476 Syrphidae. 



Female. Vertex broad, black, frons a little more brnwnlsh, but 

 black and shining on the part above the antennæ, a little yellowish 

 at the eye-margins ; the hairs black on vertex, paler on frons but 

 black above the antennæ. Abdomen generally more w'hite-haired than 

 in the male, 



Length 15 — 17 mm. 



This species is rather like Eristalis tenax but cannot be con- 

 founded with it. 



M. cimhiciformis is rare in Denmark; Ordrup Mose, Dyrehaven and 

 on Møen. My sole date of capture is ^^/e. Only few specimens have 

 been taken, but it has been bred in great numbers by Mr. Schlick; 

 the larvæ v^ere taken in Dyrehaven on Vt and ^^/t in water in a hoUow 

 maple-tree and a hollow beech. 



Geographical distribution : — All Europe, towards the north to 

 middle Svveden; it is also recorded from North America. 



38. Mepodon Meig. 



The genus is related to the other genera of the Eristalinae among 

 others by the similar wing-venation. The species are of large or 

 medium size and densely pilose. Eyes hairy, touching for a short 

 distance in the male, separated in the female. Antennæ inserted in 

 the middle of the head; they are somewhat short (or elongated in 

 foreign species), the third joint a little elongated v^^ith an upper apical 

 angle; arista not long, apparently bare. Epistoma with no central 

 knob, a little arched just below the antennæ, hoUowed in the middle 

 and then produced to a prominent upper mouth edge, and almost 

 not descending; it is black, slightly pruinose, hairy. Clypeus has the 

 basal part somewhat long. Proboscis of some length; palpi short 

 W\ih numerous long hairs at the apex. Thorax rectangular. Scutellum 

 black, without any distinct marginal fringe directed downwards. Ab- 

 domen shorter or longer, in the male consisting of four visible segments 

 as in the related genera; genitalia somewat large; the fourth ventral 

 segment narrow, bent somewhat downwards and deeply incised in the 

 hind margin, the fourth dorsal segment with the sides bent broadly 

 down on the ventral side; (in some foreign species the fourth ventral 

 segment is less incised). Legs strong and robust, hind femora con- 

 siderably thickened and with a triangular tooth below near the tip in 

 both sexes; hind tibiæ more or less dilated and compressed; tarsi 

 broad and flat. The males of some species have processes on hind 

 coxæ, or they have (such as our equestris) a spur at the apex of hind 

 tibiæ. The curious long, bristly hair above the trochanters is present, 



