HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



185 



•dopterus, Mg. Mr. Verrall first called the attention 

 of entomologists to this being a British species, 

 though Mr. Newman recorded the capture of a series 

 without mentioning any authority for the identification 

 of the species. 



3. 7. autumnalis, Linn. 1766. — Linn. Sys. Nat. ii. 

 J 000 ; bovinus, Harris. 



Some males of this species were placed in the 

 British Museum collection as paganus, Fab., till I 

 pointed out the error. One rare variety of this 

 species has clear wings and black tarsi ; I found 

 one in Dr. Mason's collection, and one in that of the 

 Entomological Club, where it was labelled glaucopis, 

 Mg. The males sometimes resemble Theriopkctes 

 solstitialis, but may at once be recognised by the bare 

 eyes. 



4. 7. Grtzcus, Fab. 1794. — Fab. Ent. Sys. iv. 368 ; 

 fermgineus, Mg. ; ursulus, Mgrle in Mg. ; J'ulvicornis , 



Schi. ; Liburuicus, Wied. in litt. ; propinquus, Palm, j 

 infusus, Walk. 



Very rare. One in Mr. Verrall's collection. 



Professor Pandelle thinks apricus, Mg., a variety 

 of this species. 



5. 7. glaucopis, Mg. 1820. — Mg. Sys. Bes. ii. 48, 

 g ; lunulalus, Lw. ; cognatus, Lw. ; fcrrugincus, Mg. ; 

 flavicans, Zell. 



Very rare. Three in Mr. Verrall's collection, and 

 one in the British Museum. 



6. 7. bromius, L. 1761. — Linn. Sys. Nat. ii. 1001 ; 

 autumnalis, Harr. ; ?nacu!atus, De G. ; glaucus, 

 Mgrle. ; glaucescens, Schi. 



This species often makes fields quite impassable, 

 owing to its great abundance occasionally, and its 

 persistent attacks on man. The Rev. J. G. Wood 

 recommends smearing paraffin round the neck when 

 collecting, as the only preventive from their bites. 



The male is much less common than the female. 

 A specimen labelled glaucus, Mg., said to have been 

 thus named by Walker, is only a variety of bromius. 



7. 7. maculicornis, Zett. 1842. — Zett. Dip. Scan. i. 

 117; borealis, Mg. g ; nigricans, Egg.; glancescens, 

 Schi. 9 ; bromius, var. Loew. ; ? Miki, Brauer. 



This not uncommon species may be distinguished 

 from bromius, its nearest ally, by the dull leaden 

 colour of the abdomen, which is grey, or tawny-grey, 

 in bromius. 



In Professor Brauer's illustration he shows a row 

 of hairs on the upper side only of the first antennal 

 joint, but in my specimens the joint is equally hairy 

 all over. In one large 9 in the Entomological Club 

 collection the branch of the third longitudinal vein is 

 forked, as in the genus Atylotus. Walker says this is 

 often the case in Tabanus (with which he incorporated 

 Theriopkctes and Atylotus), but this specimen is the 

 only one that I have seen presenting this peculiarity 

 (except in true species of Atylotus). 



8. 7. cordiger, Wied. 1820. — Wied. in Mg. Sys. 

 Bes. ii. 47 ; atricornis, Mg. ; latifrons, Zett. ; mega- 

 cephala, Jaen. ; vicinus, Egg. ; anthracinus, Walk. 



This species is liable to be confounded with 

 bromius, L., from which it may be distinguished by 

 the abdominal spots being hoary instead of yellowish- 

 grey ; with maculicornis, Zett., from which its 

 blacker abdomen and eyes bare of a coloured band in 

 life will distinguish it. It also resembles Theriopkctes 

 montanus, but can be separated from this species by 

 its bare eyes and the absence of tawny spots on the 

 basal abdominal segment. 



II. Therioplectes, Zell. 1842. 



Zell. Isis. (1842) 815. 



This genus has pubescent eyes, and may therefore 

 at once be distinguished from Tabanus. 



Baron Osten Sacken, Schiner, and Brauer, still 

 rank this and the next genus as sub-genera only of 

 Tabanus. 



1. T. montamcs, Mg. 1820; Mg. Sys. Bes. ii. 55. 

 Rather rare. 



2. 7. micar.s, Mg. 1804 ; Mg. Sys. Bes. ii. 34, 

 pi. xiii. 20 ; Auslriacus, F. Walk. ; signatus, Pauz. ; 

 nigcr, Donov. 



Rather rare. Closely resembling the bisignatns 

 var. of 7. tropicus, L., from which the black tibice 

 separate it. 



Wiedman's Auslriacus is not this species. In Dr. 

 Mason's collection I found a var. (? distinct species) 

 with a short and rounded abdomen, and thick hair 

 (black in £, brownish-grey in 9) on the under side of 

 the head. 



3. 7. tropicus, L. 1761. — Linn. Sys. Nat. ii. 1001 ; 

 bimaculatus, Mcq. ; signatus, Schi. ; borealis, Jaen. ; 

 bisignatus, var. melanochroitica, Jaen. ; luridus, Lw. 



The bisignatus variety is not rare in Britain, but 

 very scarce on the Continent. Were it not fcr 

 Professor Brauer holding a different opinion, I should 

 have ranked this variety as a separate species. In 

 one specimen in the British Museum collection the 

 wings are entirely clear, with an entirely tawny first 

 antennal joint. 



The <$ is much rarer than the 9, and is less subject 

 to variation. Some of Zetterstedt's varieties of his 

 borealis may possibly be this species. It somewhat 

 resembles Tab. Gracus and 7. glaucopis, but the 

 pubescent eyes will easily distinguish it from either. 

 Common. 



4. 7. solstitialis, Schi. 1862.— Schi. F. Aust. i. 30; 

 tropicus, Lw. ; luridus, Walk. 



Professor Pandelle seems inclined to consider 

 tropicus, L., and solstitialis, Schi., as the same species, 

 and hints at merging 7. montanus also. In one 

 variety the abdomen is very conical (tf), the dorsal 

 black stripe very narrow, and the wings darker than 

 usual, the size being smaller than in the type. 

 Common. 



III. Atylotus, Os. Sack. 1876. 



Os. Sack. Mem. Bos. Soc. ii. part 4, no. iv. 421- 

 479- 



