Descriptions of British Diptera. 157 



Apparently a scarce insect, but found occasionally near London 

 and in other parts of England. " Cardew Mire".. — T. C. Heysham, 

 Esq. " Marshes, Ireland, common." — A. H. Haliday, Esq. 



3. OxYCERA MUSCARIA. 



Stratiomys muscaria, Fabr. Panzer, Fauna Germ, cviii. 15 <$, 16 $ — Meig. 

 Zwei. iii. 125. 



Head black, the forehead, crown, and hinder margin of the eyes 

 yellow in the female ; thorax in the male shining black, with an 

 interrupted lateral stripe of yellow, and a spot of the same colour 

 beneath the insertion of the wing ; in the female yellow, with three 

 black longitudinal lines, and a small black spot at the base of the 

 wings ; scutellum and spines wholly yellow ; abdomen black and 

 shining, with triangular yellow marks on the sides, nearly semicir- 

 cular in the female, which are united at the margin ; anus yellow ; 

 under side of the abdomen black, the incisures and the outer margin 

 edged with yellow ; halteres and legs of the latter colour ; the wings 

 nearly hyaline, with yellowish-brown nervures. 2 lines. 



Probably a scarce species in Britain ; it occurs near London ; but 

 very few British localities have hitherto been cited for it. It is 

 pretty widely distributed over the continent of Europe. 



4. OXYCERA FORMOSA. 



Meig. Zwei. iii. 127. 



Nearly of the same size as the preceding ; shining black, the 

 forehead of the females yellow at the sides ; thorax black, with the 

 sides yellow, that of the females with two additional yellow lines 

 united in front to the marginal stripe ; scutellum with its two spines 

 pale-yellow ; abdomen black, that of the male with two lateral yel- 

 low spots, that of the female with three ; the anus likewise yellow. 

 2 lines. 



Not having seen examples of this and the two following species, 

 recourse has been had for their distinctive characters to the descrip- 

 tions of continental naturalists. The only notice which we have 

 seen of their occurrence in Britain, occurs in a communication by 

 Mr Dale to Loudon's Magazine of Nat. History, and wishing that 

 no species recorded as indigenous should be omitted in these de- 

 scriptive notices, they are accordingly inserted on his authority. 

 The insect above described was found at Mullet's Copse, near Glan- 

 ville's Wootton. 



5. OXYCERA TERMINATA. 



■ Megerle ; Meig. Zwei. iii. 1 30. 

 Head shining black, base of the antennae ferruginous ; forehead 



