49 



is found throughout Central and Southern Europe, from Sweden to 

 Corsica and Corfu, while it also occurs in Asia Minor. 



The eyes in T. autumnalis are without bands ; Brauer describes 

 those of the male as " black, iridescent, the large facets grey." As 

 regards the dimensions of the British specimens in the Museum, the 

 length of the males varies from i6 to 19 mm., that of the females 

 from 16^ to 20 mm. ; the wing-expanse of the largest female is 38 mm. 



Tabanus bromius, Linn. 

 Plate 23. 



This species, as stated by Colonel Yerburj', is ver\' common in the 

 south of England ; it is also the most easily recognised of the smaller 

 species of Tabaiius, since the large, conspicuous, and sharply defined 

 yellowish spots on the abdomen give it quite a distinctive appearance. 

 It is true that dark females of Tlierioplectes montanus, Mg., with little 

 or no chestnut colour on the sides of the abdomen present a certain 

 similarity to females of the present species, but they can, of course, at 

 once be distinguished by the e}-es being conspicuously hair}-. 



An examination of the British series of Tabanus bromius in the 

 Museum collection shows that the males vary in length from 13^ to 

 15 mm., while the length of the females ranges from 131 to 16 mm. 

 The eyes of the male have an area of large facets in the upper half; 

 those of the female are described by Brauer (Joe. cit., p. 188) as being 

 " sometimes lighter, sometimes darker green, shimmering red " ; in 

 both se.xes the eyes have a single purple band. 



In England Tabanus bromius would appear to be on the wing from 

 June to August ; the localities and dates of the British specimens in the 

 possession of the Museum are as follows : — Stockenchurch, O.xford- 

 shire, August 15th — i8th, 1896 {Lieut.-Colonel Ycrbnry); Oxshott, 

 Surrey, June i6th, 1895 ( TF. R. Ogilvie Grant); Bearsted, Kent, 

 July 26th, 1896 {E. E. Green) ; Crowborough, Sussex, July loth, 1892 

 ( W. R. Ogilvie Grant) ; Lyndhurst, New Forest, Hants, June 28th — 

 ]v\y 2ist {Licut.-Colonel Yerbury ; F.C.Adams; F. fF. Frohazok); 



D 



