Tabanidae. 103 



A little behind the middle of the head there is a small eye-spot on 

 each side. Brauer thinks the iarva lives in the earth, and compares 

 it, with regard to the terminal segment, with the Iarva of T. autum- 

 nalis, that lives in vi^ater and is said to be able to stretch the terminal 

 segment out telescopically ; I fail, on examining the Iarva of autum- 

 nalis, to see any difference, and had Brauer examined the living Iarva, 

 I think he should have found the structures quite similar. I think 

 the Iarva lives in water or in humid localities, and I have had pupæ 

 from moors and from the border of lakes. The Iarva is also recorded 

 to penetrate into other larvæ f. inst. of beetles (Brauer). The Iarva 

 certainly hibernates and develops in the following spring or summer. 

 The pupa quite resembles tiiat of Chrysops. it shows the same 

 tubercles on the head, but tlie two tubercles just in front of the 

 head, between the antennal sheaths, only bear one bristle each. On 

 the terminal segment there are six spines, in form and arrangement 

 quite as in Chrysops. Brauer 1. c. says that tiie terminal segment 

 „endigt mit einer dicken, wenig gespreitzten Gabel' and figures it so, 

 which is quite erroneous. Beling (Ai'cii. fiir Naturgesch. 41, I, 1875, 

 37) also describes the Iarva; he has found that there are six warts 

 on each segment, forming together six longitudinal rows; he does not 

 speak of prothoracic spiracles. 



The species of Hæmatopota are generally comnion, and mav be 

 present in great numbers, especially on hot days, before and after 

 rain; they often occur near water, but also in woods, especially on 

 or near the roads. The females attack cattle, and I have seen them 

 especially on horses; when sitting on a horse, they may easily be 

 taken with the fingers; they also frequently attack man. When on 

 hot days one walks on roads in woods, they fly on very obstinately. 

 whence they have got the Danish name „Blindbremse" (blind hornet); 

 their occurring before and after rain has given them the name „Regn- 

 klæg" (rain cleg). The males are said to hower in the air, especially 

 in the morning and evening. 



Of the genus 8 species occur in the palæai'ctic region, 3 of which 

 are found in Denmark, 



Table of Species. 

 Males. 



1. The erect hairs on the vertex long, black; first joint of 



antennæ thick, more or less grey at the base 1 . plmialis. 



— The erect hairs on the vertex pale to rufous, moderately long 2. 



2. First joint of antennæ very thick, almost entirely black. . 2. crassicornis. 



— First joint of antennæ moderately thick, long ovale, grey 



to or near to the apex 3. italica. 



