Sixteen specimens from Minnesota and Colorado vary in the markings of the second abdominal segment, and in the color of the legs. Some have no spots at all on the second segment; in others the two yellow dots are conspicuous, approaching, in size and shape, the markings of the third segment. The tibiae vary from light yellow to reddish brown. =Brachyopa cynops, n. sp.=, plate vii, f. 2. Head light yellowish brown, largely concealed beneath light glistening pollen; the shining ground color shows just above the antennae and in a stripe on the cheeks, extending from the eye to the mouth opening. Antennae wanting. Dorsum of thorax brown, covered with grayish pollen; anteriorly with two approximated, linear, blackish stripes; laterally with a broad, interrupted stripe. Scutellum light brown, with yellowish pollen. Abdomen but little longer than broad; yellowish gray pollinose; second segment with a circular brown spot in the anterior corners; the two following segments are marked with corresponding elliptical spots, and, in the middle of the anterior border with a triangular spot; on the fifth segment are two small round spots. Legs uniformly reddish brown, with light colored pollen and short whitish pile. Wing hyaline, distinctly clouded at anterior cross-vein, on the veins at the anterior outer corner of the discal cell and on the ultimate section of the fourth vein; posterior cross-vein about as long as the penultimate section of the fourth vein, the included angle obtuse. Length 5 millimeters. One specimen, Colorado. =Eristalis latifrons= Loew. Numerous specimens, Colorado. The commonest Syrphid of the mountain meadows. Some specimens have very indistinct brownish spots on the second abdominal segment, and, when this is the case, the middle of the wing generally shows a brown spot, and brown clouds along the anterior veins between the spot and the base of the wing. =Eristalis brousi= Williston. One male specimen, Colorado. =Helophilus latifrons= Loew. Numerous specimens, Colorado. =Xylota flavitibia= Bigot. Eight specimens, Colorado. The glistening pile of the face and front varies from white to a golden yellow. On the dorsum of the thorax purplish stripes are distinctly visible. The fourth segment of the male abdomen is often red, as in the female abdomen. =Syritta pipiens= Linne. Eight specimens, Colorado. =Criorrhina umbratilis= Williston. A single, male specimen, collected by Mr. W. J. Coleman, at Lawrence, and agreeing exactly with the description. The only other known specimen of this species is the type, at Washington, from Connecticut. =Spilomyia quadrifasciata= Say. Seven specimens, Lawrence, Kansas, (F. H. Snow and E. S. Tucker). The species has not hitherto been recorded west of New York. Notes on Melitera Dentata Grote. BY VERNON L. KELLOGG. WITH PLATE VIII.