io The Scottish Naturalist. 



species not previously recorded, so far as I am aware, from the north 

 of Scotland. 



My collections were made almost altogether during the years 

 1872 to 1875, mostly at Aberdeen or in its neighbourhood, while 

 attending medical classes in the University. In the present list 

 I have incorporated with my own observations the species 

 enumerated in the article by Mr. Verrall referred to above, to 

 render the list as nearly as possible complete for the north-east 

 of Scotland. 



Except in some families, we have little yet but a commencement 

 to our knowledge of Scottish Diptera, while not a few families 

 have as yet not been touched ; and how few are the localities from 

 which even the most fragmentary information about their Dipterous 

 fauna can be as yet obtained. An approach even to satisfactory 

 and complete knowledge regarding them cannot be made without 

 such continued and careful investigation as has already been made 

 in many localities for the larger Lepidoptera. Unfortunately, 

 systematic works on Diptera in English are both hard to obtain, 

 and by no means satisfactory when obtained. Assistance in the 

 form of specimens from any locality, with locality and date noted, 

 will be very acceptable in order to aid me in extending the know- 

 ledge of the Diptera that are native in Scotland. They do not 

 require to be carefully set, but may be put into spirits of wine or 

 pinned unset, or will keep well in a little sawdust well sifted to 

 free it from dust, and thereafter moistened with a few drops of 

 carbolic acid. I shall also, as far as I can, be willing to name 

 specimens sent me, (to 5 Belvoir Street, Leicester), from any part 

 of Scotland. 



In regard to the gall-making Diptera, belonging to the Trypetidse 

 and the Cecidomyidae, notes of their occurrence will be found 

 scattered in the papers on " Scottish Galls," that have appeared in 

 the earlier volumes of this Magazine, from Professor Trail. 



In the nomenclature I have followed Walker's Insecta Britan- 

 nica for most families, but in the Syrphida and the Dolichopidce 

 Verrall's lists, published in the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 

 have been adhered to. I am much indebted to the latter gentle- 

 man for assistance in naming species undescribed or ill-described 

 in Walker's work, or about which I was in doubt. 



The localities in which the species enumerated below were taken 

 extend from the sea-level to about 1200 feet above the sea in Brae- 

 mar. Mr. Verrall's additions to those captured by myself are dis- 

 tinguished by his initials affixed to them. Where no special locality 



