134 



markings characteristic of Hcematopota. The eye-markings are 

 similar to those in the latter gen vis.* 



The genus Hippocentrum, of which three species have been 

 described, is essentially West African, although the typical species 

 Hippocentrum versicolor ,-\ Austen, has also been met with in the 

 Nile Province of the Uganda Protectorate and in the Lado Enclave. 

 As regards the other two species, Hippocentrum trimaculatum 

 {Hcematopota trimaculata), Newstead, — the range of which is known 

 to extend from the Congo Free State to the Sierra Leone Protectorate 

 and the French Sudan in the region of Lake Chad — is very closely 

 allied to and possibly identical with the third species, Hippocentrum 

 (Hcematopota) strigipennis, Karsch, which was described from four 

 denuded specimens from the Gaboon. Karsch's description of the 

 wing-markings of his species, however, is not quite definite enough 

 to enable a decided opinion to be formed as to whether or not 

 H. trimaculatum, Newstead, is really a synonym of H. strigipennis, 

 Karsch. 



Nothing is yet known of the life-history of the species of 

 Hippocentrum, but the females are pertinacious biters, both of 

 human beings and animals : the generic namej refers to the typical 

 species, which is said to be very troublesome to horses in Lagos 

 Province, Southern Nigeria. In the resting position the wings are 

 carried as in Hcematopota. 



Hippocentrum versicolor, Austen. 



Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Ser. 8, Vol. II., p. 354 



(1908) 



Plate XII., fig. 95. 



The range of this easily recognisable species extends at least 

 from Northern and Southern Nigeria to the Lado Enclave and the 



* Tn specimens of Hippocentrum trimaculatum, Newstead (see below), preserved 

 in s|)irit, the eyes appear clove-brown, with four narrow, horizontal, green or bronze- 

 green stripes, of which those forming the middle pair are more or less sinuous 

 or zigzag. 



t See below, and Plate XII., fig. 95. 

 J iVTro<r, a horse ; Kevrpou, a horse-goad. 



