2 t)(j Syrphidae. 



hind metatarsus blackish. The legs almost quite pale-haired, only 

 more or less black-haired behind the front femora, and sometimes 

 some few black hairs on posterior femora; hind femora very slightly 

 black-setulose below, and only on the apical part: hind metatarsi 

 somewhat thickened. Wings almost hyaline or a little yellowish tinged 

 towards the anterior margin ; upper marginal cross-vein curved above, 

 the upper angle rectangular. Squamulæ whitish with a whitish fringe. 

 Balteres yellow with the knob darkened. 



Female. Frons of medium breadth, a little widening downwards, 

 with distinct lateral channels but the middle channel indistinct or 

 wanting; it is yellow-haired. Epistoma considerably more hollowed 

 below the antennæ than in the male. Antennæ with the third joint 

 somewhat larger than in the male and generally paler. Thorax very 

 fmely punctate, with short, erect, yellow or white hairs. Abdomen 

 shining, with short depressed, yellow hairs, longer and erect at the 

 sides. Legs paler than in the male, tibiæ with slight rings, or these 

 quite wanting, and tarsi paler, often with front and hind metatarsi 

 slightly or not darkened; hind femora not setulose beneath. Balteres 

 orange. 



Length 5,5 to fully 7 mm. 



I possess a male of this species with hairs on epistoma, but tho 

 hairs are slight and of a somewhat woolly appearance; it is interesting 

 that also Becker mentions a similar male specimen, but I do not 

 think that the suggestion advanced by Verrall (Brit. Fl. VIII, 252) 

 that possibly many species should bear epistomal pubescence when 

 newly emerged, but soon be rubbed, is correct. 



The species is nearest allied to mntabilis but, besides by many 

 other characters, it is distinguished by the fewer and weaker scutellar 

 marginal bristles. 



C. ruralis is not rare in Denmark; Charlottenlund, Bagsvær, Geel 

 Skov, Billerød, Grib Skov, Tisvilde, Nyraad near Vordingborg ; in Jut- 

 land at Borsens. It is a spring species, my dates are ^^U—-^^Uk It 

 occurs on various spring flowers on fieids and meadows. 



Geographical distribution : — Ali Europe and Northern Asia, to- 

 wards the north to southcrn Sweden, and in Finland. 



9. PlatyclliPUS St. Farg. et Serv. 



(Platyclieirus). 



Species of medium size and of a somewhat narrow and elongate 

 shape ; the colours are black or dark æneous with yellow or sometimes 



