174 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. v. 
Schin., flavipennis Wied., etc., which occurs from Brazil to the tropical 
portions of Mexico' 
Volucella esuriens, var. mexicana Mcq. 
Brownsville, April 7. Ramirez and San Miguel, Tamaulipas, on 
the Matamoras and Monterey Railway, May 10th; and same date num¬ 
bers seen hovering constantly about a large wood pile of well-seasoned 
mesquite near La Mesa, a wood stop west of Ramirez. They were 
probably seeking an opportunity to oviposit where their grubs could find 
longicorn larvae on hatching from the egg. 
San Tomas, about seven miles down the river from Brownsville, 
June 7. At this date this species was found extremely numerous in the 
palmetto thicket at San Tomas, but always flying high up amongst the 
tops of the palmetto (Sabal mexicana ) moving very swiftly, and in such 
numbers making altogether a noise like a swarm of bees. 
Brownsville, June 23. Two $’s and two 9 ’s taken on flowers of 
Gaillardia pulchella Fong. Also taken up to July 14th. 
Point Isabel, Texas, on the coast, June 29. One $ taken on 
flower of a composite near beach. This species ranges from the Texas 
and Mexican coast line at sea level to the table lands of the Northwest, 
reaching the top of San Francisco mountain in Arizona, nearly 13,000 
ft. above the sea. It thus extends from the tropical to the boreal life- 
zones, which is an exceptionally wide range and one not often attained. 
Eristalis furcatus Wied. 
One $, Brownsville, June 24, on foliage. This species may be 
distinguished by its velvety black vittate thorax. 
The present specimen has the spots on each side of second and third 
segments very distinct, of good size, and yellow, with a faint tinge of 
reddish brown on the hinder pair. There is no trace of the median 
whitish spot near the hind margin of second segment. Schiner (Nov. 
Reise, 362) has pointed out that this whitish spot is not visible in the $; 
the third and fourth segments have each a pair of metallic shining spots, 
separated by the median velvety black, which unites the anterior median 
triangular velvety black spot with posterior marginal fascia of the same 
color. The pale golden pile of frontal triangle is mixed with black pile 
posteriorly. Antennae brownish yellow. Length, 9 mm. 
This is a tropical species, ranging from Rio Janeiro and Argentina 
to tropical Mexico. It has been taken at an altitude of 6,000 feet at 
Amula in the mountains of Guerrero (Williston, Biol. C. A. Dipt., 
Ill, p. 62). 
