This pretty genus of Syrphidse is distinguished by spiny 

 hinder thighs, by the scutel, which has a thin and sharp edge, 

 somewhat denticulated, and the apical transverse nervure is 

 lobed and sinuated very differently to congenerous groups. 



Meigen has divided Eumerus into two sections, depending 

 on the pubescence of the eyes ; but as there are some species 

 slightly pubescent, and age probably making a considerable 

 difference in this respect in others, 1 fear it is not much to be 

 relied upon ; it is a point, however, which I cannot decide, 

 having very few species : four of the following are admitted 

 on the authority of the " Systematic Catalogue," where they are 

 marked as inhabitants of the metropolitan district. 



* Eyes hairy. 



1. ornatus Meig. 3. 205. ^. Length almost 4 lines. 



" Thorax eneous, abdomen black, sides golden, with 3 pair of white lii- 

 nules." 



2. ruficornis Meig. 206. 5. — fumipennis Ctirt. S. 



Thorax obscure eneous ; abdomen black, with 3 pair of white lunules ; 



antennae and base of tibiae rufous : length almost 4 lines. 



I took a female, I believe at Coomb Wood, and a male in 

 Norfolk with dark wings, which led me to consider it a di- 

 stinct species. 



** Eyes naked or almost naked. 



3. strigatus Eall. — Meig. 207. 7. — annulatus Pz. 60. 11. 



" Thorax eneous with 2 white stripes : abdomen black with 3 pair of 

 white lunules : tibiae, excepting the hinder, rufous at the base : antennae 

 fuscous : 4 lines long." 



4. aeneus Macq. Dip. 1. 528. 11. 



Metallic-green or blue, 4th abdominal segment with whitish pubescence : 

 antennae and legs black, base of tibiae testaceous, tarsi of the same colour 

 or blackish : length 2| lines. 



End of June, Clifton, near Bristol ; end of July, flying 

 about brambles in Coomb lane. 



5. funeralis Meg.— Meig. 208. 9. 



" Hypostonia somewhat cinereous : thorax eneous with 2 white stripes : 

 abdomen black, with 3 pair of white lunules : legs black : full 3 lines." 



6. Selene Meig. 210. 12. 



" Eyea naked : black, thorax with 2 white stripes : abdomen with 3 pair 

 of white lunules : 2nd segment testaceous : 2i- lines." 



7. litoralis Curt. Brit. Ent., pi. 749. c?. 



Three specimens of this nondescript were taken by the 

 Rev. G. T. Rudd, and two by Mr. Dale, on the sand hills 

 near Christchurch, the middle of August. 



The Plant is Phleum pratense^ Common Timothy grass. 



