On the genus Apiocera. 291 



of the Asilina very much; three americam species (A. brevicornis Phil., 

 Chili; haruspes 0. S., Calif. ; and n, sp, from Mexico) have white ab- 

 dominal Segments, preceding the male forceps, exactly like Erax. Ho- 

 wever, a new australian species in my possession has an entirely difPerent 

 coloring. 



The venation of Apiocera is remarkable for the curvature of the 

 veins in the apical portion of the wing, which naturally suggests a 

 comparison with the veuation of the Midaidae, But the same ten- 

 dency of the veins to turn forward exists in many South -American 

 species of Erax and in some Proctacanthus ; both branches of the third 

 vein often end before the apex; often they are distinctly arcuated (see 

 Macq. D. E. I, 2, Tab. 9 f. 9; Suppl. IV, Tab. 8, fig. 3 and 7; com- 

 pare also JE. griseus Guerin); in some species even the anterior 

 branch ends in the first vein, instead of in the margin, just as 

 in Midas or Apiocera (see Erax heteropterus Macq. D. E. Suppl. I. 

 83; also Erax albescens Schiner, Novara, p. 180 and E. cellatus Schin., 

 ibid. p. 181.) Among the species of Apiocera hitherto discovered, the 

 following forms of venation occur: 



I. As to the fork of the third vein: 



1, The anterior branch of the fork ends in the first vein, the 

 posterior branch ends in the margin (species from Australia and Chili). 



2. Both branches of the fork end in the margin of the vying, that 

 is, beyond the tip of the first vein (the californian A. haruspex 0. S. 

 and n. sp. from Mexico). 



II. As to the veins issuing from the discal cell: 



1. The first of these veins ends before, the second behind the 

 apex of the wing (this happens in all the known australian species, 

 in the californian A. haruspex and in my new species from Mexico). 



2. The first and second of these veins end before the apex (this 

 is the case with the chilian species). 



We find therefore an equal proclivity to Variation among the 

 Asilidae, as well as among the species of Apiocera. The only link, 

 as yet missing, in order to complete the transition from the venation 

 of certain forms of Erax to Apiocera, consists in the position of the 

 first vein issuing from the discal cell. We have no Asilid yet, in which 

 this vein ends before the apex and no Apiocera in which it ends be- 

 hind it. And this is he only point in which Apiocera is like the Midaidae. 



In all other respects we find that the characters of the vena- 

 tion in which the Asilidae differ from the Midaidae, all belong to Apio- 

 cera: 1. The Midaidae have a remarkably long and irregulär discal 

 cell, with the first posterior cell often bulging into it; the discal cell 

 of Apiocera is shorter and broader, like that of the Asilidae. — 2. The 

 praefurca of the Midaidae is remarkably short, almost obsolete, as the 



