AMALOPIS. 26T 



the costal and subcostal cells, infuscatod ; all the cross-veins have 

 brown clouds, as well as the origin of the prsefurca. 



This is the normal coloring, but among eighteen specimens 

 which I had before me, only four showed it in its full develop- 

 ment. All the others were more or less paler about the collare, 

 the scutum, the scutellum, the metathorax, and the abdomen ; 

 sometimes with slight indications of brown, sometimes without 

 any. The coloring of the wings is also variable, the fuscous 

 tinge of the anterior margin and the clouds on the cross-veins 

 being sometimes very pale. Still, a trace of the brown tinge of 

 the anterior margin of the wings and a brown ring on the anterior 

 part of the collare, near the head, are always left, and help to 

 recognize the species. 



The venation of this species is also very variable. In the ma- 

 jority of specimens the first submarginal cell is shorter than the 

 second (Tab. II, fig. 1.5) ; in other words, it is the second longi- 

 tudinal vein which is forked. Sometimes (in two specimens among 

 eighteen) the reverse is the case ; it is the third vein which is fork- 

 ed, and hence the first submarginal cell is longer than the second. 



In normal specimens the second posterior cell is sessile ; in 

 rather rare cases it is petiolate. The discal cell, in the majority 

 of specimens, is closed ; in three specimens among eighteen I 

 find it open. The position of the great cross-vein is also some- 

 what variable ; sometimes it is opposite the inner end of the 

 discal cell, sometimes beyond it. The presence of a stump of a 

 vein, usually long and distinct, near the basis of the prsefurca, is 

 a very constant character of this species. Adventitious cross- 

 veins in the second submarginal cell are of frequent occurrence ; 

 sometimes two or three in succession. Occasionally they occur 

 also in other cells, for instance in the second posterior cell. (Tab. 

 II, fig. 15, represents a strongly colored wing of A. inconstans 

 with two adventitious cross-veins in the second submarginal cell.) 



Hab. Atlantic States, rather common in the spring ; I have 

 collected it in abundance at the Yirginia Springs and in the 

 White Mountains ; also near Washington and New York. 



I possess two specimens from Europe which are similar, in all 

 respects, to the paler varieties of A. inconstans. The description 

 of A. tipulina Egger (Schiner's Fauna Austriaca, Diptera, II, 

 p. 528), agrees quite well with these specimens. The question 

 arises whether A. tijjultna is distinct from A. littoralis Meig. ? 



