from a J and $ in the Indian Museum from Soondrijal, Nepal, and Mussoorie respec- tively, and a second $ in the Pusa collection also from Mussoorie. Further specimens from Ivalimpong, Darjiling Distr., 600-4500 ft., 24. iv.-lU. v. 1915 (Gravely): Peshoke Spur, Darjiliug Distr. (Lister) ; Mussoorie, ix. lyOO ; Shillong, 4900 ft., 27. vi. 1918.

After the careful examination of several specimens there seems no doubt that my nigricaudus is identical with opliioneus, which appears to show considerable variation in the extent of yellow in the antennae, the size and extent of the thoracic spots and their frequent union by short connecting-bands, and in the presence or absence of the streak on the middle tibia3, besides minor differences.

In the type of nigricaudus (Nepal) the 1st autennal joint and basal half of 2nd is yellow ; the thoracic spots, three on each side of the dorsum, quite separate, the humeral one reaching down to the front cox.se ; the scutellum is wholly black ; the 1st abdominal segment also all black ; the four anterior femora have more than the basal half black ; the fascia on the middle tibia} is not obvious, but the inner side from base to tip bears minute black bristles. In another specimen (Darjiling) the first two antenna! joints are yellow ; the spots on the humeral, prealar, and posterior calli are ioined by a distinct yellow band, the anterior spot extending broadly to the fore cox'se ; the scutellum is all black, except for a distinct yellow hind margin; the first abdominal segment fill black ; the fascia on the middle tibia) absent. In a third specimen (Kalimpong, Darjiling District) the antennas are black, except the

294 BOMBYLIIIXE.

major portion from the base of the 1st joint ; the two anterior pairs of thoracic spots are hroaclly joined, the humeral pair extending downwards to the front coxae ; the cuneate hinder spots are isolated ; the scutelluvn black, hut the underside of the hind margin is yellow ; nearly the whole of the club of the halteres is black, leaving a narro\v yellow margin ; the inner side of the middle tibiae is distinctly brownish, with tiny black bristles.

23". Systropus edwardsi, sp. nov.

c? . Near, but quite distinct from, ophioneus. Antennae black, except 1st joint which is brownish basallv ; face with nearly parallel sides. Dorsal spots on thorax as follows : — A humeral nearly square one, with a piece cut out of the front side ; this spot connected by two small ones with the yellow propleura as in ophioneus, also extended along dorsal margin, narrowing to %a point, turning upwards and nearly reaching wing-base ; all these spots bright yellow ; no spot on posterior corners of dorsum, but the margin in that neighbourhood showing yellowish traces ; a little yellowish about wing-base and contiguous to 1st abdominal .segment, but the pleura practically all black. Sides of abdomen orange or brownish yellow to the tip, including last segment and genitalia. Anterior legs pale yellow, showing darker traces on upper side of femora.

In all else as in opliioneus.

Length, 22 mm.

Described from a unique c? in the British Museum from Taung-ngu, Burma, xi. 1889 (Lt.-Col. 0. T. Ringham).

231. Systropus eumenoides, Westw.

Systropus eumenoides, AVestwood, in Guerin's Mag. Zool. p. 4, pi. 90 (1842) ; id., Trans. Ent. Soc, pi. x, figs. 13, 14, 15 (1876).

"Antennae yellow, 1st joint at tip, and 2nd and 3rd joints black ; face and back of head yellow. Thorax yellow, a median short stripe in front, a large heart-shaped spot in centre of disc, two small spots near humeri, and two wedge-shaped others at base of wing, black.

"Yellow, black-marked. Abdomen with 1st segment black above, the four next, yellow, with a narrow median interrupted brown stripe ; two last segments black, with yellow hind margins ; halteres yellow. Wings pale yellow, cost'a hardly darkened; veins just behind the costa yellow, the others brown. Eour anterior legs yellow, tarsi black above at tip ; hind femora brownish yellow, hind tibi;o yellow, a brown short stripe on outer side, and a blackish subapical ring ; tarsi with a short brown stripe above.'' (Westwood.)

Length, 18 mm.

North part of India.

Type in the British Museum.

295

232. Systropus flavipleura, sp. nov.

J $ . Differing from opliioneus in having the antennae all black, except the 1st joint which is indistinctly pale at base. Thoracic markings as follows : — Dorsum black ; a diagonally-placed humeral spot, its inner end bluntly pointed ; two small contiguous spots immediately below its anterior end and touching the all-yellow propleura ; an isosceles triangular spot on posterior corner of dorsum connected by a narrow yellow line with a good-sized spot just before wing-base. Front side of sternopleura bright yellow, the colour continuing up to the 1st abdominal segment ; hinder side of lower part of thorax yellow, with a median black stripe. Sides of first four abdominal segments bright golden yellow, remainder of abdomen dark brown.

Lencjtli, 22-28 mm.

Described from two specimens in the British Museum.

The type J from the Lower Ranges, N. Khasi Hills, Assam, 1878 (A. Chennell). The second specimen is a $ and bears no data. The Indian Museum possesses one specimen from Sikkim.

Family THEREVID^E.

Head about as wide as thorax, nearly semicircular, neck short, occiput slightly puffed out. Eyes bare, contiguous or subcontiguous in c? , wide apart in $ ; frons generally more or less produced about base of antennas, and, with the face, bare or pubescent ; three ocelli. Proboscis rather prominent, of moderate size, rather thick, upturned; labella broad ; palpi un jointed. Antenna? often showing excessive or even monstrous development, approximate at base, 3-jointed,* with usually an apical style ; sometimes slender and of considerable length (Phycus} ; sometimes the 1st joint enormously developed, longer than the head.f The only head-bristles are postocular, and some at the extreme back of the head.

Tliorax subquadrate or slightly longer than broad, slightly arched, generally with dense pubescence, which is normally longer and thicker in the <$ . The macrochsetao are: 2 to 6 pre- sutural, 1 or 2 supra-alar, 1 strong postalar, 1 or 2 pairs prescutellar, other dorso-central bristles generally absent. Scutellum distinct, semicircular, with four (rarely two) strong bristles on hind margin.

Abdomen of seven segments (rarely more) ; generally elongate- conical and in most species with dense pubescence, which is more erect in the d1 than in the $ ; no macrochastae. GTenitalia in rf

* Some authors (as Mik) have claimed four joints in TJiereva, Lundbeck even admitting five, but this is incorrect. The 3rd joint sometimes has u basal stimulation, which has the appearance of a joint, and the style sometimes the appearance of being divided.

t Xcstomyza and others ; no genus of this kind is Oriental.

296 THEKEVIDjE.

moderately large; in 2 l°ng? shining, with a circlet of spines at tip as in many ANTHRACIN^; and ASILID^.

Legs rather long and thin, with bristles of moderate size ; anterior tibiae with two or three longitudinal rows of bristles, hind tibiae with four rows ; all tibiae with a circlet of apical spines ; pulvilli two or none, empodium reduced to a thin bristle or absent.

Wings witli a rather uniform venation ; 1st and auxiliary veins not extending much beyond middle of wing ; praefurca beginning at some distance before base of discal cell ; 2nd vein simple ; 3rd forked, the fork generally including the wing-tip • upper branch of 4th vein forked ; 5th vein forked ; anal vein present and generally axillary vein also ; anterior cross-vein placed at about middle of discal cell, which latter is always present ; posterior cross-vein present. Two submarginal, five posterior cells, 4th sometimes closed. " Squamae with only the alar pair developed, but they are rather large and peculiarly folded, so that the strongly-defined margin is angled about the middle, and gives the impression of there being two pairs of squamae." (Verrall.)

Life-history not definitely known, although on several occasions specimens have been alleged to have been bred from Lepidopterous larvae (Sphinx, Triph&na, Aleiicls). Larvae very elongate, cylin- drical, very active, vermiform, with exserted head ; body apparently of 19 or 20 segments, probably caused by subdivision of true seg- ments, ainphipneustic, with prothoracic spiracles on 2nd body- segment, and a posterior pair at sides of 4th segment from tip ; last segment small; no pseudopods, but a few fine bristles on first three body-segments. Pupa free, bearing antennal sheaths on front side of head. The larvae are found in the earth or in sand, sometimes in decaying wood, occasionally in fungi, turnips, or dung; they are said to be carnivorous. The perfect insects occur chiefly in shady places, on bushes and low-growing plants, Walker and Williston stating that they prey on other insects, although no sufficiently attested case of the kind is known ; and they are also stated to be cannibalistic in captivity. Beling and Bouche have supplied most of our knowledge on this subject.

The THEUEYID*; occur in all parts of the world, but are most numerous in Europe and North America. They are easily recognised by their usually furry appearance, subconical shape, and unmarked wings, and can be distinguished from their nearest allies, the BOMBYLIID^;, by the five posterior cells and the presence of the posterior cross-vein. Many species are objects of great, beauty; amongst Indian representatives of the family may be noted Psilocephala sequa, Walk., which is covered with nearly snow-white pubescence and performs aerial dances in many places. Although the Indian species (except one or two Psilocephala) appear quite distinct, the family is noted for the exceedingly close affinity of some species, characters which at first sight would appear trivial being constant and of quite good specific value.

THEREVA. 297

Table of Genera.

First autennal joint nearly as long as head . . PHYCUS, Walk., p. 306. First antennal joint much shorter than head. Face and frons with long dense pubes- cence THEHEVA, Latr., p. 297.

Face bare ; frons bare, or with com- [p. 302.

paratively short pubescence in J PSILOCEPHALA, Zett.,

Genus THEREVA, Latr.

Thereva, Latreille, Precis Car. Gen. Ins. p. 167 (1796) ; id., Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. iii, p. 441 (1802).

GENOTYPE, Musca plebeja, L. (Europe).

Head semicircular, placed closely on thorax ; frons slightly produced towards antennae, densely pubescent in tf , shortly so in $ , a transverse shining black callus present in £ ; face sloping, covered thicldy (as is all the lower part of the head) in <$ with dense pubescence, in 5 pubescence much shorter: three ocelli. Proboscis' of moderate length, rather upturned, labella large; palpi cylindrical, thin, pubescent. Eyes bare, contiguous in c? for some distance, wide apart in 5 • Antennas porrect, approxi- mate at base, rather long; 1st two joints cylindrical, bristly and pubescent ; the 2nd short ; 3rd narrowed at base, elongate- conical, sometimes indistinctly annulated near base, bare, bearing a short style ending in a minute filament. Thorax oval, densely pubescent in <5 , less so in $ . Three to six presutural, two supra- alar, one postalar. and one or two pairs of prescutellar bristles, all strong and black, but the latter ones liable to variation. Scut ell u in semicircular, with four marginal bristles; metariotum small, bare. Abdomen conical, longer than thorax, with seven or eight segments in J , the 8th always distinct in $ , forming basal portion of ovipositor ; pubescence dense and furry in <5 , shorter in $> , and usually adpressed on basal segments. Genitalia not prominent, but of'ten visible ; ovipositor with a circlet of strong black spines. Legs moderately long, slender; some black bristles on coxaB and anterior femora ; tibiae with rows of small bristles and a circlet of spines at tip. Wings with normal Therevid venation ; 4th posterior cell generally closed or narrowly open.

Range. World-wide, but apparently better represented in Europe and North America.

Life-history. Partly known ; larvae very active, occurring in damp earth, under stones, and in similar places ; possibly they feed, at least occasionally, on Lepidopterous larvae.

Only four species are known for certain from India ; these may be separated as follows : —

Antemue mainly bright brownish yellow. . kempi, sp. n., p. 298. Antennae wholly black.

Legs all blackish niyella, Wied., p. 299.

298 THEREVIDJE.

Tibiae brownish yellow.

Posterior margins of abdominal seg- ments narrowly and uniformly yellow jlauolineata, Brim., p. 299.

Posterior margins of abdominal seg- ments ash-grey, much broader towards sides bilineata, Bruu., p. 300.

Four other species are probably from India, but require con- firmation.

233. Thereva kempi, sp. nov.

<5 . Head with eyes contiguous for about one-third of the distance from vertex to antennae, with a dull greenish tinge ; vertex yellow-dusted, with a few black hairs ; ocelli shining black ; frons yellow-dusted, rather closely punctured, with long black bristly hairs on upper part, continuing down the sides as far as level of antennae ; rest of frons and whole of face and cheeks covered with dense bright chrome-yellow bristly hairs. Antennae orange ; upper part of 3rd joint, except at base, blackish, as is also the style ; 1st joint with conspicuous long black bristles ; 2nd with an incomplete circular band of smaller black spines ; 3rd with a little whitish pubescence and a few small bristles at base above. Proboscis orange ; occiput yellowish, on upper half with short yellow pubescence and a row of strong black bristles along upper margin ; lower part behind eyes whitish, with long black hairs. Thorax black, covered with rather dull yellow tomentum and, at least towards sides of dorsum, with short bright yellow somewhat coarse pubescence ; the whole dorsum covered with long fine black hairs, whicli are densest in the centre. Scutellum yellow-dusted, darker in centre and at base, with yellow pubescence with a con- siderable number of long black hairs intermixed ; hind margin with four long bristles. Pleurae light grey, closely covered with bright yellow pubescence, which is mainly replaced on the sterno- pleura by white hairs. Abdomen with 1st segment dark grey, with sparse soft black hairs ; rest of segments deep black, more or less shining at base, with a well-marked bright golden-yellow hind margin to each, the colour extending forwards towards the sides as far as the middle of each segment or beyond ; whole dorsum covered with dense black or yellow pubescence according to the ground-colour. Venter light grey, appearing darker in certain lights, with distinct pale yellowish-white hind margins to segments ; the whole surface with sparse soft bright yellow hairs. Legs : coxae light grey, with rather long yellow pubescence ; femora black, anterior pairs with similar pubescence ; hind pair nearly bare, but with a row of seven or eight black bristles below; tibiae brownish yellow, blackish at tips, with the usual bristles and microscopic pubescence; tarsi dirty brownish yellow, tip of 1st joint, apical third of 2nd, base of 3rd and 4th narrowly, and all 5th black. Winrjs pale grey, highly iridescent ; 4th posterior cell closed slightly before the border ; stigma dark brown ; halteres blackish.

Length, 12 mm.

T1ILREVA. 299

Described from a perfect unique d in the Indian Museum from Shillong, Assam, 5500 to 6400 it., 29.viii-5.ix.1915 (Kemp}.

A. very beautiful species, unlike any other Indian form; it must bear considerable resemblance to T. fuJva, Mg., of Europe.

234. Thereva nigella, Wied.

Thereva niyella, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 23:2 (1828).

$. "Antennae blackish, in certain ligbts whitish. Epistome, beard, and moustache white ; f rons and back of head with a white shimmer. The rather rubbed thorax shows faint traces of stripes ; the side margins broadly whitish. Abdomen with some white hairs on the side margins, the segments hardly whitish. Wings quite clear ; halteres brown, with white knobs. Legs blackish, with short white hairs. Type in Westermann's collection. Tranquebar. Length 4g lines." (Wiedemunn.}

235. Thereva flavolineata, Brun.

Thereva jlavolineata, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 480 (1912).

Head: frons small, black, with black hairs; ocelli red; eye- facets larger in front ; face grey, with long stiff black hairs above the antennas and with long greyish hairs below them ; antennae black, microscopically grey-dusted; oral orifice reddish yellow; back of head dead grey, with greyish hairs ; vertex and upper border of eyes with black hairs. Thorax dark brown, with two well-separated, moderately wide, chrome-yellow stripes ; dorsum covered with mixed brown and yellow hairs, the former mainly on the darker parts ; sides of thorax blackish grey in front of wings, ashy grey on lower part, with shaggy dirty white hairs in front of and below shoulders, and in front of wing-base; some yellow hairs above insertion of wings. A row of three bristles between the humerus and transverse suture, two supra-alar bristles (others possibly broken off). Scutellum yellowioh, with a brownish basal triangle, dorsum with brown and grey hairs ; two preapical well-separated bristles. Abdomen blackish grey, posterior margins of segments very narrowly yellow, but more widely so on 3rd and 4th : 1st segment wholly, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th wholly (except posteriorly at the sides), 5th at base, black; dorsum of abdomen with black hairs, which are thickest and longest on the black parts; sides with moderately long whitish-yellow hairs ; posterior margins of segments with very short, similarly coloured hairs. Venter bluish grey, posterior margins of segments more broadly yellow, especially on 3rd and 4th segments ; the whole surface with spit white hairs. Genitalia distinct, shining brown, with brownish hairs on upper, and whitish hairs on lower parts. Legs (hind pair wanting): coxas and femora blackish grey, the former with long greyish-white hairs in front; the latter with grey hairs below on proximal half, blacker hairs on discal half ; tibia? reddish yellow,

300 THEREVIDjE.

blackish at tip, microscopically pubescent, with numerous rather short spines ; tarsi darker. Wings nearly clear, veins brownish yellow ; tegulae dirty white ; halteres brown and yellow.

Described from a d in the Indian Museum from Shi Hong.

A second specimen, also from Shillong, 4900 ft., 10-12. x. 1914 (Kemp), is identical, except that the abdominal segments have no pale sides, as in the type, but the hind borders of the 2nd segment and onwards are very narrowly yellowish towards each side, and bear thereon some rather long yellowish hairs.

236. Thereva bilineata, Brun.

Thereva bilineata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xiii, p. 78 (1917).

§ . Head with frons at vertex distinctly more than one-third width of head, at level of antennae over half the head ; its upper two-thirds yellowish brown, the rest (with face) ash-grey ; whole frons with scattered black hairs of moderate length ; face wholly covered with long pendent whitish-grey hairs, extending over cheeks and lower part of occiput ; some black hairs below or around mouth ; proboscis reddish brown ; antennae black, first two joints with strong black bristles, 3rd as long as 1st ; vertical triangle barely raised ; a row of rather strong bristles along upper occipital margin, a second row a short distance behind the first. Thorax dark brown, nearly black, with two distinct, yellowish-white, well- separated dorsal stripes from anterior to hind margin and minute sparse yellowish pubescence. A row of five powerful spines behind humerus, extending towards wing-base; tw^o supra-alar (postsutural), one post-alar, a large and lesser one on each side margin of scutellum and a pair of apical scutellar decussate nearly perpendicular ones. Pleurse ash-grev, with long whitish-grey pubescence. Scutellum ash-grey, with a large brown spot at base ; hind margin with soft yellow hairs as well as the bristles. Abdomen black ; 1st segment grey, with yellow pubescence on hind margin and whitish hairs at sides ; rest of segments with distinct ash-grey hind borders, which are narrowest in middle, bearing some yellow or yellowish-white pubescence; sides of 2nd and 3rd segments with whitish hairs; rest of dorsuin and at sides with short black pubescence; 7th segment shining chestnut-brown; genitalia the same, marked with yellow, fairly prominent; venter black, all segments except 1st with well-defined bare hind margins. Leys: femora black, with depressed white pubescence and a short row of bristles in middle of underside ; tibiae brownish yellow, darker at tips ; fore tibiae with three (inner pair wanting), posterior pairs with four rows of strong spines ; tarsi brownish, yellow or dark brown, joints paler at base, shortly pubescent. Wings pale grey, normal ; halteres black.

Length, 11 1 mm.

Described from a unique $ in the Indian Museum from Theog. Simla Distr., 8000 ft., l.v. 1907 (Annandale).

This species bears some resemblance to my fotvolineala.

THEREVA. 301

237. Thereva cylindrica, Walk.

Thereva cylindrica, Walker, List Dipt. Brit.Mus. i, p. 224 (1848).

<3 . " Body long and narrow ; head white, hoary behind, with a few black bristles along the hind borders of the eyes, clothed beneath with white hairs ; eyes green and red ; feelers black; 1st joint clothed with black hairs; 2nd joint and base of the 3rd tawny ; mouth piceous ; chest hoary, clothed with hoary down, and with a few black bristles on each side, where there is a white stripe, and it has also a broad yellowish-brown stripe in the middle ; breast white and clothed with white hairs ; abdomen brown, covered with silvery glance, yellowish brown towards the tip, where it is clothed with dark tawny hairs ; hind borders of tli3 segments pale tawny and adorned with fringes of white hairs ; legs grey ; hips white ; wings slightly grey, tawny along the fore border ; brands brown and narrow; veins piceous, slightly bordered with dark tawny ; poisers piceous, with dark tawny knobs.

" Length of the body 5 lines, of the wings 8 lines. East Indies." (Walker.)

Though described from the " East Indies," the type in the British Museum bears the simple label " Ind.'"', which is considered to signify India proper.

238. Thereva indica, Walk.

Thereva indica, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 159 (1852).

$. "Body black; head shining above, tinged with grey and clothed with hoary hairs beneath ; sucker and feelers black ; breast tinged with grey; abdomen spindle-shaped, very much longer than the chest ; hind borders of the segments and underside tinged with grey ; legs tawny, beset with a few black bristles ; claws black ; wings grey ; brands brown ; wing-ribs pitchy ; veins black, pitchy at the base ; poisers pitchy.

" Length of the body 5 lines ; of the wings 9 lines. East India." (Walker.}

239. Thereva persequa, Walk.

Thereva persequa, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 158 (1852).

2 . " Body black, head very shining above, silvery white in front and beneath, where it is clothed with white hairs ; sucker black; palpi tinged with grey, thickly clothed with white hairs; chest grev, dull, adorned on each side with a pair of hoary stripes, a pitchy tinge between each pair ; sides and scutcheon armed with black bristles ; breast hoary, clotlied with white hairs ; abdomen black, shining, clothed with very short black hairs, slightly decreasing in breadth from the base to the tip, near twice the length of the chest ; hind borders of the 1st and 2nd segments fringed with short white hairs ; tip armed with a circlet of black spines ; legs ferruginous ; hips black, tinged with hoary, clothed with white hairs ; shanks beset with black bristles ; feet black, pitchy at the base; foot-cushions pitchy: wings grey, slightly

tinged with brown along the borders of the veins; poisers tawny, their knobs black, with a hoary tinge.

" Length of the body 3^ lines, of the wings 5 lines. East India." (Walker.)

240. Thereva invaria, Walk.

Thereva invaria, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 159 (1852).

2 . " Body black, clothed with black hairs ; head clothed beneath with white hairs ; sucker pitchy, clothed with tawny hairs ; breast and underside of abdomen grey, the former partly clothed with whitish hairs ; abdomen spindle-shaped, very much longer than the chest ; hind borders of the segments lurid ; a large tuft of white hairs on each side of the base ; legs black, clothed with short black hairs, beset with a few black bristles ; foot- cushions pitchy; wings slightly grey; wing-ribs pitchy; veins black, strongly marked, pitchy towards the base ; brands brown ;% poisers pitchy.

" Length of the body 5 lines, of the wings 9 lines. East India." (Walker.)

Genus PSILOCEPHALA, Zctt.

Psilocephala, Zetterstedt, Ins. Lapp. p. 625, note (1838) ; id., Dipt. Scand. i, p. 19 (1838) (Psilocehala, lapsus).

GENOTYPE, Bibio imberbis, Fin. (Sweden) ; by Coquillett's designation (1910).*

This genus differs from Thereva in the bare face ; and from a nearly allied European genus, Dialineura, which may probably occur in India, it is known by the 1st antennal joint being no broader than the 2nd and not more bristlv than usual. The alleged character that the 1st joint is shorter than the 2nd and 3rd combined, as compared with its being longer than the 2nd and 3rd together in Dialineura, seems an uncertain one.

The species are by no means almost bare, as stated by Verrall.

Range. Europe, Asia, North, Central, and South America, North and South Africa, Madagascar, Sokotra.

Life-history. Probably similar to that of Thereva.

Five species are definitely known from India or Ceylon, with one additional species, sequens, Walk., requiring confirmation. These five are difficult to tabulate, from the general similarity of the descriptions, although when placed side by side the species may appear quite distinct. The colour of the legs, though apparently an unreliable character, is perhaps as constant a one as any, but the present table is, at best, only a preliminary one.f

* It would have been better to have selected the well-known European urdea, F., as genotype.

t It is advisable in this family to compile a separate table for each sex, but tho females are known of only three out of the five species.

PSILOCEPHALA.. 303

Table of Species.

1. Femora dark brown ; all tibiae and tarsi

pale yellowish brown ; (thorax pre- sumably uiTstriped) ulbina, Wied., p. 303.

Femora black or blackish, with or with- out white or silvery shimmer -2.

2. Front tibiae blackish brown, or at least

distinctly darker than posterior pairs. 3.

Alat mo" Sr£y) U±U:ly.Pale: JT«> W.K P. 305,

3. Thorax dull black, with two grey ' (^ms> Krob'>* P- 306«

stripes ; emarginations of abdominal

segments reddish or yellowish indica, Big., p. 304.

Thorax dark grey, one median darker stripe ; abdominal emarginations not coloured ; eyes absolutely contiguous, ceylonica, Krb'b., p. 304.

241. Psilocephala albina, Wied.

Thereva ulbina, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag. i, pt. 3. p. 3 (1819) ; id.,

Auss. Zweih1. i, p. 233 (1828). Psilocephala albma, Krbber, Eut, Mitteil. Berl. i, p. 252 (1912).

J . " Head with silvery-white toraentum, extreme margins of frontal triangle appearing dark brown ; in certain lights can be seen two dark parallel stripes, fading away downwards towards the antennae; antenna) blackish brown, sparsely beset with black bristles; palpi and proboscis long, with snow-white hairs; back of head with whitish-grey tomentum and white hairs ; orbital bristles black. Thorax dull grey, with yellow and grey pubescence ; scutellurn like thorax, with black bristles ; sides of thorax blackish, grey-dusted and with grey hairs. Abdomen black, dull, with somewhat strong silvery glistening and long whitish hairs, which in certain lights, especially on the last segment, appear yellow ; 2nd to 4th segments with yellowish hind margins. Venter blackish, with grey pubescence, with yellowish hind margins to segments ; genital lamellae reddish yellow, with black and whitish- yellow hairs. Legs: coxae blackish, white-haired; femora dark brown, covered with white pubescence ; tibiae and tarsi pale yellowish brown, tips darkened. Winys hvaline, veins weak, yellowish, 4th posterior cell closed ; halteres blackish brown, tips of clubs whitish. Length, 9 mm. Type c? from Java, in the Vienna Museum.

5 . " Frons narrow, dull blackish brown ; epistome shining silvery white ; two dull black spots near each other above the antennae, outlined with white ; antennae and back of head as in J . Thorax and scutellum black, with very sparse yellowish and grey hairs ; sides of thorax blackish, with silvery-white tomentum and white hairs. Abdomen dull blackish brown ; each segment bears an ill-defined triangular silver-white spot on each side on the hind

* These two species are almost certain to be identical. No characters of differential value can be selected from Krober's description of his unique type.

304 TIIEIIEYIM;.

border, not meeting on the disc ; according to the light the abdomen above appears deep black or dark brown ; 2nd segment with a distinct silky-white margin. Ground-colour of venter black, with a silvery sheen; the 1st segment white-haired on eacli side; the last one short, with black raised hairs. Femora blackish brown, with silvery-white hairs : tibiae and tarsi pale yellowish brown, front tarsi darkened. Wings as in c? ; 4th posterior cell closed. Length, 10 mm. Type $ from East India, in Vienna Museum." (JLrober.)

This species is introduced to the British Indian fauna on the strength of the $ recorded by Krober from East India.

242. Psilocephala indica, Big.

Psilocephala indica, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) ix, p. 326

(1889).

6 . " Antennte blackish, the two first segments furnished with^ some black hairs ; proboscis and palpi blackish, these latter with white hair ; face black, covered with whitish tomentum ; beard white ; thorax dull black, as well as scutellum, two grey stripes on dorsum, sides of dorsum and sides of thorax with white tomentum ; halteres brown, pale at tips ; abdomen dull black, with venter and sides with white tomentum, the emarginatious of the segments reddish ; femora black, tibia? pale tawny with black tips ; tarsi brown, metatarsi pale tawny at base ; wings hyaline.

$ . " Resembling the male ; frons black, whitish below, ab- dominal segmentations paler.

"India. Three tf 6 , two $ $ . Length, 10 mm." (Bigot.}

243. Psilocephala ceylonica, Krrib.

Psilocephala ceylonica, Krober, Eut. Mitteil. Berl. i, p. 251 (1912).

d1 . " With sparse snow-white hairs throughout. Eyes abso- lutely contiguous, rather large, shining green ; epistome and frons snow-white, with silvery shimmer ; extreme margins of frontal triangle velvet-black ; 1st antenual joint black, 2nd and 3rd dark reddish brown, style black, bristles black. Thorax dull dark grey, witli a blackish-brown median stripe, which is narrowly bordered with whitish grey ; the short erect hairs are blackish, bristles black; scutellum dark grey, blackish brown in centre; sides of thorax silver-grey. Abdominal ground-colour deep velvet-black, appearing wholly black or glistening silvery white according to the direction of the light ; posterior margins of segments indis- tinctly whitish ; genitalia small, reddish ; venter like dorsnm, borders of segments distinct. Femora black, with silvery-white pubescence ; tibia? and tarsi brownish yellow, front tibia? and tarsi blackish brown, tips of posterior pairs darker. Wings with a brown tinge, rather deeply yellowish brown on anterior margin ; veins very strong, slightly infuscated ; 4th posterior cell closed in one wing and open in the other ; halteres blackish brown, clubs paler. Length, 12 mm. Colombo. Type in Hungarian Museum." (Krober.)

PSILOCEPHALA. 305

244. Psilocephala sequa, Walk. (PI. III. figs. 17-20.)

Thereva sequa, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 1, p. 157 (1852). <5 $ . Bead in c? with eyes contiguous for about half the distance from fro us to vertex, leaving an elongate light yellowish-grey vertex bearing a few brown hairs, with the front ocellus at some distance from the other two ; ocelli red ; frons at level of antennae nearly one-third of the head, and with face wholly covered with snow-white tomentum, with here and there a little short con- colorous soft pubescence ; upper corner of frons with a few black stiff hairs. Proboscis short, thick, dark brown, extending as far as tij) of 1st antennal joint, with moderately long soft white hairs. Anteunal 1st joint blackish, white-dusted, with numerous strong black bristles; 2nd and 3rd joints dull red-brown, with a little greyish dust ; 2nd nearly cylindrical, with a few short bristles ; 3rd elongate, bare. Occiput projecting only slightly behind eyes, covered with hoary tomentum, a little white pubescence, and some strong black bristles. In $ , frons at vertex broader than in <S , widening rapidly to level of antennae, where it is one-third the width of the head ; eye-margins slightly emarginate towards antennas ; the yellowish-grey colour of the vertex extending half- way to antennae and on its lower margin overlapping the snow- white frons, a large rounded or subtriangular black spot on each side touching the eyes ; vertical margin with a row of about ten black bristles. Thorax wholly covered with pale bluish-grey tomentum ; dorsum darker, with two narrow well-separated whitish stripes (the intermediate space often brown), running practically from anterior to posterior margins ; dorsum covered with fine brownish pubescence of some length, and sparsely with short snow-white hairs ; thicker and longer whitish-grey pubescence on the pleurae and underside between the first two pairs of coxae. Normal macrochaetoe along sides of thorax, dorso-centrals represented by a single pair near hind margin ; scutellum, which is clothed with hoary tomentum and soft whitish pubescence, bearing four bristles, a marginal and an apical pair. Abdomen in d covered with silvery- white dust, which is most conspicuous seen from above, as, when viewed from behind at a low angle, it almost disappears, the abdomen seeming dusky; there being also some short snow-white hairs, and at the sides much longer fine white or nearly white pubescence, which has a tendency to form a fan-shaped bunch on each segment, especially on the first three; venter blackish, nearly bare; hind margins of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments distinctly brownish yellow ; tip of abdomen with a few bristles ; geuitalia reddish brown. In $, deep black, with microscopic depressed yellow hairs ; 1st segment wholly grey-dusted ; towards sides of each remaining segment a snow-white tomentose triangular spot with short snow-white pubescence ; these spots being largest on 2nd and 3rd segments and smallest on 4th, on 5th and 6th segments they are merged in a general whitish-grey dusting; surface of abdomen with sparse long stiff black hairs from 4th

306

segment (on which they are most numerous) onwards, but they are very inconspicuous and easily overlooked ; venter covered with snow-white tomentum and some short white pubescence, the bases of some of the apical segments being blackish. Legs : coxae and femora clothed with snow-white pubescence ; tibiae (except tips) and about basal half of metatarsi brownish yellow ; rest of legs black. Wings pale grey, vitreous, veins towards base yellowish ; halteres pale yellowish.

Length, rf ?, 9-11 mm.

Described from a long series, mostly males, in perfect condition from Pusa, Bengal, where it is apparently to be found from January to July inclusive, it having occurred in abundance on 13 and 14 . iii . 1909, performing aerial dances between 8 and 9 A.M. lu the British Museum from Mahagany and Tiriyai, Ceylon, taken in January, May, June, September, and November (Col. Yerbury) ; Castle Eock, 11-26 . x . 1916 (Kemp).

245. Psilocephala affinis, Krob.

Psilocephala affinis, Krober, Ent. Mitteil. Berl. i, p. 254 (1912).

"d1. Near P. cirdea, F.,* and P. ceylonica, n. sp. The whole body covered with snow-white pubescence, except for some brown hairs intermixed on the thorax. The 1st and 2nd antennal joints black-haired ; frons and epistome silvery white, extreme margin of frontal triangle deep velvet-black ; antennae deep black, thin ; back of head grey, below nearly white, orbital bristles black. Thorax dark grey, with two whitish longitudinal stripes, between and beside which the colour appears almost brownish ; scutellnm like thorax ; sides of thorax silvery grey. Abdomen very silvery, metallic ; 2nd to 5th segments with snow-white edges ; genital lamellae reddish yellow ; venter similar to upper side, ground- colour black, with hind margins of segments white and witli silvery reflection. Femora and tarsi black; tibiae and extreme base of metatarsi of middle and hind legs yellowish brown ; extreme tips of tibiae more or less blackish brown. Wings absolutely hyaline; 4th posterior cell closed; halteres with stalk yellowish, knobs white with black base. Length 9-9| mm. Type c? from Agra, in Vienna Museum." (Krober.)

Although the expression metallic as applied to the abdomen seems suggestive of specific distinctness, this insect is almost certainly identical with sequa, Walk.

Genus PHYCUS, Wallc.

Phycus, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 1, p. 2 (1850). GENOTYPE, Xylopliayus canescens, Walk. ; by original designation.

Head transverse, broader than thorax ; proboscis short, thick, not extending beyond anterior margin of eyes ; palpi shorter than

* A Eui'opean species.

1 HYOUS. 307

proboscis, thin ; eyes separated in both sexes, bare ; fro us narrower in d1 , or eyes sometimes contiguous in c? . Antennae porrect, with 1st joint very long, cylindrical ; 2nd quite short ; 3rd long, longer or shorter than 1st, elongate leaf-shaped, narrow at base, pointed at tip, with distinct short style. Thorax oblong. Abdomen longer than thorax, cylindrical in <$ , rather compressed towards tip in 9 ; genitalia obvious. Legs slender. Wings with venation as in Thereva.

The species are rather small, elongate, and nearly bare.

Itange. S. Europe (one species), Asia, Australia, South America, with possibly a species from Africa.

Life-histon/ unknown.

Only three species are Indian, no other Oriental ones being known.

Table of Species.

Third antennal joint distinctly shorter than 1st; all femora yellow (in var. bnmnipes fore femora only pale).

Eyes in both sexes distinctly separated ; abdomen without silvery shimmer, but with \ yellowish-white bands to several

segments 6rwn«««, Wied., p. 307.

Eyes in tf contiguous for some distance; abdomen (dorsum) wholly covered with brilliant silvery shimmer, transverse [p. 3CO.

bands barely visible ari/entiveniris, sp. n.,

Third anteunal joint distinctly longer than 1st ;

all legs wholly black atripes, Brim., p. 309.

246. Phycus brunnens, Wied. (PI. Ill, figs. 21-23.)

Phycm brunneus, Wiedemann, Analec. Ent. p. 19 (1824) ; Brunetti,

Kec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 479 (1912).

Xylophayus brunneus, id., Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 85 (1828). Xyluphat/us ctmescms, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. i, p. 129. faycus canescens, id.. Ins. Sauud., Dipt, pt, 1, p. 2, pi. i. fig. 5

(1850).

6 £ . Head : f rons in J less than half as wide at vertex as at level of antennae, where it is between one-third and one-fourth the width of the head, slightly broader throughout in $ ; covered on upper half with almost microscopic silver-grey pubescence, lower part shining black, bare ; the shining reddish distinct ocelli on a small obvious prominence ; face broad, with parallel sides and silvery-white tomentum on upper part and also on each side of the antennal prominence; mouth-opening large, black; pro- boscis rather thick, extending forward about as far as base of antennae ; palpi as long as proboscis, thin, slightly clubbed at tip, black, pubescent. Antennas normally black ; 1st joint sometime? brownish red or dark brown or even brownish yellow, a litt It- longer than head, with microscopic grey pubescence and some short bristly hairs along the underside, beset above with very short stiff hairs; 2nd ioint very short, with black bristles; 3rd about

x2

308 THEREVIDJE.

half as long as the 1st, flattened, dull blackish red, practically bare, elongate leaf-shaped, not quite straight nor yet with quite parallel sides, bearing a minute black apical style-like tip. Thorax shining black, with a broad whitish-grey median stripe from anterior to hind margin, often with a narrow whiter line along its middle ; transverse suture well marked at each end ; whole dorsum covered, though not thickly, with minute whitish - grey pubescence ; humeri bare, shining ; pleurae and underside of thorax with greyish microscopic pubescence, with a few sparse longer hairs here and there. Scutellum reddish brown, base more or less black, sometimes wholly black, with two long black bristles on hind margin. Abdomen shining black, hind margins of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments narrowlv brownish, yellowish, or even white, the colour always distinctly broader on 2nd segment ; sometimes hind margin of 1st segment also faintly or distinctly pale; dorsum covered with minute, rather sparse, whitish pub^es- cence, which is distinctly longer on the sides and venter, which latter is generally a replica of the upper side and occasionally has the hind margins of the 5th and 6th segments also pale ; some longer white hairs towards each side of 1st segment. Genitalia in <5 rather large, black or dark brown ; in $ only the slightly protruding small terminal lamellae are visible. Leys : coxa? brownish yellow or orange, posterior pairs slightly blackish grey at base, all with minute whitish pubescence and a few longer whitish hairs in front and near tip ; femora uniformlv brownish yellow or orange ; tibiae and tarsi normally black, hut middle pair often and hind pair sometimes more or less dirty brownish yellow ; tarsi blackish, metatarsus more or less dull yellowish at base ; all the legs with microscopic grey pubescence. Wings pale grey, highly iridescent ; veins black or dark brown, occasionally those near distal end of wing slightly suffused, or the whole wing-tip may be slightly infuscated ; halteres wholly yellowish or with a black mark on upper side of knobs.

Length, 0-7 mm.

Described from a number of specimens in good and fair con- dition in the Indian Museum and Pusa collections: Almora, Kumaon Distr., 5500ft., 14. v.-lO. vi. 1911 (Paiva); Bum Dumr W. Himalayas, xii. 1906; Baroda, 10. iv. 1909, larva in rubbish in fowl-house ; Bombay Presid. (nova, illeg.), 19. iii. 1905 : Chapra, Bengal, common ; Malda, E. Bengal, 22. iii. 1911 (Fletcher) ; Whatgodam, 23. ix. 1915.

Types in Berlin Museum and Wiedemann's collection.

P. brunneus var. brunnipes Brun.

P. brunneus var. brunnipes, Brunetti. Rec. Ind. Mus. vii. p. 480 (1912).

This variety is distinguished by a broad brown ring on the posterior femora leaving only the base and tip pale ; front femora brownish yellow. Scutellum wholly black, with a little greyish

PIIYCUS. 309

tomeutum ; abdominal bands milk-white. Wings either clear partly suffused along the veins distally, or the tip faintly suffused. Three $ $> from Mandalay, ]2. iii. 1908, and Moulmein, 28. ii. 1908 (Annandale), all in the Indian Museum.

247. Phycus argentiventris, sp. nov.

3 . ITead: eyes contiguous for a considerable distance ; vertical triangle bluish grey ; frons and face bluish grey, rather shining; :intennal prominence black ; antenna? dull brownish yellow, 1st and 2nd joints pubescent ; vertical margin and behind upper part of eyes with a row of well-separated black bristles ; occiput ash-grey, rather shining in certain lights ; lower part wilh soft white hairs. Thorax as in brunneus, the median stripe with a bluish tinge. Abdomen comparatively flattened above, covered with bluish-grey tomentum, which (seen from in frontj glistens silvery white ; some sparse white pubescence at sides, longer towards base ; hind border of 3rd segment with a narrow yellowish band, rather inconspicuous ; traces of a similar band on 4th seg- ment; genitalia large, conspicuous, bright orange with a little black pubescence ; venter black, hind margin of at least 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments with a distinct yellowish band. Legs : femora and posterior tibiae blackish ; fore tibia? and tarsi dull yellowish brown ; posterior tarsi pale yellowish, blackish at tip and at tips of joints. Wings as in brunneus, unmarked; halteres blackish brown.

Length, 7 mm.

Described from a single specimen from Unt-hogaon, Naini Tal Distr., 13.iv.1910, in the Indian Museum. Specimens subsequently seen in the British Museum from Periyakulam, Ceylon, 22, 23. ii. 1891 (Yerbury).

A very distinct species, characterised by the contiguous eyes and silvery abdomen.

248. Phycus atripes, Brun., nom. nov.

Phycus nigripes, Bruuetti (nee Kriiber, 1912), Bee. Lid. Mus. vii, p. 480 (1912).

Allied to brunneus, but quite distinct owing to the 3rdantennal joint being evidently longer than the 1st and the wholly black legs. Lower half of frons wholly shimmering silvery white, without the large shining jet-black spot immediately above the antenna? which is so conspicuous in both those forms ; 3rd antennal joint cylindrical, much narrower than in the other species. Median dorsal stripe faint ; abdominal bands very nar- row, milk-white, only the one on the 2nd segment really distinct. Legs wholly black, including coxa?, which have a little bluish- white shimmer. Wings clear, with a distinct blackish suffusion towards tip, extending from the costa over about the distal half of the 2nd longitudinal vein, reaching irregularly to the hind

310

margin, just encroaching on the discal cell, and with a small irregular clear space in each of the two submarginal cells ; halteres with knobs wholly black. From the narrow frons and the appearance of the abdomen I conclude the single specimen is a cT .

Length, 10 mm.

Kurseong, 27. hi. 1910 (Annandale).

Type in the Indian Museum.

Family SCENOPINID.E.

Head nearly semicircular ; frons and face nearly flush with the eyes ; three ocelli ; epistome short, retreating ; proboscis very short, labella broad; palpi short, cylindrical, or slightly clavate. Eyes bare, generally contiguous in d, wide apart in $; upper facets larger than lower ones in <S <3 with contiguous eyes ; in life the eyes with coloured bands. Antennae three-jointed, placed close together at base, inserted below middle of frons ; 1st and 2nd joints short, 3rd elongate, strap-shaped, no style or arista.

Thorax oblong, clorsally rather flattened, with extremely short scaly pubescence on disc and minute pubescence on pleurae ; scutellum broad, short, flat ; metunotum rather large.

Abdomen flattened, 7- or 8-segmented, each segment with an impressed transverse line across its middle : c? genitalia rather large and knob-like ; ovipositor concealed.

Legs generally short, moderately stout ; tibia? unspurred, with a very small bristle or two at tip ; two pulvilli, empodium reduced to a bristle.

Wiivjs at rest lying flat on abdomen. Costa ending before wing- tip, ambient vein fading away at about middle of hind margin ; auxiliary vein short, ending at middle of wing ; 1st and 2nd longi- tudinal veins ending shortly beyond middle ; 3rd vein beginning near base of 2nd, forking rather widely at half its length ; anterior cross-vein present, at about middle of 'discal cell ; 4th vein forked, upper branch ending above wing-tip, lower branch forming basal and hinder sides of discal cell, but barely reaching wing-margin ; discal cross-vein closing discal cell ;* 5th vein forked, upper branch short, ending in lower inner angle of discal cell, lower branch turned down rather suddenly, meeting anal vein some way before wing-margin, closing anal cell ; axillary vein indistinct. Upper basal cell long, 2nd short, anal cell long ; two submarginal, three posterior cells ; alar squamae small, thoracic squama) almost absent ; halteres normal.

The whole body is devoid of strong bristles.

* Lundbeck considers the discal cell technically absent, treating that space as a 4th posterior cell, because he regards the 4th vein as unforked. Presum- ably, therefore, he sees tlie posterior cross-vein in the basal portion of the lower branch of the 4th vein, but he does not actually state that the posterior cross- Tein is present.

311

Life-Jiistory. The metamorphoses have been well described by Bouche, Dufour, and others. The larva is amphipneustic, hard, cylindrical, very elongate, apparently of twenty segments, with small head and two small styles at tip of body, moving in a serpentine manner ; abdominal segments with transverse rows of bristles. Pupa resembling that of Thereva. The larva was at first thought to live on carpets, rugs, and similar articles, but it is now believed that they live on the other larvae (of TIXEIDJE and PTJLICID^E, for instance) that occur in these habitats. They are certainly carnivorous, and probably feed on the larvae of many different groups of insects, judging from the various situations in which Scenopinus fenestmlis has been found.

The SdxrOPlNiDJE are a very limited but distinct family, con- spicuous by the absolutely bare body and characteristic venation, coupled with the two pulvilli and bristle-like empodium. Their actual relationships have given rise to various opinions, their characters indicating diverse affinities, such as to Xylomyia, the THERETID.E, and MTDAID;E. Verrall places them with the latter in a super-family, DERMATIKA, between the ASILIDJJ and the THEREVID.E: Lundbeck and Kertesz put them between the THEREVIDJE and the EMPIRE ; Schiner with MYDAIDJE between ASILIDJE and THEREVULE : Aldrich between THEREVID^E and

BOMBYLIIDJE.

Most of the known species belong to the genus Scenopinus.

Genus SCENOPINUS, Latr.

Scenopinus, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Ins. Crust, iii, p. 463 (1802), xiv,

p. 392 (1804).

Atrichia, Schrank, Fauna Boica, iii, p. 54 (1803J. Cona, Schellenberg, Gattung. d. Fliejreii, p. 06 (1803). Hypselura, Meigen, Illig. Alag. ii, p. 273 (1803). Astoma, Lioy (nee Oken, 1815), Atti Istit. Yeneto, (3) ix, p. /62

(1864).

GENOTYPE, Musca fetes trails, L. ; by Latreille's designation.

Head transverse, short, semicircular, flattened behind ; not closely applied to thorax, but no obvious neck ; frons generally flush with eyes ; three ocelli ; proboscis withdrawn ; palpi incon- spicuous, cylindrical, tip bristly. Eyes bare, generally contiguous in rf , in such cases upper facets larger than lower ones ; in $ wide apart. Antenna sub-contiguous at base ; 1st and 2nd joints short; 3rd elongate, drooping, strap-shaped, normally without style or arista, but if present, it is concealed in a depressed pit. Thorax longer than broad ; dorsurn rather flattened, with a little scaly pubescence; pleurae minutely pubescent, niesopleiira with an obvious depression on front part for reception ot the short thick front femora ; scutellum short, broad, flat. Abdomen rather flat, oblong, tip flattened cone-shaped, 7- or 8-segmented ; midt segments bearing a transverse impressed line across the centre ;

312 SCENOPINID7E.

front margins of some of the middle segments white in the rf ; genitalia in <3 large. Legs short, stout, bare ; fore femora shorter and thicker, a few bristly hairs at tips of tibiae ; two small pulvilli, empoclium reduced to a bristle. Wings with a reduced venation ; costa ending before tip of wing, ambient vein dying away beyond the tip; auxiliary vein short ; 1st and 2nd veins normal; 3rd beginning at middle of wing, widely forked at half its length ; anterior cross- vein at middle of discal cell; 4th vein with upper branch ending before wing-tip, lower branch forming basal and hinder sides of discal cell ; discal cross-vein closing discal cell ; 5th vein forked, upper branch very short, ending in lower inner angle of discal cell; lower branch turned down rather suddenly, meeting anal vein at some distance before border, closing anal cell ; 1st basal cell much longer than 2nd; two submarginal, three posterior cells, 1st narrowed at tip ; alulae well developed ; alar squamae small, thoracic pair hardly developed ; halteres sma\l, knobs large.

Range. Europe, Egypt, India, Surinam, Hawaii, N. America.

Life-history. See 8. fenestralis.

249. Scenopinus fenestralis, L. *

Musca fenestralis, LinnS, Syst. Nat. ed. x, p. 597 (1758). Scenopinus fenestralis, auctt.

Head, in tf, dull black, densely and coarsely punctate; frons elongate triangular, almost bare ; eyes bare, contiguous for some distance, upper facets larger than and sharply divided from lower ones ; vertex practically bare ; face reduced to a narrow margin owing to the very small mouth-opening ; antennae brownish yellow or nearly blackish, inserted in a small depression, 1st joint very short, 2nd short, transverse, almost bare, 3rd subulate, four times as long as 1st and 2nd together, slightly narrowed at its blunt tip, where there is a small depression or pit. In $, frons one-fifth of the head, roughened by coarse punctation and striae radiating from the lower ocellus ; generally an impressed vertical median line and minute pale pubescence; eye-margins very distinct, rather puffed out behind on upper part, shining black, sometimes grey-dusted ; eyes with a transverse purple band across the middle in life; occiput very concave. Thorax dull black, with minute scale-like greyish pubescence; humeri and posterior calli more or less chestnut-brown ; pleurae comparatively shining, due to finer punctation, and bearing longer pubescence; both these characters more conspicuous on the sternopleurae ; pteropleurae shining black, bare. Scutellum like dorsum of thorax, generally a little dark chestnut-brown on underside. Abdomen longer than thorax, shining black ; 2nd seg- ment twice as long as any other ; extreme basal margins in the

* For a very long list of references to this species and for twelve synonyms, see Kertesz, Kat. Dipt, v, p 172

SCENOPIJfCS. 313

<5 of 4th and 5th, and to a less degree of the 6th (or the membrane between them) conspicuously pure white, this colour not reaching the sides ;* pubescence practically imperceptible ; venter shiningjblack, with chestnut-brown reflections and minute black bristly pubescence; genitalia in tf large. In the $ the white transverse bands absent ; and the 3rd to the 6th segments with a transverse impressed line across the middle of each ; ovipositor small, broad. Legs shining chestnut-brown ; coxae and trochanters with blackish reflections ; femora occasionally, and tibiae, especially the hind pair, often, with blackish markings ; tarsi black, 1st joint more or less chestnut-brown, also first three joints (except the tips) of hind pair; femora rather short and thick, especially fore pair ; hind tibiae slightly curved ; pulvilli small, brownish orange. Pubescence of legs weak and pale, forming small fringes behind anterior femora, and a row of rather long pale hairs behind basal half of hind tibiae ; spurs absent, but generally a few bristly hairs that appear like spurs. Wings pale

Fig. 22. — Scenopinus fene sir alls, L., wing and antenna.

brownish grey, veins darker brown; venation in accordance with the generic diagnosis ; lower branch of 4th vein and anal vein not quite attaining margin ; alar squamae small, blackish grey, grey- fringed ; thoracic pair absent ; halteres varying from brown to whitish, sometimes with darker marks.

Length, 5-6 mm., the $ generally slightly the larger.

Commonly distributed in Europe and N. America, and the Western Himakyas (hills and plains) : Barogh, Simla Hills, 5000 ft., 10. v. 1910, on edge of small stream (Annandale) ; Kasauli, 6300 ft,, 15. v. 1908 (Annandale) ; Nairn Tal, 3 & 7. vi. 1909; Naiui Tal Distr. (plains), 24 & 28. v. 1909. Also recorded from Papua and Hawaii.

The present description of fenestralis is an abbreviation of Yen-all's, except for the antennae, as in the Indian specimens these are normally lighter or darker brownish yellow, not blackish. The legs are also more brownish, especially the femora and tibiae, than in European specimens, these being the only differences.

* In one Indian specimen the white extends over the sides, but this is, no doubt, exceptional.

314 SCEXOPIXID^S. —

Life-history. Something of this has been known since the time of Dufour, he, Douche, Frauenfeld, and others having described it, and the species has been bred on numerous occasions. The larva \vas at first thought 1o live on cai'pets, stable-rugs, horse-hair mattresses, and such-like articles, but it was subsequently found in Polypori, and on willows and other trees. A Scenopinus pupa lias been found in a cocoon of Saturnia pyri, in which were the remains of the Saturnia pupa, and the species is said to have been bred from decaying wood. The larva is certainly carnivorous, probably living on the larvae and pupae of moths and other insects, possibly of fleas also, found in houses, but evidently breeds in the open air also in a similar manner. The larva is elongate cylindrical, rather tough, of about twenty segments, with small brown head, moving in a serpent-like manner; the pupa being slender, with rows of spines and bristles.

Mr. Verrall notes a curious point about this species, thai? a large number of females are found with the wing-tip broken off, and suggests that it may be done in pairing. In four European fenestralis in the Indian Museum this is the case in two specimens, a third having one wing damaged near, though not actually at, the tip, the fourth being perfect; also in nine Indian fenestralis in the same collection only one wing is thus broken, whilst in five European ijldbrifrons all the wings are perfect.

Family MYDAID^E.

The MYDAIDJE are flies of from moderate to gigantic size, easily recognised by their peculiar venation, their projecting club-shaped antenna), and their bare surface, being wholly devoid of bristles except for a few on the legs. The prevailing colour is black, with, in many species, bands on the abdomen of red or yellow.

Head about as broad as thorax, transverse ; neck short and narrow ; frons and vertex sunk, making the eyes appear especially

Srominent ; ocelli indistinct, or, when on a prominence, at some istance from the vertex. .Proboscis varying from very long and thin, with small labella, to rather thick and short, witli labella of considerable size ; palpi, when present, one-jointed, long or thin, but generally absent. Eyes bare, wide apart in both sexes, and never with enlarged facets. Antenna? porrect, approximate or touching at base ; the two basal joints normal, 2nd shorter than 1st, v\ ith a few bristles or stiff hairs ; 3rd joint generally elongate, clubbed or knobbed at tip, with traces of anntilations.

Thorax subquadrate, with sparse (rarely thicker) pubescence on dorsum, coarse pubescence at sides of dorsum ; humeri prominent, pleurae often with a moderate amount of pubescence ; scutellum small though broad, unspined ; metanotum very large.

Abdomen elongate, 7-segmented, with light* pubescence only; genital ia in 3 of moderate size, with small foliaceous lamella;

MYDAIDJE.. 315

which are often hidden ; ovipositor produced but never elongate, with or without a terminal circlet of spines.

Leys strong and stout, of moderate length ; anterior pairs some- times smaller; hind femora normally slightly thickened, nearly always serrate or spinose below ; tibia? often with a row of small spines on either the middle or hind pair only, or on all three pairs ; apical tibial spines absent or sometimes present on all three pairs ; hind tibiae generally with a strong apical spur or two or three bristly spines ; tarsi devoid of all but the very small close-set bristles on underside ; pulvilli two, moderately large, empodium absent, claws long.

Wings witli a very characteristic venation. Auxiliary vein long; 1st longitudinal vein very long, ending at some little dis- tance from wing-tip ; prrefurca very short, generally extremely so, starting at about one-third of the wing, distinctly before the discal cell ; 2nd longitudinal vein always ending in the 1st towards, but not close to, its tip ; 3rd longitudinal vein starting very near base of 2nd, always forked at beyond half its length, the branches long, generally curved, and more or less parallel ; upper branch ending in the 1st longitudinal just beyond tip of 2nd vein ; lower branch ending either at the tip of the 1st vein or in costa just beyond ; anterior cross-vein present, short or very short,* placed much beyond middle of wing, towards tip of discal cell ; 4th longi- tudinal vein with both branches either simple or forked, prongs of either branch or of both branches sometimes recurrent ; t normally the anterior prong of the upper branch curves upward and ends in the costa well before the wing-tip, sometimes ending at the tip of the 1st vein. In one (non-Oriental) genus (Mitro- detus), both branches of the 4th vein curve upwards and end in the 1st vein, but this is exceptional. Posterior prong of upper branch generally recurrent or nearly so ; normally the lower branch of the 4th vein ends in the upper branch, often (as in Mydas) recurrent and united to the apical portion of the upper branch of the 5th vein. Discal cell always present, elongate, often irregularly or even fantastically shaped ( Mitrodetus) ; pos- terior cross-vein normally situated. The 5th vein forks widely, the upper branch never forming any part of the discal cell, generally curving upwards, joining the lower branch of the 4th vein, or it may be considered to anastomose with the apical part of that vein, thence running jointly with it to the margin ; J lower branch of 5th vein ending in 6th (anal) vein near its tip ;

* Practically, or perhaps actually, absent in only one genus, Megascelus, which is not Oriental.

t My reading of the branches of the 4th vein differs from that of Verrall, in which the discat cell is said to emit two or three veinlets.

+ However, Verrall distinctly says " never running clear to the wing-margin, but always causing a long, closed, normally 4th posterior cell to he under and parallel witli the discal cell. ' The presence of the closed 4th posterior cell referred to does not alter the position, and the vein that runs from the junction of the 4th and f>th veins to the wing-margin may be regarded as the continua- tion of either one of them or of the two united.

310

axillary vein indistinct, perhaps sometimes absent. Alar squamae small, nearly bare of fringe, but larger and with coarse fringe in Mydas ; thoracic squamae absent.

Life-history mainly unknown, except that the larvae are said to live in decaying wood and to resemble those of the ASILID.E. Williston states that the larva of a North American species (Mydas fulvipes, Walsh) preys upon Coleopterous larvae, and notes the pupa of M. clavatus, Drury. The perfect insects have been accused of being predatory, but there seems to be little decisive evidence on the matter. An Egyptian species is said to be predatory on other insects, catching them in the air ; and another species is recorded as parasitic on the larvae of Longicorn beetles

The MTDAIDJB occur chiefly in the New World and Australia, only about 15 species being Palaearctic and six Oriental, of which four are Indian.

Their peculiar venation differentiates them easily from all other groups, except the NEMESTIUNIDJE and APIOCERID^E. These latter are a small non- Oriental group that has been at various times associated with the BOMBYLIIDJE, THEEEVID^, and ASILID^E. There is some resemblance in the venation of the MYDAID^E to that of the NEMESTIUNID.E, but the bodily structure and general facies of the latter are different.

The presence also in the NEMESTHIXIDJE of what has been conveniently though incorrectly termed the "diagonal vein" will also immediately separate that family from the present one.

Verrall has carefully analysed the systematic position of the present family (Brit. Flies, v, p. 605), and in the same volume (p. 606) has discussed the question of spelling, several authors having adopted Midas instead of Mydas. The exact origin of the generic name is not clear, and he supports Mydas, with the family name MYDAIDJE, and these terms are also adopted in the Kertesz Catalogue and in Willistou's Manual.

Table of Genera.

Proboscis short; labella terminal, triangular, compressed ; hind tibise generally Avith a spur; anal segment in $ without a wreath of spines ................. . MYDAS, F.

Proboscis long ; hind tibiae without spur ; anal segment [Gerst,

in $ with a wreath of spines .................... LEPTOMYDAS,

Genus MYDAS, F.

Mydas, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv, p. 252 (1794) ; Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt, i, p. 273 (1834) ; ]d., Dipt. Exot. i, pt. 2, p. 10 (1838).

GENOTYPE, Musca clavata, Drury; by Latreille's designation (1810).

Head broad, short transverse, as broad as thorax, neck short ;

MTDAS. 317

frons and vertex sunken, ocelli indistinct or removed far from vertex ; proboscis only slightly prominent,* labella terminal, tri- angular, compressed; palpi one-jointed; antenna porrect, at base approximate, clubbed or knobbed at tip, three-jointed, the first two moderately short, the 3rd elongate, with annular im- pressions. Thorax subquadrate, with sparse, sometimes thicker pubescence on dorsum and coarse pubescence towards the sides ; pleurae with more pubescence in some species than others ; humeri prominent; scutellum oblong, small, unspined, meta- notum very large. Abdomen elongate, 7-segmented, with light pubescence only, the last segment in the $ without a circlet of spines ; genitalia of moderate size in c? . Legs strong and stout ; hind femora slightly thickened, generally serrate or spinose on underside ; hind tibiae generally with a spur. Wings : auxiliary, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd longitudinal veins as in the family diagnosis, both branches of the latter vein ending in the 1st; the 4th vein's upper branch ends in the costa distinctly before the wing-tip, its lower branch bends downward and joins the upper branch of the 5th vein. As for the small vein forming the outer side of the discal cell, it may be regarded as a lower prong of the upper branch of the 4th vein or as a discal cross-vein. Eemaining veins in accordance with the family diagnosis.

Range. S. Europe, "N". Africa, India, Malay Archipelago, North and South America, and Cuba.

Life-history practically unknown.

Table of Species.

Third autennal joint bright red ruficornis. Wied.

Third antennal joint black.

Abdomen wholly black carmiahaeli, Brun.

Abdomen with pale hind margins to segments . annulata, Bran.

250. Mydas ruficornis, Wied.

Mi/das riificornis, Wiedemann, Analec. Entom. p. 20 (1824) ; id., Auss. Zweifl. i, p. 242 (1828) ; id., Monog. Gen. Midas, p. 40, pi. lii, fig. 11.

" Head black ; 1st and 2nd antennal joints black, 3rd fiery red- yellow ; epistome on both sides [presumably above and below] with yellowish, hairs ; a white hair spot on the side of the :mteana3 ; occiput whitish. Thorax brownish honey-yellow, be- coming blackish behind. Abdomen almost metallic black, rather sparsely punctured. Wings brown, with violet-blue reflections ; halteres brown. Legs black ; hind tibiae and base of tarsi dark red-brown ; hind femora below with three or four rather long spines." ( Wiedemann.) Length, 18 mm. Tranquebar. Type in the Vienna Museum.

* Scbiner adds " with four bristles."

313 MYDAIDJE.

251. Mydas carmichaeli, Brim.

My das carmichaeli, Branetti, Rec. Incl. Mas. ix, p. 266 (1913). cf § . Head black, irons slightly wider than one-third of the head, somewhat wrinkled, with a moderate amount of blackish- brown pubescence ; a small tuft of greyish hairs on each side of the mouth-opening. Proboscis rather less than the height of the head, dark brown ; palpi slender, black, reaching as far forward as the vertical line drawn through the antennal prominence, which latter is small and black. Antennae normal, black, bare, about as long as from the vertex to the tip of the proboscis. Occiput black, shortly pubescent; a little grey tomentum behind the eye- border. Thorax wholly dull velvet-black, with very short sparse black pubescence, which is a little longer below the wings.

Fig. 23. — Mydas carmichaeli, Brun., <$ .

Abdomen shining black, with a slight indigo-blue tinge and very short pubescence ; in <5 subcylindrical, as long as head and thorax together and barely as wide; in § a little broader and longer and much more bulky. The tf genitalia consist of a hollow triangular piece, hairy above, with a deep keel, a pair of dark reddish-brown, nearly bare, moderately long, narrow, finger-like claspers (only one joint being visible, the organs being somewhat withdrawn), and a curved ventral plate, with black pubescence on its lower side. The $ genitalia appear to consist of two telescopic cylin- drical shells, the inner one ending in two small (probably) retractile lamellae. Legt wholly black ; coxae with a little short black pubescence ; hind femora with two rows of spines on underside, an inner one of about a dozen and an outer one of a few only. Hind tibiae with a row of reddish spines on underside (not at all conspicuous), and 5 or 6 such spines at the tip on the underside only ; fore tibise with some inconspicuous spines at tip, which appear to be only the terminal ones of a row on the underside nearly hidden by the thick though short black pubescence which clothes all the tibiae ; a row of spines, including the apical Ones, is .-ipparently present on the middle tibiae also, though certainly

MYDAS. 319

much less conspicuous. Claws distinct, pulvilli pale brownish- yellow. Wings dark blackish brown, a little paler towards tip and hind margin, and with a strong violet tinge. Halteres and squamae black, the latter with a narrow fringe of dark brown hairs.

Length, <$ 25 inm., $ 27 mm.

Described from a single pair, the <3 from Darjiling, v. 1912, the $ from Singla, iv. 1913.

252. Mydas annulata, Brun.

C'ephalocera annulata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 513 (1912).

c? . Head : frons rather more than one-third width of the head, with a small swelling on each side of vertex, contiguous to the corners of the eyes ; proboscis short. The whole head moderately shining black, with rather thick and long whitish-grey pubescence over frons and face except lower part of the latter ; occiput black, with whitish-grey hairs, which are longer on lower part of head. Antennae all black, long ; 2nd joint very short, 3rd joint with an impressed constriction at some distance before its tip; beyond the constriction the joint is slightly thickened ; style long, nearly as long as rest of antennae, black, with an impressed constriction at nearly one-third of its length, the style thickening upically except at extreme tip, where it is slightly but obviously narrower. Thorax black, a grey tomentose stripe at each side of the dorsum, a short one from each shoulder, narrowing rapidly and not reach- ing centre of dorsum ; the middle of the posterior margin also grey tomentose ; the whole dorsum covered with tine grey pubes- cence, which is a little longer beiow the shoulders and on the side stripes. Scutellum broad, extremely short, shining black, bare ; sides of thorax moderately shining black, with a little grey pubescence on the pleurae. Abdomen shining black; posterior margins of all segments (indistinctly on the 1st segment) with a narrow, but clearly-defined, pale whitish-yellow border; whole surface of abdomen with depressed pubescence, which is dark brown or blackish on basal halt' (or thereabouts) of each segment and pale grey on apical half. Venter similar, the yellowish-white bands 'passing over the sides of the segments and continued narrowly across the ventral surface. Geuitalia comparatively small, black ; a dorsal plate, a pair of moderately long finger-like claspers, and some yellowish-brown internal organs. Legs black ; shortly and normally grey pubescent ; base of hind tibiae and tarsi slightly brownish yellow. Wings pale grey ; venation in exact agreement with Macquart's figure of Cephalocera nigra (Dipt. Exot. i, pt. 2, pi. i, fig. 3) ; halteres black.

Length, 15 mm.

Described from two 6 6 in the Indian Museum from Bhoira- kund, Darrang District, Assam-Bhutan Frontier, 18-22. x. 1912 (Kemp).

320 MTDAIIME.

I described this species under CepJialocera, as Bigot's MS. name for it was adopted, but, as the proboscis is short and labella are present, it must be referred to Mi/das.

Genus LEPTOMYDAS, Gerst. Leptomydas, Gerstaecker, Stett. Ent. Zeit. xxix, p. 81 (1868).

GENOTYPE uncertain ; * Mydas lusitanicus, Wied., according to Coquillett (1910).

This genus differs from Mydaa in the long proboscis, in the absence of a spur to the hind tibiae, and the presence of a wreath of spines at the tip of the abdomen in the $ . From Ceplialocera it differs by the presence of the labella.

Range. South Europe, Egypt, Arabia, Sudan, India, East and South Africa, North and Central America. %

253. Leptomydas indianus, Bnm. (PI. IV, fig. 1.)

Leptomidas indianus, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 478, fig. 12 (1912).

$ . Head much wider than thorax ; frons black, shining, with two narrow diagonal grooves on upper part ; vertex consisting of two dark brown shining oval calli placed end to end, with a small recessed space between them ; face rather dark grey, smooth ; antennae missing, except the short, .cylindrical, dark brown, slightly pubescent first joint, placed on a slight transverse ridge running from eye to eye ; eyes prominent, black, bare, shining ; proboscis and oral opening dark brown, shining, former very short ; back of head grey ; the whole frons, face, back, and under- side of head with moderately thick (but not dense) grey hairs. Thorax dull black, with a little dirty grey tomentum towards the sides and posterior part, and on the humeral calli, which bear a small bunch of coucolorous hairs ; similar hairs on posterior part of dorsum, in front of and below the wings ; sides of thorax more or less shining black, mostly bare; prothorax and neck with silvery-grey tomentum ; scutellum and metanotum blackish, •with silvery-grey tomentum. Abdomen cylindrical, slightly nar- rowed in middle, very dark blackish brown, shining; posterior borders of segments pale yellow, most distinct on 2nd to 5th seg- ments ; the bands on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments passing unbroken over the sides and across the venter; 4th segment light reddish brown ; whole abdomen minutely pubescent ; 1st and 2nd

* There is a little uncertainty here, as in the Kertesz Katalog lusitanicus is referred to Mydas again, although Leptomydas is acknowledged as a valid genus. The next species guen by Gerstaecker is cincfus, Macq., which Kertesz puts in Syllcyomt/das. Gerstaecker's third species is rujipcs, Wied., which Kertesz retains in Leptomydas. Therefore, if lusitanicus is really a Mydas, the type of Leptotomydas may be rufipcs, Wied.

LEPTOMYDAS. 321

segments with grey hairs at sides. Genitalia small, partly with- drawn, dark shining brown; ultimate portion with a row of light brown scale-like spines on each side. Legs simple, no traces of bristles or longer hairs, except two apical bristles at the tips of the anterior tibiae (the hind tibiae and tarsi are missing) ; dark brown, with minute grey pubescence, which is longer on the coxae and short and thick on the tibiae ; tarsal joints with black tips. Wings uniformly pale yellow, veins darker yellow, costa black ; border of wing without a single hair ; 3rd longitudinal vein with a minute appendix at base of upper fork; alulae concolorous, bare; tegulae very small, bright yellow with a very narrow fringe; halteres blackish, stem brown.

LenytJi, 16 mm.

Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Sadiyar Assam.

The type is a $ , as noted on Bigot's MS. label, though in describing it 1 stated it was probably a c? . I placed indianus in Leptomydas because Bigot's MS. label bore that name, but an examination of the various genera shows that in this genus the proboscis should be long. In indianus it only projects from the mouth-opening for a short distance, the tips of the distinct labella reaching as far forward as the 2nd antennal joint. The only other genus to which it could be referred seems to be Ectyphus, Gerst., in which the proboscis is described as rudi- mentary, barely projecting from the oral orifice. But the epistome in Ectyphus is long and vertical, whereas in indianus the lower part of the head does not descend below the level of the eyes. The proboscis in the type projects upwards at an angle ; if directed forwards, it would, of course, appear comparatively longer : Ger- staecker's figure shows a proboscis reaching to half the length of the antennae. However, the tip of the abdomen bears the circlet of spines, which is one character that differentiates Leptomydas from Mydas, so in the circumstances the species is left here- temporarily.

Family EMPLOYE.*

Comparatively small-sized flies, generally bare or nearly so except for a few bristles, of sombre colours ; t found chiefly in woods and shady situations, many species frequenting the neigh- bourhood of water. In the tropics they occur mostly in localities of some elevation. Systematically much more variety of struc- ture is present than in the adjacent families of ASILID^K and DOLICIIOPODID^E.

* So.ne authors adopt the name EMPIDID*:. The late G. H. Verrall saj» (Brit. Flies, v, p. 28): " Dr. A. W. Verrall is of opinion that the word Lmptdidce is pedantic, and instances Euelpida."

t The only exceptions are a few metallic species from the tropical region* of the New World.

322 EMPIDJE.

Head comparatively small, sometimes very small, more or less globular, generally bulging out posteriorly ; as wide as, or narrower than the thorax ; joined to the thorax by a narrow neck. Eyes large, often forming nearly the whole of the head, generally bare, contiguous in both sexes or in the c? only, or separated in both sexes ; in contiguous eyes the upper facets nearly always larger than the lower ones ; in the middle of the inner eye-margin is an incision of greater or less size, said to be always present and perceptible ; three ocelli. Proboscis of various structure ; short and thickened, of more moderate size both in thickness and length ; or, as is frequently the case, horny, adapted for piercing, directed forwards ; or elongate, in some species as long as the whole body, and directed obliquely forwards, downwards, or backwards. Occa- sionally the proboscis is curved. Mouth-opening generally small. Palpi generally 1 or 2, rarely 3, jointed ; of various structure, size, and length ; bare or bristly. Antennae porrect, approximate at base, sometimes 2-jointed, generally of three unquestionable joints, of which the 3rd may taper into, or bear, an arista, which is always bare except when styliforrn. In some genera a pro- minent 1- or 2-jointed style is present, and some authors have described such antennae as being 4- or 5-jointed. Even in certain genera in which they are regarded as 3-jointed, the 3rd joint (in these cases nearly always elongate conical or pear-shaped) is apparently of a different texture from the basal two, partaking more of the nature of a style. In the present work the latter genera are regarded as having a 3-jointed antenna, attention being called to the structure of the 3rd joint. In the genera with so- called 4- or 5-jointed antennae the 4th and 5th joints are regarded as representing a style. Head with a few weak bristles on vertex, frons, or occiput.

Thorax of moderate size, often greatly humped, generally sub- quadrate, the prothorax sometimes produced forwards. Scutellum small, semicircular, or gently curved, with two or more bristles ; a few bristles generally occur on the margin of the thoracic dorsum.

Abdomen of 7 or 8 segments,* bare or pubescent ; generally in the <$ elongate, conical, or cylindrical, in some genera short, rounded, or ovate ; io the 5 sometimes broader at the base, but always more pointed at tip. Genitalia in <5 of various structure, sometimes complex and prominent ; in £ usually in the form of a slender conical ovipositor with two terminal styliform lamellae. Abdomen never with conspicuous bristles.

Legs exhibiting various forms of structure. In some groups they are comparatively normal, that is to say, of moderate length and thickness ; but in others the coxae may be greatly lengthened, the femora (either pair singly or the whole of them) being often conspicuously incrassated, and in some genera furnished with spines below. The tibiae and metatarsi are sometimes enlarged, whilst marked differences in sexual ornamentation not infrequently

* Melander says 5 to 7.

EMPID.E. 323

occur in the legs in certain genera — Erupis and EhampJiomyia, for instance, — in which in some species those of the <S are. provided with knobs or characteristic spiues or tufts of hair, whilst those of the $ in other species may be adorned with long scales forming a conspicuous fringe. Tibial spurs sometimes present, never large ; two fairly well-developed pulvilli and generally an empodium of varying shape. Bristles of various sizes and specific value occur on the legs of many species. Some species have raptorial legs.

Wings usually of moderate size and normal shape, about as long as the abdomen ; in one group nnrrow and markedly cunei- form, the anal angle not distinguishable ; in certain genera widened and considerably shortened ; practically bare, except for a fringe of tiny bristles along some part of the costa ; in the large majority of species unmarked, except for slight infuscations and the stigma, when present. Arenation exhibiting considerable variety. Costa usually ending near apex of wings; auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins of varying length, the former sometimes shortened ; 2nd longitudinal vein long, simple or forked ; 3rd ending before or after wing-tip, simple or forked ; 4th simple or forked, the upper branch often again forked ; 5th simple or forked, the lower branch often recurrent, meeting anal vein at various angles ; anal vein present or absent, sometimes much abbreviated. Anterior cross-vein present ; posterior cross-vein always absent ; a discal cross-vein present or absent. One or two submarginal cells, three or four posterior cells, discal cell present or absent ; two basal cells ; anal cell present, incomplete, or absent. Anal angle of wing prominent, moderately distinct, or entirely reduced. Squamae generally absent, when present, small. Wings covering the abdomen when at rest.

The EMPID^E are a rapacious family, preying chiefly on small soft Diptera and, to a less extent, on Lepidoptera, for which they lie in ambush amongst leaves. Generally distributed, especially in woods in moist situations. In some species aerial dances are performed either by one or other sex or both jointly, copulation in these cases taking place in the air. Other species frequent flowers. Some are fond of hovering in swarms just above small ponds and streams, and mate on the surface of the water. I once saw near London (at Esher, 1 think) a dense and regular stream of H'dara maura flying slowly backwards and forwards over a brooklet, so that a single stroke of the net captured several hundreds.

Life-history. Larva amphipneustic ; prothoracic spiracles small, abdominal spiracles also small, placed on last segment, which is more or less rounded, bearing a tooth-like wart on underside ; J2-segmented, cylindrical, tapering at each end ; head small, retractile, mouth-parts rather well developed, antennae small, no eyes ; ventral side of most segments with transverse swellings. The larva is carnivorous, living in the earth below leaves in woods, or in decaying wood ; one European species of Ilemtro- dromia apparently lives in the mud of streamlets. Pupa free, with prothoracic and seven pairs of abdominal spiracles.

Y2

324 EMPID;E.

Tlie EMPIDJE may be distinguished from the ASILID^E by the difference in venation, non-excavation of the vertex, smaller head, and absence of long hair on the lower part of the head. From the DOLICHOPODID^E, to which certain genera bear some resemblance, they may be known by the venation. A few genera with reduced venation may have a superficial resemblance to some ACALYPTRATA , but the family characters described above will separate them. The subfamilies are not so easily distinguished as in some other families, and, as a rule, more than one character has to be taken into consideration in separating them.

Tabh of Subfamilies.

1. Anal cell absent, or, if present, anal

vein incomplete and middle femora, usually incrassate ; anterior cross- vein nearly always beyond middle of

discal cell

Anal cell present, rarely absent, in which case fore coxae much elongated, about as long as the incrassate fore femora ; anterior cross-vein always much before middle of discal cell (except in Hemerodroinia spp.) 2.

2. Axillary lobe of wing greatly reduced or

absent ; wing cuneiform at base ; fore coxae much elongated, about as long as fore femora, always longer than

posterior coxas

Axillary lobe of wing generally nor- mally developed or conspicuous ; wing not cuneiform ; fore coxre always shorter than fore femora ....

3. Anal cell always distinctly longer than

2nd basal cell : lower branch of oth vein bent down to meet anal vein always at an obvious obtuse angle, and approximately perpendicular to hind margin of wing ; posterior margin of anal cell always the longer, its apical end never truncate ; pro- boscis shorter than height of head ; if longer, directed straight or obliquely forwards and also antennas and style very short ; 3rd vein always simple ; thorax generally conspicuously hum-

Anal cell shorter than, or at most approximately subequal to 2nd. basal cell ; lower branch of 5th vein bent down to meet anal vein at an acute angle, a right angle or at most only slightly obtuse angle ; approximately either perpendicular to, parallel with,

TACHYDROMIIISVE, p. 373.

HEMKRODROMIINJE, p. 363,

HYBOTINJE, p. 325,

EMP1DJE. 325

or at an angle of about 45° to hind margin of wing ; anal cell with either anterior or pgsterior margin the longer, its apical end truncate or pointed ; proboscis generally shorter than or as long as height of head, sometimes longer ; 3rd veiu simple or forked ; thorax humped or not . . 4. 4. Proboscis as long as or longer than head,* projecting downwards; lower branch of oth vein parallel to hind margin of wing, so that anterior margin of anal cell is always the longer ; antennae comparatively elon-

fate, generally with 2-jointed style ; rd vein simple or forked EMPIXJE, p. 344.

Proboscis generally quite short ; if as long as head or longer, directed straight or obliquely forwards, also 5th vein meeting anal vein at an angle of about 45°, also antennae and style very short. Antennae vari- able ; lower branch of 5th veiu meeting anal vein parallel with, perpendicular to, or at, an angle of 45° to hind margin of wing ; 3rd vein simple OCYDROMIIX^E, p. 362.

Subfamily HYBOTINyE.

Eyes contiguous in both sexes ; proboscis varying from shorter than, to a little longer than the head ; palpi of one joint ; an- tennae 3-jointed, with a terminal arista.* Thorax very humped. Wings with axillary lobe well developed ; 3rd longitudinal vein simple, 4rli simple or forked ; three or four posterior cells ; discal cell generally present ; t 2nd basal cell equal to or longer than 1st ; anal cell longer or shorter than 2nd basal ; anal vein reaching margin of wing ; lower branch of oth vein bent down rather suddenly, at an obvious obtuse angle, meeting anal vein approxi- mately perpendicularly to hind margin of wing, making posterior side of anal cell always the longer, and its apical end pointed.

The characters by Avhich this subfamily may be most easily recognised are the elongated anal cell, pointed at tip, in conjunction with the obtusely bent lower brand) of the 5th vein ; also by the very humped thorax. They are strongly built Euipids and of comparatively large size.

* Trichopeta is almost an exception, the proboscis being barely as long as the hoad.

t Microsania, Zett., a European genus, lias a two-jointed ttyle to the 3rd antennal joint and the discal cell absent.

326

Table of Genera.

1. Second longitudinal vein beginning nearer

humeral cross-vein than anterior cross- vein

Second longitudinal vein beginning nearer anterior cross-vein than humeral cross- vein

2. Anal cell ending much before margin of wing Anal cell extending to margin of wing ....

3. Hind femora incrassate, spined below ....

Hind femora not incrassate nor spined below

4. Basal portion of 4th vein (dividing basal

cells) indistinct =

Basal portion of 4th vein (dividing basal cells) distinct

5. Hind femora incrassate; thorax very humped;

arista apical

Hind femora not incrassate ; thorax less humped ; arista subapical

These characters are mainly comparative, especially as regards the origin of the 2nd longitudinal vein. The degree of incrassa- tion of the hind femora and the size of the spines on its underside are both variable characters. The sole characteristic of Sijndyas seems a very weak one, whilst that distinguishing Harpamerus appears very strong, yet the latter is sunk in Syneches in Kertesz'a Catalogue. Both these latter genera are unknown to me. It is difficult to draw definite generic limits in HTBOTIN^ without an exhaustive examination of all the known species.

Table of Species of Syneches (sensu lato), Syndyas, and Harpamerus.

1. Anal cell extending to wing-margin .... signatus, Big., p. 334. Anal cell ending much before wing-

3'. [p. 334.

HAEPAMKRUS, Big., SYNECHES, Walk.,

[p. 327.

ACARTERVS, Lw.,

[p. 334. SYNDYAS, Lw., p. 333.

5.

HYBOS, Mg.. p. 336*.

[p. 343. PARAHYBOS, Kert.,

margin

2. Thorax bright brownish yellow

Thorax black, blackish brown, or dark

brown

3. Wing with several dark brown marks,

apart from stigma

Wing unmarked, apart from stigma; ground-colour from clear to brownish

4. Discal cell unusually small pi

Discal cell at least more than twice as

long as broad 5.

5. Legs, at least femora (except extreme

base or tip), all yellow 6.

Legs mainly black or dark brown, at least all femora practically so (except hind femora in rusticus) " 7.

6. Thorax less arched ; legs with soft pubes-

cence in addition to tibial bristles; anal cell considerably longer than 2nd basal, with subconical tip

2. fp. 328.

immaculatus, Brun.,

bif/oti, Bezzi, p. 329.

4. [p. 333.

parvicellulata, Bezzi,

ina'qualis, Brun., p. 330.

SYNECHES. 327

Thorax highly arched ; legs nearly bare except for tibial bristles ; anal cell barely longer than 2nd basal, with nearly truncate tip ................ minutus, Brun., p. 330.

7. Hind femora brownish yellow ........ msticns, Brun., p. 331.

Hind femora black or blackish brown . . 8.

8. Smaller species, 2J mm. ; wings nearly

clear ............................ 9.

Larger species, 3^ or 5 mm. ; wings dis- tinctly brown .................... 10.

9. Stigma very distinct and large, round,

deep black ; anterior cross-vein at about g of discal cell ; anterior knees and tips of anterior tibise and all tarsi

wholly yellow ; hind femora consider- ably thickened on apical Stigma barely appreciable ; anterior cross-

ably thickened on apical half ...... insignia, Brun., p. 332.

vein at about £ of discal cell ; only tarsi and extreme tips of tibire yellow ; hind femora not thickened .......... fratellus, Brun., p. 332.

10. Length 3^ mm. ; 1st posterior cell (beyond

discal cell) distinctly narrowed to- [p. 331.

wards tip ........................ pattiditarsis, Brun",

Length 5 mm. ; 1st posterior cell (beyond

discal cell) uniformly wide .......... fuscipennis, sp. n., p. 333.

Acarterus, L\v., with two Indian species is not included in the above table, as its unthickened unspined hind femora should distin- guish it clearly ; but Harpamerus is included, although the length of the anal cell should define it with absolute precision. The fact that Prof. Kertesz sinks it in Si/neches, however, makes me dubious of its generic validity, Bigot's definitions being often unreliable.

Of the species tabulated above, sif/nalus belongs to Harpamerus, nud jiarvicellulata to Syndyas, the remainder falling in Syneches.

Genus SYNECHES, Walk.

Syneches, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. pt. 3, p. 165 (1852). Acromyia, Latreille, Gen. Crust. Ins. iv, p. 305 (1809). Pterospilus, Rondani, Dipt, Ital. Prod, i, p. 152 (1856).

GENOTYPE, Syneches simplex, Walk. (South America).

This genus differs technically from Hylos by the origin of the 2nd longitudinal vein being nearer to the humeral cross-vein than to the anterior cross-vein. It is also urged that the 2nd longi- tudinal vein curves forward more in Syneches than in Hybos ; also that the anal cell is almost truncate at the tip in the former and pointed in the latter ; again, that the wings are normally spotted in Syneches and unmarked in Hybos.

Range. Europe, India, Ceylon, Malay Archipelago, South Africa, North 'and South America.

As regards the generic validity of Syneches, there is considerable doubt, the principal character of the position of tbe origin of the 2nd longitudinal vein being much weakened by the existence of

328 EMPID.E.

several intermediate species. Melander adds that the 2nd longi- tudinal vein is curved towards the cost a, and the wings (except in one species, dealing with the Xorth American ones only) are spotted in Syneches.

In describing three new Indian species,* it was noted by me that so far as the origin of the 2nd vein went they might almost as well be placed in Hi/bos as in Syneches. Melander's figure of H. spinicosta shows this species also as practically intermediate ; whilst in that of mellipes, though the humeral cross-vein is not figured, the origin of the 2nd vein appears also in an intermediate position. Eespecting the curvature of the 2nd vein, Melander's figures show it as much curved forward in H. mellipes as in S. quadrangularis.

The anal cell is said to be nearly truncate at the tip in Syneches and pointed in Hybos, but there is practically no difference in this respect in the wings of S. simplex and H. mettipes. The character of the wing being generally spotted in Syneches is a weak one.

It may be as well, however, to retain Syneches provisionally, though it is probably only worthy of subgeneric rank.

From Epiceia, Walk., and Harpamerus, Big., taken together, Syneches (s. sir.) is supposed to differ by the 3rd and 4th longi- tudinal veins being parallel or diverging at the tip, instead of con- verging at the tip.

My own species must be considered as belonging to Syneches, sensu lato.

254. Syneches immaculatus, Brun.

Syneches immaculatus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 18 (1913). <S • Head dark grey ; upper facets of eyes reddish brown, very much larger than the lower ones, which are coffee-brown ; pro- boscis about as long as height of head, yellow ; palpi very small, yellow, with a long bristle at the tips; anteun* bright pale

Fig. 24. — Syneches immaculatus, Brun., wing.

yellow, witli a very long bisinuate drooping black arista. Thorax bright brownish yellow, with a few sparse hairs and four bristles towards posterior margin ; scutellum concolorous, with two long apical bristles ; metanotum concolorous ; sides of thorax also, an irregular elongate dark brown spot or streak from the shoulder to the base of the wings. Abdomen wholly black, with a little black pubescence on upper- and undersides ; genitalia small. Legs yellow; fore femora a little brown above, with -short golden- * Kec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 17 ; list of Oriental species and notes, p. 16.

SYNECHES. 329

yellow pubescence ; all the tibiae with a row of well-separated long stiff dark hairs. Winc/s pale grey, unmarked except for the distinct brownish-yellow stigma ; halteres brown.

Length, 4 mm.

Described from one <5 in the Indian Museum from Peradeniya, Ceylon, iv. 1911 (E. E. Green).

255. Synecb.es bigoti, Bezzi. (PI. IV, fig. 3.)

Syneches bigoti, Bezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, ii, p. 360 (1904) ; Brunetti;

Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 16 (1913). Pterospihis bicoloi; Bigot, Ann. Soc.Ent. France, (6) ix, p. 126 (1889).

<5 2 • Head with eyes closely contiguous in both sexes from vertex nearly to base of antennae, leaving extremely small vertical and frontal triangles; frontal bright brown facets from vertex to lower margin of eye considerably larger than the hindmost black ones, the size gradually diminishing; face moderately broad, blackish, with a little whitish pubescence immediately below base of antennae; the three conspicuous ocelli bright brown; vertex with a row of short black bristly hairs ; antenna? wholly brownish yellow, 1st and 2nd joints sometimes darker, the 2nd with a fringe of black bristles towards tip ; arista pale yellow, more than twice as long as antennae ; epistome, proboscis, and palpi bright brownish yellow, the last with two or more long bristles and a row of short stiff hairs ; occiput black, with a little pubescence. Thorax wholly bright yellowish brown, with three well-separated, moderately wide, more or less distinct darker stripes from anterior to pos- terior margins; the whole clorsum with very short black pubescence. Scutellum varying from pale yellow to yellowish brown, with a row of short black bristles on hind margin. Abdomen brownish yellow ; hind margins and sides of segments more or less blackish, with yellow pubescence at sides. In the $ the abdomen more yellowish grey, rather broader basally, conical at tip, and shorter in tf . Venter from pale yellow to yellowish brown ; genitalia in c? of moderate size. Leys : anterior pairs pale brownish yellow, sometimes the anterior femora or anterior legs wholly much darker ; hind legs always darker than anterior pairs, normally with a very broad darker brown subapical hand on femora, sometimes a similar basal brown band, but less distinct ; sometimes the hind femora entirely darker brown ; hind tibiae darker brown, basal and apical thirds usually darker still ; hind tarsi pale yellowish, tips of all tarsal joints brownish. Hind femora with soft, black, moderately long pubescence and a row of 8-9 long bristles on outer side and a row of about twelve short socketed spines below ; anterior legs with soft short pubescence on femora and tibiw and hind tibiae also; a row of long stiff hairs below femora and some isolated ones placed apparently irregularly on the tibiae. Wing* pale grey; veins brown, but pale yellow on some of the non- infuscated parts and contiguous to the stigma ; these infuscations are somewhat irregular in outline and of more or less distinctness,

330 EMPLOY.

and occur as follows : in the middle of the wing (narrowly) from costa to discal cell, along basal part of 5th longitudinal vein, and to a slight degree along many of the other veins, at tip of 2nd vein (where there is often a short appendix), and a slight but usually obvious limited suffusion at the wing-tip ; stigma very large, deep black, round or slightly oval ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 4-5| mm.

Eedescribed from two males and several females in the Indian Museum: Margherita, Assam; Peradeniya, i. 1911; Kandy, v. 1910; Pallode, S. India, 15. xi. 1908 (Annandale} ; Param- bikulam, Cochin State, 1700-3200 ft., 16-24. ix. 1914 (Gravely}.

256. Syneches inaequalis, Brim.

Syneches ineequalis, Brunetti, Eec. lud. Mus. ix, p. 18 (1913). »

cJ . Head with occiput dark grey ; proboscis about as long as head; antennae blackish grey, arista considerably pubescent. Thorax shining black. Abdomen dull blackish grey (if viewed from in front it appears a lighter grey), greyish towards tip ; pale hairs laterally. Genitalia comparatively large, apparently normally formed. Legs wholly yellowish, except tips of femora, which are exceedingly narrowly black : legs softly and distinctly pubescent, the tibiae with three or four long stiff bristly hairs on each. Wings pale brownish yellow ; stigma oval, indistinct, of moderate size.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from a single tf in the Indian Museum from Kur- seong, 3. viii. 1908 (Annandale).-

257. Syneches minutns, Brun.

Syneches minutus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 20 (1913).

3 . Head with upper facets of eyes large, reddish ; lower ones nearly black, much smaller ; vertex and occiput black ; three dis- tinct small yellowish ocelli ; antennae brown, pale if viewed from above, as is also the arista ; proboscis light brownish yellow, a little longer than the head. Thorax very highly arched; dark blackish brown, a little shining; seen from certain directions the hinder half has a brown-dusted tinge; some long stiff hairs laterally. Scutellum with a distinct brown or brownish-grey tinge, and with long stiff hairs. Abdomen blackish brown, with some dark hairs ; genitalia black, apparently normally shaped and of moderate size. Legs pale brownish yellow ; coxae and sometimes extreme base of anterior femora and extreme tips of tarsi dark ; legs almost bare except for one or two long stiff hairs on tibise. Wings pale brown, stigma imperceptible, halteres black.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from four <$ S in the Indian Museum from the western base of the Dawmi Hills, Lower Burma, 1-2. iii. 1908 (Annandalf).

SYNECIIES. 331

258. Syneclies rusticus, Bmn.

Syneches rusticus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 20 (1913). J . Head : eye's with upper facets red, the lower smaller ones coffee-brown ; three large ocelli, pale yellow and very distinct ; antennae blackish grey, 3rd joint and the rather thick arista paler; proboscis longer than head. Thorax black, only a little shining : some stiff hairs laterally and on posterior margin of scutellum;* viewed from a low angle at the sides, the anterior part of the mesouotum appears brown-dusted. Abdomen uniformly dark blackish brown, with yellowish-brown hairs laterally ; geuitalia concolorous, inconspicuous. Legs yellowish, pubescent; coxae, major part of anterior femora, tips of all femora (very narrowly), and apical half of all tarsi, black ; hind femora wifi'n a row of stiffer long hairs below. Wings distinctly brown, but not deeply so, highly iridescent ; stigma ill-defined but distinct ; halteres blackish brown.

Length, 3£ mm.

Described' from one d in the Indian Museum taken by me at Darjiling, 26. v. 1910.

259. Syneches palliditarsis, Brun. (PI. IV, fig. 4.) Syneches palliditarsis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 18 (1913).

2. Head black; the narrow face a little grey-dusted; eyes above antennae absolutely contiguous, the upper facets reddish brown, the lower facets, which are much smaller, darker brown ; proboscis shining brown, projecting considerably beyond head (in one specimen twice as long as head) ; palpi very short, nearly black; antennae moderately light brown. Thorax shining black; when viewed from certain directions it appears distinctly dusted with brownish grey ; the anterior part bare ; some long soft hairs on posterior half and on scutellum, on the margin of which is a row of long stiff hairs. Abdomen black, a little shining, with brownish-yellow hairs, which are a little more plentiful than in the other Indian species of this genus. A peculiar feature in this species is the presence en the underside of the 5th segment of two parallel rows, placed longitudinally a short distance apart, of long soft golden yellow hairs. Genitalia elongate. Legs dark brown or blackish; tibiae and tarsi mainly brownish yellow, but base of former and tips of latter darker; femora with rather copious long soft hairs ; tibia? with similar hairs, less regular and not so long, and with a row of longer stiffer hairs; first two joints of tarsi with two longer stiff hairs at their tips. Wings brownish grey, darker anteriorly; stigma brown, oval, moderately large; halteres dark brown.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from three $ $ in the Indian Museum taken at Sukna, 500 ft., base of Darjiling Hills (Annandale), 2. viii. 1903 (type) and 1. vii. 1908.

* Most of the bristly hairs are broken off, and therefore cannot be described with exactitude.

332 EMPID.E.

The palpi in Syneches are theoretically of a length approaching that of the proboscis, but in this species they are quite short, certainly not a fifth part as long as the proboscis. It should, perhaps, constitute the type of a new genus.

260. Syneches fratellus, Bnm.

Syneches fratellus, Brunetti, Rec. Lid. Mus. ix, p. 18 ^1913).

$. Very like S. palli(Jitarsi.s, Brun., but quite distinct. Eyes and antennae \vholly black. Abdomen without the two fringes of yellow hairs on venter, and the dorsal pubescence of the abdomen is more whitish ,fchan yellow. The legs have only the tarsi and extreme tips of the tibiae yellow, the remaider being black. The wings are nearly clear. It is a much smaller species.

Ltnylh, 2£ mm.

One $ in the Indian Museum from Bhowali, Kuinaon Disfr., 5700 ft., 29. vi. 1910 (A. D. Imms).

261. Syneches ins ignis, Brun.

Syneches insiynis, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 19 (1913).

cJ . Head with occiput blackish grey ; proboscis yellowish on apical half; eyes with upper facets much larger than lower ones; autennal 1st joint black (remainder missing). Thorax blackish grey, with microscopic brownish-grey pubescence and soft black hairs variously disposed; humeral calli black, shining, rather

Fig. 25. — Syneches insignis, Brun., wing.

prominent, yet small; remainder of thorax, with scutellum and metanotum, blackish ; the scutellum with at least two long bristly hairs. Abdomen blackish, with a slight deep blue tinge and sparse pale pubescence. Legs black, with a slight deep blue tinge: anterior knees, tips of anterior tibiae, and all the tarsi wliollv yellowish ; the middle tibiae brown. All the legs with soft black pubescence ; hind femora considerably thickened, a row of small teeth and a row of isolated long stiff bristly hairs on underside. Wings grey ; stigma very large, quite circular, dark brown, placed in the rather distinct curve downwards taken by the 2nd longi- tudinal vein.

Length, 2^ mm.

Described" from one d in the Indian Museum from Bhowali, Kumaon Distr., 5700ft., 2. vii. 1910 (A. D. Imms).

SYNECHES. — SYXDYAS. 333

262. Syneches fuscipennis, sp. nov.

<5 . Head with upper eye-facets bright reddish brown, lower ones dark coffee-brown ; vertex blackish ; frons very small, dark, shining ; face very narrow, dark grey ; proboscis brownish yellow, barely reaching as far as tip of antennae ; palpi moderately long, brownish yellow ; antennae brownish yellow, 3rd joint browri, with a long bristle on upperside and very long dark arista which is yellowish at base ; occiput blackish, very concave, with some long hairs on lower half. Thorax subglobular, dorsum hemi- spherical, dark brown, moderately shining, almost bare; scutellum concolorous, with a row of stiff hairs on hind margin. Abdomen dull black, with moderately long and soft black pubescence; genitalia concolorous. Leys : coxae, anterior femora (except at tips), hind femora, and tarsi black; remainder of legs yellow. Pubsscence rather long and moderately dense ; a row of longer hairs on upper and outer sides of anterior tibiae, nnd three long bristles on outer side of middle tibia?; pubescence on underside of hind femora a little longer, and on hinder side of hind tibiae towards tips conspicuously longer and denser ; a row of 6-7 short blunt teeth below hind femora on apical half. 'Wings greyish brown ; venation normal ; halteres yellowish, with black clubs.

Length, about 3| mm.

Described from a single c? in the Indian Museum from Tale- wadi, near Castle Rock, N. Kanara Distr., 3-10. x. 1916 (Kemp).

Genus SYNDYAS, Lw. Syndyas, Loew, Ufv. K. Vet.-Akad. Forh. xiv, p. 369 (1857).

GEXOTYPE, Syndyas opaca, Lw. (S. Africa) ; by Coquillett's designation (1910).

The character in which this genus differs from Hybos is the indistinctness of that portion of the 4th longitudinal vein dividing the two basal cells. From Syneches it differs in the same way, and by the origin of the 2nd vein being more remote from the humeral cross-vein.

No specimen of the genus has come before me, only one Asiatic species having been recorded.

263. Syndyas parvicellulata, Bezzi.

Si/ndi/as parvicellulata, Bezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, ii, p. 321, fig. 1

(1904).

$ . Head round ; eyes above antenna contiguous, barely separated below by an extremely narrow shining black space upper facets hardly larger than lower ones; proboscis short horizontal ; palpi black, slender, bare ; ocellar bristles yellowish very slender ; antenna) wholly black, 3rd joint oval, acuminate with rather long, very thin arista. Thorax moderately convex very bright, with whitish hairs ; dorso-central bristles very wenk,

334 EMPIDJE.

pale, only the posterior ones a little stronger. Scutellurn with two bristles; halteres and squamae black, fringed. Abdomen slender, acuminate, black, moderately shining, with a slight purplish tinge and pale hairs, which are somewhat longer on the venter ; lamellae of ovipositor prominent, blackish brown, with black hairs. Leg* : middle pair shining black, with pale pubes- cence and short bristles ; middle tibiae on outer side with a row of five bristles of equal length ; posterior tibiae clavate at tip, with short bristles on outer side ; tarsi with sparse, rather long bristles ; posterior femora a little longer than tibiae, hardly in- crassate, with rather weak short bristles below. Wings clear, strongly iridescent, with weak pale veins; stigma absent ; discal cell extremely small, placed in middle of wing.

Length, 2^-3 mm. ; wing, 2-2-5 mm.

Two females from Colombo, 28. ii. 1902, and one exactly similar from Sattelberg, Huon Gulf, Papua, v. 1899.

Very closely allied to S. nitida, Lw., from South Africa. Bezzi

notes the difference in size of the discal cell as separating his

from Loew's species. The form and relative positions of the

bases of the 2nd and 3rd longitudinal veins are also different in

he two species, according to the figures.

Genus HARPAMERUS, Big.

Harpamerus, Bigot, Rev. Mag. Zool. (2) xi, p. 301 (1859). "Near Hybos. Head conical, short; proboscis erect, mode- rately long ; palpi porrect, cylindrical, tip with long bristle. Antennae short ; two basal joints narrow and inconspicuous ; 3rd rounded, as long as 1st, compressed; style long, bare, apical. Hind femora incrassate, underside with long spines incrassated at their bases. Wings with anal cell large, closed on hind margin of wing."

264. Harpamerus signatus, Big.

Harpamerus signatus, Bigot, Rev. Mag. Zool. (2) xi, p. 306 (1859).

" d $ . Testaceous : abdomen brown at tip. Thorax brown, with three dark stripes. Proboscis pale ; palpi brownish. Legs testaceous ; hind legs brown ; all tarsi pale testaceous or whitish, with black tips. Wings subhyaline, veins infuscated with brownish ; stigma hemispherical, brown. Ceylon." ,

Length, 6 mrn.

Genus ACARTERUS, Ltv.

Acarterus, Loew, Ofv. K. Vet.-Akad. Forli. xv, p. 340 (1858) ; id., Dipt. Fauna Siid-Afr. p. 262 (I860;.

GENOTYPE, Acarterus unicolor, Lw. (S. Africa).

Third antennal joint broad, shortly conical, with a straight bare

ACAETEUUS. 335

apical bristle. Proboscis porrect, horizontal : palpi linear. Legs simple ; hind femora not incrassated or spined below. Wings with 2nd longitudinal vein originating from near base of 1st vein ; basal cells subequaL

Range. Only three species were till recently known, from India (palUpeg)) Java, and South Africa, respectively.

The two Indian species may thus be separated : —

Larger species, 47 to o mm. ; wings clear . . pallipes, Bezzi. Smaller species, 3 mm. ; wings brownish . . fuscipennis, Brim.

265. Acarterus pallipes, Bezzi.

Acarterus pallipes, Bezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, ii, p. 335 (1 904).

<$ 2 . Head : " Eyes large, flattened above, upper facets dis- tinctly larger than lower ones ; ocellar tubercle large, with two bristles ; occipital margin with short fine hairs. Proboscis hori- zontal, moderately long, acuminate, shining yellow, darker at base; palpi rather small. Antennae short, wholly clear yellow ; 3rd joint rounded, somewhat acuminate in front, with a very fine long bristle above near base ; arista nearly subapical, long, fine. Tliomx moderately arched, hump-backed, black ; humeral calli and from wing-base to scutellum dirty yellow, not shining; in certain lights a light reddish tomentum is visible ; the somewhat long acrostichal bristles arranged in four rows ; some long hairs posteriorly ; scutellum with 10 to 12 dusky yellow bristles on hind margin ; halteres large, with brown clubs ; squamae yellow, with a white fringe. Abdomen acuminate, velvet-black, quite opaque, with rather long pale hairs ; male genitalia small, but of chai-acteristic shape ; the two lateral lamellae forming a kind of forceps, with the branches bent inwards towards the tip. Leys all clear yellow, with the tarsi not darkened, not even at the tip, but only the claws black, and rather long and slender; hind femora not at all incrassate, without bristles or long hairs, bearing only short, fine pubescence. Wings clear, a little yellowish at base ; stigma elongate, moderately pale, especially in $ ; veins pale yellow."

Length, 4-7-5 mm. ; wings, 3'9-4 mm.

Two males and a female from Bombay, 18. vii. 1902.

Types in the Hungarian MusQum.

266. Acarterus fuscipennis, Brim. (PI. IV, fig. 5.) Acarterus fuscipennis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. is, p. 21 (1913).

c? . Head with eyes wholly contiguous, the upper facets much larger than the lower ones, bright reddish brown; proboscis reddish yellow, as long as the height of the head ; palpi brownish yellow, very small : antennae brownish, with long arista; back of head blackish. Thorax dull black, highly arched, with a few hairs ; a few lateral long stiff hairs, also some towards posterior

336 EMPIDJE.

margin; sides similarly coloured or dark grey: scutellum with a fringe of long dark hairs. Abdomen black, scarcely pubescent ; venter a little pale. Leys bright light brownish yellow, a little pubescent ; coxae and basal half of femora black ; tarsi-tips blackish. Underside of hind femora and outer side of posterior tibia? with a few long stiff hairs. Wings brownish, stigma darker brown ; halteres large, black.

Lenc/th, 3 mm.

Described from two d J taken by Mr. E. E. Green at Pera- deniya, Ceylon, vi. (910 (type in Indian Museum), and v. 1911 (in Mr. Green's collection).

Genus HYBOS, Mg. Hi/bos, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 269 (1803). GENOTYPE, Musca grossipes, L. (Europe).

Head small, subspherical ; eyes occupying practically all the front side of the head, contiguous in both sexes from vertex to antennae, upper facets (c? § ) larger than lower ones, demarcated by an impressed line ; three ocelli on the extremely small, promi- nent vertex ; epistome small, cheeks absent, the eyes extending downwards to oral opening. Proboscis not longer than height of

Fig. 26.—Hi/bos apicis, Brun.

head, directed horizontally forwards ; palpi comparatively long, 1-jointed. Antennae adjacent at base, inserted (seen in profile) at 7iiiddle of head, 3-jointed; 1st and 2nd joints short, 1st more or less cylindrical, 2nd subglobular, with bristles ; 3rd oval, longer than 2nd, with long arista, which may be pubescent on basal portion. Thorax rectangular, strongly arched or humped ; dorsum with more or less distinct short stiff hairs arranged approximately in dorso-central and acrostichal rows ; two noto- pleural (plus sometimes a third weaker one) and some postalar bristles ; metapleura bare. Scutellum with two stronger and

HTBOS. 337

some smaller marginal bristles. Abdomen subcylinclrical. slightly curved, slightly pubescent, of eight segments, the eighth often more or less hidden, the 2nd longest dorsally ; genitalia asym- metrical ; ovipositor terminating in two small styliform lamellae. Legs of moderate length, hind pair rather longer ; hind femora slightly thickened and with rows of spines below ; anterior tibiae generally with apical spurs. Legs considerably pubescent, the male in some species with long .characteristic hairs on anterior tibiae and tarsi. Empotlium small, narrow, ending in a long bristle. Wings well developed, comparatively broad ; axillary lobe distinct ; 3rd vein simple ; upper branch of 4th vein simple ; discal cell present; anal cell longer than 2nd basal cell, its posterior angle acute ; anal vein weak, attaining margin of wing ; stigma normally present.

Range. Europe, Asia, the Orient, Egypt, Natal, North and South America, Australia.

Life-history unknown.

The perfect insects inhabit low bushes and ground-plants in humid and shady situations.

Table of Species.

1. Legs partly or wholly distinctly yellow

or brownish yellow .......... ." ..... 2.

Legs wholly black or dark brown ; no

definite yellow parts .............. 5.

2. Legs wholly pale yellow .............. 3.

Legs not wholly yellow .............. 4.

3. Venter yellowish; scutellum black; a

greyish depression laterally in front

of scutellum .................... bisetosus, Bezzi, p. 338.

Venter black ; scutellum brownish yel-

low ; no greyish depression ........ tenuipes, Brun.,* p. 338.

4. Stigma absent ; anterior tibiae, hind

knees broadly and all tarsi, yellow . . gagatinus, Big., p. 339. Stigma present ...................... 5.

~). Middle tibiae, tips of middle femora, and most of middle tarsi yellow ; length

mm

apicts, Brun., p. 340.

Fore tibia), tips of hind femora, and base

of hind tibise yellow ; length 2£ mm. . geniculatus, Wulp, p. 340.

6. Larger species, at least 5 mm. long ---- 7. Smaller species, 2 to 3^ mm. long . . . . 8.

7. Thorax shining blackish, with two in-

distinct dorsal stripes; wings nearly clear ; hind tarsi without, golden- yellow pubescence below .......... niger, Brun., p. 340.

Thorax blackish grey, unstriped; wings pale brownish grey; liind tarsi with conspicuous golden-vellow pubescence below. .... ..... . ......... awipet, Brun., p. 341.

* May be synonymous with bisetosus, Bezzi, the distinguishing character* being conceivably within the variation of a single species.

338 EMPIDjE.

8. Wings pale grey or clear ; stigma in-

distinct or absent 9.

Wings distinctly brown, at least an- teriorly aud basally ; stigma large and distinct ". nitens, Brun., p. 341.

9. Palpi black 10.

Palpi yellow jkivipalpis, Brun.. p. 342.

10. Legs black ; length 3| mm nigronitidus, Brun., p. 342.

Legs moderately dark browa; length

2^ mm brunnipes, Brun., p. 343.

267. Hybos bisetosus, BezzL

Hybos bisetosus, Bezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, ii, p. 324 (1904).

" J $ . A very distinct species, characterised especially by the slender, entirely pale legs.

" Head with eyes wholly contiguous in both sexes, upper facets larger than lower ones ; proboscis horizontal, as long as palpi, dull yellow, more or less infuscated ; occipital margin with a circlet of bristles ; antennae black or brown, 3rd joint elongate oval, thin, with moderately long arista. Thorax moderately convex, rather brilliant black ; anterior margin, pleura?, arid the broad depression in front of the scutellum covered with grey tomentum ; scutellum rounded, with grey tomentum. A long presutural bristle, two pairs of long dorso-central ones ; two well- separated rows of short feeble acrostichal bristles, which are not easily visible ; scutellum with two bristles. Squamae and halteres yellow. Abdomen shining black, with yellowish venter and pale, moderately long pubescence, obtuse at tip in both sexes, but rather larger in the male, in which the genitalia are large and rounded. Legs rather slender, especially hind femora, which are elongate but hardly incrassate. All legs pale yellow, except tips of tarsi and the hind femora towards tips, which are somewhat darkened, especially on upper side. Pubescence whitish ; fore tibiae on anterior side near middle with a rather long bristle ; middle pair with two very long and strong bristles at the middle, one on the outer and one on the inner side ; middle tibiae also with other shorter bristles at the middle and tip ; hind pair quite incrassate at tip, and ciliated on outer side with short hairs ; hind femora armed below with a row of seven or eight long strong black bristles. Wings narrow, hyaline, rather iridescent ; stigma hardly distinguishable from a pale cloud.

" Nine males, eight females, Matheran, §00 metres, 8. vii. 02 (Biro):1 (Bezzi.}

Types in the Hungarian Museum.

268. Hybos tenuipes, Brun. (PI. IV, figs. 7, 8.) Hybos tenuipes, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 13 (1913).

<$ . Head black ; upper eye-facets red, and much larger than the lower ones, which are black ; antennao black, arista four times

339

•as long as 3rd joint, and distinctly pubescent for the basal two- thirds, the remainder quite bare. Thorax black, shining, sides .and inetanotum similar ; scutellum broad, brownish yellow, the -colour extending to the posterior angles of the thoracic dorsuni. Abdomen dark brown, Avith pale pubescence; venter similar. Leys pale yellow. Foro tibiae with a single long bristle in the middle ; middle tibiae with two such, one at one-third of its length on the outer side, the other just before the middle on the underside ; hind femora with a row of five rather long bristles on epical fourth of underside, a long thin bristle in the middle, with two long stiff hairs placed equidistantly between this central bristle and the base ; remainder of legs with short pubescence. Wings pale grey, inclining to yellowish on the costa ; stigma indistinct ; halteres yellow.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from a <5 in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 27. vi. 1910 (Annandale).

This is probably Bezzi's bisetosus, but I do not like to sink it •definitely until further specimens of both species have been •compared.

369. Hybos gagatinus, Big. (PI. IV, fig. 6.)

Hybos yayatina. Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) ix, p. 127 (1889). Hybos yayatinm, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 15 (1913).

6 . Head with eyes reddish brown ; proboscis blackish (broken off); antennae blackish grey, with a very Jong arista;* occiput black. Thorax shining black ; a pre-alar bristle, one or two on the pleurae, and two nearly erect, widely separated, scutellar 'bristles; lower part of thorax dirty brownish grey (not bluish .grey, as noted by me previously). Abdomen and venter blackish. Legs moderately dark shining brown ; anterior tibiae, the hind knees broadly, and all tarsi, light brownish yellow. Legs shortly ibut distinctly pubescent ; middle tibiae with two long bristles on tipper half of outer side, two similar apical ones and also two rather long, but more slender ones on distal half of hinder side ; -all femora with a row of stiff long hairs below: hind femora with 4i row of well-separated long bristles below, also a row of stout, very short-socketed spines; front metatarsus with three long isolated stiff hairs, in addition to the rather dense, short, ordinary pubescence. Wings clear, very iridescent ; 6th longitudinal vein .rather faint ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 4 mm.

Redescribed from the unique type in the Indian Museum from Margherita, Assam.

* In my note on this species (vide I. c.) it was erroneously stated that the antenna; were missing, as on closer inspection it is found that one of them is still wholly intact, though pressed close against the somewhat damaged head.

z2

340 EMPID^E.

270. Hybos apicis, Brun.

Hybos apicis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 12 (1913). cJ . Head black ; proboscis and palpi light brown, shining ;; ocular orbits narrowly brown, underside of antennae pale. Thorax wholly shining black ; bristly hairs as in nigronilidtts. Abdomen black, moderately shining ; a few pale hairs at sides ; genitalia shining black. Leys moderately dark brown, hind femora blackish brown ; tips of middle femora, whole of middle tibiae, and major part of middle tarsi pale yellowish brown ; tips of hind femora

Fig. 27. — Hybos apicis, Brun., wing.

rather broadly, base of hind tibiae less broadly, and hind tarsi* wholly (except tips) pale yellowish brown. Bristly hairs as in nigronitidus. Wings nearly clear ; stigma oval, brown ; halteres. brownish yellow.

Length, 3| mm.

Described from one J in the Indian Museum from the western, base of the Dawna Hills, Lower Burma, l.iii. 1908 (Annandale).

271. Hybos geniculatus, Wulp.

Hybos geniculata, Wulp, Termes. Fiizet. xxii, p. 137 (1897).

" d . Shining black ; antennae black, 3rd joint nearly elliptical,, not longer than 2nd, arista longer than antenna3. Thoraa- especially shining. Abdomen with a slight purple tint. Leys; black, with yellowish tarsi, darker at tips ; fore tibiae yellowish ; tips of hind femora and base of hind tibire reddish yellow. Halteres whitish. Wings grey, with brownish stigma. One- male, Randy, March. Length 2| mm." (van der Wulp.)

Type in the Hungarian National Museum.

272. Hybos niger, Brun.

Hybos niyer, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 12 (1913).

$ . Head black ; eyes with upper facets distinctly though not greatly larger than lower ones, both blackish brown, but with tinges of red in the former; occiput dark brownish grey, ocular orbit with a fringe of black, well-separated hairs, vertex with two long bristly hairs ; antennae, proboscis, and palpi all black, the latter as long as the proboscis. Thorax blackish, shining, tending to greyish towards the sides, anterior margin, and shoulders ; two narrow well-separated inconspicuous grey dorsal stripes. Dorsum with soft short hairs, and, viewed from certain directions, with brownish tomentose reflections ; some

HYBOS. • 341

flonger bristly hairs in the usual situations. Scutellum con- •colorous, with two long bristles and some short stiff hairs ; pleurae and inetauotum moderately dark grey. Abdomen blackish, with a moderate amount of pale pubescence, venter similar. Legs wholly black ; anterior tibiae with long stiff bristly hairs ; hind femora with a row of small teeth below, each bearing a strong bristle. Wings nearly clear; stigma distinct but not sharply defined, brown, filling nearly the apical half of the marginal cell .and extending to the costa ; halteres bright yellow.

Length, 5^ mm.

Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 26. vi. 1910 (Annandale).

-273. Hybos auripes,

Hybos auripes, Brunetti, Bee. Ind. Mas. ix, p. 14 (1913).

d" $ . Head black ; proboscis not much longer than head, tipped with brownish yellow ; palpi rather long, pubescent. Thorax blackish grey, when seen from certain directions, with .a brownish-grey dust ; sides dark grey. (Bristles on thorax .broken off, but from those remaining apparently consistent with •the arrangement in the other species herein described.) Abdomen blackish grey, with a brownish cinereous dust ; a few pale hairs .at the sides ; genital organs in d large, robust, conspicuous, consisting of an upper and lower thick cup-shaped piece, the former ending in two narrow blunted hairy points, the latter •ending in two short obtuse bare points, the two pieces together enclosing a large ventral chamber in which are some smaller intermediate processes of a yellow colour, the whole of the genitalia, otherwise, being black, with stiff black hairs on the outside. In the $ the organs are small, pale, and inconspicuous. Legs black, pubescent; hind femora with a row of about twenty small teeth on underside, each bearing a short spine, in addition, .a row of long stiff bristles ; anterior tibiae with at least two long bristles on inner and two on outer side of each ; tarsi black, with pale hairs on underside, those on underside of hind pair golden yellow, and a little golden-yellow hair at the tips of the hind tibiaj on the underside. Wings pale brownish grey ; stigma oval, brown, not very conspicuous ; halteres yellow.

Length, o mm.

Described from a type <$ from the Botanical Gardens, Dar- ijiling, 12. viii. 1909 (Patva), and a type $ from Kurseong, 7.ix. 1909 (Annandale), both specimens in the Indian Museum.

-274. Hybos nitens, Bmn.

Hybos nitens, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 13 (1913). $ . This species has considerable general resemblance to both brunnipes, Brun., and fustijiennis, Brun. The head is dull black, Including the very short proboscis, the palpi, and the antenna?. Body shining black, with soft, rather numerous pale hairs. Legs •very dark brown, nearly black, with distinct though rather short

342 EMPIDJE.

pale pubescence. Wings distinctly brown, paler on apical and posterior parts ; stigma very distinct and large, dark brown ; venation normal ; halteres brown.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from one 2 iQ the Pusa collection taken at Pusa,. April 1908.

Type in the British Museum.

H. nitens is distinguished from brunnipes by the very brown wings and conspicuous large stigma, by the nearly black legs, and especially by the very shining black thorax and abdomen.

From fuscipennis it is separated by the shining black thorax and abdomen, the black proboscis, the very dark legs, arid its- smaller si/e, 2 mm. as compared with 3 mm.

275. Hybos flavipalpis, Brun.

Hybosjlavipalpis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 14 (1913).

c?. Head: eyes with upper facets much smaller than usual, but larger than lower ones ; antenna? black ; proboscis black, shining ;. palpi yellowish ; occiput blackish, with a row of well -separated,. curved, stiff black hairs, placed some distance behind the eye- margins ; two bristles on vertex. Thorax shining black, stiff bristly hairs laterally towards posterior margins and two on the shining black scutellum. Abdomen black, moderately shining,. with rather long and ragged, yellowish-grey hairs at the sides. Tip of abdomen enlarged ; genitalia very large, black, shining,. with some whitish soft hairs. Legs mainlv black, but anterior tibiae and tarsi more nearly dark brown ; hind tibiae distinctly brown towards tips, and slightly enlarged there ; hind tarsi also- distinctly brown. All the legs normally minutely pubescent,. tibiae with several long stiff bristly hairs on outer side ; hind femora with two rows of small teeth below, bearing bristles. Whig* pale grey ; stigma present but Aveak, brownish ; halteres yellow.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from one d" in the Indian Museum from Kurseong,, 25. vi. 1910 (Annandale).

276. Hybos nigronitidus,

Hybos nif/ro?ntiduft, Brunetti, Ilec. Ind. JNius. ix, p. 11 (1913). d $ . Head black ; occiput tinged with dark grey ; proboscis almost as long as length of head, palpi nearly as long. Thorax shining black, beset with microscopic reddish hairs ; sides of thorax a little greyish, but not at all conspicuously so. Two or three stiff bristly hairs about the base of the wing and one stiff hair on each humerus ; a few of unequal length placed in a row on each side of the median line, and at least two of these (the two hindmost) of considerable size ; two also at tip of the con- colorous scutellum ; both thorax and scutellum bear irregularly placed softer hairs. Abdomen shining black, in certain lights wit.h a little greyish reflection ; a little black pubescence in rf ; in ?

HTBOS. — PAEAHYBOS. 343

the hairs brown and more numerous ; genitalia shining black. Legs black, shortly pubescent ; femora with a row of stiff hairs below, most conspicuous on hind pair ; tibiae with some stiff hairs, including two at tip ; knees narrowly brown ; underside of tarsi with pale hairs. Wings pale grey, highly iridescent ; venation normal ; stigma small, pale brown, sometimes hardly perceptible ; halteres yellow.

Length, 3^- mm.

Described from one tf and three $ $ in the Indian Museum : type J from Sukna, 500 ft., 1. vii. 1903 (Annandale) ; type $ from Darjiling, 29. v. 1910 (Brunetti) ; two additional $ $ 'from Kur- seoiig, 7-8. vii. 1908 ; Darjiling, 7000 ft., 8. viii. 1909 (Jenkins).

277. Hybos brunnipes, Brun.

Hi/bos brunnipes, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 12 (1913).

c? • Head blackish ; antenna? wholly dark brown. Thorax black, moderately shining ; viewed in certain lights it appears dusted with light grey ; two bristly hairs on hind margin of scutelluin (those on the thorax are mostly broken off). Abdomen brownish black, with pale hairs : genitalia small. Legs moderately dark brown ; hind femora with soft grey pubescence ; bristly hairs as in the two preceding species. Wings clear, iridescent ; no stigma ; halteres yellow.

Length, 2| mm.

Described from one d1 in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 8. viii. 1908.

Genus PARAHYBOS, Kert. Parahybos, Kertesz, Termes. Fiizet. xxii, p. 176 (1899).

GENOTYPE, Paraliybos iridipennis, Kert. (Papua).

This genus differs from Hybos only by the subapical arista, the less humped thorax, and the unthickened hind femora. It is also closely allied to Acarterus, Lw., although this latter technically falls into a different section of the subfamily.

Only one species is Indian, but Bezzi has described several from Formosa.

Ranrje. India, Java, Formosa, Papua.

278. Parahybos flavipes, Brun.

Paraliybos fiavipes, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 21 (1913). c? . Head with eyes above reddish, closely contiguous, the lower facets coffee-brown and much smaller ; antennas yellowish, arista very long, 2nd joint bristly, 3rd with a single bristle above ; face deeply sunk, greyish. Thorax wholly dull black, with some soft hairs towards posterior margin and on scutelluin, which latter (with the metanotura) is concolorous. Abdomen wholly dull, very dark blackish brown, with pale pubescence. Legs rather bright brownish yellow, except coxae and basal half of femora ; traces of

344 EMPID^E.

black at tips of femora and tarsi ; soft yellow pubescence on legs, no conspicuous bristly hairs. Wings pale grey ; stigma in- distinct, brown ; halteres black.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from a single tf in the Indian Museum from Sukua, base of Darjiling Hills, 1. vii. 1908 (Annandale}.

An immature specimen, probably a $ , from near Bhowali, Kumaon, Western Himalayas, taken by Dr. A. D. Imms, 13. vi. 1910, is apparently this species.

Subfamily EM PIKE.

Eyes normally contiguous or subcontiguous in male, well separated in female ; in some species narrowly but distinctly separated in both sexes ; the frons in the male in such cases sometimes, but not always narrower than in the female. Proboscis varying from* a little shorter than height of head to longer than whole body; palpi 1-jointed. Antenna3 3-jointed, with two-jointed style.

Thorax of moderate height; metapleura with bristles, except in Hilara*

Axillary lobe of wing well developed, except occasionally ; 3rd longitudinal vein simple or forked, 4th vein forked ; lower branch of 5th longitudinal vein recurrent, approximately parallel with hind margin of wing, meeting anal vein at an obtuse angle, making anterior margin of anal cell the longer; anal vein of varying length. Four posterior cells ; adiscalcell; basal cells subequal; anal cell shorter than 2nd basal ; squamae small or absent.

Members of this subfamily may be recognised by the elongated, downwardly directed proboscis in conjunction with the lower branch of the 5th longitudinal vein being parallel to the hind margin of the wing. It includes the largest species of the family (Em pis and llhamphomyia, but both genera include also very small species).

Table of Genera.

Third longitudinal vein not forked BHAMPHOMYIA, Mg.,

Third longitudinal vein forked. [p. 345.

Auxiliary vein not reaching wing-border; upper branch of 3rd vein forming a wider angle with lower branch, often nearly at right angles to it ; fore tarsi in male not dilated (or at most only very slightly

swollen) ; metapleura with bristles EMPIS, L., p. 347.

Auxiliary vein reaching wing-margin ; upper branch of 3rd vein forming a smaller angle with lower branch, sometimes almost parallel with it; fore tarsi in male dis- tinctly dilated ;f metapleura bare HILARA, Mg., p. 357.

Howlettia, Brun., is not included in the table of genera, being anomalous, but is retained temporarily in this subfamily.

* This exception only refers to the Oriental genera. T Rare exceptions occur.

RIIAMPIIOMYIA. 345

Genus RHAMPHOMYIA, Mg.

Macrostomns, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag. i, p. 59 (1817). Rhamphomyia, Meigen, Syst. Besch. iii, p. 32 (1822). Enicopteryx, Stephens, Syst. Cat. Brit. Ins. ii, p. 264 (1829). Rhamphomyza, Zetterstedt, Ins. Lapp. p. 562 (1838). Holoclera, Schiner, Wien. Eut. Monats. iv, p. 53 (1860).

GENOTYPE, Empis sulcata, Mg. (Europe) ; by Curtis's designa- •tion.

This geuus differs from Empis mainly in the 3rd longitudinal vein being simple. The eyes are proportionately rather larger, and', in the case of contiguous eyes, the larger and smaller facets are more sharply demarcated. The legs, equally as in Empis, show specific diversity in adornment. Wings sometimes considerably dilated ; 3rd vein simple ; discal cell sometimes very large and extended nearly to wing-margin.

Itange. World-wide.

Life-history. Beling has described the early stages of some European species. The larva is carnivorous, and hibernates, changing to the pupa in the following spring or autumn. Rham- phomyia is generally distributed in the same localities frequented by Empis, some species hovering in the air or just above water.

It is mainly a temperate zone genus, the Palsearctic and North American species being very numerous.

Attempts have been made to arrange the species into definite groups, but without much success.

Table of Species.

Thorax bright brownish yellow; an oval

black spot on anterior part unifasciata, Brim., p. 345.

Thorax grey.

Hind femora with short thick hairs

above and dark brown scales below, himalayana, Brun., p. 346. Hind femora apparently with only

microscopic pubescence yriseonigra, Brun., p. 34C.

279. Rhamphomyia unifasciata, Brun.

Rhamphomyia unifasciata, Brunetti, Rec." Ind. 3Ius. ix, p. 29 (1913).

d1 . Head placed on a neck of moderate length, blackish. The 1st and 2nd antenna! joints rounded, a little broader at the tips, 3rd as long as 1st "and 2nd together, elongate-oval ; arista placed at the extreme tip of the dorsal side. Thorax bright brownish yellow ; an oval black spot on anterior part of clorsum, drawn out to a point on anterior margin ; sometimes not narrowed in front but diminished in intensity, and in some cases extended posteriorly towards the hind margin ; traces of two narrow lines from the hinder corners of the spot towards posterior margin,

346

and a trace of a small blackish spot between these lines ; scutelluin concolorous, rather wide, a little blackish at the base. Abdomen shining, dark blackish brown ; venter more or less yellowish ; genitalia withdrawn. Leys brownish yellow ; tibiae and tarsi barely darker. Wings very pale grey, nearly clear ; stigma pre- sent, but indistinct ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from two tf tf in the Indian Museum from Mundali, Jaunsar division, Dehra Dun, 9000 ft., 12. v. 1910 (type) (C. IF. . Beebe), and Simla, 12. v. 1908 (Annandale).

280. Rhamphomyia himalayana, Brim.

Rhamphomyia himalayana, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 28 (1913).

$ . Head black ; occiput moderately dark grey, with black hairs ; frons wide, dark grey ; three distinct ocelli on vertex, with a pair of divaricate bristles between the two upper ones ; antennae black ; proboscis blackish, about as long as the head. Thorax moderately dark ash-grey, with two median ve'ry narrow whitish lines from the anterior margin ; dorsum with short blackish pubes- cence; sides, scutellum, and metanotum concolorous. Abdomen dark grey, with short blackish pubescence ; venter similar. Geni- talia very elongate, terminating in two unusually finger-like lamellae. Legs dark brown, with blackish pubescence; femora and tibse with a row of stiff liairs ; hind femora with thick short black hairs above and dark brown scales on lower side ; hind tibiae with thickly and more bristly black hairs. Wings pale brownish grey; stigma absent ; halteres yellow.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Matiana, Simla Distr., 8000 ft., 28-30. iv. 1907 (Annandale).

281. Ehamphomyia griseonigra, Brun.

Rhamphomyiu yriseoniyra, Brunetti. Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 29 (1913).

6 • Head with eyes dark reddish brown, upper facets much the larger; occiput grey, with stiff black hairs; antennas blackish, 3rd joint elongate, with distinct elongate style ; face dark grey ; proboscis blackish, shining, brownish towards tip. Thorax dark cinereous grey, lighter grey on shoulders and pleurae ; the centre of the dorsum has a slight brown tinge, with two indistinct longi- tudinal narrow black stripes. The whole dorsum with short black stiff hairs irregularly situated and some longer bristly hairs in the neighbourhood of the wings ; scutellum concolorous, with black hairs on posterior margin, but apparently no verv strong ones : metanotum dark grey. Abdomen all blackish grey, with very short black hairs. Legs black, shortly black pubescent ; tibia? with

BHAMPHOMYIA. — EMPIS. 347

a few stiff black hairs ; hind femora apparently with only micro- scopic pubescence ; hind tibiae with soft black hairs on outer side, becoming longer towards the tips, where these tibiae themselves are gradually thickened ; hind metatarsi lengthened and enlarged.

Fig. 2S.—RJiamphomi/ifi grixconigra, Brun., wing.

Wings pale brown, stigma an indistinct darker brown streak; halteres dirty brownish yellow.

Length, 4 mm.

Described from a single J from Mundali, 9000 ft., Dehra Dun, 12. v. 1910, in the Indian Museum.

Genus EMPIS, L,

Empis, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 10th ed. p. 603 (1758). Platyptera, Meigen, Illig. Mag.Ji, p. 269 (1803). Pachymeria, Stephens, Syst. Cat. .Brit. Ins. ii, p. 262 (1829).

Platypterygia, Stephens, loc. cif. p. 263. Pachymerma, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt, i, p. 333 (1834). Erioyaster, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i, pt. 2, p. 102 (1839). Enoplempis, Bigot, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, (5) x, p. 47 (1880).

GENOTYPE, Empis pennipes, L. (Europe) ; by Latreille's designa- tion.

Head globular, sometimes elongated or pear-shaped, the occiput in the latter case subconical ; some bristles and pubescence occur ; eyes normally contiguous in male, sometimes narrowly separated ; always more or less distinctly separated in female ; in contiguous eyes, upper facets larger than lower ones, not distinctly demar- cated ; ocellar tubercle prominent. Proboscis from as long as height of head to as long as whole length of body, prominent, straight, directed downwards; palpi 1-jointed, slightly curved. Antenna? 3-jointed, with a distinct 2- jointed style ; 1st joint longer or shorter; 2nd short, both more or'less bristly; 3rd 'always the longest, conically tapering, bare; first joint of style always very short, style always bare. Thorax approximately rectangular, moderately arched, prothorax distinct. Some weak dorso-ceiitral and sometimes acrostichal bristles present, with distinct hut not strongly-developed bristles on margin of thorax, generally humeral, post-humeral, notopleural, supra-alar, and postalar. Scutellum with two or more marginal bristles. Abdouien cylindrical in male, broader at base and more tapering posteriorly in female ; 8-seg- mented, the last sometimes hidden. Genitalia in male well developed, consisting of at least two pairs of appendages; in

348 EMPID^E.

female, in which sex the last three abdominal segments are some- times suddenly contracted, terminating in the usual pair of stvliform lamellae. Legs comparatively slender, rather long, the femora occasionally thickened, and more rarely the front or hind metatarsi, or both pairs, more or less dilated ; tibiae sometimes with apical spurs. The ornamentation of the legs variable, some species having fan-like rows of scales or scale-like hairs on the femora or tibiae, and sometimes on the metatarsi also ; bristles and long hairs of specific value often present ; all the legs ordinarily with short: pubescence. Wings : auxiliary vein not reaching margin; 1st and 2nd longitudinal veins long, 3rd forked towards tip ; upper branch of 4th vein forked at corner of disca! cell ; lower branch of oth vein strongly recurrent, approximately parallel with hind margin of wing, meeting anal vein at a widely obtuse angle and making anterior margin of anal cell much longer than posterior one ; anal cell much shorter than 2nd basal ; anal vein attaining wing-margin ; discal cell present. Axillary lobe of wing well developed; squamae small. The shade of the wing is often darker in one sex — in some males almost milky.

Range. World-wide.

Life-history. Little definitely known. The larvae live in moist •earth in woods, or less frequently in rotting tree-trunks. They are amphipneustic, of twelve segments, and of the usual maggot form. They are said to hibernate.

The species of Empis are generally distributed, but prefer shaded and somewhat moist situations. Many species occur at times in vast numbers; some hover in the air. Presumably all are car- nivorous, preying on soft Diptera and small moths. The mating of some species takes place in the air, and affords a most interesting study ; * others on the surface of water ; whilst in other species the curious fact seems established that the male catches some prey and presents it to the female, which devours it during copulation. In one American species a small balloon of minute bubbles is formed, in which a small dead fly, presumably prey, is enclosed, <he balloon being discarded after copulation.

Table of Species.

1. Front tarsi in tf extraordinarily developed, as

long as remainder of front legs ; $ un- [p. 349.

known amplitarsis, sp. n.,

First tarsi in <3 not extraordinarily developed,

nor as long as remainder of front legs 2. - [p. 350.

2. Halteres chalk-white ". (ilbohalteralis, sp. n.,

Halteres not chalk-white 3.

3. Upper branch of 4th vein abbreviated 4.

Upper branch of4th vein reaching winsr-margin 6.

* See Howlett, Ent. Montli. Mag. xhii, p. 229; Lundbeck, Dipt, Danica pt. 3, p. 83; Aldricli, Arner. Natur. xxxiii, p. 809; Ha mm, Ent. Month. Mug <2) xix, p. 181, and (2) xx, pp. 132, 157.

EMPIS. 34<>

4. Femora and tibiae pennate sgwtnata, Brim., *

Femora and tibiae not pennate 5. fp. 352.

5. Auxiliary vein and 1st longitudinal veins [p] 350..

"nited ccylonica, Bezzi,

Auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins separate, carbwiaria, Brun.,

6. Anterior cross-vein between J- and middle of !~p. 351.

discal cell 7.

Anterior cross-vein distinctly before £ of discal

cell 11.

7. Posterior femora and tibiae pennate 8.

Posterior femora and tibiae not pennate .... 10.

8. Hind tibiae shortly pennate on basal half

only, in front and behind; proboscis 1' times height of head, not reaching base of abdomen ; anterior cross-vein at middle of [p. 353.

discal cell centralis, f Brun.,

Hind tibiae with a long fringe for practically their whole length, in front and behind . . 9.

9. Hind metatarsus pennate ; proboscis more than

twice height of head, reachingbeyondba.se

of abdomen ; anterior cross-vein between [p. 355,

£ and middle of discal cell rostrata, Brun.,

Hind metatarsus not pennate; proboscis 1^ times height of head, not reaching base of

abdomen; anterior cross- vein just before Pp. 354.

middle of discal cell . . ' . sulcilipes, Brun.,

10. Dorsum of thorax with three black stripes ;

legs dark brown ; anterior cross-vein at £ [p. 353.

of discal cell ; abdomen uniformly grey . . yriseonigra, Brun., Dorsum of thorax with four black" stripes ; legs bright orange : anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell ; hind margins

of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th abdominal segments [p. 356.

black marf/inata, Brun.,

11. Legs pale yellow eleyam, Brun, p. 356.

Legs dark brown inconspictia, Brun.,

[p. 357.

282. Empis amplitarsis, sp. nov.

c? . Head with vertex moderately large, blackish ; two long^ ocellar bristles and some smaller ones ; upper eye-facets bright brown, smaller lower ones coffee-brown ; antennae black, 3rd joint as long as 1st and 2nd together, subconical, with elongated tip and long style ; proboscis brownish yellow, about twice as long as vertical height of head ; palpi rather small, upturned, yellowish ; occiput dark grey, with the usual bristles. Thorav moderately shining blackish, with grev-dusted reflections in certain lights. Abdomen moderately shining dark brown, with short sparse pubescence, which is longer at the sides. Legs uniformly mode- rately dark brown, except the extraordinarily developed front tarsi, which are a little darker ; these latter are fully as long a» the rest of the front leg from base of coxa to tip of tibia ; 1st joint

* May be the $ of carbonaria, Brun. t May be the ? of griseoniyra, Brun.

350

nearly as long as tibia, flattened, broad at tip ; 2nd joint rather more than half as long as first, narrower, cylindrical, thickened ; 3rd joint nearly as long as 1st, much incrassated, broader and much longer than 2nd and broader at tip than at base ; 4th joint about as long as 3rd, narrower, thin, considerably arched, so that the underside forms a large cavity ; 5th joint shorter than 4th, moderately incrassated, bluntly conical ; claws and pulvilli normal. Pubescence on coxa3 and femora moderately long and dense, a little thicker on hind femora, with a few longer hairs on outer side ; front tibia3 with a row of short hairs on inner side, a row of longer ones on outer side, and a row of very long ones on upper side ; middle tibiae moderately pubescent, with two long bristles on outer side (one at middle, one preapical) ; hind tibiae covered with rather dense, moderately long pubescence and longer hairs, and with a row of quite long hairs on hinder side; anterior tarsi with 1st joint nearly bare except for a few hairs towards tip, remaining joints

Fig. 29. — Empis amplitarsis, sp. DOT., front leg of male.

with long dense hairs on upper and outer sides, a few short hairs on inner and lower sides, the 4th also bearing a denser bunch on upper side near tip. Wings pale grey ; venation approximately normal, anterior cross-vein at \ discal cell ; halteres moderately dark brown.

Described from a single <3 from the Pusa collection from Belgaum, Bombay Presidency, 2500 ft., 11. viii. 1910 (Fletcher], presented to the British Museum.

A label attached by Mr. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher says : " Fore- legs are stretched out in front and function as antenna?; they are not used for locomotion." The extraordinary development of the front tarsi easily distinguishes this species from all other Indian EMPID.E, yet this character is the only one in which it differs from typical species of Empis.

283. Empis albohalteralis, sp. nov.

<3 . Head with vertex blackish, frons and face moderately dark grey; first two antennal joints yellowish, 3rd black, base narrowly pale, style rather long ; proboscis black, reaching (bent under body) to middle of abdomen ; palpi pale yellowish, curved upwards, rather long, with a few black bristles ; eyes with large upper facets bright brown, lower small ones coffee-brown; occiput ash-grey, a marginal row of small black bristles and a more central

EJIPIS. 351

row of stronger ones. Thorax shining black, closely and entirely covered with cinereous dust, in which three narrow slightly yellowish stripes of the usual nature can be faintly traced; scu- tellum and metanotum with dark grey dust ; sides of thorax concolorous with dorsum ; metapleural hairs yellow. Abdomen blackish, rather shining, with sparse pubescence; hind margin of segments indistinctly pale ; venter yellowish ; genitalia shining yellowish brown. Legs: coxae dull orange, more or less grey- dusted on basal part, a little pale pubescence in front ; remainder of legs orange, hind tibiae more brownish towards tips ; anterior tarsi blackish brown towards tips, hind metatarsi much enlarged and lengthened, remaining hind tarsal joints black. Wings pale grey, venation normal; anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell ; halteres conspicuously chalk-white.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from one d1 in the Indian Museum from Zairat, Baluchistan, 8000-9000 ft., viii. 1914 (Major Wilson).

Easily recognised from all other species by the conspicuous white halteres.

284. Empis carbonaria, Brun.

Empis carbonaria, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 27 (1913).

c? . "Wholly and uniformly coal-black, moderately shining. Eyes separated by a narrow frons. Antennal 3rd joint distinctly longer than the first two together, and its distal half rather suddenly narrow ; style thick, half as long as the joint. Proboscis nearly twice the height of the head, labium bifid at the tip.

Fig. 30.— Empis carbonaria, Brun.

Head, thorax, and abdomen covered with long, soft, but not copious pubescence. Legs dark brown, with rather long soft black hairs ; fore femora almost bare ; fore metatarsus distinctly incras- sated, cylindrical, lengthened, as long as remaining tarsal joints together ; hind metatarsus as long as next three joints together,

352 EMMDJE.

slightly thickened ; posterior tibiae and tarsi with a row of well- separated long bristly hairs. Genitalia small, rounded, not conspicuous. Wings clear; anteiinal cross-vein at one-fourth of the discal cell ; 4rh vein shortened ; stigma slightly brownish, small ; halteres black.

Length, 4 mm.

Described from two d J in the Indian Museum and one in Mr. E. E. Green's collection from Horton Plains, Ceylon, v. 1911 (Green).

Type in the Indian Museum.

285. Empis squamata, Bmn. (PI. IV, fig. 11.)

Empis squamata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 27 (1913).

5 . Wholly coal-black. Proboscis three times as long as the head. Antennae normal. Thorax witii soft black hairs. Abdomen nearly bare, roughened, shining; venter similar; ovipositor small, elongate, normal. Legs with a dense row of long, closely placed, dark brown scales on underside of fore femora, on upper- and undersides of posterior femora, front and hind sides of fore and hind tibiae, outer and inner sides of middle tibiae, and on upper sides of all metatarsi ; a single long bristly hair on outer and inner sides, projecting somewhat backwards towards tips of all tibiae and of first four tarsal joints, these hairs very much longer on hind legs ; the unsealed parts of the legs bear a little black pubescence. Wings pale brown ; 4th vein abbreviated ; stigma black ; halteres black.

Length, 2|-3 mm.

Described from several 2 $ collected by Mr. E. E. Green ou the Horton Plains, Ceylon, May 1911.

Type and other specimens in the Indian Museum.

Probably the $ of carbonaria, having been taken so often by Mr. Green in company with that species. However, it must be distinct from ceylonica, Bezzi, with which at first I thought it might be synonymous, as that species lias no conspicuous brown scales on the legs, and has the auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins anastomosed. E. squamata has a considerable resemblance to jacobsoni, Meij., described from Java, but. in the latter species the upper side of the front femora bears long brown scales like the posterior pairs.

286. Empis ceylonica, Bezzi.

Empis ceylonica, Bezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, ii, p. 343 (1904). $. A shining black species, distinguished by the broadened brownish wings, with basal third hyaline ; pubescence black, but below the setae the body is bare ; proboscis black, as long as head and thorax together; frons shining black, bare, head-bristles rather long. Antennae short, black, shortly pubescent at base; 3rd joint with upper edge straight and excised below, ending in a

EMPIS. 353

rather long style. Thorax shining black and hare, with the pleurae greyish : 2-3 long hlack metapleural bristles and two moderately long presutural ones ; squamae yellowish, with black fringe. Abdomen brilliantly shining black, with a few black hairs; venter with longer hairs on margins of segments ; ovipositor long, slender, with elongate lamellae. Wings broadened, axillary angle developed ; 1st longitudinal vein rather long, united to auxiliary vein ; 3rd vein bent downwards somewhat towards tip so that it ends at tip of wing, its upper branch nearly perpendicular ; discal cell large, apical end truncate ; 4th vein rather long, ending at some distance from the margin ; 6th vein shortened. Legs brown, rather long, especially hind pair, pubescent and with bristles ; middle tibiae with two long bristles above ; hind tibiae with 6 or 7 long ones in two rows ; hind metatarsus very elongate, as long as remaining joints together, with three or four long bristles above ; remaining joints with a single bristle at tip of each.

Length, 3 mm. ; wing, 4 mm.

A unique female from Pattipola, Ceylon, 2000 metres, 22. ii. ]902.

Type in the Hungarian Museum.

287. Empis griseonigra, Brun.

Empis yriseonigra, Brunetti, Uec. Lid. Mus. ix, p. 29 (1913).

c? . Head with occiput blackish ; eyes absolutely contiguous above antennae ; face dark grey ; antennae black ; palpi black ; proboscis one-fourth longer than the height of the head, dark brownish yellow, black on underside. Thorax brownish grey, with three moderately wide brown dorsal stripes, the median one attaining the anterior margin, the outer ones only extending as far as the shoulders. Some short bristly hairs on shoulders, soft black pubescence over the dorsum generally, and stiffer hairs and bristles distributed as in the other species. Sides of thorax a little darker grey, pleurae light grey. Abdomen blackish, with short sparse black pubescence ; whitish pubescence at sides of the first t\vp segments ; genitalia blackish. Legs dark brown, with black pubescence; knees reddish brown, with a trace of this colour over some of the other joints. Wings pale grey ; stigma imperceptible ;' anterior cross-vein at about two-fifths discal cell; halteres bright yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from one c? in the Indian Museum from Mundali, Jaunsar division, Dehra Dun, 9000 ft., 12. v. 1910 (A. D. Imm»).

288. Empis centralis, Brun.

Empis centralis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 26 (1913). $ . Head : occiput black, with black hairs above, and some white hairs below ; frons and face proportioned as in K. rostrata

2 A

354

but blackish, as are also the antennae, but the face, viewed from below, shows dark grey reflections ; palpi bright brownish yellow ; proboscis one and a half times the height of the head, the upper side brownish yellow. Thorax light brownish grey, with soft black pubescence, and bristly hairs laterally aud towards the hind margin; two narrow median well-separated brown stripes from anterior margin extending three-fourths of the distance to the scutellum ; a lateral broader stripe on each side, practically formed of three irregularly-shaped elongate spots (one on the shoulder, one in front of and one behind the pre-sutural depression), which are contiguous, the hind one attaining the posterior margin of the dorsum. Some bristles laterally and towards hind margin of mesoriotum, also four on the scutellum. Sides of thorax and metanotum light grey, dorsum of scutellum brownish grey. Abdomen darker grey, with short sparse black hairs ; posterior margins of segments more or less black ; genitalia elongate, con- colorous, much as in E. rostrata ; venter dark grey. Legs : cdxse dark grey, remainder of legs brownish yellow, extreme tips of femora blackish, and tips of tarsal joints more broadly blackish. All the legs with black pubescence ; posterior femora with blackish bristly hair above ; hind femora with scales ; posterior tibia? with blackish-brown scales on front and hind sides, as in E. rostrata, but much less strong and appai-ently confined to the basal half of the hind pair; on the hind side of the hind tibia? a row of moder- ately long, well-separated bristles. Wings very pale grey, nearly clear; anterior cross-vein directly over the middle of the discal cell ; halteres bright brownish yellow.

Length, 5 mm.

Described from one § in the Indian Museum from Mundali, Jaunsar division, Dehra Dun, 12. v. 1910.

It seems likely that this will prove to be the female of E. griseonic/ra.

289. Empis subcilipes, Emu.

Empis subcilipes, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 24 (1913).

? . Head ash-grey ; frons about one-fourth the width of the head ; some short stiff black hairs behind the eyes, and some soft white hairs on lower part of occiput ; antennae reddish brown, rather long, black-streaked on upper side and with a whitish shimmer on the inner side in certain lights; antennal style of moderate length ; proboscis nearly three times the height of the head, reddish brown, with the underside black. Thorax moderately dark ash-grey ; a broad brownish-grey median stripe from the anterior margin and a less distinct much shorter stripe on each side, not extending to the shoulders. Surface of dorsum with short setae more or less irregularly placed, but a distinct double row in the centre and a number towards each shoulder ; some stiff bristles above and in front of each wing and four on

EMPIS. 355

posterior margin of scutelluin, which latter with the metanotum are both light mouse-grey ; sides dark grey. Abdomen rather dark grey ; 1st segment with a little black and grey pubescence ; remainder of segments with scattered, very short pale hairs ; venter tawny ; genitalia very dark brown. Legs brownish yellow, coxae a little bluish grey on basal half ; femora more or less blackish in middle and on upper side generally ; tarsi mainly black. Upper and lower sides of four posterior femora with thick but short black ciliated hairs ; rest of legs finely black pubescent. Winys pale grey, veins brownish yellow on basal part, blackish distally. Anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell ; stigma imperceptible ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 5^ mm.

Described from a single 5 in the Indian Museum from Mundali, Jaunsar division, Dehra Dun Distr., 9000 ft., 12. v. 1910.

290. Empis rostrata, Brun. (PI. IV, figs. 9, 10.)

Empis rostrata, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. '25 (1913).

£ . Head with occiput grey, with a few bristly black hairs above ; frons and face concolorous grey, the former comparatively wide, with parallel edges, the latter much wider ; antennae black, 2nd joint very distinctly bright brownish yellow ; palpi bright brownish yellow, short ; proboscis two and three quarter times height of head ; reaching beyond base of abdomen, brownish yellow, a little blackish in middle on underside ; a few whitish hairs on underside of head. Thorax : domain (somewhat discoloured in the centre) light brownish grey, with a narrow median darker brown stripe and a wider one on each side not quite extended to anterior margin of thorax ; and laterally two brownish spots, one in front

Fig. 31. — Empis rostrata, Brim., wing.

of and one behind the presutural depression; sides, scutellum, and metanotum concolorous, or a little more nearly ash-grey. (Thorax denuded of bristles.) Abdomen light grey, brownish at base of each segment, the colour broader in the centre ; genitalia slender, cylindrical, terminated by two thin finger-like lamellae, ooncoloroiis; venter light grey, unmarked. Leys between light brown and tawny ; coxae a little grey-dusted and with a little soft whitish hairs ; tarsi more or less blackish on upper side ; extreme tips of femora very narrowly black; posterior femora with blackish- brown scales above and below ; posterior tibiae with blackish-brown scales, much thicker and larger on hind pair, on which they occur

356 EMPID.E.

below the metatarsi also, and are even continued in a less pro- nounced scale-like form on the underside of the remaining tarsal joints ; the legs generally with minute stiff black hairs. Wings brownish yellow ; anterior cross-vein at two-fifths of discal cell ; stigma practically imperceptible ; halteres brownish yellow.

Le&giht 7 mm.

Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Theog, Simla Distr., 8000 ft., 1. v. 1907 (Annandale).

291. Empis marginata, Brun.

Pachymeria marginata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xiii, p. 79 (1917).

$ . Head : frons ash-grey, with parallel sides ; ocellar triangle large, black ; palpi bright orange ; antennas all black, 3rd joint considerably broadened at base, style joints distinct ; occiput bluish grey, with bristles and stiff hairs. Thorax moderately dark grey, with a slight yellowish tinge ; two dark median well-separated narrow stripes from anterior margin to well beyond middle ; an outer stripe on each side, abbreviated, enlarged iuto an irregularly shaped and rather indefinite elongated large spot behind the suture ; dorsum covered with short black hairs, except on the stripes ; pleura3 concolorous, with black hairs ; a bunch of bristly hairs on each humerus ; two macrochaetae just in front of wing- base, and a fringe of long stiff black hairs on each side of the metanotum ; scutellum concolorous, with four marginal bristles. Abdomen moderately dark ash-grey ; hind margins of segments shining black, the colour extending forwards in centre nearly or quite to anterior margins ; 5th segment wholly grey ; 6th and 7th grey, shining black basally ; venter grey ; ovipositor black. Legs : coxae grey, tips brownish yellow ; femora in no way incrassatedy brownish orange, a brown streak on upper side of fore pair, and traces of such on middle pair ; tibiae and tarsi brownish yellow, tips of joints of latter black. Femora with soft black pubescence, longest on underside of posterior pairs ; hind pair with a row of eight or more bristles ; tibiae with soft black pubescence and longitudinal rows of bristles ; tarsi pubescent. Wings very pale yellowish grey, unmarked ; stigma absent ; anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 5 mm. (to tip of ovipositor).

Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum, taken between Kugri and Phagu, Simla Distr., 21. v. 1906 (Annandale and Kemp).

Very like the European femorata, F., which might quite likely occur in the Western Himalayas, but differing radically in t be- hind femora showing no trace of incrassatiou.

292. Empis elegans, Brun.

Empis eleyans, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 26 (1913).

5. Head black; antennae black ; palpi large, yellow ; proboscis twice the height of the head, bJack or blackish brown. Thorax

EMPIS. — HILARA. 357

shining black, including sides, scutellum, and metariotum ; wholly unmarked ; a little soft whitish hair ; distinct bristles apparently absent ; a few stiff pale hairs towards hind margin and on scu- tellum. Abdomen darker brown, nearly bare ; genitalia slender, normal, elongate, concolorous. Legs brownish yellow; hind coxaa, tips of tibia?, and all the tarsi blackish. Femora quite bare ; tibise with only a few short stiff hairs towards tips ; tarsi pubescent. Wings clear, highly iridescent; anterior cross-vein just before middle of discal cell ; stigma barely perceptible ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from two £ § in the Indian Museum from Mundali, 12. v. 1910, taken in company with E. griseonigra

293. Empis incouspicua, Brun.

Empis inconspicua, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 28 (1913).

c? . Head blackish ; antennae black ; palpi a little yellowish ; proboscis twice the height of the head, yellow above, black below. Thorax of an intermediate shade between light and dark grey, with comparatively long and rather stiff hairs ; four long stiff hairs on scutellum, which, with sides of thorax and metanotum, are concolorous, but lighter grey just below shoulders. Abdomen concolorous, rather broad and flat, with parallel sides and soft black pubescence. Genitalia blackish, with reddish-brown bisinuate terminal hooks; venter blackish. Leys uniformly dark brown, pubescent ; middle tibiae with four long stiff hairs on outer side ; hind tibiae with long hairs on hinder side. Wings pale grey; anterior cross-vein a little before | of discal cell ; stigma brownish, ill-defined, much elongated, and reaching the costal margin; halteres yellow.

Length, 2| mm.

Described from two <? 3 in the Indian Museum from Lucknow, 17. i. 1908 (type) and 9. ii. 1908.

Genus HILARA, Mg. Hilara, Meigen, Syst. Besch. iii, p. 1 (1822). GENOTYPE, Empis maura (Europe) ; by Curtis's designation.

Allied to both Empis and llhamphomyia.

Head in some species nearly as broad as the thorax, shorter than high. Eyes nearly always separated by a narrow irons in both sexes, but in some species contiguous in the male, in which case the upper facets are larger than the lower ones. Antennae 3-jointed, with distinct 2-joiuted style ; 1st and 2nd joints short, about as long as broad, bristly ; 3rd elongate-conical, bare, slightly compressed ; 1st joint of style very short, 2nd elongate, cylin- drical. Proboscis about as 'long as height of head or a little

shorter ; palpi one-jointed, slightly curving upwards. Tliorar rectangular, moderately arched. There are normally two strong straight bristles on upper side of prothorax ; disc of thorax with weak (lorso-central and acrosticlial hristles ; margin of dorsum generally with a humeral, post-humeral, one to three notopleural, one supra-alar, and a postalar bristle ; scutellum generally with four bristles ; metapleura bare. Abdomen slender, of 8 segments, cylindrical in male, with complex and rather uniform genitalia ; broader and more pointed apically in female. Legs of normal length and form ; fore metatarsus in the male nearly always more or less thickened ; in the female the hind tibiae not infrequently slightly compressed and curved ; occasionally the hind femora in both sexes, or in male only, obviously thickened and suddenly narrowed at apex. Legs moderately pubescent, characteristic bristles often present ; tibia3 generally with apical spurs. Wings as in Empis, except that the auxiliary vein distinctly reaches wing- margin ; fork of 3rd vein perhaps less widely open ; anal vein weaker, generally failing to attain wing-margin ; axillary lobe well developed.

Range. World-wide.

Life-history. Beling has described the early stages of several European species. They appear to resemble the ordinary Dipterous larvae and pupae, the former being amphipneustic, of twelve segments, including the head ; living in clamp earth or amongst decaying leaves. The larva hibernates as in Empis and Rliampliomyia. The perfect insects are general! v distributed, more commonly occurring in woods and fields arid near water. They prey on small Diptera or other soft insects, and have often been captured in copula still carrying their prey, which is enveloped in a little web, said to be spun from the mouth of the male.

Only four Indian species are described. Walker's bares is unknown to me and may possibly be identical with my compacta.

Table of Species.

Thorax blackish or greyish.

Body brown bares, Walk., p. 359.

Body blackish ; fore metatarsi relatively

smaller compacta, Brim., p. 358.

Body blackish grey ; fore metatarsi re- latively larger peshawarensis, sp. n., p. 360.

Thorax bright light yellowish brown nifithorax, Brun., p. 359.

294. Hilara compacta, Brun.

Hilara compacta, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 30 (1913).

c? . Head blackish ; frons rather narrow ; antennae with greyish reflections viewed from certain angles. Proboscis about as long as height of head, shining black above; lahium, which is shining yellowish, much longer than the hypopharynx and sharply pointed ; palpi large, nearly as long as proboscis, brownish,

JIILABA.

359

yellow, pubescent. Thorax wholly dark grey, including sides scutellum, and metanotum ; a little black pubescence, and some stronger hairs on dorsum laterally. Abdomen blackish, pubescent, sometimes pale below at base ; genitalia a little broader than the abdomen. Legs pale yellowish brown, pubescent; tibia with a row of longer stiff hairs on outer side ; front metatarsi much

Fig. 32. — Hilara compacta, Brim., wing.

thickened, as wide as the tibiae, and longer than the remaining fore tarsal joints ; posterior metatarsi normal, not so long as the remaining tarsal joints. Wings pale grey; stigma elongate, pale brownish, ill-defined ; halteres dirty brownish yellow.

Length, barely 2£ mm.

Described from three (J d1 in the Indian Museum from Simla, 16. v. 1909 (type) and 9. v. 1909 (Annandale).

295. Hilara bares, Walk.

Hilara bares, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii, p. 491 (1849).

" Body brown, clothed with short black hairs ; eyes dark red ; feelers and mouth black ; breast hoary ; legs tawny, clothed with short black hairs ; feet brown : wings light brown, darker for one-third of the length along the fore-border ; wing-ribs and veins piceous; poisers brown. Length of the body, ]| line; of the wings, 3 lines.

" East India. Presented by Capt. Parry."

Type in the British Museum.

296. Hilara rufithorax, Brun.

Empimorpha rufithorax; Brunetti, Ilec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 30 (1913).

S . Head : occiput, f rons, which is moderately wide with parallel linear edges, and face all black, with a few black bristles, the latter with a pair of long bristly hairs; vertex with three distinct large reddish ocelli, with a pair of strong divaricate bristles between the upper ones. Antenna? yellow ; 3rd joint elongate onion-shaped, with a long closely pubescent black arista, ending in a small bare black pointed bristle ; the iirst two antennal joints with some short bristles near their tips. Proboscis about as long as the height of the head, the basal half yellowish, the apical half blackish ; palpi very long, longer than proboscis, some- what broadened and flattened at the tips, with a few yellowish hairs. Thorax bright light yellowish brown, with three black dorsal stripes, of which the median one is of moderate width, the

360 EMPTDjE.

outer ones are broad enough to extend over the lateral margins, and all three attain the anterior margin of the dorsum ; a few bristly hairs about the roots of the wings and much smaller ones on the dorsal stripes ; sides a little more yellowish than the dorsum, with which latter the scutellum and metanotum are con- colorous, the scutellum bearing a few stiff black hairs on the hind margin ; the metanotum a little dusky in the centre. Abdomen dark blackish brown, with black pubescence ; genital organs dark grey, with a little pubescence ; venter similar to dorsal side of abdomen. Legs: coxae and femora yellowish ; tibiae dark brownish yellow, tarsi dark brown ; front metatarsi considerably widened ; all the le»s shortly pubescent ; tibiae with txvo rows of five or six long stiff hairs. Wings pale brown ; stigma vague, very elongate, a little darker brown ; halteres yellowish brown.

Length i nearly 4 mm. .

Described from a single <5 in the Indian Museum taken by me at Darjiling, 29. v. 1910, on the hillside.

297. Hilara peshawarensis, sp. nov.

c? ?. Whole insect blackish grey. Head: proboscis shining black, as long as height of head, with stiff hairs ; antennae robust, microscopically grey pubescent; palpi rather long, with moderately long bristly hairs. Thorax with almost microscopic yellowish-grey tomentum, which is more conspicuous on hinder part and on scutellum, the latter with four long marginal bristles. Abdomen with the segments more or less microscopically grey-dusted (in good specimens) ; some grey pubescence with longer bristly hairs on hind margins of segments ; genitalia knob-like, rather large, concolorous, pubescent. Legs chestnut-brown, varying a little in colour, pubescent ; fore metatarsus in $ verv large, oval, much larger proportionately than in //. compacta ; pubescence on front tibiae becoming longer towards tip ; knees yellowish ; hind tibiae in $ considerably, though not conspicuously, thickened except at base. Wings pale grey, iridescent, stigmatic region brownish ; stigma darker brown, elongate, with ill-defined edges.

Length, 3 mm.

Described from a series of both sexes from Peshawar, N.W. India, 16. hi. 1913 (Hoivlett).

Type rf and $ sent to British Museum, cotype c? £ in Indian Museum and my collection.

Genus HOWLETTIA, Brun. Hoiclettia, Erunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 23 (1913). GENOTYPE, Hoivlettia favipes, Brun.

A genus of anomalous position, allied to the EMPIRE, OCTDEO- MIIN.E, and TACHYDHOMIIXJE (Platypalpus).

$ . Head with eyes separated above by a moderately broad frons and only very uarrowlv separated below antennae. Antenna)

HOWLETTIA. 361

of three distinct joints; first two short, subequal; 3rd shortly conical, with a long terminal arista. Proboscis about equal to height of head, perpendicular ; palpi halt' as long as proboscis or rather longer, quite broad. Thorax normally arched. Abdomen rather longer than thorax, somewhat compressed. Legs rather long and slender ; fore coxae slightly longer than posterior pairs ; middle femora somewhat incrassated ; all tarsi longer than tibiae. Wings with auxiliary vein faint and incomplete; 1st longitudinal vein rather further from costa than usual, ending beyond middle of wing ; 2nd vein beginning at one-fourth of wing, ending towards tip of costa ; 3rd vein beginning at middle of wing ; anterior cross-vein just beyond origin of 3rd vein, which latter ends at about wing-tip ; 4th vein nearly straight, ending just below wing-tip ; 5th nearly straight ; 6th (anal) very long, com- plete to wing- border. Posterior cross-vein meeting 4th vein at spot where anterior cross-vein meets it, but not in the same straight line ; anal cross-vein nearly perpendicular to anal vein ; 2nd basal cell slightly longer than 1st, apex pointed; anal cell barely half as long as 2nd basal ; discal cell absent, c? unknown.

Range. Only the type-species known.

The genus is named after Mr. F. M. Howlett, of the Agricul- tural Research Institute at Pusa.

298. Howlettia flavipes, Brim.

Hoivlettiajlavipes, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mtis. ix, p. 23 (1913).

$ . Head blackish ; proboscis dark brown ; palpi brownish yellow ; ocellar triangle rather prominent. Ihorax shining black, with very short whitish pubescence towards margins of dorsuin ; sides of thorax and dorsum of scutellum slightly grey- dusted ; a few weak prealar bristly hairs. Abdomen black, a little shining; venter brownish yellow, with a little very short whitish pubescence. Legs brownish yellow, minutely pubescent, middle femora a little incrassated, with a row of very short bristles on underside ; tarsi blackish. Wings clear, iridescent ; venation in accordance with generic description ; halteres dull brownish yellow.

Length, 2| mrn.

Described from a single $ in the Pusa collection, now sent to the British Museum, from Mussoorie, ix. 1906 (Hawlett).

This genus is left in the subfamily EMPIN^ for the present, but it is distinctly anomalous, and does not exactly fit into any sub- family. The distinctly though only moderately incrassated middle femora suggest the TACHYDROMIIN.E, from which the very distinct anal cell and complete anal vein combined separate it. The absence of the discal cell makes it abnormal in EM PIN-*:. It has affinities with the OCYDROMIIX^: in the less distinct anal angle of the wing, though it is by no means cuneiform, also in the anal cross-vein being perpendicular to the anal vein.

302

Subfamily OCYDROMIIN^.

Head : eyes in male contiguous, in female contiguous or not, rarely narrowly separated in both sexes. Proboscis generally shorter than head, if long, projecting directly or obliquely for- wards ; palpi one-jointed. Antennae 3-jointed, with terminal arista or 2-joiuted style, which latter may be aristiform. Thorax more or less humped; metapleura bare or with short hairs. Wings with axillary lobe well developed (except in Leptopeza) ; 3rd longitudinal vein simple ; 4th simple or forked. Discal cell present ; three or four posterior cells ; basal cells sub- equal, anal cell not longer than 2nd basal. Lower branch of 5th longitudinal vein meeting anal vein parallel with, perpendicular to, or at an angle of 45° to hind margin of wing, making anal cell truncate at tip or the anterior margin of it the longer ; anal vein of varying length ; squamae very small or absent. »

This subfamily comprises smaller and more delicate species, often of pale colour, of which the short proboscis is a principal feature.

Genus LEPTOPEZA, Lemtopcza, Macquart, Soc. Sci. Lille, p. 143 (1827) (emend.}. GENOTYPE, Ocydromiaflavipest Mg. (Europe).

Head almost as broad a.s thorax ; eyes occupying whole front of head, contiguous in both sexes, rarely otherwise ; * facets of uniform size. Antennae 3-jointed ; first two short, bristly ; 3rd, though narrowed slightly at base, conical, bearing a long rather thickened bare arista joined to tip of 3rd by a minute joint. Epistome very narrow, -the eyes reaching the mouth-opening ; proboscis Aery short. Thorax rectangular, strongly arched, with minute discal bristles ; on the margin generally a notopleural, postalar, and sometimes a supra-alar bristle, with other small bristles or bristly hairs; scutellum with two or more marginal bristles or stiff hairs ; metapleura with short fine hairs. Abdomen slender, 8th segment small or hidden. Genitalia in male with asymmetrical parts ;, in female forming a long, compressed, sword- shaped ovipositor. Leys rather long and slender, hind pair longest ; hind tibia? sometimes slightly thickened towards apex ; sol't pubescence and various bristles on the legs. Wings with auxiliary vein abbreviated, not reaching margin ; 3rd vein simple ; anterior fork of upper branch of -4th vein indistinct or absent; lower branch of eth vein strongly recurrent, parallel with hind margin of wing ; anal vein shortened.

Range. Europe, India, ]STorth Africa, Cape Horn, North America, Australia.

Life-history unknown.

* A narrow frons above in at least one European species (sph-enopiera), yet the eyes contiguous below antenna-.

LEPTOPEZA. 363

299. Leptopeza'vitripennis, Bnm. (PI. IV, figs. 12, 13.)

Leptopeza vitripennis, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 31 (1913).

c? $ . Head blackish ; proboscis horizontal, as long as length of bead ; shining black ; palpi short, porrect, black ; antennae with elongate conical 3rd joint, arista long, black. Thorax very highly arched, shining black in middle of dorsum, with short whftish hairs laterally. Abdomen shining black, with short whitish pubescence; venter similar. Legs rather pale pitch-brown, a little pubescent. Wings very clear and iridescent ; halteres black.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from a type d1 from Oncha Gaon, Naina Tal Distr., 1-6. v. 1907, and a type $ and a second $ from Eaugoon, 24. ii. 1908 (Annandale).

Types in the Indian Museum.

Subfamily IIEMERODROMIIN^E.

Head with eyes separated in both sexes, frons sometimes nar- rower in d1 ; eyes sometimes contiguous below; when this is so, frontal facets larger than the others ; eyes sometimes pubescent. Proboscis short, not longer than height of head ; palpi 1- or (indistinctly) 2-jointed. Antenna? 3-jointed, with, in some genera, a 2-joiuted style which may be aristiform ; one or two excep- tions occur. Thorax longer than broad, but slightly arched ; metapleura bare, with short hairs or a few bristles. 'Leys with fore coxae always lengthened, sometimes about as long as femora, always longer than posterior coxae. Fore femora often incrassate and fore legs often raptorial. Wings cuneiform at base, the axillary lobe being greatly reduced or absent ; 3rd longitudinal vein simple or forked ; 4th vein forked ; lower branch of 5th vein may be distinctly recurrent, or placed perpendicularly to hind margin of wing, or absent. Four posterior cells ; discal cell present or absent ; basal cells more or less subequal ; anal cell longer or shorter than 2nd basal cell, or absent; anal vein of varying length or absent ; squarme absent.

The cuneiform wings and much elongated fore coxae will easily distinguish members of this subfamily. Many of the yellowish forms of EMPLOY belong to it.

Table of Genera.

1. Third longitudinal vein forked ........ 2. Tp- 367.

Third longitudinal vein simple ........ PHYLT.ODJIOMIA, /«'tt..

2. A cross-vein between 2nd and 3rd veins. . Doi.iCHOCEi'HALA.Macq., No such cross-vein, .................. 3. I p. 3/ 0.

3. Discal cell absent .................... MICKODIIOMIA, Big.,

Discal cell present .................... 4. [p. 366.

4. Proboscis thick, shorter than height of

hea(l ............................ CMNOCEHA, Mg., p. 364.

Proboscis thin, about ns long as height [p. 371.

of head . ................... TRICHOPKZA, Rond.,

364

Genus CLINOCERA, Mg.

Clinocera, Meigen, lllig. Mag. ii, p. 271 (1803). Bydmdromia, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt, ii, p. 658 (1835). Paramesia, Macquart (nee Steph. 1829), loc. tit. p. 656 (1835).

GENOTYPE, Clinocera nigra, Mg.

Head usually broader than long, nearly or quite as long as thorax ; epistome more or less elongated downwards ; eyes well separated in both sexes, shortly and densely pubescent, facets of uniform size. Proboscis very short and thick; palpi 1-jointed or indistinctly 2-jointed, short, slightly clavate at tip. Antennae inserted above middle of head, 3-jointecl ; 1st joint cup-shaped, 2nd subglobular, bristly, both short ; 3rd onion-shaped, about as long as first two together, with a thick styliform pubescent arista articulated to tip of 3rd joint by a microscopic joint. Thorat a little longer than broad, rectangular, moderately arched. A humeral (occasionally more than one), a post-humeral, one or two notopleural, a supra-alar, and postalar bristles present ; scutelltim with two long apical bristles, rarely more ; metapleura with some hairs. Abdomen elongate, slender, the complex male genitalia concealing the reduced 7th and 8th segments ; in female abdomen more pointed. Leys long and slender, fore coxae not greatly elongated ; front femora often thickened at base and with bristles below ; legs shortly pubescent. Wings somewhat lengthened ; auxiliary vein rather short but reaching margin ; 1st longitudinal vein ending at about middle of wing ; 2nd vein sometimes wavy — in some species with a sudden loop downwards enclosing the stigma; 3rd vein forked; discal cell present, varying in length, discal end pointed or truncate ; lower branch of 5th vein strongly recurrent, parallel with hind margin of wing ; anal cell with distal end bluntly pointed or rounded ; anal vein abbreviated. Alula absent ; alar squamula very small.

llanye. Europe, Siberia, India, North America.

Life-history unknown ; probably aquatic in larval state.

This genus has a facies distinguishing it easily from other EMPIDJE, and with some resemblance to some water-haunting DoLicnopomD^. The elongate body and proportionately longer legs, the pubescent eyes and rather long wings, the usually greyish colour with lighter parts, and the not infrequently spotted wings, give them a characteristic appearance. All are found in the neighbourhood of water, running streams, or stagnant pools, on the surface of which most species appear capable of running with ease.

The European species of Clinocera may be fairly satisfactorily grouped into several subgeuera, mostly set up by Mik; but as only two species are yet known from the Orient, of which at least one (fluviatilis) comes in Clinocera, s. sir., these subdivisions may be ignored here.

CLINOCERA. 365

The two Indian species differ as follows : —

Brownish-grey species, with dark brownish-grey legs ;

length, 3 mm flmiatilis, Brtm.

Blackish-grey thorax, dark brown abdomen, brownish- yellow legs ; length, 2 mm obscura, Brun.

800. Clinocera fluviatilis, Brun.

Clinocera fluviatilis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 34 (1913).

c? . Head brownish grey, with isolated black bristles on the occiput and a few on the frons; frontal tubercle bearing two divergent bristles. Antennae black ; 1st and 2nd joints subequal ; 3rd onion-shaped, with moderately long, nearly bare arista. Pro- boscis and palpi blackish, both short. Thorax very dark brownish grey, nearly black, a whitish-grey stripe on the sides from just below the shoulder to as far as below the ends of the transverse

Fig. 33. — Clinocera fluviatilis, Brun., and antenna.

suture ; ventral part of thorax also whitish grey. Dorsum bearing several isolated bristles (many of these are broken off), of which one is present on the shoulder, and one towards, but not at the hinder corner ; scutellum with two long bristles. Abdomen dark grey, normally pubescent. Genitalia large, consisting of a ventral dark grey plate, a large concave lower piece, and a pair of claspers above, these latter constituted of a large oval basal concolorous joint and an elongate brownish-yellow horny bifid second joint : the whole of the genitalia a little pubescent. Legs long and slender, uniformly dark brownish grey, practically bare. Wings very pale grey. The 3rd longitudinal vein forked beyond three- fourths of its length, the branches approximate to one another and parallel ; anterior cross-vein before middle of discal cell, and at about one-third the length of the wing; branches of upper branch of 4th longitudinal vein issuing close together from discal cell, thence gradually diverging ; the discal cell much longer on its anterior border than its posterior one; lower branch of 4th vein nearly straight, rather more strongly developed ; 2nd basal cell short, lying against the middle third of the upper basal cell ;

366

anal cell barely longer than 2nd basal; 6th vein very short. Halteres : stein yellow, clubs dark grey.

Length, 3 ram. ; wing, 4 mm.

Described from a single specimen from Bhowali, Kumaon Distr., 12. vi. 1910 (Imms), on stones on banks of stream.

A specimen which probably belongs to this species, but showing a discrepancy in the shape of the discal cell, is amongst the Diptera collected by Mr. Kemp on the Abor Expedition.

301. Clinocera obscura, Bnm.

Clinocera obscura, Brunetti, llec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 34 (1913).

cJ . Head blackish grey, some stiff hairs on occiput and frons, which latter is very broad. Proboscis short, half the height of the head, shining black, with a much swollen apical part (this latter in one specimen partly brownish yellow) ; palpi very small, brownish yellow. Antenna! 3rd joint elongate oval, with long black arista. Thorax brownish grey, including scutellum ; sides and metauotum bluish ash-grey ; some dorso-central and lateral bristly hairs. Abdomen dark brown, softly pubescent. Genitalia extremely long and conspicuous, blackish, with a few pale hairs, egg-shaped, convex, bent under the venter, the narrower end pointing towards the base of the abdomen ; posteriorly (i. e. from the broader end) project some yellowish filamentous appendages. Legs brownish yellow ; coxae ash-grey, especially the posterior pairs ; tarsi a little darker. Fore femora with a few soft pale longer hairs; remainder of legs microscopically pubescent. Wings very pale grey, wholly unmarked, highly iridescent; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from two rf c? in the Indian Museum from Simla, 10. v. 1909 (Annandale),

Genus MICRODROMIA, Big.

Mia-odromya, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (3) v, p. 503 (1857) (emend.).

GENOITPE, Tachydromia oratorio, Fin. (Europe).

This genus differs from Clinocera by the fore coxse being nearly as long as the femora, the latter being considerably thickened. Head elongate, ovate ; eyes more elongate than in Clinocera and sometimes contiguous below the antennae ; arista un jointed ; proboscis about as long as height of head. Thorax with the major bristles apparently variable ; metapleura bare. Legs with fore coxae from rather shorter than to nearly as long as femora ; fore femora much thickened, with two rows of short spines below, and a row of long bristles on each side ; fore tibia? curved at base, with a row of short spines on inner side and a long apical spine ; posterior tibiae without apical spur. Winys with subcostal vein short; no discal or anal cell ; 3rd vein forked; lower branch

MICEODROMIA. — PHYLLODUOMIA. 367

of 5tli longitudinal vein absent or abortive; anal vein generally absent ; no stigma.

Range. Europe, Siberia, India, Java, North America, Chile.

Life-history. The metamorphoses are known of pnec'itoria, Eln., a European species of Jfemerodromia, of which Microdromia is generally regarded as a subgenus, and Brocher has described and figured them.* The larva lives in mud in streamlets, the pupa being also aquatic.

The perfect insects frequent the borders of woods and lakes, or humid places, generally on low herbage and in grass.

302. Microdromia dorsalis, Brun.

Chelipoda dorsalis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 33 (1913).

c? $ . Head blackish ; proboscis pale yellowish, very stout at the base, the upper piece prolonged into a long hard shining rostrum ; antennas wholly pale yellowish white. Thorax brownish yellow ; dorsuin black or dark bro\vn, the colour extending more or less over the sides ; scutellum and metanotum concolorous with dorsum. Abdomen brownish yellow ; the dorsum of each segment black, thus forming a continuous black stripe from base to tip, but the hind borders of some of the segments escape the black colour ; venter brownish yellow. Geniralia in <S large, whoHy black, rather complex, comprising at least a pair of claspers, which are stout at the base and with flexible finger-like appendages ; also a long narrow ventral style. ^f(/s very pale yellow ; fore femora with a row of very short microscopic spines, fore tibia3 possessing two such rows ; the fore femora also have a row of long stiff bristly hairs on the underside and two still longer ones below near the base. Winr/s clear, veins brown ; halteres pale brownish yellow.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from three specimens in the Indian Museum, taken at the edge of a small stream at Barogh, Simla Hills, 5000 ft., 10. v. 1910 (Annandale).

Genus PHYLLODROMIA, Zett.

P/it/llodromia, Zetterstedt, Isis, 1837, p. 31. Chiromantis, Kondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 148 (18o6). Thamnodromia, Mik, Wien. Knt. Zeitg. v, p. 278 (1880). Litanomyiu, Melander, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. xxviii, p. 231 (1902).

GENOTYPE uncertain.t

Head rather elongate and flattened, broader than thorax : eyes large, elongate, separated in both sexes, subcontiguous below

* Ann. de Biologie Lacustre, iv, p. 44, ligs. 1, 2 (1909).

t There seems some obscurity as to the genotypes of CheUpoda and J'hyllodromia, which it is impossible to clear up here owing to the " Mom. Soc. Sci. Lille" not being available in India. Rondani in 1856 selected /<://>/"< melanocepliala, F., as type of Phyllodromia, the same species which Coquillett chose as type of Chelipoda in 1910.

368 EMPID.E.

antennae, with facets of uniform size ; proboscis short, thick, vertical ; palpi one-jointed. Antennae inserted a little below the middle, 3-jointed ; basal joints short; 3rd elongate, pointed, with long terminal arista, attached by means of a minute joint. Thorax rectangular, moderately arched ; prothorax forming a short neck. A few uniserial dorso-central bristles ; a notopleural and supra- alar bristle present ; scutellum with two bristles ; metapleura with a few bristles. Abdomen with last two segments in male reduced, hidden by the genitalia, which latter are rather large ; abdomen in female more pointed, genitalia normal. Legs as in Clielipoda • fore coxae nearly as long as fore femora. Wings in venation and shape as in Chelipoda; discal cell present; anal angle nob developed.

Range. Europe, India, N. America, Argentina.

Life-history unknown. The images frequent grass and damp meadows.

Phyllodromia, Zstt., differs from Chelipoda, Macq., practically only in the presence of the discal cell, and is ranked as a sub- genus of the latter in the Kertes/ Catalogue ; but if the character is constant one way or the other in all tlie species, there seems no reason why both should not be admitted to generic rank. My flavida was placed in Chelipoda on the broader view of the genus, but must now be transferred to Phyllodromia, with my indica, the latter having been described under Litanomyia, which is now considered synonymous with Zetterstedt's genus.

P. flavida differs from indica by the thorax being mainly brownish yellow as opposed to blackish grey.

303. Phyllodromia flavida, Bnm. (PI. IV, figs. 14, 15.) Chelipoda flavida, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 32 (1913).

d1 $ . Head yellowish ; three ocelli on the black vertical triangle, which also carries two divaricate long bristles : frons moderately broad; occiput with four long curved bristles placed equidis- tantly ; seen from behind, the occiput has a greyish tinge, as has sometimes the frons also; eyes black, rounded, almost contiguous immediately below the antennae for a short space, the face broadening below ; the latter, seen from above, appears silvery white ; proboscis very short, half the height of the head, conical, sharply pointed, yellowish, the upper part (hypopharyux) narrow, hard, shining. .First two antennal joints yellowish, with some short bristles at the tips of each ; 3rd joint dark br.mvn, elongate onion-shaped, with long brown microscopically pubescent arista. Thorax very variable, generally brownish yellow, with more or less blackish colour, either in the form of a dorsal stripe, a lateral ir- regular and somewhat indistinct border, or the posterior part of the dorsum more or less blackish; sides generally lighter, in some speci- mens attaining a pinkish-fawn colour. Abdomen variable, brownish yellow, more or less blackish in part or wholly ; venter brownish

PHYLLODROMIA. 369

yellow ; genitalia small, concolorous. Tip of abdomen in c? stump-like; in ? tapering, the two terminal lamella? pale yellowish. Legs yellowish or pale yellow ; front coxae narrow, cylindrical, nearly as long as the femora, the latter slightly brownish at tips and considerably iucrassated, with two yellow

Fig. 34. — Phyllodromia flavida, Brun.

bristles near the base on the underside and a row there also of microscopic spines ; posterior coxae and femora of normal size, the former a little brownish, as are also the tips of the tarsi. Wings very pale grey, veins black ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from several specimens in the Indian Museum from Paresnath, 4000-4300 ft., Chota Nagpur, 9-13. iv. 1909 (Annan- dale), including type 3 (9. iv. 1909) ; Dawna Hills, 2000-3000 ft., 2.iii. 1908, type $ (Annandale) ; Darjiling, 28. v. 1909 (Brunctti).

The Pai'esnath specimens were taken on stones, where they were in considerable numbers hidden in undergrowth at the edge of a spring.

304. Phyllodromia indica, Brun. (PI. IV, figs. 16-18.)

Litanomyia indica, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 36 (1913). <S . Head black ; antennae large, the 1st and 2nd joints yellowish ; 3rd black, oblongo-conical, cup-shaped at bottom, and furnished with a long arista ; face whitish grey ; occiput and underside of head dark grey, the lower part of head projecting forward some- what ; proboscis short, pointed, and slightly curved. Thorax nearly as long as abdomen, oblongo-ovate, blackish grey, mode- rately shining. Three conspicuous bristles towards each side,

370 EMPJDJE.

one on the shoulder, one towards the hind corner of the dorsum, and one about equidistantly between these two, this middle pah- being rather closer to each other (that is, to the middle line of the thorax) than the others are, yet still a considerable distance apart; there is also one on the side of the thorax, in front of the wing ; scutellum with two bristles. Abdomen dark brown, almost devoid of pubescence. Legs wholly pale yellow ; fore femora much enlarged, fore coxae and fore tibiae each very slightly longer than the fore femora, the latter being spiny and bristly below ; hind tibiae very slightly enlarged, at the tip only. Wings very pale grey, a little yellowish towards base and costa, unmarked.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from one $ in the Indian Museum taken by me at Darjiling, 7000 ft., 29. v. 1910, on the hillside, in mixed herbage.

Genus DOLICHOCEPHALA, Macq.

DolichocepJiala, Macquart, Soc. Sci. Lille, p. 147 (1823).

Ardoptera, Macquart, op. cit. p. 105 (1827).

Leptosceles, Ilaliday, Ent. Month. Mag. i, p. 160 (1833).

GENOTYPE, Tachydromia irrorata, Yin. (as maculata, Macq.) (Europe).

.Head with epistome produced downwards, pointed ; eyes rather large, somewhat elongate, widely separated in both sexes, with dense short pubescence ; proboscis short, thick ; palpi 1-jointed. Antennae 3-jointed, placed just above "middle of head, all the joints short and minutely pubescent ; 2nd with bristles ; 3rd rounded, somewhat disciform, with long, curved, rather thickened arista, which possesses a minute ring-like basal joint. Thorax rather elongate, with rounded anterior angles, moderately arched. Uni- serial dorso-central bristles, a humeral, post-humeral, notopleural, and postalar bristle present, and two scutellar bristles ; metapleura bare. Abdomen 8-segmented ; the two anal segments reduced and partly concealed by the male genitalia; abdomen in female pointed. Legs slender; fore coxae slightly elongated, about half as long as femora. Legs minutely pubescent ; tibia? without spurs ; two pulvilli and a small linear bristle-bearing empodium. Wings with auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins short, the former reaching the margin ; 2nd vein long ; 3rd vein forked, the upper branch united to 2nd vein towards its tip ; lower branch of 5th vein strongly recurrent, almost immediately meeting anal vein (which is very abbreviated, not nearly reaching wing-margin), making anal cell very short and truncate. Dorsal cell very elon- gate, 2nd basal cell very short, much shorter than 1st basal and subequal to anal cell ; three submarginal, four posterior cells ; hind angle of wing quite reduced, making it almost cuneiform. Ground- colour of wing brown, with hyaline spots. Range. Europe, India, North America.

A limited genus of small delicate Empids, easily recognised by the brown wings with pale spots.

DOLICIIOCEPHALA. — TRICIIOPEZA. 371

305. Dolicliocephala septemnotata, Brun. (PI. IV, figs. 19-21.)

DolicJiocephala septemnotata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 35 (1913).

<5 . Head blackish ; frous broad, some stiff hairs on both frous and occiput ; epistome (the whole of the head below the eyes) conical, short, half the height of the rest of the head. Antennae black ; 3rd joint conical, with long black thick arista, microscopi- cally pubescent ; no palpi apparent. Thorax and abdomen wholly black, moderately shining, practically bare, except for a few stiff hairs laterally on the former ; genitalia small, rounded, simple. Legs pale yellowish, upper side of fore femora and tips of tarsi a little brownish. Wings very pale brown, with seven very distinct moderate-sized circular pale spots; six of these are placed in two parallel rows of three in each ; the upper row just above the 3rd longitudinal vein, the lower row a little above the hind margin of the wing, so that the spots appear like three pairs situated longi- tudinally ; the 1st pair (i. e, the basal spots of both rows) is situated a little before the middle of the wing ; the 2nd pair a little beyond the middle ; the 3rd pair half-way between the 2nd pair and the wing-tip, the upper spot being in the middle of the submarginal cell ; of the spots in the longer row, the first is placed a little before, the second a little beyond the lower branch of the 5th longitudinal vein ; the third is in the middle of the 2nd posterior cell ; the seventh spot is near the wing-tip, at the end of the 1st posterior cell ; the 3rd, 4th, and 5th longi- tudinal veins are all wavy, the 3rd is forked at two-thirds the length of the wing, the subriiarginal cell narrowed in the middle, with the marginal cross-vein just beyond the cell's base, uniting it to the 2nd longitudinal vein just before its tip ; the 4th longi- tudinal vein, although wavy, is mainly in a straight line, and divides the wing into nearly equal parts, ending just below the wing-tip ; anterior cross-vein very near base of wing ; posterior cross-vein at middle of wing, joining the upper branch of the widely-forked 5th vein soon after the furcation ; anal cell oblong, very short : halteres brownish yellow.

Lenytli, 1 1 mm.

Described from one d in the Indian Museum from Simla, 10. v. 1909 (Annandale).

Genus TRICHOPEZA, Itond.

Tricopeza, Rondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 150 (1856) (emend.). GENOTYPE, Brachijstoma lonyicornis, Mg. (Europe) ; by original designation.

Head a little broader than long, slightly broader than thorax ; eyes occupying whole front of head, shortly pubescent, separated above antenna in both sexes, contiguous below for some distance, frontal facets in both sexes enlarged. Proboscis thin, nearly

2u2

372 EMPID;E.

as long as head, directed downwards ; palpi 1 -jointed, long, clavate, with long hairs. Antennae placed above middle line of head, 3-jointed; 1st elongate, cylindrical, compressed at base; 2nd subglobular ; 3rd three times as long as first two together, suddenly narrowing before one-fourth of its length and thence gradually tapering to a point ; no style or arista.* Thorax rectangular, considerably arched. Some weak dorso-central bristles ; a humeral, post-humeral, larger and smaller notopleural, supra-alar and postalar bristles present; scutellum with two bristles; metapleura bare. Abdomen rather long and slender, 8-segmented ; the 7th and 8th segments in the male reduced, covered by the genitalia, which latter are complex, somewhat resembling those of Hilara. Abdomen in female rather thick at apex, with only six obvious segments, the 7th being peculiarly enlarged and the 8th concealed ; ovipositor small. Legs long and slender; fore coxa3 only slightly elongated; fore femora slightly thickened, with bristles below ; posterior tibia? with long bristles and small apical spurs. Wings with auxiliary vein not reaching margin ; 3rd vein forked ; discal cell present ; lower branch of 5th vein recurrent, parallel with hind margin of wing.

Range. Besides my fusca the only other known species is longicornis, Mg., of Europe.

Life-history unknown.

306. Trichopeza fusca, Brun.

Trichopeza fusca, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 31 (1913).

$ . Head blackish, eyes subcontiguous. Antenna? with very long cylindrical 1st joint, short large subglobular 2nd joint, and very elongate conical 3rd joint, which has a very long thick curved minutely pubescent style. Thorax dark brown, lighter at the sides ; scutellum and metanotum concolcrous with dorsum. Abdomen dark brown, but a little lighter than the thorax ; very sparsely pubescent; genitalia inconspicuous; venter brownish yellow. Legs long and slender, uniformly pale yellowish, except the blackish tarsi. Fore coxa? twice as long as the others, but one-third the length of the fore femora ; all the femora approxi- mately equal in length ; tibia? very little shorter than femora,, hind pair a little incrassated at the tips ; tarsi about as long as tibiae, blackish. All the femora possess a few isolated long stiff hairs on the underside, and the middle femora have one on the front side near the tip ; all the tibia? with one such stiff hair on outer side a little before the first third of the length, and a few shorter ones on hinder side of middle tibia?, also a single one

* Lundbeck describes the 3rd joint as tapering into an arista, stating that a microscope fails to show any articulation. In such a case a simple joint only must be recognised.

TRICHOPEZA. 373

on hinder side of hind tibiae at about one-third of the length. Wings very pale grey, very iridescent; 3rd longitudinal vein widely forked beyond half its length ; prongs of upper branch of 4th vein issuing wide apart from the discal cell, the latter being

Fig. 35. — TricJiopezafusca, Brun.

large, long, pointed basally, about equal in length to 2nd posterior cell; 1st basal cell a little longer than 2nd, which latter is about as long as anal cell ; halteres yellow.

Length, 3 mm. ; wing, 4| mm.

Described from a unique $ in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 25. iii. 1910 (Gravely}.

The peculiar nature of the antennae ought easily to distinguish this species from all other Indian EMPLOY.

Subfamily TACHYDROMIIN^l.

Head with eyes more variable than in the other subfamilies, generally separated above the antennae in both sexes ; below they may be contiguous or separated ; when contiguous below, the frontal facets may or may not be larger than the others ; in some genera the eyes microscopically pubescent. Proboscis short, sometimes curved ; palpi 1-jointed. Antennae 3-jointed, with a styliform arista of one or two joints. Thorax often nearly as broad as long ; metapleura bare, or with very short hairs. Legs of varying lengths ; sometimes the fore femora or four anterior femora thickened, in which case the four anterior legs are raptorial ; middle tibiae sometimes with a spine. Winr/s with axillary lobe more or less developed ; 3rd and 4th longitudinal veins simple ; three posterior cells ; no discal cell ; lower branch of 5th vein present or absent ; basal cells rather large, subequal

374 EMPIDJE.

or the 2nd the longer ; anal cell normally absent, when present shorter than basal cells and anal vein weak, usually accompanied by the character of incrassated middle femora ; anal vein weak or absent ; squamae absent.

This subfamily is distinguished by the (normal) absence of the anal vein, or, when it is present, by the thickened middle femora. Some genera with shortened abdomens and thick-set bodies are included here. Many species are of yellow or brown shades of colour.

Table of Genera. '1. Anal cell absent 2.

Anal cell normally present, sometimes feeble [p. 374.

or incomplete TACHYDROMIA, Mg.,

2. A portion of the lower branch of the 5th.

longitudinal vein present; anal (6th) vein [p. 378.

absent TACHYPKZA, Mg., %

Lower branch of 5th vein, also anal vein, entirely absent 3.

3. Legs short and robust; abdomen short and

broad ; 3rd antennal joint short, ovate DRAPETIS, Mg., p. 380.

Legs slender ; abdomen more elongate, rela- tively less broad; 3rd antennal joint [p. 384.

elongate, conical ELAPHROPEZA, Macq.,

Genus TACHYDROMIA, Mg.

Tachydromia, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 269 (1803).

Sicus, Latreille (nee Scop. 1763), Precis Caract. Gen. Ins. xiv, p. 158

(1796).

Phoroxypha, Rondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 146 (1856). Platypalptis, Macquart, Soc. Sci. Lille, p. 92 (1827). Brevios, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 22 (1913).

GENOTYPE, TacJiydromia connexa, Mg. (as cimicoides, F.) (Europe) ; by designation of Coquillett (1903).

Head rounded, as broad as thorax or nearly so, a little higher than broad ; eyes rather elongate, separated in both sexes by a rather narrow frons, subcontiguous below antennae, facets of uniform size. Proboscis short, vertical ; palpi 1-jointed, of variable size. Antennae inserted about middle of head, 3-jointed ; 1st very short, subcylindrical ; 2nd somewhat rounded, bristly towards tip ; 3rd considerably elongate, sometimes more than twice as long as first two together, approximately conical, slightly compressed at about the middle, with very long, microscopically pubescent arista, which possesses a minute basal joint. Thorax rectangular, moderately arched. No definite discal bristles, but the hairs on the disc may be more or less arranged into dorso- central and acrostichal rows ; one to three notopleural bristles and one postalar ; generally a humeral, sometimes a post-humeral bristle ; two or four scutellar bristles ; rnetapleura bare. Abdomen in male cylindrical, tip bluntly pointed in female ; male genitalia large, knob-like, hiding 8th segment. Legs: anterior pairs

TACHYDROMIA. 375

raptorial; fore coxa3 slightly longer than posterior ones; fore femora more or less thickened, with two rows of fine bristles below ; middle femora considerably incrassate, with two rows of short thick spines below ; middle tibia3 often with an apical spine on inner side and a row of black spines below. Other variations occur in the legs in the shape of additional spines or bristles, and in the degree of incrassation of the femora. Two pulvilli ; empo- dium small, linear. Wings with auxiliary vein united to 1st longitudinal till near tip, reaching margin ; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (which is simple) normal ; 4th simple ; lower branch of 5th almost or quite recurrent, meeting the indistinct and incomplete anal vein at about a right angle. Discal cell absent ; both basal cells long, subequal ; anal cell incomplete through the wanting basal portion of the anal vein ; 1st posterior cell often broadened in middle and distinctly narrowed at tip ; axillary lobe of wing not conspicuous.

Range. Europe, India, Tibet, China, Papua, North Africa, North America, Chile, Argentina.

Life-history. Beling has recorded the metamorphoses of a European species T. (Platypalpus) major, Zett.,* which was breeding on the ground under moss in a wood.

Tacliydromia is a genus with a rather easily recognised facies, due to the thickened femora, long antenna, absence of discal cell in conjunction with the shape of the 1st posterior cell, and incom- plete or absent anal cell. The species occur in woods and fields, running swiftly over low herbage in search of prey ; they are very carnivorous and rapacious, remains of soft Diptera being often retained by their middle legs after death. Many species are conspicuous amongst EMPID.E by their yellow colour.

Table of Species.

1. Wings unmarked 2. [p. 375.

Wings with two broad blackish bands .... latifascipennis, Brun.,

2. Thorax bright ferruginous 3.

Thorax black or blackish 4.

3. Antennal basal joints yellow ; thorax witli

distinct median stripe ; proboscis as long [p. 376.

as height of head ferruginea, Brim.,

Antenme all black ; thorax without a median stripe, but with two abbreviated lateral

ones'; proboscis shorter than height of [p. 377.

head nepalensis, nom. nov.,

4. Proboscis as long as height of head gentilis, Brun., p. 377.

Proboscis half as long as height of head . . orientalis, Brun., p. 378.

307. Tachydromia latifascipennis, Brun.

Tacliydromia latifascipennis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. xiii, p. 81

(1917).

tf 5 . Head shining black, bare ; eyes separated above by a moderately broad frons of uniform width, contiguous on under- * Verh. zool.-bot. Ores. Wien, xxxviii, p. 2 (1888).

376 EMPID^E.

side; antennal 1st joint moderately long, of usual shape, 2nd shortly conical, with long apical bristle, both joints brownish yellow ; proboscis dark brown ; palpi rather elongate, with long whitish-grey pubescence and a long apical black bristle ; occiput grey; a pair of bristles behind vertex, a few shorter ones on back of head. Thorax elongate, as broad as abdomen, humeri not constricted from mesonotum ; wholly shining black, bare ; scu- tellum and pleurae black ; a distinct pre-alar bristle. Abdomen black, moderately shining, nearly bare ; male genitalia large ; abdomen of £ tapering, ovipositor normal. Legs black ; fore coxae distinctly but not greatly enlarged, sometimes with a pale spot on outer side ; fore femora greatly incrassated, in some specimens with basal part brownish yellow, in others with two pale spots on outer side, near base ; in some the whole femur blnckish brown ; about basal half of all metatarsi yellowish. Winys grey, with two broad blackish bands, occupying greater part of wing, extending from costa to hind margin, leaving middle part of wing rather narrowly clear, and a moderately wide clear wing-tip and base ; thd blackish bands darker anteriorly.

Length, 2±-2 1 mm.

Described from a few of each sex in the Indian Museum : Darjiling, 8-11. viii. 1909, including tvpe c? (J. T. Jenkins), and type $, 8. viii. 1909 (Paiva) • Dharampur, Simla, 5000 ft., iv.-v. 1908 ; Simla, 7000 ft., 11. v. 1908 (both Annandale}.

If Platypnlpus can be regarded as distinct from Tachydromia, which seems doubtful, the three species of mine — orientalis.gentilis, and ferrugineus — will belong to it, as described ; but my P.pallidi- tibi(K and P. incisa belong to Tachypeza, the anal cross-vein being distinctly present in the former and a part of it in the latter.

308. Tachydromia ferruginea, Brun,

Platypalpus ferrugineus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 40 (1913).

5 . Head rather dark brownish yellow ; proportions, pubes- cence and bristles as in orientalis and gentilis ; face blackish : antennae with first two joints yellow, the 3rd blackish : proboscis as long as height of head, blackish ; palpi short, rather thick, pale yellowish. Thorax rather bright ferruginous brown, shining, with a moderately broad black median dorsal stripe, beginning on the anterior margin, and a much shorter one on each side of it, these two not attaining either the anterior or posterior margin. Short sparse pale yellowish hairs over the dorsum and sides, most conspicuous just below the shoulders ; two strong pre-alar bristles on each side, and one towards the posterior corner of the dorsum. Scutellum shining black, with very minute pale yellowish hairs and two long apical converging spines. Metanottim black, shining, with minute pale yellow hairs ; sides of thorax black. Abdomen black, a little shining, almost bare ; venter similar ; genitalia pale yellowish, elongate. Legs bright yellow ; fore femora a little

TACHYDROHIA. 377

thickened ; middle femora considerably thickened and with two rows of very small black spines and also a row of long stiff hairs, all placed on the underside ; the middle tibiae have a short but distinct spur-like tooth at the tip and a single row of minute black spines on the underside. Wings pale yellowish grey, veins a deeper yellow; surface of wing with short hairs and also micro- scopically setulose; halteres yellowish.

Length, 2 mm.

Described trom a single $ in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 4. vii. 1908 (Annandale).

309. Tachydromia nepalensis, nom. nov. (PI. IV, fig. 22.) Brevios lonyicornis, Brunetti, Ilec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 22 (1913). c? . Head: occiput blackish grey, with pale yellowish-grey pubescence; eyes closely contiguous ; antennas blackish, 3rd joint and its style with rather dense whitish pubescence ; proboscis shorter than height of head, yellowish. Thorax bright ferru- ginous, also scutellum and metanotum ; a short black streak above each wing apparently joined together near posterior margin by an irregular blackish mark (thorax slightly damaged in this spot

Fig. 36. — Tachydromia nepalensis, Brun., wing.

by the pin); sides grey. Abdomen black, roughened, nearly bare; geaitalia rather large, black. Legs all wholly pale brownish yellow, with soft pubescence; middle femora slightly thickened. Wings pale grey, highly iridescent ; a slight obliteration of the veins at tips of basal cells ; venation in accordance with the generic diagnosis ; halteres brownish yellow.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from a single c? in the Indian Museum from Sarath, Nepal, 24. ii. 1908.

The present species, being now referred to this genus, has to be renamed, on account of the European species T. longicornis, Mg.

310. Tachydromia gentilis, Brun.

Platypalpus gentilis, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 40 (1913). 2 . Head wholly blackish ; antennae and proboscis dull brownish yellow, the latter when fully protruded about as long as the height of the head, yellow at the base, black-tipped; palpi about half as long as the proboscis, stoutly cylindrical, pale yellow, with a few hairs. Thorax shining black, with sparse yellow hairs and a few lateral bristles ; sides a little grey-dusted, as is mon

378 EMPID^E.

less the metanotum ; scutellum shining black, with four yellow bristles. Abdomen black, moderately shining, shortly conical, almost bare; genitalia elongate; venter much as upper side. Legs pale brownish yellow ; femora and tips of tarsi barely darker; the middle femora incrassated, and armed below as in orientalis. Wings clear ; balteres yellowish.

Length, 2| mm.

Described from four $ $ in the Indian Museum taken by me at Darjiling, 26-29. v. 1910 (type, 28. v. 10) ; and one from Simla, 10. v. 1909 (Annandale).

311. Tachydromia orientalis, Srun.

Platypnlpus orientalis, Brunetti, Ilec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 39 (1913).

$ . Head-, occiput and frons covered with close pale yellowish- grey tomentum ; frons with almost parallel sides ; ocelli placed just below the vertex, with two proclinate bristles between them and with two similar bristles just behind the vertex, each of the latter placed in a minute black spot on the surface ; two rows of distinct yellow hairs behind the eyes, below the vertical margin, and some on the lower part of the back of the head ; antennal basal joints bright reddish yellow, 3rd joint darker brown, elon- gate onion-shaped, with normally formed arista ; face grey, with pale grey hairs, which give it a whitish reflection when viewed from certain directions ; proboscis about half the height of the head, shining black, elongate conical, bare ; palpi nearly half as long as proboscis, yellow, of moderate size, cylindrical, with a few hairs. Thorax with close very short yellowish-grey or cinereous tomen- tum, and some lateral bristles ; scutellum concolorous, with two strong apical converging bristles, and a smaller pair outside of these; metanotum concolorous, or in some examples more blackish grey. Abdomen dark mahogany brown or blackish brown, with a little short pale pubescence ; a little broader on the middle segments, the apical half conical; the genitalia elongate, dark grey ; venter similar to upper side. Legs bright brownish yellow ; femora, especially posterior pairs, darker, or with a tinge of brown ; tips of joints of tarsi also narrowly brown. Wings pale but distinctly yellow, veins a little deeper yellow ; halteres yellowish.

Length, 3-4 mm.

Described from several 2 $ in the Indian Museum taken by me at Darjiling, 7000 ft., 29. v. 1910.

Genus TACHYPEZA, Mg. Tuchypeza, Meigen, Syst. Besch. vii, p. 94 (1838).

GENOTYPE, Tachydromia nubila, Mg. (Europe) ; by Eondani's designation.

This genus is closely allied to Tachydromia, Mg. The eyes are contiguous below the antenna?, the facets in that region being a

TACIIYPEZA. 379

little enlarged in both sexes ; ocellar bristles absent ; antennal arista unjointed ; proboscis snorter than height of bead. Scu- tellum with two bristles. Legs long and slender, the fore pair the shortest, the hind pair the longest ; fore coxse slightly- elongated ; fore femora thickened in both sexes, the middle femora slightly thickened ; fore tibiae sometimes somewhat thickened, more so in the male ; tarsi long. Wings with vena- tion as in Tachydromia, except that the anal cell is absent ; lower branch of 5th vein present.

Eange. Europe, India, Siberia, North America, Jamaica.

Life-history unknown.

The flies are found on tree-trunks, and running swiftly over low plants and bushes. They are raptorial and are said to be loth to fly.

Only two Indian species are known, distinguished as follows : —

Antennae all black ; length 1| mm palliditibice, Brun.

Antennae with basal joints pale ; length "1\ mm. . . incisa, Brun.

312. Tachypeza palliditibise, Brun.

Platypalpus pallidiiibice, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 41 (1913).

<$ . Head blackish ; frons and occiput with microscopic whitish hairs, some also on underside of head ; antennae black ; proboscis mainly black, not so long as height of head ; palpi nearly white, half as long as the proboscis. Thorax wholly blackish, with microscopic pale yellowish hairs ; scutellum, metanotum, and sides all similar ; bristles distributed as in the three previous species. Abdomen black, with sparse pale hairs, tip stump-like ; genitalia of moderate size, rounded exteriorly, mainly withdrawn ; venter like upper side. Leys yellowish ; femora mainly blackish, as are the tarsi-tips. Wings clear ; halteres: stein black, clubs whitish.

Length, 1| mm.

Described" from one <S in the Indian Museum from Simla, ll.v.IM$(Annandale).

313. Tachypeza incisa, Brun.

Platypalpus incisus, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 41 (1913).

J . Head blackish, occiput with short whitish-grey hairs ; frons moderately narrow, widened a little in the middle, at which place are situated the three limpid ocelli in the form of a triangle. Proboscis brownish yellow, half the height of the head ; palpi pale yellow, with a few black bristles. Antennae large ; 2nd joint yellowish, with a row of short subapical bristles ; 3rd dark brown, with minute pale pubescence, squarish or nearly V-shaped ^at tip, with a long thick arista from the upper angle at the tip. Thorax wholly shining black, bare, except for microscopic yellow hairs and two or three notopleural bristles ; scutellum with two apical

380 EMPID.E.

bristles. Abdomen black, moderately shining, practically bare ; venter similar. Genitalia rather large, black ; a pair of claspers with large basal joint with long crooked terminal black hook-like appendages. Legs brownish yellow, fore coxae half as long as the femora; anterior femora incrassated, hind femora not thickened, long; tarsi more or less brown; all the legs minutely pubescent. Wings microscopically setulose, pale brown, no stigma ; venation normal, anal cell absent; the anal cross-vein present but incom- plete.

Length, 2£ mm.

Described" from a single J in the Indian Museum from Simla, 20.vii. 1911 (Annandale).

Genus DRAPETIS, Mg.

Drapetis, Meigen, Syst. Besch. iii, p. 91 (1822).

Crossopalpus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (3) v, p. "563 (1857).

GENOTYPE, Drapetis exilis, Mg. (Europe).

Head not so broad as thorax, but broader than high, rather short ; eyes microscopically pubescent, separated in both sexes, sometimes narrowly just above antennae, below which they are contiguous or nearly so, facets of uniform size. Proboscis short, vertical ; palpi one-jointed. Antennae inserted just above the middle, very short,* especially 1st joint ; 2nd joint slightly broader at tip, bristly ; 3rd conical, varying in length but always comparatively short, pointed, with a rather long apical arista, which is said to possess a microscopic basal joint. Thorax approximately square, with rounded corners, generally moderately arched, in some species more so ; dorsum with fine pubescence. Chaetotaxy apparently slightly variable, generally some dorso- central, acrostichal, and notoplenral bristles, with often a postalar and post-humeral bristle; scutellum with two bristles ; metapleura practically or quite bare. Abdomen short and robust, 8-segmented, ending in male in a knob-like genital organ, in female in a point. Legs comparatively short and strong, fore and hind femora rather thickened ; hind tibiae sometimes ending in a projecting tooth. Legs shortly pubescent, with a few bristles ; tibiae spurred or not,t hind pair with a small bump at tip ; empodium very small, seti- form. Wings short, rounded, anal angle well developed ; auxiliary vein inconspicuous, short, ending free ; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd longi- tudinal veins slightly curved forward ; 3rd, 4th, and 5th veins simple ; a trace of an anal vein, but indistinct or unappreciable at base. Discal cell absent ; 2nd basal cell much longer than 1st, truncate ; anal cell absent.

* Melander describes the antennae of this and s< me kindred genera as two-jointed. The 1st joint is often so small as to be overlooked, or it may conceivably be reduced to a mere facial protuberance.

t Schiner says that the front tibiae are spurred.

DltAPETIS. 381

Range. Europe, India, Burma, Java, North Africa, North America, St. Vincent, Chile, Australia.

Life-history unknown.

Drapetis is conspicuous amongst Empids on account of its short thick-set body, short robust legs, and the curved 1st, 2nd, and 3rd veins, in conjunction with the absence of the discal and anal cells. The flies frequent fields and meadows in preference to woods, running swiftly over the leaves. Lundbeck thinks some species hibernate in the imago stage.

One or two subgenera have been set up on, I think, rather weak or inconstant characters, and all the species are here retained under the one generic heading.

Table of Species.

1. Abdomen partly yellowish 2.

Abdomen wholly black 3.

2. First and last thirds of abdomen yellow-

ish, middle third black variegata, Brim., p. 381.

Abdomen dirty yellow, darker posteriorly discoidalis, Bezzi, p. 382. 3 (a). Third antennal joint trapezoidal; all

femora broadly black from base brevior, Brim., p. 382.

(&). Third anteunal joint onion-shaped ; all [p. 383.

femora with black streak above fascifemorata, Brim.,

(c). Third antennal joint nearly round; only

hind femora with black streak on middle [p. 383.

of upper side rotundicornis, Brun.,

(d). Third antennal joint obconical ; legs

all yellow except for brown tarsi-tips . . ni/ipes, Brun., p. 383.

314. Drapetis variegata, Brun.

Drapetis variegata, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 39 (1913).

$ . Head : occiput and f rons shining black ; eyes as in brevior. First two joints of the antenna dark brown ; 3rd black, very elongate conical, with long apical arista. Proboscis short, brown- ish yellow, with yellow hairs. Thorax dark shining brown on anterior part, with tbree black, not very obvious stripes (with, however, linear edges), all of which begin on the anterior margin ; posterior half of thorax more or less blackish. Scutellum yellowish, with blackish dorsum and two long curved apii-al bristles ; metanotum shining brown. Abdomen with very sparse pale yellow hairs ; basal third (except the extremely narrow black actual base) yellowish; middle third blackish ; apical third yellowish or brownish yellow ; venter yellowish (in one example somewhat blackish across the middle). Legs wholly bright yellow ; coxae brown, tarsi hardly, if at all, darker. Wings pale yellowish grey, iridescent ; veins and halteres yellowish.

Length, 2| mm.

Described from two $ $ (not 6 6 , as originally stated) from Rangoon, 25. ii. 1908 (Annandale).

382 EMPIDJE.

315. Drapetis discoidalis, Bezzi.

Ctenodrapetis discoidalis, Bezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, ii, p. 355 (1904).

$ . Near D, gracilis, Bezzi. Head elongate, rounded, black ; eyes contiguous ; antennae short, yellowish white ; arista rather long ; proboscis elongate, yellow ; palpi white. Ocelli and vertical bristles long. Thorax moderately arched, yellow, mode- rately shining ; middle of dorsum black ; humeral calli broadly yellow, leaving a median black line attaining anterior margin ; short pubescence absent ; acrostichal and dorso-central bristles long, projecting anteriorly ; presutural and alar ones long. Scutelluin shining black, two bristles ; halteres yellow, clubs brown. Abdomen a little longer than thorax, dirty yellow, darkened above posteriorly ; ovipositor rather long, conical, black, with pale short pubescence. Legs bright yellow, long, slender : posterior tibia? witii two bristles placed respectively on first and second thirds ; at tip with a short obscure callus. Wings long, hyaline, narrowly cuneiform at base, 4th vein quite straight, a little curved towards 3rd ; anterior and posterior wing-margins with dense short hairs.

Lengtii, 2 mm. ; wing, 2'2 mm.

One female from Matheran, Bombay, 800 metres, 8. vii. 1902.

Type in the Hungarian Museum.

316. Drapetis fcrevior, Srun. (PL IT, figs. 23, 24.) Drapetis brevior, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 37 (1913).

$ . Head very dark grey ; eyes contiguous for a considerable distance, rounded ; vertical triangle dark grey, with three ocelli and two strong long proclinate bristles ; two equally long ones behind the eyes, curved towards each other, with also some smaller ones ; antenna with first two joints dark brownish yellow, the 3rd black, as long as the 1st and 2nd taken together, with a very long black apical arista, microscopically setulose ; face very narrow, dark grey ; proboscis moderately long, bluntly but not shortly conical, with a patch of pale hairs on upper part of dorsal surface. Thorax well arched, shining black, with light short yellowish-grey pubescence and some bristles laterally ; scutellum and metanotum shining black. Abdomen shining black, short, conical, very -stout, covered rather freely with pale yellowish-grey hairs ; venter similar ; genitalia imperceptible. Legs bright brownish yellow, wholly clothed with rather copious yellow hairs ; the femora broadly black from base to a variable extent, leaving sometimes only the tips pale; tips of tarsi black or blackish. \Yings clear, microscopically setulose, highly iridescent ; veins yellowish or brownish ; halteres small, yellow.

Length, 2-2^ mm.

Described from several examples in the Indian Museum from Mandalay, 12. iii. 1908, type (Annandale) ; Eangoon, 26. ii. 1908

DRAPETIS. 383

(Annandale) ; Calcutta, 23. x. 1907 ; Puri, Orissa coast, 24:. ii. 1908 (Paiva) ; Monghyr, Bengal, 23. ix. 1909 (Jenkins).

These specimens- originally recorded as males were really females.

317. Drapetis fascifemorata, Brun.

Drapetis fascifemorata, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 38 (1913).

$ . Very near D. brevier, but the 3rd antecnal joint is onion- shaped and much shorter than in that species. The legs are wholly reddish yellow, with a black streak on the upper side of the femora.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from a single $ in the Indian Museum from Kurseong, 4. vi. 1908 (Annandale).

This might have been considered provisionally the $ of D. brevior as the likeness between the two species is so great, and the difference in colour of the legs might easily be a sexual one only ; but the different structure of the antennas points to its being specifically distinct.

318. Drapetis rotundicornis, Brun. (PL IV, fig. 25.) Drapetis rotundicornis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 38 (1913).

c? . Very near D. brevior, from which it differs in the 3rd antenual joint being nearly round, drawn out to a slight point at the tip, from which the long arista projects. The anterior legs are all reddish yellow, the hind femora have the middle part blackish on the upper side.

Length, 2| mm.

Described from a single d1 in the Indian Museum from Puri, Orissa coast, 18-19. i. 1908 (Annandale).

In this species again I should have regarded it as a mere variation of brevior but for the different structure of the antennae.

319. Drapetis rufipes, Brun.

Drapetis rufipes, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 38 (1913).

$ . Very near D. brevior. The 3rd antennal joint is obconical, black in colour, with an apical arista. Legs entirely reddish yellow ; tips of tarsi brown.

Length, 2 mm.

Described from a $ in the Indian Museum taken by Dr. Annan- dale " at light " on board a steamer at Damukdia Grhat, Eastern Bengal, 30. vi. 1908 ; Madhupur, Bengal, 22.x. 1909 (Paiva).

My type specimen is a $ , not a rf , as originally stated.

384 EMPID^E.

Genus ELAPHROPEZA, Macq. ElapJiropeza, Macquart, Soc. Sci. Lille, p. 86 (1827).

GENOTYPE, Tachydromia ephippiata, Pin. (Europe) ; by original designation.

Head subspherical, narrower than thorax ; eyes large, micro- scopically pubescent, separated above antennae in both sexes (frons narrow), or contiguous in both sexes, facets of uniform size ; proboscis short, vertical ; palpi 1-jointed, broad ; antennae 3-jointed ; basal joints short, 2nd rounded, bristly ; 3rd elongate conical, with long, slightly pubescent, apical arista possessing a microscopic basal joint ; epistome short. Thorax subquadrangular, with rounded comers. No distinct dorsal bristles ; a notopleural, supra-alar, postalar, and two scutellar bristles ; metapleura bare. Abdomen with last two segments in male hidden by the large genitalia, subcylindrical ; in female pointed. Legs slender, fore coxae only slightly elongated ; fore tibiae with short spurs ; empodium small, claw-shaped. Wings as in Drapetis.

Range. Europe, India, Ceylon, Java, Papua, Philippines, Formosa, South Africa, North America, Australia.

Life-history unknown.

This genus is rather easily recognised by the usually yellow and black colour of the species, and the long arista, which is generally bent inwards in the Indian species.

Table of Species.

1. Thorax shining black 2.

Thorax brownish yellow 3.

2. Basal half of abdomen reddish yellow,

apical half black basalis, Bezzi, p. 384.

Abdomen wholly black bicoloripes, Brun., p. 385.

o. Abdomen practically unicolorous 4.

Abdomen with basal and apical portions

Cle, middle part black 5. omen brown ; tips of hind tibise, anterior tarsi, and last joint of hind tarsi

Wack ' fulvithorax, Wulp,p. 385.

Abdomen blackish ; legs wholly yellow to

tips of tarsi ." ferrvginea, Brun., p. 386.

5. Tarsi and tips of tibiae brownish metatarsata, Bezzi. p. 386.

All legs wholly yellow variegata, Brun., p. 387.

320. Elaphropeza basalis, Bezzi.

Elapliropeza basalis, Bezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, ii, p. 349 (1904). " $ . Head rounded, rather brilliantly shining black ; occiput with grey tomentum ; eyes narrowly separated above antenna?, contiguous below them ; 3rd antennal joint moderately long, black ; arista shorter than antennas ; palpi white. Thorax and scutellum all black, with pale pubescence and bristles.. Abdomen as long as thorax, basal half reddish yellow, with rather short pale

ELAPHROPEZA. 385

pubescence, apical half black. Legs robust, nearly bare, wholly yellow, except the black last tarsal segment ; hind tibiae with one bristle only and a rather short tooth at tip on inner side ; hind metatarsi with short thick pubescence below. Wings short, clear, anterior margin slightly ciliated ; veins pale ; 3rd and 4th veins gently diverging ; 2nd ending midway between 1st and 3rd ; 5th ending at some distance before margin.

" One female, Colombo, 28. ii. 1902 (Bird)." (Bezzi.) in the Hungarian Museum.

321. Elaphropeza bicoloripes, Brun.

Elaphropeza bicoloripes, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 43 (1913).

$ . Head with eyes absolutely contiguous above and below antennae for the full distance ; occiput blackish, with stiff hairs above and softer hairs below ; vertex with three whitish ocelli and two long stiff bristles ; antennae rather large, basal joints yellowish, wider at tips than bases, 2nd spinose on margin, 3rd brownish, elongate conical, pubescent, with very long arista ; proboscis blackish ; palpi short. Thorax shining black, lateral margins in front of wing narrowly brownish ; dorsum with soft short pale hairs ; stiff pre -apical hairs as usual. Scutellutn black, shining, with two convergent long apical bristles ; sides of thorax black. Abdomen shining black, apparently a tendency to a little paleness at base and to dark brown towards tip ; very sparsely pubescent ; venter similar. Legs brownish yellow ; hind femora (except broadly at base), fore and hind tibiae wholly, dark brown. Wings pale yellowish grey, iridescent ; venation normal ; halteres dirty brown.

Lenqth, 1| mm.

Described from a single $ in the Pusa collection from Lower Lebong, 4500 ft., Darjiling Distr., 2-9. vi. 1909 (F. M. Hewlett).

322. Elaphropeza fulvithorax, Wulp.

Elaphropeza ftdvithorcLv, Wulp, Termed. Fiizet. xx, p. 138 (1857).

" d1 . Head globular ; eyes contiguous above and below antennae. Antennas nearly as long as head ; basal joints and base of 3rd yellow ; the latter conical at tip, in front black, arista as long as antenna. Thorax and scutellum yellowish red, very shining ; ' thoracic dorsum arched. Abdomen shorter than thorax, upper surface brown ; sides and venter yellow. Legs yellow, tips of hind tibioo, the anterior tarsi, and last joint of hind tarsi blackish. Wings distinctly longer than abdomen, brown tinged, especially about middle of anterior border ; veins dark ; posterior cross-vein also ; ultimate portion of 4th longitudinal vein very indistinct ; halteres whitish yellow.

" One male, Kancly, March." (van dtr Wulp.) Length, 1| mm.

386 EMPIDJS.

323. Elaphropeza ferrugmea, Brun.

Elaphropeza ferruginea, Bruuetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 43 (1913).

<S . Head with eyes closely contiguous above and below the antennae for the whole distance ; vertex with three rather large ocelli ; occiput light brownish yellow, with numerous stiff bristly hairs above and pale softer hairs on lower part. Antennae with first two joints brownish yellow ; 1st much shorter than 2nd, which latter is considerably setose at tip ; 3rd joint very elongate conical, blackish, closely pubescent, with long microscopically pubescent arista. Proboscis very short, brownish yellow ; palpi shorter still, p.ile yellow, each with a very long bristle. Thorax wholly brownish yellow, with numerous very short pale yellow hairs and the usual stiff pre-alar bristles ; scutellum blackish, with two long bristles ; sides of thorax concolorous with dorsum, metanotum blackish. Abdomen blackish, with a very little pale pubescence ; ovipositor pale yellow, short. Legs wholly pale brownish yellow from coxae to tips of tarsi. Wings pale yellow ; halteres pale yellow.

Lengtli, 1| mm.

Described from a type $ from Lower Lebong, Darjiling Hills, 4500 ft., 2-9. vi. 1909 (Howlett), and three other A J from Port Canning, 24. xii. 1907 (Howlett) • all in the Pusa collection.

324. Elaphropeza metatarsata, Btzzi.

Elaphropeza metatarsata, Bezzi, Ann. Mus. Hung, ii, p. 348 (1904).

" $ . Head roundish, shining black ; eyes contiguous below antennae, separated above by a very narrow space, facets uniform in size ; pi-oboscis hardly prominent ; palpi yellowish white. Antennae long ; two basal joints yellow ; 3rd elongate, acuminate, dark brown, with long, microscopically pubescent, apical arista. Ocellar bristles rather long, proclinate ; occiput with some small bristles. Thorax shining, with pale pubescence (the bristles in bad condition) ; a large shining black round spot towards each side near the middle ; pubescence all reddish, that below the spot darker ; halteres yellow, with dark clubs. Abdomen as long as thorax, with delicate white pubescence ; base and tip of abdomen dirty yellow, towards middle shining black. Legs all yellow, only the tarsi and the tibiae towards tips brownish ; hind tibiae with two bristles only on upper side ; hind metatarsi long, narrower than tibiae, with a sort of rounded yellow tooth at the base with an isolated rather long bristle behind it. Wings pale grey, with a distinct ciliation on anterior margin ; 2nd longitudinal vein with tip ending nearer tip of 1st vein than that of 3rd ; 3rd and 4th veins parallel ; 5th ending at some distance before margin.

" One female, Colombo, 28. ii. 1902 (Biro)." (Bezzi.)

Type in the Hungarian Museum.

Bezzi notes that the species is allied to those of his submenus Ctenodrapetis, from which it is distinguished by the elongate 3rd antennal joint.

ELAPHBOPEZA. 387

325. Elaphropeza variegata, Brim.

Elaphropeza vuriegata, Brunetti, Eec. Ind. Mus. ix, p. 42 (1913). <S 5 . Head black ; occiput with microscopic pale hairs ; eyes contiguous, except for a small vertical triangle which carries tlie three ocelli. Antennae with first two joints brownish yellow, a few bristles at the tip of the 2nd; the 3rd elongate conical, blackish, with long pubescent arista. Proboscis short, base much thickened, brownish yellow ; palpi much shorter, pale yellow. Thorax bright ferruginous, a little blackish about the base of the wings and a thin black median stripe present or absent. Scutellum and metanotum concolorous with thoracic dorsum. A few lateral bristles on the latter, a few towards the posterior border and two •on the scutellum. Abdomen with the tip stump-like in d , tapering in $ ; dull yellowish on basal and apical thirds, the middle third black ; in some examples the basal third is more brownish than yellowish. Venter similar to upper side ; genitalia small, con- oolorous. Legs all yellowish, except for the slightly brown coxae ; femora not at all thickened ; hind tibia? with two long stiff hairs -on outer side, placed so as to divide the limb into three equal parts; middle tibiae with a long single stiff hair near the tip. Winys pale yellowish grey; 2nd basal cell twice as long as 1st; halteres very pale yellow.

Length, barely 2 mm.

Described from several d d" and $ 9 in the Indian Museum : Calcutta, 5. xii. 1907, type 6 (Annandale), 14. ix. 1909, type $ (Paiva): other specimens from Calcutta, 13. xiii. 1910 (Kemp), 31. i. 1908, 17. ii. 1908, 10. viii. 1907, 2-15. xii. 1907 ; Puri, 18-19. i. 1908; Khurda Ed., Puri Distr., 13. xi. 1910, in train (Kemp} ; Darjiling, 29. v. ]910 (Brunetti} ; Paresnath, W. Bengal, 4000ft., 9,'iv. 1909 ( Annandale); Parel, Bombay Presid., 26. xi. 1909; Satara Distr., Bombay, 4200ft., 13-16. iv. 1912 {Gravely); Dum-Dum, near Calcutta, 28.vii. 1909 (Lord); Dibru- garh, Assam, 17-19. xi. 1911 (Kemp\

A very striking and easily recognised species.

Family LONCHOFIEBID-E.

Head transverse, as broad as thorax, nearly oval when seen in profile ; cpistome short, sides bristly : eyes wide apart in both sexes, green in life; frons and mouth-border with strong bristles; three ocelli; proboscis distinct, thick. Antennae 3-jointed; first two short, bristly ; 3rd rounded, with long 3-jointed subdorsal or apical arista.

Thorax oval or subquadrate, rather flattened, bare, except for some bristles; scutellum subtriangular, bare, with two long

bristles. ,

Abdomen oval, often narrower than thorax, 6-segmented, 1st

2 c 2

388 LONCHOPTERIDJE

segment the longest ; bristles present but no pubescence ; genitalia in c? prominent, closely applied to the venter, with two lamellae.

Legs rather long, with fine bristles ; pulvilli very small, empodia absent.

Winys comparatively long, tip pointed ; venation abnormal ; auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins very short ; 2nd and 3rd veins ending near together towards wing-tip; 4th and 5th uniled for a considerable distance ; 4th vein forked ; 6th vein sexually abnormal; anterior cross-vein very near base of wing, oblique; discal cell therefore very long and open (or may be regarded as absent) ; the two basal cells and the anal cell all very short, sub- equal ; alulae absent ; squama3 very small.

Fig. 37. — Lonchop'cra lutea, Panz.

Life-history. The larvae possess a head and ten body-segments, the last one possibly formed of two segments anastomosed ; they live in decomposing vegetable matter; metamorphoses unknown. The perfect insects occur on leaves and low bushes, in grass, and near streams.

The affinities of this family have been questioned, but they seem best placed near the DOLICH opening. Only one genus, Loncho- ptera, is known. Cadrema, Walk., with one species from Celebes is doubtfully referred to this family.

Genus LONCHOPTERA, %.

Lonchoptera, Meigen, HUg. Mag. ii, p. 272 (1803).

Dipsa, Fallen, Specim. entomol. p. 20 (1810) ; Dipt. Suec. Phytom,

p. 1 (1823).

Lonchopteryx, Stephens, Syst. Cat. Brit. Ins. p. 259 (1829). GENOTYPE, Lonclioptera lutea, Panz. (Europe): by Curtis's- designation (1839).

The family characters apply wholly to this genus. The venation possesses the striking character, which is unique throughout the

LONG' FIOPTER A . 389

whole order of the Diptera, of being different in the two sexes; the 6th vein in the d1 running straight to the wing-margin, whereas in the $ it turns up towards its tip, meeting the 5th vein at some distance from the margin, thus forming a long closed cell.

The species are mainly brown or yellowish in colour and small in size?i frequenting hedges, low-growing plants, shady nooks, grassy fields, and similar situations.

Range. Europe ; the common L. lutea, with some of its varieties, extends to North America and to the East. One species is known from Bhodesia.

Life-history unknown; the larvae live in decomposing vegetable .matter and have been found under leaves.

326. Lonchoptera ? lutea, Pane.*

Lonchoptera lutea, Panzer, Faun. Germ, cviii, pis. 20, 21 (1809) ; Schiner, Faun. Austr. i, p. 243 (1862) ; de Meiiere, Tijd. v. Ent. xlix, p. 64 (190(3).

d • Head yellowish brown, a little paler on underside ; eyes and antennas black ; ocellar triangle blackish ; a row of fine rather weak vertical bristles ; 2 post-vertical, all little more than hairs ; 1 ocellar, 1 upper fronto-orbital, 1 lower fronto-orbital (near antennae), all three strong; numerous bristles of different sizes around mouth and lower part of head. Thorax uniformly bright shining brown; a definite though not clearly-outlined median dark stripe from anterior to posterior margin, carried broadly over scutellum to its tip; a pair of very weak bristles or stiff hairs on anterior margin, 4 definite dorso-centrals, 1 on hind corner of dorsum in a line with the hindmost pair of dorso-centrals ; 3 supra-alars ; 3 or 4 on pleura?, 1 below humeral region, 1 post- sutural, 1 scutellar (apical). Abdomen dark brown, sometimes light yellowish brown at sides towards tip; extreme tip (viewed from behind) with a small white dot; venter yellowish brown. Legs brownish yellow ; extreme tips of tarsi and pulvilli blackish. Wings yellowish, iridescent; venation normal; halteres yellowish.

Length, 2| mm.

Described from a d from Coonoor in the Pusa collection, 4. ix. 1911, " sweeping roadside" (Hoivlett).

In two specimens from Dariiling, 6900 ft., 29. v. 1910 (JSrunetti), the back of the head is all yellow, though this character probably has no importance. In one of the specimens the abdomen is yellowish, in the other nearly as dark as in the Coonoor example.

Thi? appears to be the L. lutea, Fanz., of Europe and other regions, though there are no specimens in good condition for comparison. Dr. de Meijere very kindly at my request sent

* In a comprehensive revision of the European species of this genus Dr. de Meijere gives a full list of the varieties and references to this common species. The accepted varieties are cinerea, Meij.,Jlavicatida, Mg., iiitidifronf, Strobl., -pnlustris, Mg.. and (rilineata, Zett., and the synonyms are numerous, *nit are not repeated here in case the identification of the species should be incorrect.

390 PLATYPEZTDvE.

me out a few from Holland, but they were rendered useless in transit, apparently through the box being opened by the Censor and insecurely re-packed. The only discrepancy between the Coonoor specimen and Verrall's figure ('British Flies,' v, fig. 51,. p. 29) is the presence in the former of the bristle near the hind

Fig. 38. — Lonchoptcra lutea, Panz., § .

corners of the dorsum of the thorax, in a line with the hindermost pair of dorso-centrals. This bristle is not shown in Ten-all's- figure. »

Three other forms of LoncJioptem have come before me, of which one is very striking, but it has unfortunately been accidentally damaged. The wings bear a conspicuous black band. The body is wholly black, the antennae and legs yellow, the fore tibia? and tarsi quite black. A single § from Kumaou in the Pusa collection.

Family PLATYPEZILME.

Head large; face small, broad, depressed down the middle in both sexes. Eyes bare, Inrge, contiguous for a considerable dis- tance in <5 with enlarged upper facets; wide apart in § . Antennas 3-jointed, short; arista long, bare, apical.

Thorax subquadrate, somewhat arched, not pubescent, but with a few cha3totactic bristles, which are more distinct in the 2 ; pleura3 bare ; scutellum with marginal bristles.

Abdomen narrower and generally longer than the thorax ; 6- or 7-segmented ; genitalia in tf more or less incurved.

Legs (except in one non-Oriental genus, Opetia) with hind tibiae dilated towards tip, and hind tarsi considerably dilated on first three or four joints.

Wings with a characteristic venation, peculiar to this familv; auxiliary, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd veins long and nearly straight; 4th vein simple or forked, turned upwards towards tip in Platypeza and ending in wing-margin shortly but distinctly below tip of 3rd veiny so that the 1st posterior cell is always open ; 5th and Oth veins- straight, simple. Discal cell present or absent ; basal cells short -T anal cell always longer than 2nd basal, even if only slightly so. Squamae of moderate size ; halteres large.

The females of many species are of quite different coloration from the males, showing conspicuous, brightly-coloured marking* on the thorax and abdomen.

PLATYPEZA. 391

The PLATYPEZID^E form a tolerably compact and limited group of small dark flies, possessing affinities with both the DOLI- CHOPODID^E and SYRPHIDJE, being distinguished from the former by the holoptic males and generally incrassated front tarsi, dull colour, and short, thick-set build ; and from the latter by the open 1st posterior cell, absence of the spurious vein and presence of chaetotactic bristles. The peculiar bend in the 4th vein in Platypeza is suggestive of the " kink " in the same vein in the DOLICHOPODID^E. There seems to be no justification for allying the PHORID^E with the present group of families.

Life-history, The larvae of very peculiar form, amphipneustic, flat, broadly oval, with jointed thread-like processes : the sides of the body sometimes deeply indented and serrate (Callimyia, non- Oriental) ; the head and next following segment often not visible from above, thus appearing as though only 9 or 10 were present, whereas there are 10 or 11 segments in addition to the head. They live in fungi, especially in species of Boletus, Aqaricus, and Lepiota. The pupae are very similar in appearance. The flies fre- quent low hedges and woods, where they run round quickly in small circles, varied from time to time (at least in the males) by hovering in the air. Verrall thinks some of the species may be two-brooded, the second one being the more numerous. Only the genus Platypeza has been yet recorded from India, but others with less cliaracteristic venation may have beeu overlooked.

Genus PLATYPEZA, %.

Platypeza, Meigen,* Klass. Besch. Zweifl. Ins. p. 310 (1804) ; Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 482 (1912).

GENOTYPE, Platypeza fasciata, Mg. (Europe) ; by Eondani's designation (1850).

Head large, as broad as thorax ; eyes green in life, contiguous in c? for a considerable space, upper facets much enlarged ; frons in $ about one-fourth of the head ; proboscis short, labella broad ; palpi wedge-shaped ; face small, with distinct raised side margins. Antenna? small, porrect ; 3rd joint a little longer than deep ; arista apical, long, bare. Thorax rather oval or subquadrate, moderately arched, bare of pubescence, but with tiny bristles as well as larger cha3totactic ones ; traces of dorso-central rows, though very small, except the hinder two or three, which are very distinct; a strong presutural bristle, two or more between the shoulder and the wing-base, a large intra-humeral, and one on the posterior callus ; sides bare ; scutellum generally with two pairs of marginal bristles. Abdomen longer than thorax, rather flattened, elliptical, more pointed at tip in $ ; 6-segmented in c? , hypopygiuin incurved ;

* Though first described by Meigen in Illig. Mag. ii, p. 272 (1803), no specie* •was then assigned to the genus.

392 PLATYPEZID^:.

7- segmented in § ,* with two-jointed ovipositor ; pubescence sparse, especially in $ . Leys normal ; hind tarsi with basal joints much dilated ; "hind tibiae a little dilated tow ards tip ; middle tibiae spurred ; pubescence slight. Wings proportionately very broad ; auxiliary vein ending before middle of wing ; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd longitudinal veins slightly sinuous, the last ending near wing- tip ; 4th vein when near wing-margin bending suddenly upwards at a sharp or reflexed angle (with an appendix at the flexure), t the remaining section curved (the concavity hindwards), ending in wing-margin near tip of 3rd vein, but not meeting it ; 5th and 6th veins straight. Three posterior cells; discal cell long, nar- row; anal cell shortened, of varying length, always distinctly longer than 2nd basal cell, tip pointed. Anterior cross-vein near base of discal cell ; posterior cross-vein near wing-margin. Alulae rather long ; squamae moderately large ; halteres large.

Range. Europe, North and South America, South Africa, and the Orient.

Life-history. Some species live in fungi, especially in Boletus.

327. Platypeza argyrogyna, Meij.

Platypeza aryyrogyna, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. 1, p. 257 (1907). Platypeza or'ientalis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 481(1912). Platypeza obscura, Brunetti, loc. cit. p. 482 (1912). ? Platypeza alaucescens, Walker. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 117 (1860). '

Head in <$ with eyes varying from red to bright or dull brown in the upper facets, lower ones coffee-brown ; vertical triangle small, greyish ; ocelli very distinct; face greyish or whitish grey ; proboscis brownish yellow, with very large label la marked with black ; palpi yellow ; antennae brownish yellow, 3rd joint with microscopic whitish pubescence ; arista black, yellowish at base ;

Fig. 39. — Platypeza argyrogyna, Meij., antenna.

occiput ash-grey or bluish grey, with minute black bristles. In $ , irons about one-quarter of head, with parallel sides, dark brownish grey, with very short yellow hairs ; antennal 3rd joint yellowish, often more or less darkened at tip ; ocelli bright yellow. Thorax

* Exceptionally with only six segments in some European species. t Some authors speak of the 4th vein as forked, the lower branch seldom reaching the wing-margin.

PLATYPEZA. 393

dull dark greyish brown, sometimes with traces of a darker median stripe;* frequently the anterior halt' in c? or whole dorsum in $ with a bluish-white shimmer, especially if viewed from behind ; shoulders sometimes more or less shining; scutellum sometimes more yellowish. The humeri bear three subequal strong bristles or spines ; a few smaller ones above them ; two rows of minute dorso-central bristles are traceable, of which only the anterior two or three and the last two in each row are at all conspicuous, the last of all being by far the strongest ; a strong bristle on each posterior corner, generally one or more smaller ones in the neigh- bourhood of the wing-base, and a number of stiff hairs on the dorsum behind the shoulders : scutellum with two pairs of apical bristle?. Abdomen normally dull velvet-black, slightly shining in fresh specimens, bare, except for a little pubescence towards the side-margins: a very narrow — often indistinct or absent — greyish band on anterior margins of 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments. Legs brownish yellow, femora and tibiae more or less dark, especially hind pair, which are sometimes dark brown ; hind femora rather shining on inner side ; first three tarsal joints much widened ;

Fig. 4Q.—Platypc;a argyrogyna, Meij., wing and hind leg.

hind tarsi in <$ golden yellow, with a close row of minute black bristles at sides and along hind margins of each segment, giving the impression of being black-edged ; in the $ the tarsi are brown, except the yellow first two joints.f Wings clear, irides- cent; 1st vein slightly bisinuate, 3rd nearly straight, ending at wing-tip ; anterior cross-vein before one-fifth of the discal cell ; halteres brownish yellow, clubs more or less dark.

Length, 2 1-3 mm.

lieciescribed from several specimens of both sexes in the Indian Museum, including the types of orientalis and obscura and a named c? $ sent from Java by de Meijere. Kurseong, 5000 ft., 4. vii. 1908 type rf and £ of obscura (Annandale) ; Sukna, E. Himalayas, 500 ft., 1. vii. 1908 (Annandale}; Almorn, Kumaon, 5500ft., 20-21. ix. 1911 (Paiva); Pusa, 11. vii. 1913, 23. viii. 1913, 14%ix. 1914; Calcutta, 18. vii. 1908 (Annandale) ; Bangalore, S. India,

* According to de Meijere ; I have not found it so myself. t In my obscura the tarsi are wholly brownish in both sexes.

394 PLATYPEZID^.

3000ft., 16. x. 1910 (Annandale); Peradeniya, Ceylon, vii. 1919 ; Sadiya, Assam (type of orientals).

There can be no reasonable doubt of the synonymy of my orientalis, and arr/yrogyna is also probably a synonym of glaucescens, Walker, but of this latter there is probably no specimen in existence, so de Meijere's name will presumably stand good. The sole difference between his species and Walker's is the black dot on the front of the head referred to by the older author, which seems a small matter in a "piceous black" species. P. glaucescens was described from Macassar, Celebes. As regards my obscura, it may be ranked for the present as a variety without any trace of shimmer on the thorax, and with the tarsi nearly uniformly brownish in both sexes.

ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

All names printed in italics are synonyms.
Acantbina, 26.	angustimarginatus (On-	argentifrons (Geron),
Acanthinia, 26.	codes), 171.	279.
Acanthinomyia , 26.	angiistum (Ephippium),	argentihirta (Acantbina),
Acarterus, 334.	46.	28.
Acraspidea, 24.	annandalei (Exopro-	argentiventris (Phvcus),
Acromyia, 327.	sopa), 199.	309.
Adoxomyia, 49.	annandalei (Hirmo-	Argyramceba, 214.
affinis (Psilocepbala),	neura), 149.	nrgyropyna (Platypeza),
306.	annandalei (Monacan-	392.
affinis (Sargus), 88.	thomyia), 23.	Argi/romoeba, 214.
at'ra (Anthrax), 240.	annulata ( C'ephalocera),	argyropyga (Anthrax),
albesceus (Geron), 280.	319.	218.
albida (Anthrax), 212.	annulata (Mydas), 319.	ArgyrospUa, 189.
albida (Exprosopa), 212.	annulifemnr (Zabrachia),	Arqyrospyla, 189.
albina (Psilocepbala),	22.	Artemita, 26.
303.	annuiipes (Beris), 92.	ARTHKOCEKATIX.K, 107.
albina (Tfiereva), 303.	anniilipes ( Chrysomyia),	Aspiluptera, 234.
albipcs (Pachygaster), 21.	88.	assainensis (Allognosta),
albipes (Zabrachia), 21.	annuiipes (Pachygaster),	95.
alfiif arsis ( Microckn/sa),	21.	Asioma. 311.
86.	AXTJI RACING, 176.	Atberix, 120.
albobasalis(Chrysopilus),	Anthrax, 234.	atra (Neiuotelns), 20.
140.	Antidoxion, 104.	Atriadops, 154.
albofulva( Anthrax). 251.	aperta (Anthrax), 245.	Atrichia, 311.
albobalteralis (Kmpis),	Aphoebantus, 256.	Atrichops, 112.
350.	apicalis (Pteoticns), 77.	atripes (Phycus), 309.
albomicans (Oxycera), 55.	apicipennis (Leptis), 125.	aurantiaca, (Anthrax),
albopictus (Cbrysopilus), 131.	apicis (Hybos), 340. appendiculata (Argy-	186. aurantiaca(Hjperalonia)r
albosparsus (Bombvlius),	ramceba), 222.	186.
27U alexon (Anthrax), 211.	approximate (Anthrax), 244.	aurata (Latia), 164. aureohirta (Anthrax),
aiexon (Exoprosopa), 211.	ardens (Bombyliiis), 274. ardens (Discliistus), 274.	252. auricollis (Acanthina),
Allognosta, 93. alternates (Chrysopilus), 144.	Ardnptera, 370. argent ea (Acanthina), 28. argentea ( Gabaza}, 25.	26. aurifer (Ptecticus). 78. aurifer (Sargvs\ 78.
amplitarsis (Empis), 349.	argentea (Wallacea), 25.	auri'rtanuna (Cyphomyia).
Ampsalis, 44. Anastechus, 278.	argentiapioalis (Argy- rauioeba), 227.	57. auripes (Hybos), 341.

396

ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

auripila (Pialea), 161.	bistriata (Clitellnria), 52.	ceylonicus ( Aphoebantus),
auriplena (Anthrax), 212.	bivittata (Clitellaria),	257.
auriplena (Exoprosopa), 212.	46. BERING, 89.	chalybeata (Musca), 90. chamaeleon (Musca), 58.
aiivobrunneu8(Ptecticus),	Beris, 90.	Chiromaiitis, 367.
76.	BOMBYLIID.E, 173.	Chlorisops, 92.
austeni (Hinnoneurn),	BOMBYLIIN.E, 259.	Cliloromyia, 84.
152.	Hombyliosoma, 273.	Chlorusia, 87.
austeni (Spogostyluml,	Bombylisoma, 273.	Chorisops, 92.
213.	Bombylius, 261.	Choristus, 261.
australis (Ptecticus), 79.	Bombylosoma, 273.	Chrysanthrax, 234.
azurea (Acanthina), 26.	Brachycara, 85.	ckrytolampu (Exopro-
asurea (Cibotogaster), 26.	bralnna (Exoprosopa), 200.	sopa'), 182. chrvsolampis (Hypera-
	brevior (Drapetis), 382.	lonia), 182.
baluchianus (Anthrax),	Brevios, 374.	Chrysomyia, 84.
250.	brunnea (Eudmeta), 43.	Chrysop'ila, 128.
barca (Stratiomyia), 59.	brunuea (Hirnioneura),	Chrysopilus, 128.
barca (Stratiomi/s), 59.	151.	Cibotogaster, 26.
bares (Hilara), 359.	brunneus (Phycus), 307.	cincta (Afherix), 118. *
basalis (Elaphropeza),	brunneus (Xylophaqus),	cincta (Atrichops), 118.
384.	307.	cingularis (Hermetia), 42.
basalis (Hirnioneura),	brunneus var. brunnipes	cingulata (Hirnioneura),
149.	(Phycus), 308.	151.
basifascia (Anthrax), 211.	brunnipes (Hybos), 343.	cingulatus (Anthrax),
basifascia (Exoprosopa),		248.
211.		cingulatus var. ceylonicus
bengiilensis (Exopro-	ccendeopenms (Anthrax),	(Ptecticus), 80.
sopa), 206.	181.	clara (Anthrax), 243.
Biases, 29.	c(erulescens(Atherix\ 1J9.	claripennis (Argyra-
tricolor (Pterospilus), 329.	czerulescens (Alrichops),	mceba), 228.
bicolor (Bhachicems),	119.	clausa (Anthrax). 253.
105.	calopa (Atrichops), 114.	clavata (Musca), 316.
bicoloripes (Elaphro-	calopa (Microchrysa),	Clinocera, 364.
peza), 385.	88.	Clitellaria, 49.
bigot i (Argyramoeba),	calopodata (Snbula), 98.	CLITELLAUIIN.E, 38.
222.	calopodata (Xylomyia),	Clorisoma, 87.
bigoti (Syneches), 329.	98.	cochinensis(Chrvsopilus),
bilineata (Negritomyia),	aanescens (Phycus), 307.	136.
46.	cane?cens (Xylophagus),	C(ENOiiyrN.B, 110.
bilineata (Stratiomys),	306.	Gcenomyiofles, 110.
4(5	capucina (Bibio). 189.	coffvata (Hirnioneura),
bilineata (Thereva), 300.	carbnnaria (Anthrax),	152.
biiineatum (Ephippio-	217.	Colax, 154.
myia), 46.	carbonaria (Empis), 351.	collaris (Anthrax), 194.
bilineatum (Ephippium),	carmichaeli (Myclas),	collaris (Exoprosopa),
46.	318.	195.
bimaculatus (Anthrax),	carthaginiensis (Empi-	collaris (Litorhynchus),
248.	dideicus), 260.	195.
binotata (Exoprosopa),	centralis (Empis), 353.	comastes (Bombylius),
195.	Cephcues, 289.	268.
bipnra (Evaza), 32. bipunctata (Anthrax),	Cephenus, 289. cerioides (Hermetia), 40.	compacta (Hilara), 358. compacta (Lepiclan-
217-	cervinus (Apboebantus),	tln-ax), 233.
bipunctata (Argrra-	256.	Cona, 311.
nioeba), 217.	Ceylonia, 155.	conica (Pliilopota), 158.
birmanensis (Chryso-	ceylonica (Argyramoeba),	connexa (Tachydromia),
pilus). 137.	257.	374.
bisetosus (Hvbos), 338. litpinosa (Phyllophora),	ceylonica (Empis), 352. ceylonica (Psilocephala),	Ccxjuillettia, 214. costalis (Henops), 169.
30.	304.	costalis (Oncodes), 169.

ALPHABETICAL IXDEX.

Craspedometopon, 28.	Elasma, 29.	flavida (Phyllodromia)
crassipes (Atherix), 112.	elegans (Empis), 356.	368.
Crossopalpus, 380. cupraria (Musca), 81. eyanea (Odoiitomyia),	elegans (Suragina), 121. elongata (Clitellaria), 26. EMIMD.E, 321.	flavipalpis (Hybos), 342. flavipennis (Exoprosopa),
63.	Empidideicus, 260.	flavipes (Evaza), 32.
cyaneus (Ptecticus), 75.	EMPIX^, 344.	flavipes (Howlettia), 361.
Cycloguster, 52. Cyclorhynchus, 284. cylindrica (Thereva), 301.	Em pis, 347. Enicopteryx, 345. Enoplempis, 347. ephippiata (Tachy-	flavipes (Ocydromia), 362. flavipes (Parahybos), 343. flavipes (Pterodontia),
Cyphoinvia, 57.	dromia), 384.	165.
CyuTiD.fi, 157.	Ephippiomyia, 45.	flavipes (Subula), 98.
CVRTIN.S, 163.	Ephippium, 45.	flavipes (Xylomyia), 98.
	ephippium (Siratiomys),	flavipleura (Systropus),
	45.	295.
dahlii (Clitellaria), 49.	erect us (Uombylius), 267.	flaviventris (Anthrax),
Dasypalpus, 284.	Eriogaster, 347.	183.
Dcfllippia, 189.	erythrocepbalus (An-	flaviventris (Hypera-
Desinomyia, 107.	thrax), 178.	lonia), 183.
dia (Anthrax), 250.	Eudnieta, 41.	flaviventris (Micro-
Dipalta, 234.	Etdalia, 61.	clirysa), 88.
Dipsa, 388.	eumenoide.s (Svstropus'),	flaviventris (Sargus), 88.
DischUtus, 273.	294.	flavolineata (Tliereva),
discoidalis ( Ctenodra-	eupogonatus (Systcechus),	299.
petis), 382.	278.	flavopilosus (Chryso-
discoidalis (Drapetis),	Evasa, 31.	pilus), 138.
382.	Evaza, 31.	flavopunctatus (Chryso-
discoidalis (Leptis), 126.	exilis (Drapetis), 380.	pilus;, 133.
disjuncta (Anthrax),	Exoprosopa, 189.	flavospinosus (Systoe-
232.	Exoptata, 189.	chus), 277.
distigma (Anthrax), 218.		fletcheri (Anthrax), 236.
distigma (Argyrarnceba),		florea (Volucella), 281.
218.	fasciata (Plat ypeza), 391.	fluviatilis (Clinocera),
disti(/ma (Spogostylum),	fascifeinorata (Drapetis),	365.
218.	383.	form ices form is ( Sargus),
dives (Anthrax), 180.	fascipennis (Macellopal-	82.
dives (Eucharimyia}, 264.	pus), 123.	formosa (Musca), 84.
dives (Hyperalonia), 180.	fastuosa (Ptilocera), 34.	fratellus (Syneclies), 332.
dohrni (Trichopsidea), 153.	felderi (Acraspidea), 24. fenestralis (Musca}, 311.	f rater (Chrysopilus), 141. f ron tale (Craspedoine-
Dolichocephala, 370.	fenestralis (Scenopinus),	topon), 29.
dorsalis (Chelipoda), 367.	312.	fulvescens (Stratiomyia),
dorsalis (Microdromia), 367.	ferruginea (Elaphropeza), 386.	60. fulvicollis (Ehacliicerus),
dorsoangulata (Odonto-	ferruginea (Heliomyia),	104.
myia), 68,	141.	f'ulvidus (Macellopalpus),
dorsolineata (Ptero-	ferruginea (Tacl>ydro-	122.
dontia), 167.	mi a), 376.	fulvipes (Bombylius),
Drapetis, 380. duvaucdii (Anthrax),	ferrugincus ( Platypalpus), 376.	271. fulvithorax (Elaphro-
225.	ferruginosns (Chryso-	peza), 385.
duvaucelii(Argyran.iceba), 225.	piliis), 141. ferrugiiwsus (Leptis}, 141.	fusca (Trichopeza), 372. fuacipenuis (Acarterus),
	Jimbriatus (Anthrax), 240.	335.
	llainmea (Exoprosopa),	fuscirjennis (Synechos),
ed wards! (Coonomyiodes),	193.	323.
111.	flaveol us (Macellopalpus),	f uscitnrsis (Boris), 93.
edwardsi (Systropus), 294.	122. flavida (Chelipoda), 3(58.	fuscolimbata (Anlhrax), 246.
Elaphropeza, 384.	flavida (Eudnieta), 43.	fuscus (Oncodes), 171.

398

ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

Gabaza, 24.	Hyalanthrax, 234.	insulator (Exoprosopa),
gagatina (Hybos), 339. 'gagatinus (Hybos), 339. gemma (Microchrysa), 88. "gemmifer (Sargus), 81. geniata (Ampsalis), 44. genieulata (Beris), 91. gcniculata (Hybos), 340. geniculatus (Hybos), 340. gentilis (Argyramoeba), 230.	hyalina (Anthrax), 254. hyaliventris (Actina), 93. Hybos, 336. HYBOTXN.E, 325. Jiybridus (Bombylius), 279. Hydrodromia, 364. hydroleon (Musca), 61. Hyperalonia, 178. Hypoleon, 53.	203. inter media (Atherix), 116. intermedia (Atrichops), 116. intermedia (Argyra- moeba), 221. invaria (Thereva), 302. iridipennis (Parahybos), 343. irrorata (Tachvdromia),
qentilis (Platypalpus), 377.	hypoleon (Musca), 53. Hypselura, 311.	370. Isopenthes, 234.
gentilis (Tachydromia), 377.	Hyrmoneura, 147. Hyrmophlttba, 147.
Geron, 279. gestroi (Argyramoeba),	ibis (Atherix), 120.	javana (Atriadops), 155. javana (Beris), 30._ javana (Colax), 155.
gibbosa (Musca), 168. (/laucesfens (Platypeza), 392.	Ibisia, 120. illuceus (Musca), 39. illucens (Suragina), 121.	javana (Tinda), 30. javana (Toxophora), 287.
gracilis (Phthiria), 285.	imberbis (Bibio), 302.
gravelyi (Chrysopilus),	immaculata ( Odonto-	kashmirensis (Odon-
137.	myia), 67.	tomyia), 67.
griseonigra (Empis), 353. ariseonigra (Blmmpho-	immaculatus (Syneches), 328.	kashmirensis (Ptero- dontia), 166.
myia), 346.	inasqualis (Svneches),	keinpi (Thereva), 298.
grossipes (Musca), 336.	330.
guttatipeunis (Anthrax), 237.	incisa (Tachypeza), 379. inclsiis(Platypalpus), 379.	labiata (Atherix), 120.
	inconspicua (Empis),	]seta (Hermetia), 40.
	357.	la,nopyya (Atherix), 115.
Harpamerus, 334.	inclianus (Leptomydas),	lanopyga (Atrichops),
Heliomyia, 128.	320.	115.
HEMERODKOMIIN.E, 363.	indica (Biast.es), 29.	lar (Anthrax), 194.
hetniuopla (Clitellaria),	indica (Cyphoinyia), 57.	lar (Bibio), 194.
50.	indica (Evaza), 33.	lar (Exoprosopa), 194.
Hemipenthes, 234.	indica (Lita.nomyia), 369.	Lasia, 163.
Henops, 168.	iniica (Oxycera), 66.	Lasiopa, 52.
Hermetia, 39.	indica (Phyllodroinia),	lateralis (Exoprosopa),
Hermoheura, 147.	389.	198.
Heteralonia, 189.	indica (Psilocephala),	latifascipennis (Tachy-
Heteroxycera, 53.	304.	dromia), 375.
Hexacantha, 90.	indica (Thereva), 301.	latipennis (Exoprosopa),
Hilnra, 357.	indica ( Tinda), 30.	198.
himalayana (Eharapho-	indicus (Biastes), 30.	latus (Chrysopilus), 143.
myia), 346.	iudious (Empidideicus),	Lepidanthrax, 232.
himalayanus (Anthrax),	260.	LEl'TID.E, 100.
238.	Inei-mia, 52.	LEPTIN.E, 112.
Hinnoneura, 147.	inermis (Allognosta), 94.	Leptis, 124, 128.
Holoclera, 345.	Inermyia, 52.	Leptomydas, 320.
Hoplomyia, 58.	inflata (Euba), 49.	Leptopeza, 362.
hottentotta (Argyra-	infurcata (Pachy '(/aster),	Leptosceles, 370.
maeba), 228.	'21.	limbata (Atherix), 115.
hottentotta var clari-	insignis (Syneches), 322.	limbata (Atrichops), 115.
pennis (Anthrax), 247.	institnta (Anthrax), 227.	limbiventris ( Toxocera),
hottentottus (Anthrax),	instituta (Argyramoeba),	42.
248.	227.	liraitaris (Argyramoeba),
Howlettia, 360.	insularis (Chrysopilus),	220.
humeralis (Chrysopilus),	140.	limpida (Anthrax), 255.
135.	insulata (Anthrax), 203.	Litanomyia, 367.

ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

399

JMorhynchus, 189. lomata (Pialea), 160. LOMATIIN^E, 255. Louehoptera, 388. LONCHOPTEKID.E, 387. Lonch&pteryx, 388. longicornis (Brachy-

stonia), 371.

longicornis (Brevios), 377. longipennis (Ptecticus),

75.

longipennis (Sargus), 75. longirostris (Anastce-

clius), 278. longispinus (Auipsalis),

44.

lucens (Anthrax), 254. lucida (Anthrax), 254. luctuosus (Chrysopilus),

133.

luridus (Sargus), 77. lusitanicus (Mydas), 320. lutntius (Odontoinyia),

70.

lutatius (Stratiomys), 70. lutea (Lonchoptera), 389.

Macellopalpus, 122. niacilenfcus (Systropus),

289.

Macroceromys, 96. Macrostomus, 345. mactans (Sargus), 83. maculipenne (Ephip-

pium), 47. maculipennis (Negrito-

myiii ), 47. maculiventris (Exopro-

sopa), 200.

maculatus (Asilus), 287. raaculatus (Bombylius),

267. magnifica (Ceylonia),

156.

magnifaus (Sargus), 81. magnipennis (Chrvso-

pilus), 138. major (Bombylius), 261,

265. manit'esta (Anthrax),

242.

marginata (Empis), 356. marginata (Eudmeta), 42. marginata(Hermetia), 42. marqinata (Pacliymeria),

356.

marginata (Usia), 283. marmoratus (Chryso- pilus), 131. matira (Anthrax), 238.

maura (Ernpis), 357.	niyeicauda (Argyra-
Megapalptu, 284.	moeba), 224.
Mesophysa, 163.	niveisquamis (Argyra-
inetallinus (Sargus), 82.	mo3ba), 229.
metatarsalis (Atherix),	niveiventris (Exopro-
117.	sopa), 207.
metatarsalis (Atrichops),	nubila (Tachydroinia),
117.	378.
metatarsata (Elaphro-
peza), 386.	obesa (Clitellaria), 26.
Meta.fon.ia, 93.	obscura (Clinocera), 366.
Microchrysa, 87, Microdromia, 366.	obscura (Hirmoneura),
Microdromya, 366. micropilosa (Stratio-	obscura. (Platypeza), 392. obscurifrons (Argyra-
myia), 60.	mocba), 220.
minimus (Bombylius),	ochracea (Hirmoneura),
273.	151.
minuta (Odontomyia),	ochracea ( Odontmnyia),§5.
65.	Octacuntha,, 90.
minutus (Svneches), 330. modifera(Tinda),SO.	octomaculatus (Oncodes), 170.
Monacanthomyia, 23.	OCYDKOMIIN^E, 3(52.
morio (Anthrax), 234.	Odontomyia, 61.
morio (Stomoxys), 178.	renoinaus (Hyperalonial,
MYDAID.E, 314.	185.
Mydas, 316. Myiochrysa., 84.	cestracea (Trichopsidea), 153.
Myochrysa, 81.	Oncodes, 1(58.
mystaceum (Spogosty-	opaca (Hirmoneura), 150.
lum), 213.	opaca (Syndyas) 333. opalescens (Chrysopilue),
	134.
Negritomyia, 47.	ophioneus (Systropus),
NKMESTKINID.E, 144.	291.
Neopachygaster, 20.	Oplacantha, 90.
nepalensis (Tachy-	Opseogymnus, 61.
droinia), 377.	oratorio (Tachydroinia),
Nerna, 31.	366.
nigella (Thereva), 299.	orientalis (Bombylius),
niger (Hybos), 340.	263.
nigra (Clinocera), 364.	orientalis (Platypalpus),
niqricaudus ( Si/stropus),	378.
291.	orientalis (Plati/peza),
nigricornis(Rhachicerus),	392.
105.	orientalis (Tacbydromia),
nigricornis (Xylomyia),	378.
99.	ornatipennis (Chryso-
ni gripes (Phycus), 309.	pilus), 132.
Sigritomya, 47.	Oxycera, 53.
nigrofemorata (Argyra-
mceba), 230.	Pachygaster, 20.
nigrofemorata (Pachy-	PACHYGASTRIN.E, 19.
gaster), 25.	Pachymei-ia, 347.
nigronitidus (Hybos),	Pachymerina, 347.
342.	palliflitarsis (Syneches),
nitens (Hybos), 341.	331.
nitidulus (Bombylius),	pallid it ibi<B(Plati/ixilpu*),
278.	379.
uivalis (Systojchus),^??,	palliditibiae (Tachypeza),
nivea (Atriadops), 156.	379.

400

ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

pallipes (Acarterus), 335.	pulicarius (Bombylius),	Sicus, 374.
pallipes (Sargus), 82.	284.	signata (Oxycera), 54.
paniscus (Anthrax), 248.	pusilla {Odontomyia), 66.	signatus (Harpamerus),
paniscus (Bibio), 248.		334.
PANOPIN.*:, 160.		simplex (Syneches), 327.
Parahybos, 343.	quadridentata (Stratio-	singular is (Hermetia) 42.
Paramesia, 364.	mys), 33.	sinuatus (Bombylius), 265.
Paranthrax, 234.		smaraqdina (Ptilocera),
Pararthropeas, 108.		34.
Parasymmictus, 147.	referens (Anthrax), 255.	socius (Bombylius), 276.
Parisus, 261. parvicellulata (Syndvas),	resplendens (Dischistns), 273.	socius (Systcechus), 276. solennis (Odontomyia),
333.	Ehachicerus, 104.	69.
Pelechoidocera, 120.	Rhagio, 124.	Solva, 96.
peleteria (Lasiopa), 52. pennipes (Anthrax), 197.	Ehamphomyia, 345. Rhamphomysa, 345.	sordidus (Chrysopilus), 143.
pennipes (Empis), 347.	Rhyphomorpha, 104.	sphinx (Anthrax), 187.
pennipea (Exoprosopa),	rostrata (Empis), 355.	sphinx (Bibio), 187.
197.	rotundicornis (Drapetis),	sphinx (Hyperalonia),
pennipes (Hyper alonia),	383.	187. * *
197.	Euba, 48.	spin igerum (Ephippium),
persequa (Thereva), 301.	rubrithorax (Odonto-	4(3.
peshawarensis (Hilara),	myia), 67.	spinithorax (Rhaplno-
360.	ruficornis (Mydas), 317.	cera), 46.
Philopota, 158. PIIILOPOTIN^E, 158.	rufipes (Drapetis), 383. rufithorax ( Empimorpha),	splendens (Laeia), 163. Spogostylum, 213, 214.
Phoroxypha, 374.	359.	Spongostylum, 213.
Phthiria, 284.	rufithorax (Hilara), 359.	squamata (Einpis), 352.
Phtyria, 284.	rulbabdominalis (Odonto-	stigma (Chrysopilus), 142.
Phycus, 306.	myia), 64.	Stonyx, 234.
Phvllorlromia, 367.	rufomarginafcus (On-	Stratiomyia, 58.
Phi/llopkora, 29.	codes), 171.	STRATIOMYID.E, 17.
Pialea, 160.	rugicollis (Anthrax), 195.	STRATIOMYIN.E, 56.
Platypalpus, 374.	rusticus (Syneches), 331.	Stratiornys, 58.
Platypeza, 391.		Stratiospheconiyin, 3(5.
Pr,ATYl'EZID/E, 390.		Stratiotomyia, 58.
Platyptera, 347.	sapphirina (Chloromyia),	stylata(Exopro3Opa),201.
Plati/pteryqia, 347.	84.	Sfyrtte, 128.
piebeja (Muscn), 297. Plecticus, 73.	sapphirinus (Sargus), 84. SAUCING, 72.	su'bcilipes (Empis), 354. submutica ( Odontomyia),
Pofdlanthrax, 234.	Sargus, 81.	66.
Pttcilognathus, 284.	SCENOI'INID.E, 310.	Subula, 96.
polita (Musca). 87.	Scenopinus. 311.	Suhu/aomyia, 96.
polita (Zabrachia), 21. propinquus (Bombylius),	scintillans { Bo mtylius), 264.	suffusipennis (Hypera- lonia) 188.
272. Prosopochrysa, 86.	scolopacea (Leptis), 124. sedophila(Usia), 282.	sulcata (Empis), 345. sulphureus (Bombylius),
Pxeltidotus, 61.	segmentatus (Chryso-	275.
Psilocephala, 302.	pilus), 135.	Suragina, 121.
Ptecticus, 73.	semif'uscata (Anthrax),	Sylvicola, 124.
Pteredontia, 165.	241.	Syudyas, 333.
Pterodontia, 165. Pterospilus, 327.	semifuscata (Hypera- loniiv), 188. '	Syneches, 327. Systochus, 275.
Ptilocera, 33. puerula (Exoprosopa),	semilucida (Anthrax) 212.	Systrophopus, 289. Systrophus, 289.
205. pulchellus ( Bom bylius),	semilucida (Exoprosopa) 212	SYSTROPIN.*;, 289. Systropus, 289.
264. pulchelltt* ( Comastes),2$4.	septemuotata (Dolicho- cephala), 371.
puleherrima, (Odon-	sequa (Fsilocephala), 305.	Tachydromia, 374.
tomyia), 65.	sequa (Thereva), 305.	TACHYDROMIIN.E, 373.

ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

401

Tachypeza, 378.	tripunctata (Anthrax),	Villa, 234.
tantalus (Anthrax), 181.	214, 218.	villosa (Nemotelus), 53.
tantalus (Exoprosopa),	tristis(Exoprosopa\ 180.	villosa var. himalayensis
181.	tristis (Hyperalonia), 180.	(Lasiopa), 53.
tantalus (Hyperalonia), 181.	troglodyta (Anthrax),	viridienea (Philopota),
tenebrica (Clitellaria),	troylodyta (Bibio), 254.	viridana (Odontomyia),
46.		72.
tenuipes (Hybos), 338. tenninalis (Bombylius),	unicinctus (Rhaohicerus),	vitrea (Exoprosopa), 210. vitripennis ( Chryso-
270.	106.	chlora), 86.
testuceua (Sargus), 73.	unicolor (Acarterus),	vitripennis (Exoprosopa),
Thamnodromia, 367.	834.	209.
Thereva, 297.	unicolor (Chrysopilus),	vitripennis (Leptopeza).
TlIEREVID.E, 295.	141.	363.
thereviformis (Desmo-	unicolor (Leptis), 126.	vitripennis (Prosopo-
myia), 107.	unifasciata (Ehampho-	chrysa), 86.
thereviformis (Pararthro-	inyia), 345.	Volucella, 281.
peas), 109.	Usia, 281.
Thorasena, 39.
Thi/ridanthrax, 234.		Wallacea, 24.
tibialis (Beris),93.	vagans (Allognosta), 94.	wulpii (Bombylius), 264.
tibialis (Chorisops), 93.	vagans (Metoponia), 94.	vvulpii (Ptecticus), 77.
Tind.i, 29.	Vappo, 20.
Toxocera, 41.	variegata (Drapetis), 381.
Toxophora, 287.	variegata (Elaphropeza),	Xylomya, 96.
TOXOPIIORIN.E, 280.	387.	Xylomyia, 96.
transversa ( Lepid-	variegata (Stratiospheco-	XYLOMYINJE, 96.
anthrax), 233.	myia), 37.	XYLOPHAGIX.E, 104.
transversa (Odontoniyia),	variegatus (Bomht/lius),	Xystropus, 289.
71.	265.
triangulata (Leptis), 127.	Velocia, 178.
Trichopeza, 371.	ventralis (Brachycara),	yerburyi CChrysopilus),
Trichopsidea, 153.	85.	139.
tricolor (Botnhylius), 263.	Vertexistemma, 163.
Trinaria, 189.	Verticistemma, 1(»3.
Triodites, 256.	vicinus (Bombylius), 270.	Zabrachia, 21.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

2D

EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.

Fig. 1. Zabrachia albipes, Brun., $ ; p. 21.

2. „ „ antenna.

3. Wallacea aryentea, Dol., antenna ; p. 25.

4. Acantliina argentihirta, Brun., antenna; p. 28.

5. Craspedometopon frontale, Kert. ; p. 29.

6. „ „ antenna.

7. Tindajavana, Macq., $ ; p. 30.

8. „ „ antenna.

9. Evasa Upars, Walk., antenna ; p. 32.

10. Ptilocera fastuosa, Gerst., $ ; p. 34.

11. ,, „ antenna.

12. Stratiospliecomyia variegata, Brun., c? ; p. 37.

13. ,, „ antenna.

14. Clitellaria heminopla, Wied., $ ; p. 50.

15. Epliippiwn bilineatum, F., cJ • p. 46.

16. „ „ antenna.

17. Eudmeta marginata, F., side of thorax ; p. 42.

18. Ampsalis longispinus, Brun., scutellum ; p. 44.

19. ,, „ antenna.

20. Hermetia Iceta, Meij., 5 ; p. 40.

21. „ „ antenna.

22. Sargus metallinuti, F., <5 ; p. 82.

23. „ „ antenna.

24. Odontomyia rufoabdominalis, Brun., d1 ; p. 64.

25. Attognosta vagans, Lw., J ; p. 94.

26. „ ., antenna.

PLATE I.

INDIAN STRATIOMYIDjC.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE II.

Fig. 1. Rhachicerus nigricornis, Brun., antenna ; p. 105.

2. ,, wiicinctus, Brun., wing ; p. 106.

3. Ccenomyioides edivardsi, Brun., antenna; p. 111.

4. „ „ wing.

5. Pararihropeas thereviformis, Brun., antenna; p. 109.

6. „ „ wing.

7. Atrichops calopa, Brun., d , abdomen ; p. 114. >

8. ,, lanopyga, Brun., 3 ; p. 115.

9. ,, cincta, Brun., wing ; p. 118.

10. „ Uimbata, O.-S., wing; p. 115.

11. „ intermedia, Brun., lateral view of head;

12. „ „ wing. [p. 116.

13. ,, ccerulescens, Brun., wing; p. 119.

14. ,, metatarsalis, Brun., wing; p. 117.

15. Macellopalpus fulvidus, Brun., lateral view of head ;

[p. 122.

16. Leptis apicipennis, Brun., wing ; p. 125.

17. Clirysopilus marmoratus, Brun., wing; p. 131. 18- ,, albopictus, Brun., wing ; p. 131.

19. ,, ornatipennis, Brun., wing; p. 132.

20. „ unicolor, Brun., Aving ; p. 141.

21. „ stigma, Brun., wing; p. 142.

22. Hirmoneura opaca, Licht., wing ; p. 150.

23. Ceylonia magnified, Licht., wing ; p. 156.

24. Pialea auripila, Brun., ^ ; p. 161.

25. „ „ lateral view of head.

26. Pterodontia dorsolineata, Brun., $ ; p. 167.

27. „ „ antenna.

28. Oncodes octomaculatus, Brun., tf 5 p. 170.

29. „ arista.

PLATE II.

INDIAN LEPTID/E, NEMESTRINID/E AND CYRTID/E.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE III.

Fig. 1. Hyperalonia suffusipennis, Brun., wing ; p. 188.

2. ,, semifuscata, Brun., wing ; p. 188.

3. Exoprosopa lar, F., wing ; p. 194.

4. ,, insulata, Walk., wing ; p. 203.

5. „ bengalensis, Macq., wing ; p. 206.

6. „ brahma, Sch., wing ; p. 206.

7. ,, lateralis, Brun., wing ; p. 198.

8. ,, annandalei, Brun., wing ; p. 199.

9. „ puerula, Brun., wing ; p. 205.

10. Argyramoeba distigma, "Wied., wing; p. 218.

11. ,, obscurifrons, Brun., wing ; p. 220.

12. ,, gestroi, Brun., wing; p. 222.

13. ,, duvaucelii, Macq., wing; p. 225.

14. ,, argentiapicalis, Brun., wing ; p. 227

15. ,, gentilis, Brun., wing ; p. 230.

16. Toxophora javana, Wied. ; p. 287.

17. PsilocepTiala sequa, Walk., d ; p. 305.

18. ,, „ head in profile.

19. ,, ,, antenna.

20. „ „ abdomen, $.

21. Phycus britnneus, Wied. ; p. 307.

22. ,, ,, head in profile.

23. „ „ antenna.

PLATE III.

INDIAN BOMBYLIID/E AND THEREVID^E.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV.

Fig. 1. Leptomydas indianus, Big., wing ; p. 320.

2. Mydas annulata, Brun., wing ; p. 319.

3. Syneclies bigoti, Bezzi, wing ; p. 329.

4. „ palliditarsis, Brun., head in profile ; p. 331.

5. Acarterus fuscipennis, Brun., head in profile; p. 335.

6. ffybos yagatinus, Big., hind leg; p. 339.

7. „ tenures, Brun., antenna ; p. 338.

8. „ „ hind leg.

9. Empis rostrata, Brun., middle leg ; p. 355.

10. „ „ hind leg.

11. „ squamata, Brun., $, hind leg ; p. 352.

12. Leptopeza vitripennis, Brun., wing : p. 363.

13. ,, ,, antenna.

14. Phyllodromia flavida, Brun., wing j p. 368.

15. „ „ antenna.

16. ,, indica, Brun., head in profile ; p. 369.

17. „ ,, wing.

18. ,, ,, antenna.

19. Dolichocepliala 7-notata, Brun., head in profile; p. 371.

20. ,, ,, wing.

21. „ „ antenna.

22. Tacliydromia nepalensis, Brun., antenna ; p. 377.

23. Drapetis brevior, Brun., c? ; p. 382.

24. „ „ antenna.

25. „ rotund icornis, Brun., antenna; p. 383.

INDIAN MYDAID/E AND EMPID/E.

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