CTENOPHORA. 289 



All the Oriental species of the older authors, described originally 

 under CtenopJiora, are now referred to Pselliophora, and it is 

 highly probable that the present genus does not exist in the 

 Oriental region at all, being confined exclusively to Europe, 

 Siberia and North America, with the exception of a single species 

 from Persia.* 



There is, however, one species, C. xanihomelana, Walk., from 

 " East India," of which it is impossible to decide the correct 

 generic position, the male being still unknown ; in fact, the 

 original type female (which still exists in good condition in the 

 British Museum) appears to be the only example in existence. 



Gtenophora melanura, Walk. (List Dipt. Brit. Mus. i, p. 78) is 

 not even a Tipulid at all, but a large species of Sargus, as stated 

 by Osten Sacken after examining the type at the British 

 Museum. 



TJo. Ctenophora xanthomelana, Walk. 



Ctenophora xanthomelana, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. i, p. 77 

 (1848). 



" Nigra, thorace ferrugineo rufo trivittato, abdomine basi fulvo, 

 alis fuscis. 



" Head and appendages black ; feelers serrulate, much less than 

 half the length of the chest ; chest ferruginous, with three very 

 broad brownish red stripes, varied with reddish brown on each 

 side and behind ; abdomen black, attenuated towards the tip, and 

 reaching much beyond the length of the wings ; segments from 

 the first to the third, orange-tawny ; legs black, pubescent ; wings 

 brown, with a small dark brown brand near the tip of the fore 

 border ; veins dark brown ; poisers tawny with brow r n tips. 



" Length of the body 14 lines ; of the wings 22 lines. 



"East India. From Mr. Children's collection." (Walker.} 



The male of this species still being unknown, it is impossible to 

 say whether it is a true Ctenophora or not. In all probability it 

 will eventually prove to be a Pselliophora, a genus confined to the 

 Eastern tropics, with the exception of a single species (P. fumi- 

 plena, Walk.) from China.t Until, however, the point is decided, 

 both the genus Ctenophora and the species xanthomelana must 

 presumably figure in Oriental lists. 



* Persia is, however, as much Palaearctic as Oriental. It is true that there 

 is yet one species of which the locality is still unknown C. constans, Walk. 

 (Dipt. Saund. p. 448, $), but this hardly affects the argument. 



t Unless this species comes from South China (the original reference gives 

 merely "China"), I should have doubted its being a PseUiophora but for Osten 

 Sacken's examination of the type at the British Museum, where are also some 

 other specimens from China which appeared to that author to represent a 

 variety of the same species. 



