24 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



noted " whelks " crawling on dykes behind the manse. Later, 

 empty shells of the same species and of Purpura lapilla were 

 found among loose stones on Mullach Mhor. The air all 

 round Hirta is naturally saturated with brine, and at Ruaval 

 in particular very little wind suffices to raise a fine blinding 

 spray which may, in part, account for a remarkable change 

 in habit. 



EDINBURGH. 



RARE DIPTERA IN THE FORTH DISTRICT. 



By A. E. J. CARTER. 



THE following Diptera captured during the past season are 

 worth noting as being either new to Scotland or of rare 

 occurrence. 



1. Hemerodromia mela-nocephala, Hal. I took a single female of 



this species at Aberfoyle on 8th September. The only 

 Scottish record I can find is one by Mr. Verrall in " Ent. 

 Mo. Mag." 1883, p. 222, where he records it from Arran. 



2. R ha mop homy ia flava. Fin. I captured a female, on 24th June 



by sweeping in the wood near Polton station. Dr. Vice 

 records it from Orkney ("Scot. Naturalist," 1873-74, P- 2 74)> 

 and Mr. Verrall took it in Arran. 



3. Syntormon Zetteri, Liv. A single male of this rare and well- 



marked species was taken at Aberfoyle on 8th September. 

 Though rare it appears to be widely distributed, as Mr. 

 Verrall ("Ent. Mo. Mag." 1905, p. 172) gives Inveran, 

 Golspie, and Nethy Bridge in Scotland, and the New Forest, 

 and Landport near Lewes in England. At the latter locality 

 two females were taken in 1867, while at the other places 

 named only a single male occurred in each case. 



4. Campsicnemus scambus, Fall. This species occurred at Aberlady 



on 7th August, when I captured a male by sweeping. I can 

 only find one Scottish record, "Ent. Mo. Mag." 1905, p. 194, 

 where Mr. Verrall mentions Aberdeen as a locality. It is 

 a very distinct species, the middle tibire of the male being re- 

 markably dilated. 



5. Teuchophorus spinigerillus, Zett. --This small Dolichopodid, 



which is new to the Scottish List, also occurred with the last 

 species at Aberlady on 7th August. I captured a male and 



