118 STRATIOMYID^ 



distinct species, as it is smaller, and has tlie snout short ; eyes rounder ; thorax 

 with the humeral spot very small, and the pubescence whiter and slightly shorter ; 

 abdomen more milky white with the basal black spot more quadrate, and the fore- 

 marginal white spots on the fourth segment meeting narrowly on the middle and 

 connecting mdely with the whitish sidemargins, while the spot on the hindmargin 

 is absent, and the hindmargin of the fifth segment bears two fairly large long white 

 spots which are narrowly connected at the middle and with the sides; belly all 

 whitish yellow except the small black base and the rather blackened hind corners 

 and obscured middle of base of the fourth segment, and the black sides of the fifth 

 segment before the white sidemargins ; genitalia possibly different, pale yellow ; 

 anterior tibi^ with a broad ill-defined blackish band; tarsi and knees more 

 whitish yellow. 



A continental specimen from Kowarz's collection also has the spots on 

 the foremargin of the fourth abdominal segment widely connected with 

 the white sides and narrowly connected on the middle, but the anterior 

 tibise without any trace of darkening. The species may be known from 

 its British allies by the small whitish humeral spot and the whitish line 

 from it being not widened near the wing-base, by the more whitish yellow 

 parts of the legs, by its less coarse pubescence, by the (usually) sharply 

 defined whitish second and third and abruptly black fourth and fifth 

 abdominal segments of the male, and by the extensively white belly 

 markings ; while the female is known by the absence of any white spots 

 on the frons, and by its whiter pubescence and squamae. 



iV". pantherinus is probably abundant in suitable marshy localities in 

 Britain, but my authentic records are limited to Cornwall (Padstow), 

 Devon (Porlock), Sussex (Lewes), Kent (Folkestone), Suffolk (Tuddenham 

 and Barton Mills), Cambs (Burwell and Chippenham), Hunts (Monk's 

 Wood), Hereford (Woolhope), Glamorgan (Porthcawl), and Haddington 

 (Aberlady), besides the peculiar specimen taken by Colonel Yerbury at 

 Kenmare in Co. Kerry ; it is of course impossible to be certain as to the 

 species in old records. My dates extend from May 15 to Jvily 5. It is 

 common over Northern and Middle Europe, but perhaps does not occur in 

 the extreme North nor in South Europe. 



Synonymy. — Linne's orginal description of Musca pantherina in Systema Naturae, 

 ed. X., 590 (1758) was as follows : 



" 6. M. antennis filatis, corpore atro, abdomine dorso maculis tribus, marginibus 

 '* totidem connatis albis." 



" Habitat in Svecisi." 



'' Similis M. Ilydroleoni, sed scutellum integrum. Antennce clavatce breves. 

 " Corjjus nvdum. Abdomen de2yresst(m,, marginatum ; incisuris margine medio 

 " alhis et margine lateralis 



The words " scuteUvm integrum " and '' abdomine dorso maculis tribus, marginibus 

 " totidem connatis albis " can only refer to some female Nemotelus. If the word 

 " totidem " mean that there were " as many " white spots connected on the margin 

 as existed on the dorsum the description would apply best to N. idiginosus, but if it 

 mean "in like manner" it would apply best to N.2)antherinus ; the absence of any 

 note of white spots on the snout would apply to N. pantherinus only of our species. 



In Systema Naturae, ed. xii., 980 (1767) Linne repeated this description word 

 for word down to the word " incisuris " after which he added " 3 margine medio albis 

 " et margi'iie. laterali ; iMcisurce 2 ultimce margine albo. Punctum album utrinque 

 " ad basin thoincis." This description would still more clearly refer to N. 

 pantherinus if the " Punctum album ad basin thoracis " refer Lo the whitish 

 humeri. 



But in the meantime in Fauna Suecica, ed. ii., 440 (1761) Linne described the 

 species as : • 



" Musca pantheriatia antennis filatis, corpore atro, abdominis dorso maculis 

 " tribuSj marginibusque totidem connatis albis." 



