A NEW BRITISH FLY FROM THE FORTH DISTRICT 159 



At first sight this interesting species appears to be very 

 like H. militaris, Mg. ( = iinpcxa, Lw.), but it is easily 

 distinguished by the colour of the abdomen, as well as by 

 many other important characters. Stein's diagnosis is as 

 follows : " Atra, oculis fere arete cohaerentibus ; thorace 

 immaculate subnitido ; abdomine oblongo, apice paullo 

 attenuate, nigro,cinereo-pollinoso,vitta media et segmentorum 

 marginibus posterioribus obscuris ; femoribus anticis subtus 

 bidentatis, tibiis posticis intus nonnullis pilis vestitis, extus 

 in latere a corpore averse setis 56 a medio usque ad apicem 

 pertinentibus instructis ; alis subflavidis, venis long. 3 et 4 

 vix convergentibus, squamis flavis, halteribus nigris. Long. 

 7 mm." From his long and careful description (in German) 

 I extract the following additional details, which will aid any 

 one in recognising the species : Arista of the antenna 

 slightly pubescent, somewhat thickened at the base ; thorax 

 deep black, with a slight bluish tinge, and somewhat shining, 

 presutural acrostichal bristles distinct ; abdomen as long as 

 thorax and scutellum together, when seen from behind the 

 first segment, a triangular dorsal spot on the second and 

 third segments, and a narrow dorsal line on the fourth 

 segment black, while the other portions are dusted with 

 whitish. The spots on the second and third segments 

 broaden out behind to form broadish, ill - defined hind- 

 marginal bands of blackish-gray. 



The hind legs are provided with the following arrange- 

 ment of bristles and hairs : femora below on the side next 

 the body with shortish, fine hairs along the entire length, on 

 the outer side with a row of longer hairs which are fine 

 from the base to the middle, and from thence to the apex 

 bristly ; tibiae (see 

 figure, which gives 

 a view of the side 

 next the body) on 

 the posterior side 

 (" aussen ") one-third 

 from the apex with 

 a long bristle, on the externo-posterior side (" aussen 

 abgewandt ") with a row of fine bristles, among which 

 one longer one is prominent somewhat after the middle, 



