UIPTEHA. 21 



than the cbest ; palpi black : feelers black; compound joint rather short, 

 spindle-shaped for most of its length, but suddenly tapering towards the 

 tip : abdomen elliptical, a little longer and broader than the chest ; hind 

 borders of the segments, and sides of the first and second segments, tawny : 

 legs black ; thighs thinly clothed with tawny hairs ; shanks and feet 

 clothed with short black hairs ; shanks dark tawny towards the base ; foot- 

 cushions tawny : wings slightly gray ; wing-ribs tawny ; veins black, 

 tawny towards the base ; tip cross-vein almost straight, having only a very 

 slight downward curve along most of the length ; posterior submarginal 

 areolet very open to the border ; poisers black. Length of the body 4i 

 lines ; of the wings 9 lines. 



Cape. 



TABANUS, Linn. 



The study of these insects is connected with that of quadrupeds, and 

 comprises a knowledge of the distribution, introduction, diffusion, diminu- 

 tion and extinction of the Ruminants and of some other groups. The 

 species of Tabanus are generally local, but as a genus it extends nearly 

 over the world, and both the reindeer and the camel are its prey. In 

 many regions it has not as yet been observed, and consequently its geo- 

 graphy and the relative proportion of species in the various continents 

 and islands is comparatively unknown. Some parts of the structure are 

 very variable in form, especially the third joint of the feelers and the tip 

 cross-vein which divides the submarginal areolets : these variations are 

 too numerous and too gradual to be regarded as characters of groups 

 or of subgenera, but their succession and limits may be exhibited by 

 a tabular series of the species, or by means of curved lines in diagrams. 

 The third joint of the feelers in some species is slightly convex above, in 

 others it is armed with a long horn, and no link is wanting between these 

 two forms. The fourth and following joints fonn a compound joint which 

 varies much in length, and is either straight or curved upward, stout or 

 slender. A curve near the base of the tip cross-vein has veiy frequently a 

 tendency to assume an angular form, which is very rarely a right angle, 

 but generally more or less obtuse. It is often accompanied by the stump 

 of a vein, which is long in proportion as the angle whence it springs is 

 more distinct and less obtuse, or, in other words, the two veins incline 

 more or loss to be lilrndcd iiiln our. Tn New ITolliiuil and New Zealand 



