ITELOPIIILUS. — MEllODON. 211 



d ? . Very much like bengalensls, but with several s;ooci s])ecific 

 characters. In the S the e^'es gradually approach but at no 

 point actually touch, nor is the frons linear tor even the smallest 

 distance.. Jif^jwien mainly orange ; 1st segment sometimes \Aith 

 centre of hind margin black ; 2nd segment witii a large triangular 

 brown mark on base, not reaching sides but ol'ten drawn out 

 hindwards, especially in S , into a narrow line or median stripe 

 which may or may not reach a siii)ilar, more flattened, triangular 

 spot on hind margin ; the latter spot also sometimes attains .side 

 margins. 3rd segment with a similar flattened black triaiighi on 

 hind margin, generally reaching side margins ; 4tli segment with 

 apical half mainly black, the black colour broadest in centre, 

 remainder with yellow tomentum, as has also the extreme hind 

 margin. 5th segment with a Lirge, shining black, but not very 

 conspieuous, triangle, its apex reaching nearly to base of segnient, 

 on hind margin, remainder with yellow or yellowish-grey dust. 

 Pubescence of abdomen wholl)'- yellow; genitalia shining black. 

 Venter generally with basal half yellowish, apical half blackish. 

 Ler/s generally as in hewjalensis, but the yellow in the anterior 

 tibiae is rather more extensive, especially in the middle pair, and 

 the yello^v pubescence rathei- brighter. In the J the middle 

 femora are without any tooth below and not suddenly contracted 

 near tip ; hind femora with a distinct comb-like fringe of short, 

 stiff, black hairs on inner underside nearl}'' from base to tip; 

 middle tibiae without any swelling before middle and not appre- 

 ciably thicker at tip ; hind tibiae very suddenly narrowed near 

 lip, forming almost a small tooth at point of compression. In $ , 

 legs simple, generally as in hengahnsis. 



Lenr/th, 10-12 mm. 



Described from a number of specimens of both sexes, yiliguri ; 

 Jubliulpore, viii. l!J07 {Nurse); Katihar( /-'aiw/) ; Pusa, 19 and 20. 

 ix. 1915; Deesa, vi. 1901 (A^wse); Calcutta; Port Canning: 

 Puri (Caunter); jMandalay, 2-4. ix. 1914 {Fletcher). Apparently 

 widelv distributed in the plains of India; recorded also from the 

 Aru Islands. 



The degree of contiguity of the eyes and the structure of the 

 femora and tibiae will always distinctly separate the d d of 

 benr/aJensis and quailrivittaivs. As regards the 5 2 > the more 

 extended orange surface of the abdomen and the markings of ihe 

 4th segment are apparently the only distinguishing features, 

 though these, especially the latter, are generally sullicient when 

 once the two s|)ecies are clearly recognised. 



(ienus MERODON, Meii/. 



Merodon, M.'i-en. lUif,'. .Mug. ii, p. 274 (1803). 



Tif/ridimni/iti, JJijjrot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Prance, (t)) ii, Hull. p. cwi 

 ( Tigridcmyia, 1882). 



fxEN'OTi'PK, Si/rphiiii davipes^ Fahr. {as curvipes, Fabr. ). by desig- 

 nation of Westuood, 1S40. 



r 2 



