78 NOTES ON THE " SCOTS GRAY MOSQUITO 



tion of the male is given by Skuse in S.A.C, p. 1726, but he 

 states that he was unable to obtain a female specimen. 



The Female. 

 is seen in fig. 37. The proboscis is long and straight, thickest 

 at the base. This portion is thickly set with dark scales on a 

 yellow ground. The middle is yellow darkening towards the 

 tip where it appears almost black. Over its base the clypeus, 

 a semilunar plate of chitin, projects. The palpi, fig. 36, 

 spring from the sides of the proboscis, running parallel for two- 

 thirds the length. They are set with black scales on a yellow 

 ground except at the tips and on the base where a few white 

 ones are found. Above these like large amber beads are the 

 basal joints of the antennaB. A few minute white scales are 

 traceable on their upper sides. The joints are slender, regular 

 in length, with bases having narrow black borders, outspringing 

 from which is a slender whorl of black hairs. The ve-dt of each 

 joint is pale yellow over which a few white scales are scattered 

 more abundantly at the tip. Fine yellow, short hairs are 

 also interspersed, growing denser on the three apical joints, 

 which curve in opposite directions. 



The Thorax, 

 which is similarly clothed, is deeply arched, white scales being 

 most abundant. These are usually rubbed off on the projecting 

 centre of the pleura, which is often bare. The segments of the 

 abdomen increase in width up to the fourth, from whence they 

 taper rapidly down. The last one is loosely inserted, so that it 

 can be telescoped into the preceding segment, or bent downwards 

 to a considerable angle. It ends in two ovipositors, fig. 34, 

 which are shaped like flattish spoons ; they are thinner and less 

 hairy in this species than in the common Culex. The abdomen 

 ventrally, has the upper half of each segment covered with 

 snowy scales, and the lower half with golden ones. On the 

 dorsal aspect the golden ones predominate. The fore legs are 

 long, mid longer, and the hind ones the longest of all. The 

 femur of the prolegs is golden, with the under side set with white 

 scales. On the tibia three dark and three broad white patches 

 alternate. The tarsus is banded with golden and white scales 

 mingled with dark ones. Each leg ends in a stout claw split 

 into two hooks of equal length, fig. 29, with a tooth projecting 

 beneath. 



