INDIAN SPECIES OF TABANUS 289 



small, that on the second flask-shaped, the remaining areas of the 

 stripe triangular ; the lateral stripes extend the whole length, but 

 are broadest on the second segment. The male is difficult to distinguish 

 from that of striatus : it is darker, and the brown intersecting band 

 across' the eyes is much wider ; the median abdominal light stripe is 

 much broader in parts and is not so uniform. This is one of the com- 

 monest Indian species, and occurs almost all the year round in Madras. 



Tabanus speciosus, Ricardo (Plate XL). A large handsome fly, which 

 may at first sight be confused with albimedius. Antennae reddish, with 

 dusky tips ; palpi yellow with many black hairs. Frontal callus oblong, 

 not reaching to the eyes, its backward extension narrow, sometimes 

 indistinct. Thorax greyish red or brown, with five distinct grey stripes, 

 the median one very narrow. Abdomen brownish black with a median 

 light stripe consisting of five spots, of which the first is small, the second 

 flask-shaped, the third triangular, the fourth triangular but broader, the 

 fifth nearly oblong. There are four lateral pale spots, of which the first 

 is indistinct, the others well marked and obliquely elongated. Male very 

 similarly marked, except that the median stripe is less distinct and 

 that there is no lateral spot on the fourth segment. Eyes with a broad 

 intersecting band, which becomes narrower at the sides. This is a 

 rather rare fly in Madras. It feeds on cattle side by side with the other 

 two species. 



GENUS CHRYSOPS, MEIGEN. 



Small Tabanidae -with long antennae and banded and beflecked wings. 

 The males are somewhat differently marked to the females. In the female 

 the eyes are bare, and are widely separated ; there are three well marked 

 ocelli on the vertex, and shining black tubercles on the face. The second 

 joint of the antenna is usually as long as the first ; the third is four- 

 jointed and simple. The palpi in the female are long and bullet-shaped ; 

 in the male they are short and stumpy. Thorax as broad as the head. 

 Abdomen ovoid, with yellow bands and dark stripes. The wings are 

 dark and are ornamented with brown cross bands. 



The conspicuous markings of the flies of this genus, their long antennae 

 and well marked ocelli, render them easy .to recognize. The eyes in the 

 females of many species exhibit in life the most brilliant patterns of 

 green, purple and gold, and are most beautiful objects ; the same mark- 

 ings are often present in the lower smaller-facetted area of the eyes of 

 the male. In some species the eyes are very large and are markedly 

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