37 8 NORTH AMERICAN DIPTERA. 



NOTEvS. 



BY PROF. C. H. T. TOWNSEND. 



These notes are given in advance of a forthcoming paper, which will 

 give characterization of new, and reasons for maintaining certain old 

 genera and species mentioned herein, besides pointing out distinctions 

 between various forms. When characters are given for species, unless 

 otherwise stated, it is to be understood that the same have been drawn 

 from specimens in the United States National Museum, after compar- 

 ison with the figures. 



Fig. i. The American species is probably not festi nans. 



Fig. 2. The figures agree perfectly with type and cotype in the 

 National Museum. 



Fig. 3. Cnep/ialia pansa. The figure is apparently made from a 

 male specimen, but does not show the characters clearly. The third 

 antennal joint is too long, the second too short. After a careful com- 

 parison of European and American specimens, I am convinced that 

 Spallazania hebes does not occur in America. 



Fig: 4. Rileyniyia adusta. The genus should be maintained. 



Fig. 5. The type, a female, has the third antennal joint just twice 

 as long as the second. The eyes descend almost as low as the vibrissse. 



Fig. 6. Atacta, sp. Not typical of Atacta, which has cheeks wider, 

 appearing one-fifth of eye-height from side view; second antennal 

 joint strongly elongate; antennae inserted rather below middle of eyes. 



Fig. 8. Plagia aurifrons. This appears to be the wing of P. auri- 

 frons, which is distinct from americaua. 



Fig. 9. Tachinomyia robusta female. The figure does not show 

 vibrissal insertion high enough, nor the cheeks wide enough. 



Fig. 10. Gymnodytia immaculata. This species is not congen- 

 eric with the European Cistogaster globosa. 



Fig. ii. Archytas lateral is. Ptilinal suture apparently omitted; 

 a bristle from opposite side of front included. 



Fig. 12, 13. (lOnia frontosa. Not G. capitata, which has second 

 aristal joint about as long as the third. Although the lengths of the 

 aristal joints are variable in Gonia, they do not vary so much as to in- 

 validate their usefulness. 



Fig. 14. Clausicella sp. Not typical of Thryptocera. The epistoma 

 is not so prominent in Thryptocera. the frontal bristles are stronger, 

 aristal joint is proportionally longer. 



Fig. 16. Argyromima setigera. Not typical of clausicella, which 

 has apical cell closed. 



Fig. 18, 19. Acaulona cristata. The apical cell is sometimes short 

 petiolate. 



Fig. 20. Alophora fitinosa. Agrees with type. Not very typical of 

 Alophora, but best referred here provisionally. 



Fig. 21. Hyalomyia, sp. Typical wing, not Phorantha. 



