bombylim:. 75 



Fam. B0MBYLID51. 



The materials I had at my disposal in working up this family consisted principally of 

 a fine series of mostly well-preserved < Anthracina ' from -Northern Sonora, collected by 

 Mr. Morrison. I have improved this rather rare opportunity for describing and figuring 

 a number of new species. Professor Bellardi very kindly lent me the 'Anthracina' of 

 his Mexican collection, the descriptions of which I incorporated in my work. The 

 materials from other parts of Central America were comparatively of less importance. 



The section " Bombylina " was very little represented in all these collections. 



I have attempted to give a closer definition of some of the existing genera, and have 

 for this purpose introduced characters that had not been used before. 



A great deal remains to be done towards developing the classification of the 

 Bombylidse ; but this is the work of the monographer, and requires a larger material 

 than I have at hand. The mere describer of a limited collection, who attempts at 

 the same time to improve the classification, is like the traveller who has his own road 

 to make — his progress will be very slow, and his road very bad. 



The following table refers to North- and Central-American genera and species 

 only : — 



Analytical Table of the North- and Central-American Genera of Bombylim^ 



1 (18). The bifurcation of the second and third veins taking place 



opposite, or nearly opposite, the small cross-vein ; the second 

 vein forming a knee at its origin from the prsef urea ; the third 

 vein in a straight line with the prsefurca. 



2 (11). Three or more submarginal cells. 



3 (4). Four, sometimes five, submarginal cells Hypertonia, Rond. 



4 (3) . Only three submarginal cells. 



5 (8) . Third joint of the antennae elongate-conical. 



6 (7). The conical third joint bearing a more or less long style, sepa- 



rated by a distinct suture Eocoprosopa, Macq. 



7 (6). The conical third joint bearing no elongate style at the end; 



second vein strongly contorted, in the shape of a recum- 

 bent s Dipalta, O. S. 



8 (5). Third joint of the antennae short, onion-shaped, with a very 



long style, not bisected by a suture. 



9 (10). Proboscis long, projecting far beyond the oral margin . . . Stonyx, O. S. 



10 (9). Proboscis withdrawn within the oral cavity; rudimentary 



P ulviUi Isopenthes, O. S. A^ 



11 (2). Two submarginal cells. 



12 (13). The style of the third antennal joint distinctly bisected by a 



suture, and bearing a pencil of hairs at the tip Argyramoeba, Schin. 



12 



