114 iMay, 



appearance it somewhat resembles a small male of M. mellinum, L., 

 but it is distinguished at once by its curious antennae, the third joint 

 of which is large and flattened and bears a stout three-jointed style 

 projecting from its upper angle. The third joint is rounded below and 

 straight above, of an orange-yellow colour, except the upper margin, 

 which, like the style, is brown. 



Doros conopseus, F. — There is only one specimen of this fine 

 species, it is from Mr. Clifton's collection. It is a handsome insect, 

 more than an inch in expanse of wing, and at first sight looks like a 

 large Conors. 



Myiolepta luteola, Gmel. — A small series of this rare insect is 

 from the New Forest. 



Eristalis cryptarum, E. — This species, which is marked doubtfully 

 British in Mr. Verrall's list, has been taken in several localities in the 

 South- West of England. There is a fine series in the Museum from 

 Ivybridge, Devon. It is especially distinguished by its general orange- 

 red colour; the larger portion of the abdomen is black, but the 

 margins of the 2Qd, 3rd, and 4th segments are conspicuously yellow, 

 and the triangular marks at the base, the scutellum and legs are 

 orange-red. The thorax has a distinctly reddish-brown hue not seen in 

 any other British species of Eristalis. E. rupium, F. — There is only 

 one specimen of this tine species, which has a large dark brown mark 

 on the wing beneath the black stigma. 



Mallota eristaloides, Lev. — One specimen from Lyndhurst. The 

 venation is exactly the same as in Helophilus (the marginal cell is open, 

 as in that genus, not closed as in Eristalis). At first sight this might 

 be mistaken for CriorrJiina asilica, Fin., but it is at once distinguished 

 by the venation and the absence of the pale marks upon the abdomen, 

 seen in this latter species. 



Merodon equestris, F. — This used to be considered a very rare 

 British insect, but is now becoming common. It is very variable. Its 

 larva feeds on bulbous roots, such as Narcissus, Bulbocodium, &c.* 



CriorrJiina 7'ii/icauda, Deg. — This, one of the fiuest of the British 

 Syrphidae, is more like C. berberina, F., than any other British species 

 of the genus ; but it is larger, narrower and more elongate, and is 



* The undoubted fact that Merodon is becoming more common bare than it was formerly, 

 is, no doubt, mainly due to the large importations of bulbs of Narcissus from the South of 

 Europe. A friend of mine, a noted horticulturist, never observed any signs of the ravages of 

 its larvEe until after having purchased, in an unlucky moment, a bag of imported bulbs ; 

 since then it has occasioned great damage in his garden. It will feed on many kinds of bulbs. 

 Recently it c-ame under my notice as destroying those of Earvcles, an Australian genus. Bulbs 

 of Narcissus (and probably of other plants), that have been attacked by Merodon, but not 

 killed outright, are found next season to have divided themselves into a varj'ing number of 

 healthy smaller bulbs, so that, to some extent, the attacks of the larvae form a means of piopa- 

 gation !— R. McLachlan. 



