310 SYRPniD^.. 



12. («) Legs wholly black; antennae black; [p. 316. 



head black; lengtli 9|-11 inm annandalei, Brun., 



{h) l^egs (except hind femora) maiuly 



orange ; antennae orange ; head ferni- [p. 317. 



ginoiis-red ; length 14 mnj rvficandus, 13run., 



(c) Legs wholly orange ; antenna? brown ; 



head blackish ; length 7h mm Jlavipei>, Brun., p. 317. 



13. Thorax dark shining violet. . unicolor. Brun., p. 318. 



Thorax black avricinchis, Brun., 



[p. 318. 



The species of Microdon are in some cases closely allied, and as 

 many specimens go greasy after a year or two unless quite 

 thoroughly dried soon after ca])ture, it is difficult to identify these 

 with certainty. Tiie blunt points or teeth at the bind corners of 

 the scutelluui are easily overlooked. 



234. Microdon contractus, sp. nov. 



2. Head slightly but distinctly broader than thorax; vertex 

 only slightly raised above level of ej'es ; latter rather dark orauge- 

 brox^n with irregular black markings. Frons and face with 

 parallel sides, at level of antennae forming nearly half width of 

 head, former witii dense yellowish-grey jnibescence, latter with 

 similar whitish pubescence, face gentl}' curved, moderately pro- 

 duced. Antennae dark brown, 1st joint cylindrical, rather paler; 

 2nd about one-third as long as Lst, broader at tip; 3rd about 

 li times a? long as 1st, much stouter, arista orange-brown. 

 Occiput Avitb a slight deep blue tinge, prominent behind vertex, 

 dying away at upper corners of eyes ; upper margin with 

 short brownish-grey hairs ; sides and lower ])art with whitish 

 pubescence. Thorax black, finely punctate, with greyish-white, 

 rather ragged pubescence, which is a little more conspicuous along 

 suture and much longer on jileuras and in front of aa ing-base ; 

 humeri and liind corners a little brownish-orange. Scutellum 

 small, hind iriargin rounded, with grey hairs; metanotum shining 

 dark brown, bare. Abdomen finely punctate, dark brown, with a 

 dull violet tinge; hind margin of 1st segment bare, very shining ; 

 2nd segment about twice as long as 1st, distinctly though not 

 greatly narrowed at middle, basal half pale yellowisii, bare, \\ith a 

 distinct rounded bunii3 in middle of anterior half. Pubescence of 

 dark part of abdomen black ; at base of 2nd, 3rd and 4th seg- 

 ments a rather broad band of greyish pubescence, which is invisible 

 in certain lights. Venter with whitish ])ubescence. Legs orange, 

 knees and about basal half of tibise ])ale lemon ; pubescence on 

 coxse whitish, obvious, elsewhere on legs inconspicuous. Wings 

 quite clear ; apical section of 4th vein turned up at a right angle 

 and just slightly recurrent at extreme tip, a minute appendix at 

 flexure; 5th vein well rounded at flexure and very recurrent. 

 Squamae w hifish ; halteres orauge-yellow. 



Lengthy 9 nun. 



