THE DIPTERA OF FAIR ISLE 207 



being blackish. The tail, however, is less ornate than in the 

 Common Swallow, since it is plain greenish black, and thus 

 lacks the pretty creamy white spots that adorn most of the 

 rectrices of Hirundo rustica. 



In the "Zoologist" for i 85 3 (p. 3753) Mr. Rodd reported 

 that this species had been seen by Vingoe near Penzance 

 towards the end of the summer of 1852; but from the 

 description given there can be little doubt that the bird 

 observed was not Hirundo rufula at all, but was most 

 likely H. savignii, an allied species. In Rodd's " Birds of 

 Cornwall " the facts are merely mentioned under Hirundo 

 rustica, and the bird is simply alluded to as a " Rufous 

 Swallow." 



THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH. 



THE DIPTERA OF FAIR ISLE. 

 By PERCY H. GRIMSHAW, F.E.S. 



IN continuation of the articles which have appeared recently 

 in the " Annals " dealing with the Fauna of Fair Isle, and 

 contributed by the various specialists who had the oppor- 

 tunity of examining the material obtained by Mr. Eagle 

 Clarke, 1 have pleasure in recording the following species of 

 Diptera, a complete series of which has been selected for the 

 collection in the Royal Scottish Museum. Although there 

 is nothing of striking rarity in the list, yet it may be in- 

 teresting as showing what variety may exist within such a 

 small area. The month of September, moreover, is not a 

 favourable time for this order of Insects, and had Mr. Clarke 

 visited the island in June or July no doubt the list could 

 have been much extended. I have thought it advisable to 

 state in each case the actual number of specimens obtained. 



Family MYCETOPHILID.F. 



1. EXECHIA FUNGORUM, Dcg. One specimen. 



Family LIMNOBIID/E. 



2. ERIOPTERA TRIVIALIS, Mg. One male. 



