66 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. IV, 



STOMOXYS, Geoff., 1764. 

 Hist. Des. Ins., ii, 538. 

 See also vSch. F. Aust. (Dipt.), i, ^jy (1862). 



The genus Stomoxys, Geoff., as understood by the older authors, 

 and as described by Schiner, included both stinmlans, Mg. (now 

 referred to H mnatohia) , and irritans, L. (now placed in Lyperosia). 

 Both these latter species were primarily split off from Stomoxys, 

 under the name HcBmatohia, Rob. Desv., on the strength of the palpi 

 being as long as the proboscis. 



Some discussion has arisen as to whether the name Stomoxys, 

 Geoff., or Siphona ^ Mg., should stand for the present genus. Two 

 recent authorities, — Speiser (Zeits. f. wiss. Insek., i, 461) and 

 Bezzi, both in his " Mosche ematofaghe " (Rend. Istit. lomb. (2), 

 xl, 17) and in the 3rd volume of the new Palaearctic Catalogue, — 

 have replaced Stomoxys by Siphona, Mg. 



I am glad to see that Mr. Austen (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), 

 xix, 445) has deprecated the change, giving full and satisfactory 

 reasons for supporting the continuance of the name Stomoxys for the 

 present genus. 



The following generic description is founded on that of Schiner, 

 with the elimination of such characters as onl}^ appl}^ to the more 

 recently established genera, and the addition of other distinctive 

 characters which appear to be, in the restricted sense of the genus, 

 generically consistent. 



STOMOXYS, Geoff. 



{Redcscription.) 



Medium-sized, grey flies, one species {calcitrans) being one 

 of the common " house flies." 



Head semi-circular, somewhat flattened in front ; epistome 

 nearly straight, nearly bare ; buccal cavity hardly prominent, with 

 a row of strong spines each side ; cheeks rather narrow, descending 

 only a little below the e^^es. 



Front in cf narrow, in 9 al)out one- third the width of the 

 head, the exact dimensions in both sexes varying in different species, 

 and (within narrow limits) sometimes in the same species. In both 

 sexes a row of about 7 fr on to-orbital bristles, \\hich in the 9 are 

 augmented by smaller ones on the upper ])art of the frons placed 

 nearer to the eyes. Eyes bare. 



Antennae recumbent, moderate in .size, ist joint very small, 

 2nd distinct, with a few short bristles, 3rd about three times the 

 length of the 2nd. Arista plumose on upper side onh^, with about 

 8 to 10 long, well separated hairs of (after the first one or two) 

 gradually decreasing length nearly to the tip, these hairs being 

 very slightly' curved, but seldom bisinuate. Proboscis horizontal, 

 very prominent, of hard chitinous material, considerably thicker 

 on basal part, narrowing gradualh^ to tip ; labella very small. Palpi 



