84 H. C. EFFLATOUN. 



of this segment is shining bronze and the upper margin has the same 

 crescent-shaped marking as in the male. The third segment is very 

 much like the second, but the transverse dull yellow band is somewhat 

 nearer to the upper margin; the lower half of this segment, as 

 well as that of the fourth segment is shining bronze. The fourth 

 and sixth segments also possess broad whitish bands, which are 

 situated in their upper halves and the fifth segment is entirely 

 shining bronze. The seventh segment is very pointed and also 

 all shining bronze. The vestiture of the two last segments is longer 

 and very pale. Venter resembles that in the male, dull yellow with 

 the shining median areas, but these appear much darker owing to 

 the black markings of the abdomen being seen by transparency, 

 hlalteres white. 



Length from 8A to 12i mm. 



'o 



There seems to have been some confusion over the nomenclature 

 and stability of the two sexes in this species, and this has no doubt 

 arisen from the fact that the commonest form of the female is that 

 which bears the least resemblance to the male as regards the abdo- 

 minal markings; inasmuch as the few writers who have dealt with 

 this sj)ecies have probably not had the chance to compare large 

 series. Jaennicke (1868) describes the female as E. tabanoides from 

 a. specimen in the Frankfort and Darmstadt Museum found by 

 Ruppell in Massawa. Much later Becker (1902) states that he 

 found a specimen in the Ezbekieh Gardens, Cairo, which corres- 

 ponded with Jasnnicke's E. tabanoides and that "it was well des- 

 cribed by Jaennicke and easily recognisable from him description". 

 Previously, immediately before his excellent description of E. 5- 

 lineatus male, Becker also states "So far only the female was 

 described ; the male seems to be unknown, and perhaps, as it has 

 the abdominal markings different from those of the female it is 

 described under another name; but amongst the African species 

 I have not been able to find any which would enable me to arrive 

 to any definite conclusions as to its identity. For this reason I 

 give its complete description. There is no doubt that the two sexes 

 belong to each other, as I have always found them together in the 

 same localities." 



It is curious that both Jasnnicke and Becker should have only 

 dealt with single female specimens of E. tabanoides and that the 

 male should never have been found. I have not the least doubt 

 as to the correctness of Becker's concluding statement that he found 

 the two sexes in the same locality — but I am also quite certain 

 that, had he searched more, he would undoubtedly have found in 

 the Ezbekieh Gardens — the other sex (i.e. the male) and it would 



