142 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



species seen flying (and it is very seldom that individual species 

 can be recognised on the wing) may be caught with the sweeping 

 net, unless it be made too heavy, or even with the hand or hat, 

 for the insects do not fly fast nor very far ; they usually alight 

 after a flight of 10 or 12 feet, and their movements can be followed 

 without much trouble. Many species frequent flowers, especially 

 Umbelliferae, Compositae, and Eanunculaceae, this being more 

 particularly the case with the species of Tenthredo, Allantus, and 

 Cephus, as well as with the parasitic Cynipidae (the latter 

 attaching themselves to Umbelliferae) but the Tenthredos and 

 AUanti do not frequent the flowers for the purpose of eating 

 pollen (although I believe they do eat it), but rather to prey on 

 other insects, some of them, e.g., Allantus notlms, Tenthredo 

 mesomela, being very carniverous, so that the collector must be 

 careful not to place them alive in a non-killing bottle or box 

 along with other insects. 



Beating is most productive in the evening or during a dull day, 

 for if the weather is very bright, the creatures are continually on 

 the alert, never resting long in one place, and fly at once out of 

 the umbrella, unless the collector is very sharp. In the sunshine, 

 therefore, there is more chance of their capture with the sweep- 

 ing net, because it can be used with greater freedom, and the 

 flies cannot so readily make their escape. Many of the smaller 

 species — Blennocamjm, Phaenusa, among the sawflies, and most of 

 the Cynipidae, have a habit of tucking the wings, antennae, and 

 legs close to the body when disturbed, and of fallhig to the 

 ground as if dead, in which position they are very difficult 

 to see. 



The best time for collecting sawflies in Scotland is during May, 

 June, and the early part of July. For the Cynipidae autumn 

 is most productive for the parasitic and inquiline species. Some 

 of the gall-makers appear very early, thus I have found species 

 of AphilotUrix in January, others in June and July, e.g., 

 Trigonaspis megaptera, SpcUkogaster haccaruni. It may be added 

 that the species of both families live but a very short time in the 

 perfect state, and hence the collector has always to be upon the 

 move should he aspire to have a good collection. 



The best collecting places are around the edges of woods where 

 brushwood is plentiful ; or in open clearings in woods ; along the 

 sides of fields and hedges, and in marshes among rushes and horse- 



