96 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



May 1916, pp. 1 07- 1 13), specimens having been obtained by 

 Mr William Evans from the River Spey at Kincraig, by Kingussie, 

 about 1890 or before; and I have just seen a single valve from 

 the Spey in the Rev. G. A. Frank Knight's collection. I trust 

 there will be further additions to the Easterness list. W. Denison 

 Roebuck, Leeds. 



Diptera in a Forfarshire Garden. In continuation of 

 my previous notes, some account of the flies observed in my garden 

 during the past year may be of interest. The season was remarkable 

 for absence of sunshine, low temperature, and heavy rainfall. As 

 a result, insects of all kinds were fewer in number, both of species 

 and individuals. Merodon equestris, F., so plentiful formerly, was 

 seen only once or twice, and not a single example of Pachymeria 

 femorata, F. (cf. Scot. Nat., 1916, p. 12), was noticed; Metopia 

 leucocephala, Rossi., was also absent. On the other hand, two 

 species were taken which I had not found previously in Scot- 

 land. (1) Macrocera fasciata, Mg., a of this pretty Fungus 

 Gnat, on 5th September. As a Scottish insect, it has been re- 

 corded only from St Kilda (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1907, p. 151). 

 (2) Chrysotoxum festivitm, L., a fine <$ emerged, to my surprise, 

 from a trowelful of earth which I had placed under a bell-jar 

 to serve as a pupating nidus for the " Slugworm " of the pear- 

 tree. This was in July ; on 9th September I netted another <$ 

 over a bed of annual chrysanthemums. Troon appears to be 

 the only recorded Scottish locality for this species. Other interest- 

 ing flies were: (3) Pipiza luteitarsis, Zett., two males on 21st 

 May ; (4) Melanophora roralis, L., which occurred in somewhat 

 greater numbers than formerly. It has a habit of running on 

 stems of trees, vibrating its wings the while. (5) Stevenia maculata, 

 Fin., which also occurred more plentifully than in previous years. 

 A male found, 13th August, on my study wall, away from the 

 window, had but newly emerged the ptilinum being distended, 

 the wings unexpanded, and the whole creature colourless. How 

 did it get there? I could find no trace of a puparium. (6) 

 Mycophaga fungorum, Deg., three females on my study window, 

 14th July, 23rd August, and 4th September respectively; par- 

 ticularly pleasing captures of this rare fly which I have not met 

 with since I took it at Musselburgh in 1902 and 1906. A. E. J. 

 Carter, Monifieth. 



[Mr J. W. Bowhill has shown me a specimen (male) of Chryso- 

 toxum festivum which he caught near Aberlady, Haddingtonshire, 

 on 31st July 191 1, W.E.] 



