248 STRPHIDiE. 



darkened to brown, the specimens closely approach orientalis, 

 with which de Meijere considers rujifacies synon3'mous. Tlie 

 region of the mouth-border is in some specimens brownish- 

 orange. 



Bigot's original description was made from a single example in 

 his collection from Pondicherry. The remarks tendered above are 

 based on several in good condition in the Indian Museum from 

 Katihar; Satara District; United Provinces; Port Canning; 

 Calcutta; Bangalore; Maugaldai, Assam ; Rangoon. 



Genus EUMERUS, Meig. 



Emnerus, Meig-en, Syst. Beschr. iii, p. 202 (1822). 



Genotype. If no species has been already selected, I suggest 

 Pipiza strigata, Pabr. * 



Head broader than thorax; eyes more or less pubescent, some- 

 times almost bare, contiguous in S for a distance varying from 

 a long space to little more than a point, somelimes very nar- 

 rowly yet distinctly separated ; wide apart in § ; face rather 

 flat, central knob absent. Antennae variable, generally sliort, but 

 large ; 3rd joint rounded or ovate, or occasionally elongate, 

 usually larger in $ ; arista bare, 3-jointed, placed before middle 

 of joint. Thorax subqiuidrate, slightly arched, usually teneous- 

 black with short pubescence ; scutellum concolorous, the actual 

 margin occasionally serrulate. Abdomen longer than wide, sides 

 usually parallel or slightly widened about the middle; nearly 

 always wath three pairs of pale lunules ; tip blunted in S , more 

 pointed in $ ; pubescence short. Legs moderately strong, hind 

 femora thickened, with short stout bristles below ; hind tibiae 

 usually slightly curved; hind metatarsi generally incrassate and 

 in some si)ecies the succeeding joints also conspicuously dilated. 

 Wings with marginal cell widely open ; anterior cross-vein at or 

 beyond middle of disi-al cell ; 3rd vein often sinuous, sometimes 

 looped like that of Eristalis ; 1st posterior cell closed some distance 

 from border by the recurrent and angulated upturned tip of 

 4th vein, which usually bears a short ajipendix at the angle ; 

 apical portion of 5th vein rather more upright than usual. 



Life-history. E. strigaius, Fin., and E. tuhercidatus, Rondani, 

 have been bi'ed in Europe from onions and various other bulbs. 

 These two species have compai'atively recently come to be regarded 

 as serious pests of Narcissus in Great Britain, and are sometimes 

 known as the " small Narcissus Plies." Their life-history, together 

 with that of Merodon equestris, Pabr., the " large Narcissus I^'ly," 



* Verrall insists on retaining the name Eumerus in the sense in wliioh it whs 

 used by Meigen in his Rtandard work in 1822, and not as tentatively nsed hy 

 him, under the form Eumeros, in 1803. Coqnillett uses it in Meigeu's earlier 

 sense. As adopted here it has been known by all dipterologists tor nearly a 

 century, but no type-species has been to m}' knowledge definitely set up. 



