igio.] E. Brunetti : Blood-sitcking Mitscidie. 71 



segment, where it is sometimes cut off sharply and squarely, some- 

 times drawn out to a distinct point, sometimes fading awav 

 indistinctly. There is a pair of more or less circular spots of 

 moderate size placed on tlie posterior margins, each midwa}- be- 

 tween the middle line and the side border. On the 4th segment is 

 a single, more or less triangular basal mark, sometimes small, or 

 indistinct, or occasionally absent. All these marks are vandyke- 

 brown in colour, occasionally approaching clove-brown. These prin- 

 cipal markings can be seen most distinctly from above, or a little 

 in front, often appearing blurred or almost invisible if viewed 

 from behind. What I should call the secondary markings, are 

 irregular, almost SarcopJiaga-V\kQ reflections, often invisible when 

 viewed from certain directions ; of a pale greenish grey colour. 

 They take the form of an irregular elongated spot each side, often 

 connected by the colour extending along the posterior margin of the 

 segment ; and a pair of comparatively large, more or less circular 

 spots on the 4th segment, these latter spots being present in the 

 majority of examples. 



The whole abdomen is shortly pubescent with short soft black 

 hairs, which are little thicker on the shoulders, and a little longer 

 and stronger on the posterior margins, and over the dorsum of the 

 4th segment. 



When it comes to describe varieties, the difficulties as to the 

 limits of the species are very apparent. Practically I regard as 

 probable varieties of this species, all folrms which partake of the 

 above pattern or any reasonable variation of it, this variation being 

 considered to be of very wide limits. 



The short dorsal stripes on segments 2 and 3 occasionally form 

 an unbroken stripe, extending to the base of the 4th segment. In 

 one form they are ver^^ short, and the usual circular spots become 

 quite elongated and narrow ; whilst in another variety there is a 

 pair of additional similar brown nearh^ circular spots in front of the 

 main pair, and placed on the base of segments 2 and 3. There is 

 often a pair of very narrow spots on the ist segment, sometimes 

 united into a transverse narrow line. In some examples the ordi- 

 nary' brown circular spots on segments 2 and 3 are united by the col- 

 our extending narrowly along the posterior margin ; sometimes 

 bordering the basal margin of these two segments also. In another 

 variet}', well marked in its more pronounced form, the dorsal stripe 

 is expanded on both base and i)osterior margin, on which latter 

 it is often considerably widened and joined to the two sj^ots. thus 

 somewhat approaching bengalcnsis, Picard. 



It nuist be remembered that the extreme base of each segment 

 is shining black, but that this is only visible when the segments 

 are abnormally drawn out, and that in a normal state, the black 

 colour is covered by the posterior margin of the ])receding segment. 



Belly generally concolorous, with short, somewhat s]nirse black 

 pul)escence, without cons])icuous markings. 



Legs. Blackish, minutely pubescent ; femora, and sometimes 

 ti])ite also, more or less with greyish reflections. I-'orc femora 



