168 
BEAUER AND MIK 
This confession notwithstanding, Mik did not muster up courage 
to appear with his true opinion before the public. My above 
quoted 130, 1892, which he had praised in his letter, is not men¬ 
tioned at all in his “ Dipterologische Referate.” Two years later, 
in his notice on Kowarz’s “ List of the Diptera of Bohemia ” ( Wiener 
But. Zeit ., 1894, p. 31), Mik made an obscure deprecatory allusion 
to my work in the following terms: “It has agreeably surprised 
us that the author lias not been misled (‘ sich nicht beirren liess ’) 
by new researches which still require confirmation (‘ einer Ivlarung 
bediirfen ’), or which he had not had the opportunity to verify 
himself.” The fact is that Kowarz had approved my distribution 
in a letter to me, but he was of course not bound to introduce it 
immediately into his “ List.” 
All these tergiversations did not prevent me from maintaining 
my good relations with Mik as long as he lived, even when, in the 
matter of Paracrocerci (156, 1897), I felt bound to criticize him 
rather severely. This also speaks for the good nature of Mik, and 
merely proves the fatal influence upon him of Brauer. 
In criticizing Brauer’s reconstruction of the system of Diptera, 
I never intended to disparage his merit in another branch of ento¬ 
mology. His real vocation was the biology of insects. As early 
as 1850, he began the publication of a series of excellent papers on 
the early stages and the habits of Neuropterous insects ( Chrysopa , 
Osmylus , Panorpa , Mantispa , Mynneleon, Bittacus , Ascalphus , 
Borens'). The climax of his success was reached in the investiga¬ 
tion of the history of the Oestridae , which became his life-work, 
and attracted universal attention. 
The beginning of Brauer’s study of the Oestridae is told by 
himself, in his first publication about them: “ Die Oestriden des 
Hochwildes,” etc. ( Verh . zool.-bot. Gesellsch ., Wien, 1858, p. 385- 
714). Brauer’s friend, the dipterologist Dr. Egger, was surgeon 
at the Austrian Court, and attended the Imperial hunts, and in 
this capacity became very useful in procuring opportunities, as 
Einzelheiten, mit welchen nicht jeder iibereinstimmen wird. Das System ist aber 
sieher natiirlieher und nicht so einseitig als das Brauer ’sche. Ich freue mich auf den 
zweiten Theil,” etc. 
