LEUCOMELINA. 327 
says nothing about the front; but his figure 3 proves that the genus belongs amongst 
those in which the males have a narrow front. Nevertheless, Bigot, in his synoptic 
table of the genera of Anthomyine (Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 1883, p. 19), placed 
Leucomelina, Macq., at the end of his first division (with unequal tegule), among the 
genera with the front (¢) broader than half the diameter of the eyes (no. 34 of the 
synoptic table). ‘This, however, seems to be a mere mistake, as he subsequently 
compared (Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 1885, pp. 263, 264) Leucomelina pica, Macq., 
with Limnophora elegans, Macq., and stated that, in opposition to Macquart’s assertion, 
the species has the arista pubescent (‘‘ tomenteux ”). 
The genus Leucomelina is nearly related to Limnophora. Like this latter, it has the 
eyes bare, contiguous or subcontiguous in the male; the abdomen conical or elliptical, 
and with symmetric markings; the tegule unequal; and the anal vein not reaching 
the border of the wing. It differs from it, however, in having the fourth vein distinctly 
curved upwards near the end, Leucomelina in this respect showing a certain affinity 
with some genera of the group Muscine. 
The species of Lewcomelina are closely allied. All have the head whitish, and the 
antennee, proboscis, palpi, and legs black; the legs are slender. In the males the 
thorax is deep black, with conspicuous white markings; and the foot-claws and pulvilli 
are elongate. In the females the thorax is more cinereous and the white markings 
less sharp. . 
In the Central-American collections before me the genus Leucomelina is abundantly 
represented. I have made an attempt to distinguish the following species :— 
1. Eyes (gf) contiguous . 1 1 ee we ee ee ee ee 
Eyes (3) separated by a linear front. . . . . . =. . 5. 
2. Anal segment cinereous, unicolorous, or with a single indistinct 
brown spot. . . . . 3. 
Anal segment with two distinct black spots, which are separated by 
aclear dorsal stripe. . 2. 2. 1 1 ee ee ee ee ee Me 
3. Prothorax unicolorous black. . . . . . +. + © + «© « ~ pica, Macq. 
Prothorax with two white stripes . . . . 2... . . . . « corvina, Gigl.-Tos. 
4. Transverse suture of the thorax with a white margin, interrupted in 
the middle. . . . 1. «© © we ew ee we we ew we «8A, Wiedem. 
Transverse suture of the thorax without white margin . . . . . deleta,v.d. Wulp. 
5. Posterior cross-vein oblique; terminal section of the fourth vein 
distinctly curved upwards (larger species). . . . . . + « . garrula, Gigl.-Tos. 
Posterior cross-vein nearly perpendicular; terminal section of the 
fourth vein very slightly curved upwards (smaller species) . . . minuscula, v.d. Wulp. 
In the above synoptic table the characters are exclusively derived from the male sex ; 
it has, however, no claim to represent the true natural relations, as some of the so-called 
species may be no more than varieties. As to the females I am still less certain. 
