13(5 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



scutellum, and the middle femora are yellow at the apex. In all of these 

 characters it agrees with mine. On the other hand, his specimen has the 

 dorsal stripes narrow, and the lower border of the cheeks forms with the 

 plane of the occiput an obtuse angle. In these characters it differs from 

 mine. A comparison of specimens is necessary to clear up the difficulty. 

 I have noticed in the anterior metatarsus of this species a formation 

 that I think is of considerable value as a specific character, and which 

 apparently has not been observed in any other species of the genus. In 

 this species it is widened and swollen considerably more than in any of 

 the species of Helophilus with which I am acquainted. My autoptic 

 knowledge of the species of this genus includes almost all of the species 

 except those of the groenlaiidicus group, and of that group I know only 

 H. Dyc/iei, Will. Since that species has the tarsi somewhat wider than 

 the other species of the genus, and since the authors have paid no 

 attention to the tarsi, I am not certain but that in the grooilandicus group 

 this character is not of much value. I am certain of this, however, that 

 the swollen anterior metatarsi of the male of this species will separate it 

 from any member of the genus outside of the groeii/andkiis group. 



25. Helophilus Dychei, VVilliston, Ms. 



Male.— Face below the antennte only lightly concave ; on the lower 

 half nearly vertical and straight in profile ; the lower line of the head 

 forms with the plane of the occiput an obtuse angle ; face on the sides 

 yellowish-white, the median stripe black ; cheeks black. Antennae black. 

 Front on the lower part yellowish-white with yellowish pile ; on the upper 

 constricted part more brownish and with longer blackish pile. Mesonoturn 

 opaque black, with two slender, yellowish or yellowish-white stripes, 

 sometimes narrowly interrupted at the suture and reaching only about 

 half way from the suture to the scutellum, pile abundant, dusky yellow. 

 Scutellum light yellow with yellow pile. Abdomen black, the second 

 segment with two large yellow triangular spots, extending the whole width 

 of the segment ; third segment with the anterior angles yellow, the black 

 of the second segment is opaque or subopaque with the narrow hind 

 margin metallic ; that of the third segment is opaque on the anterior half 

 or a little more ; third segment wholly shining, no whitish lunulate spots ; 

 pile erect, yellowish. Legs black, the immediate tips of the femora and 

 the base of the tibife yellow. Hind femora moderately dilated ; hind 

 tibise arcuate. Wings cinereous hyaline; sixth vein sinuous. Length, 

 1-23^ mm. 



