214 Mr. E. E. Austen on new 



of P. cowpacta, and may be designated and characterized as 

 follows : — 



Pangonia compact a centralis, subsp. n. 



? . — Length 11 '3 to 11 "6 mm. ; length of wing 10 mm. ; 

 greatest width of wing 3'9 to 4'1 mm. 



Agreeing in all respects tvith the typical form ofV. compacta 

 except: — in its diminutive size {not exceeding 12mm. in length), 

 in the relatively someivhat greater reduction in the dimensions of 

 the median black spot on the second abdominal segment (which is 

 generally of a quadrate or elungate quadrate shape, and does 

 not reach the middle of the segment), in the usually greater 

 depth of the pale hind border to the fourth segment (in which 

 the blackish-broun area is sometimes so much reduced that the 

 segment is almost entirely ochraceoiisj , and in the darker colour 

 of the wings, xvliich have a more brownish tinge. 



Nyasaland Protectorate (British Central Africa) : type 

 and six other specimens from the Samulu stream, near 

 Chibwano's, Cl.ikala, 29. iii. 1906 {Dr. J. E. S. Old). The 

 collector's held-note is as follows : — " Numerous only near 

 the bank, in the heat of the day ; flight rapid, with humming 

 sound much like that ordinarily associated with large common 

 flies. Several were found together in spots only ; they 

 rushed at once to the ankles and legs, and inserted the long 

 proboscis. Vegetation — both short and long grass (1 to 

 5 feet), scrub, and Ficus-trees in the neighbourhood, and low 

 green trees fairly thick on the banks." 



In coloration and markings Pa7igonia compacta resembles 

 P. riippellii, .Taenn., the type of which was collected in 

 Abyssinia, from which, however, it can be distinguished by 

 its broader and bulkier body, shorter and broader wings, and 

 closed fourth posterior cell. In spite of the latter character, 

 which will also serve to difi'erentiate the species from most 

 if not all other hitherto described African representatives of 

 the genus in its I'estricted sense, Pangonia compacta is a 

 true Pangonia, and cannot be referred to Scione, Walk. 

 {Diclisa, Schin.), a South-American genus the species of 

 which have hairy eyes and quite a difl'erent fades. In view 

 of the number of specimens (six of the typical form and 

 seven of the subspecies centralis) available for comparison, 

 and the fact that the same character is found in all, it is 

 impossible to consider the closure of the fourth posterior cell 

 as a mere aberration ; P. compacta and the following 

 species, in which the fourth posterior cell is likewise closed, 

 must therefore be regarded as forming a group distinguished 

 from its congeners by the character in question. 



