121 



genus, which, with the possible exception of the South American 

 and Australian Regions, whence no species have yet been described, 

 is universally distributed. While at the present time the total 

 number of recognised non-Ethiopian species of Hcematopota only 

 amounts to thirty-four, no fewer than seventy-nine* species have 

 been described from Africa alone, and the Museum Collection 

 possesses examples of more than one new species awaiting 

 description. The peculiar wing-markings characteristic of 

 Hcematopota, coupled with the elongate antennae and the fact 

 that the wings when at rest meet together at the base and then 

 diverge slightly, sloping somewhat like the roof of a house, render 

 it easy to recognise a species as belonging to the genus ; but the 

 distinction of the species themselves is by no means so easy, and 

 is often a matter of great difficulty. In all species of Hcematopota 

 the wings are more or less infuscated, and the dark ground-colour 

 is interrupted by pale markings, which, though for the most part 

 sinuous or broken up into spots, usually include three " rosettes," 

 or at least the vestiges thereof. These rosettes, though their 

 boundaries may be somewhat blurred and indistinct, always occupy 

 the same relative positions, and will be found surrounding the distal 

 extremities of the basal and discal cells, and the fork of the third 

 longitudinal veinf (compare figs. 87, Plate XI., and 91, 92, and 93, 



emendation have been advanced by Mr. G. H. Verrall (" British Flies," Vol. V., 

 p. 772. London: Gurney & Jackson, 10, Paternoster Row, January 1st, 1909), who 

 refuses to admit any claim to validity and priority on behalf of the genera described 

 in Meigen's paper of 1800. Apart, however, from Mr. Verrall's contentions, the 

 description of Chrysozona, as reproduced by Hendel (Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, 1908, 

 pp. 52-53) cannot honestly be considered recognisable, since the statement as to the 

 resting position of the wings is misleading, nothing is said as to the characteristic 

 wing-markings, and no type-species is mentioned. Moreover, even assuming 

 Chrysozona to possess unimpeachable claims to validity and priority, the fact remains 

 that the name was, so to speak, stillborn i.e., never entered into common use, and 

 for more than a century has been buried in oblivion. For every reason, therefore, 

 to resuscitate the name Chrysozona at the expense of Hcematopota is a step as 

 unwarranted as it is retrogressive. 



* Eighty species, if Parhcematopota cognata, Griinb., be included; as stated above 

 (p. 66), it is doubtful whether Parhcematopota, Griinb., is really distinct from 

 Hcematopota. 



f The discal cell in the wing of a Tabanid is the clearly denned elongate 

 hexagonal enclosure situate about the middle ; the basal cells are the two elongate 

 cells between the discal cell and the base of the wing ; the third longitudinal vein 

 is the vein above the discal cell, connected with the upper boundary of the latter 

 by a short cross- vein (the small transverse vein), and bifurcate about the commence- 

 ment of the apical fourth of the wing. These details are clearly shown in the 

 figures. 



