to investigate the subject, and therefore it is possible I may 

 have reversed the sexual distinctions in my generic characters: 

 if it be so, the males are larger than the females, and such is 

 Meigen's opinion. 



The Phasias are remarkable-looking flies, especially the fe- 

 males, which have the wings very broad towards the base. 

 Robineau Desvoidy has divided Meigen's genus into several 

 others, of which 3 are inhabitants of this country, and are thus 

 characterised : 



I. Elomvia Desv. 1st posterior cell closed but not petiolated. 



1. cana Hgg, — Meig. v. 4. J9. 201. no. 30. 

 "Cinereous; thorax striped with black ; wings hyaline. 3 lines." 

 Taken, I believe, by Mr. Haliday in Ireland. 



II. Alophora Desv. \st posterior cell ujiiting obliquely with the 



2nd lo7igitudinal, leaving a short petiole {Jig. 9.). 



2. subcoleoptrata Linn. — Meig. 190. I.pl. S9.f. 13. 



" Thorax cinereous, with black stripes ; abdomen fuscous-cinereous ; 

 wings with a broad fuscous stripe ( S ?) or hyaline ( ? ?) : 4 and 3 lines." 

 Taken, 1 believe, near Darent, in Kent 



3. hemiptera F. — Don. 12. 429. — Pa7iz. 74. 13. and 14. and 

 16. afBnis. 



"Abdomen ferruginous with a black stripe; wings dilated, variegated 

 with fuscous and yellow $1, 5 to 6 lines; or with the abdomen black, 

 the sides testaceous, wings subhyaline ?? 4 to 5 lines." 

 June, Devon, Dr. Leach ; and Mr. Simmons took one off 



flowers of the cow parsnep last September in Melton Wood, 



near Doncaster. 



III. Hyalomyia Desv. \st posterior cell forming nearly a right 

 angle "mth the 2nd longitudiiial, leaving a long petiole {vide 

 the colour edjigure). 



4. speciosa Curt. Brit. Ent. pi. 697. S ? 



This is the P. obesa Meig. : but as Fabricius says, " thorax black, imma' 

 culate; wings obscure," I cannot think that it is his T. obesa. 



For the loan of the specimen figured I am indebted to the 

 Rev. G. T. Rudd, who took it last August in a clover-field in 

 the Isle of Wight. 



5. semicinerea Meig. 199. 24. j^Z. 39. j^ 14. 



" Thorax and 2 basal segments of abdomen black, the following hoary ; 

 wings hyaline. 1 line." 

 Taken near London. 



6. pusilla Hgg. — Meig. 198. 23. 



" Thorax black ; abdomen hoaiy, base black ; wings hyaline. 2 lines." 

 I have taken specimens, and Mr. Clifton has also found it. 

 Large swarms sometimes unite, flying in the air. 



7. hyalipennis Fall.— Meig. 199. 25.? 



" Black, shining ; wings hyaline; scales blackish. 1-J line." 

 Mr. Rudd took a specimen last August in the Isle of Wight. 

 Allium arenarium, Sand Garlic, was found near St. Vincent's 

 Rocks, and communicated by Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites. 



