( 130 ) 



distill angle of third se^'iut'iit ; iiu'diiui portion of ventral surface of each sej,'nieiit 

 shiuiiiii:. Wings : first and second costal cells broad, costa being conspicuously bent 

 upwards above hiiiueral transverse vein; extreme tip of wing and axillary cell 

 except extreme base dark brown, remaining cells witliin dark brown area usually 

 with their centres lighter (more or less ochraceons-rufous) ; second posterior cell 

 wide open at tip. llaltrres ochraceons-bnff. JA^gs entirely clothed with black hair, 

 which, though generally inconspicuons and short, is thick and longer on the posterior 

 tibiae, giving these a furry ajipearance ; all femora shining' ; hind legs very long, 

 hind femora with a large and conspicuous tooth beneatli, at commencement of distal 

 third, and with a small and iucouspicnous terminal spine ; first joint of hind tarsi 

 with longer hair above. 



Bolivia and Ecuador, 8. America : type from Bnenavista, Bolivia (J. Stcinback) ; 

 a second specimen from I<]cuador (Biicklri/) is in the British Museum (Natural 

 History). 



This species, which resembles I'c/isin clecata Fabr., cannot, owing to thi' 

 sombre coloration of the body, possibly be confused either with h'/i/i/i/i/or/i'/nc/ttis 

 Ijlaiiirrntris Wied. (the oidy species of the genus already described), or with an 

 nndescribed species from Brazil represented by two ? specimens in the British 

 Museum (Natural History), since in both of the latter species the abdomen, except 

 the lateral margins, is orange-rufous. Although at first sight the unusual shape of 

 tiie body, in conjunction with the remarkable coloration, might be regarded as 

 indicating the advisability of founding a new genus for the reception of the sj)ecies 

 described above, careful consideration of the structural characters shows that there 

 is notliing to warrant the adoj)tion of such a course. 



MYDAIDAE. 



MvDAS Fabr. 



2. Mydas praegraudis sp. nov. 



?. — Length (1 sj)ecimen) 41( mm. ; width of head 8'5 mm. ; length of antenna 

 15 mm. ; greatest width of abdomen (hind margin of fifth segment) Iit'To mm. : 

 length of wing 44'() mm. 



head, boil I/, and legs deep black; third and fourth joints of antennae burnt- 

 sieiina-coloured, expanded portion of fourth joint ferruginous ; proximal three- 

 fourths of wing 1 except hind border, brownish black, opaque, distal fourth of wing 

 and hind border of irregular width smokg-broicn, with a strong ciol'iccous tinge, 

 and transparent. 



Head: mystax, like hairs on remainder of head, entirely black; proboscis 

 and first Ivvo joints of antennae black, first and second joints of antennae clothed 

 willi black hair. Thoi'ax : dorsum almost bare, with an elongate lyrate mark 

 ofadecjier black than ground-colour, extending from front margin to scutelluin, 

 and with a narrow median longitudinal stripe; pleurae thinly clothed with black 

 hair. Abdomen : dorsum clothed above with short ap])ressed black hair, longer 

 and more conspicuous on first segment ; ba.tnl angles eucli with a tuft of shining 

 white or gellowish white hair, of greater length. Wings: violaceous tinge of tiji 

 and hind border esi)ecially conspicuous when wings are viewed at certain angles, 

 or in certain lights ; alula decji brownish black. Sijuamae with a deep brownish 

 black fringe. Ilalteres brownish black. Legs entirely clothed with black hair ; 



