Descriptions of British Diptera. '219 



the perfect insects and the Conopidae, it is not unreasonable to infer 

 that they are parasitic, Jike those of the tribe just named. The 

 flies derive their nourishment from the juices of flowers. We may 

 expect that the following list of native species will ere long be 

 considerably augmented by the discovery of kinds which have hi- 

 therto been overlooked in this country. 



Myopa picta. (s.) 

 Panz. Faun. Germ. liv. 22; Meig. iv. 140. 



Hypostome white spotted with black, the hinder part of the 

 head with four greyish spots, forming a curved line: forehead ferrugi- 

 nous, the crown dusky-brown ; antennae likewise ferruginous ; the 

 third joint black : thorax dark grey, with longitudinal stripes of 

 deep brown : abdomen testaceous-brown, varying with light-grey 

 reflections, and marked along the back with a row of dark points : 

 legs pubescent, testaceous ; anterior thighs black, with the tip fer- 

 ruginous : tibiae ciliated, and marked with four dusky rings. Hal- 

 teres white ; wings brown, spotted with white. 3|-4 lines. 



A scarce insect, but occurring at times on flowers. It is observ- 

 ed occasionally near London ; and we once found a specimen in the 

 Edinburgh Botanic Garden. 



Myopa buccata. 



Fabr. Meig. — Conops buccata, Linn. 



Usually somewhat less than the preceding : hypostome white, 

 without spots ; forehead dark-brown spotted with grey ; antennae 

 entirely testaceous : thorax dark-brown, with ash-coloured bands, 

 the shoulders and sides testaceous ; scutellum dark-brown : abdo- 

 men nearly testaceous or reddish-brown, with light grey reflections, 

 especially on the sides ; the anal segments reddish-brown in the 

 males. Legs ferruginous, the thighs with a single dark ring, and 

 the tibiae with two, one near the middle, and the other at the apex : 

 tarsi tinged with yellow : wing-scales white ; halteres pale yellow : 

 wings brown, with pale spots. 3-3f lines. 



Likewise one of the rarer species, of which we have been able to 

 ascertain very few localities. It has been taken in the London dis- 

 trict, but not frequently. 



Myofa testacea. (s.) 



Fabr. Meig — Conops testaceus, Linn Conops buccata, Gmelin, v. 2895. 



Very closely related to M. buccata, but distinguished by a few 

 obvious characters. The -inflated portion of the face is white and 

 unspotted, but there is a distinct brown mark on each side, near the 



