THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 131 



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I have sought in vaui to apply this character to the North American 

 species of these genera. I have had, untortunately, the opportunity of 

 examining but one species of Xanthogramma, X. tlavipes, Loew, and it is 

 quite possible that the other species of the genus may differ from in it 

 precisely this respect. However, it is important that the character that 

 will separate all of the European species of these genera finds its 

 exception in this one North American species at least. 



In the absence of a positive illustration of the character used by 

 Prof Mik, I have had some difficulty in conceiving exactly what he 

 means. I take it, however, that the " Umwallung " is the elevated orifice 

 of the metathoracical spiracle and the " Klappen " are the lids fitting 

 over them and bearing on their free edges cilia of the fine black or brown 

 bristles. If I am right in this, the character does not apply at all to X. 

 flavipes. The orifice of the spiracle is not in the least elevated more 

 than in any of the fifteen species of Syrphus which I have examined with 

 special reference to this character, and the cilia is not black or brown, 

 but only slightly yellowish, 



1 8. Baccha lemur, O. S. 



Four specimens: Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 1896; Prof. Bruner. 



These specimens show no variation among themselves, nor differ- 

 ences from the description. The posterior femora uniformly have only an 

 indication of a preapical ring. 



19. Volucella apicifera, Townsend, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1895, p. 40. 

 One male specimen, Las Cruces, New Mexico ; coll. Townsend, 



April 8, now ni the collection of Prof Aldrich I have examined. The 

 tpye of this species, which I have also examined in the collection of the 

 Kansas University, which was taken at Las Cruces, N. M., April 17, and 

 this specimen agree throughout. This species is certainly, as Mr. Townsend 

 states, very closely allied to V. isabellina, Will. It differs in some 

 respects in precisely such points as a tenental form of that species would 

 be supposed to differ. However, the markings of the legs and abdomen 

 are exactly the reverse of what would be expected if this were an 

 external form of V. isabellina : i. e., they are darker and more extensive. 

 I am inclined to think, with Mr. Townsend, that there are here two 

 distinct though closely related species. 



Pyritis, no v. gen. \TTvinri^, a precious stonej. 



Large black, thickly pilose species, without lighter markings. 

 Marginal cell open, anterior cross vein in middle of discal cell, third vein 



