Vol. XXvi] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 449 



I do not know the genus Hilarimorpha and therefore can- 

 not say whether or not it is related to Mythicomyia, but I 

 think it probably is. As to the genus Mythicomyia, I agree 

 with Coquillett in placing it in the Empididae, and with 

 Melander in making it typical of a distinct subfamily. Its 

 affinity to the Bombyliid genera allied to Gcron and Rhab- 

 dopscphahis may be considered, but I cannot associate it with 

 the Leptidae. 



I find the anal cell to be either closed or distinctly open, so 

 this character is of no family importance. The form of the 

 antennae and the venation, except as to the anal cell, are con- 

 stant in the material examined. Taking these, as well as the 

 sum of the other characters, into consideration the genus sure- 

 ly favors the Empididae, and may be distinguished by the short 

 second vein ending in the first. 



On account of the dissimilarity between the sexes, it is diffi- 

 cult to associate them in many cases, and it is possible that 

 some synonomy is created. This is, of course, unavoidable 

 with our present limited knowledge of the species. However, 

 synonomy is much preferable to misidentification. 



MYTHICOMYIA. 



1893. Coquillett, Ent. News, iv, 209. 



1896. Coquillett, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xviii, 409. 



1896. Williston, Man. N. A. Dipt. ed. 2, 73 (note). 



1902. Melander, Tr. Am. Ent. Soc., xxviii, 337. 



1905. Aldrich, Catalogue, 218. 



1908. Williston, Man. N. A. Dipt. ed. 3, 218 (note). 



1908. Kertesz, Cat. Dipt, iii, 333. 



Destitute of macrochaetae. Head globular, attached by a 

 distinct neck. Antennae porrect ; first joint very short, indis- 

 cernible ; second as long as broad ; third at least as broad as 

 second, lanceolate, elongate, not annulated, much longer than 

 first and second together; style terminal, robust, conical or 

 cylindrical, pointed, much narrower than third. Eyes of male 

 contiguous, with enlarged facets above. The ocellar tubercle 

 prominent with the ocelli widely separated and equidistant. 

 Proboscis porrect, rigid, without labella. I'alpi minute. 



Thorax hemispherical, convex above, higher than long, 

 hunch-backed. Abdomen ovate, pointed, with seven segments 



