THE NEOTROPICAL MUSCOID GENUS MESEMBRINELLA 
GIGLIO-TOS AND OTHER TESTACEOUS 
MUSCOID FLIES. 
By J. M. Avpricu, 
Associate Curator, Division of Insects, United States National Museum. 
The appearance of Dr. J. M. R. Surcouf’s large Revision des 
Muscidae Testaceae (1919) suggested a study of the American forms 
included therein, in the course of which additional information came 
to light regarding the Australian genus Palpostoma, included but not 
seen by Surcouf. Following a brief sketch of the Muscidae Testaceae 
as a taxonomic concept, and a synopsis of the genus Palpostoma, with 
three species, the present paper confines itself to a consideration of 
the American representatives, in the genera Ormia, Chloroprocta, 
Hemilucilia, and Mesembrinella; these are all exclusively neotropical. 
The material herein described is all in the United States National 
Museum except as noted. Through the kindness of Maj. EH. E. Austen 
some important specimens, including two new species, were borrowed 
from the British Museum. Professor Bezzi, of Turin, Italy, also 
sent for study several species from his collection, which had been 
determined by Doctor Surcouf. The important tropical collection 
of the American Museum of Natural History contained several 
species, which were placed at my disposal; Prof. O. A. Johannsen 
furnished representatives of eight species; Prof. James 8. Hine sent 
specimens of Mesembrinella bicolor that he had himself collected in 
British Guiana; two new species were received from the Bavarian 
State collection through Dr. E. O. Engel; and Dr. W. M. Mann 
brought several specimens which he collected in Bolivia while a 
member of the Muiford Biological Exploration. Prior to these acqui- 
sitions and loans, the National Museum had purchased a considerable 
series from Pablo Schild, in Higuito, Costa Rica. In the interesting 
and important Australian genus Palpostoma the material was fur- 
nished by Dr. J. F. Illingworth and Dr. Gerald F. Hill. 
Robineau-Desvoidy proposed the term Muscidae Testaceae (1830, 
p. 425) for four genera of muscoids which agreed in having non- 
No. 2457—PROcEEDINGS U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 62, ART. II. 
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