102 SYErHIDiE. 



E-edeseribed from a d and two 5 $ in good coudition in the 

 Indian Museum. Darjiliug, 7000 ft., 26-28. v. 1917, 6. 

 15-19. V. 1917, 2 (both Brunettl); Kurseong, 5000 ft., 4. ix. 1909 

 (Aiuiandale). Previously described from specimens from Simia, 

 16. V. 1909 ; Theog, 2. v. 1907 (Annandale), and from Kurseong. 



There can be little doubt that tliis is a valid species, the black- 

 striped face separating it from the other forms common in India, 

 all of which 1 have here united under indiana. Big., and the entirely 

 yellow legs separating it from javana, Wied., which is the only 

 other species with a black-striped face. The 6 described above 

 has the tips of the hind femora darkened, also the hind tibiee, but 

 I do not regard it as intermediate. The species is of the very 

 narrow type characteristic of the genus, whereas S. javana and 

 IscModon scutellaris, T., are distinctly broader, approaching the 

 narrower species of S^p'jjhus in the cinctellus group. 



80. Sphserophoria Indiana, Big. (PI, III, figs. 1-6.) 



tSpkcerophoria Indiana, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) iv, p. 99 

 (1884). 



6 2 . Head whitish-yellow to pale orange-yellow, including 

 antennae; latter generally brownish above or towards tips; pro- 

 boscis blackish : occipital margin with whitish fringe ; vertex in 6 

 small, black, shining. Prons in 5 yellow with a median rather 

 broad shining black stripe joined to the all-black vertex ; proboscis 

 blackish. Thorax: dorsum dull to moderately shining reneous- 

 black, with, at least on anterior part, two median greyish stripes 

 generally perfectly obvious in fresh specimens. Pleurae shining 

 black with yellow spots as in viridxunea. Scutellum wholly yellow; 

 pubescence of both dorsum and scutellum pale yellow. Abdomen : 

 ]st and 2nd segments black, latter with a median yellow band of 

 uniform but varying width ; remaining segments sometimes 

 mainly yellow and sometimes principally black ; in the latter 

 case the anterior and hind parts of each segment are black ; in 

 many specimens the abdomen after 2ud segment, including geni- 

 talia, is wholly yellow or orange-yellow. Venter mainly yellowish; 

 pubescence of abdomen mainly yellow basally, and towards sides, 

 and on venter, but considerably black on black parts. 6 genitalia 

 with long yellow pubescence. Legs all yellow ; tarsi varying from 

 wholly yellow to wholly moderately dark brown; pubescence of 

 legs yellow. Wings clear, stigma yellowish or brownish ; halteres 

 yellow. 



Length, generally 6-7 mm., but probably variable. 



The very common Indian species referred to here as indlana, 

 Big., seems universally distributed throughout India, occurring 

 mostly from December to May, and in September, which causes 

 me to think it may be two-brooded. Common in the Western 

 Himalayas, apparently rather less so in the Eastern ranges, but 

 found in Nepal. Very abundant at times (Agra and Ferozepore, 



