Descriptions of British Diptera. 217 



been taken of it since the time of De Geer, by whom it is figured 

 and described. Like many others of its tribe, it is partial to north- 

 ern climates, and it is probably not very scarce in Sweden. In this 

 country the only example that has occurred was taken by Sir Wil- 

 liam Jardine, on the northern coast of Sutherland, in the summer 

 of 1834. 



CONOPS RUFIPES. (S.) 

 Fahr. Meigen, iv. 127 — Conops petiolata, Donovan's Brit. Insects, xiii. pi. 451. 



This species diiFers from all the rest in having the abdomen very 

 narrow at the base, so as to appear placed on a long peduncle. 

 Head fulvous : forehead with a broad black line, and the hypos- 

 tome with three abbreviated lines of that colour : antennae reddish- 

 brown : thorax black, with two whitish points below the shoulders : 

 abdomen with the narrow portion at the base ferruginous ; the third 

 •and fourth segments each with a broad black band : legs ferrugi- 

 nous ; the extremity of the tarsi dusky ; the hinder coxae marked 

 with a silvery white spot : halter es bright-yellow : wings with a 

 broad reddish-brown stripe covering the anterior half. 5 lines. 



The markings of the abdomen are somewhat variable : the third 

 and fourth segments are frequently bright-yellow behind,andthe anal 

 segments more or less tinged with that colour. The insect is one of 

 the more common kinds, especially in the southern parts of the country; 

 it seems rare in Scotland. " Dalmeny." Rev. William Little. " I take 

 C. rii/ipes in Plumley wood, Caundle Holts, &c. in the beginning and 

 middle of August." J. C. Dale, Esq. " Gamlingay wood, Cambridge- 

 shire, August." Rev. Leonard Jeiiyns. " Devil's ditch, Newmarket 

 Heath, July 1833; likewise near Bath." C. C. Bahingion, Esq. 

 " In plenty on umbelliferous flowers by the side of a field, close to 

 a plantation at Hetheselt, Norfolk." Henry Browii, Esq. (in 

 Curtis' B. E.) " London district." Stephens' Catal. 



Conops ceri^formis. 

 Megerle, Meigen, iv. 132, pi. 36, fig. 26. 

 General colour black : hypostome reddish-yellow, with a pale- 

 yellow play of colour round the eyes ; forehead black, the crown 

 brownish ; antennae nearly black : thorax of that colour, Avith a yel- 

 low callosity on each shoulder, and a yellow spot on the metatho- 

 rax : abdomen nearly cylindric, black : the hinder margin of the 

 four first segments ornamented with a yellow band : halteres yel- 

 low : legs ferruginous ; the thighs black in the middle : the tarsi 

 dusky at the apex : wings transparent, with a pale brown streak in 

 the middle of the anterior margin. 5 lines. 



