THE COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF DIPTEKA 57 



may often turn out on examination to be a specimen of 

 considerable interest. 



A great wealth of species may often be obtained by the 

 simple expedient oi siveeping a mass of luxuriant weeds, such 

 as those which clothe the banks of a roadside ditch, or the 

 undergrowth of a damp wood. In such habitats one finds 

 an astonishing variety of Acalyptrate Muscidae, Empidae, 

 Dolichopodidae, and various families of Nematocera (Crane- 

 flies, Gnats, Midges, etc.). A sunny glade in a wood, or even 

 a small opening in the trees which allows a gleam of direct 

 sunlight to penetrate and illuminate the foliage of low shrubs 

 or large weeds, is always worthy of attention, for many flies 

 (e.g., Syrphus, Lucilia, and many genera of Anthomyiidae) 

 are very fond of sunning themselves on leaves warmed and 

 illuminated in this way, while if such a fly is disturbed it will 

 return again and again to precisely the same leaf. Hence if 

 it is missed by the first stroke of the net let the collector 

 wait a few moments and the fly will return and offer a 

 second, third, or even many chances. 



Certain Syrphidse {Eristalis, Volucella, Syrphus) may be 

 seen (and heard !) hovering in the air high above one's head 

 and apparently stationary. To approach by careful stalking 

 and capture one of these handsome insects by a rapid and 

 skilful stroke of the net, under a hot sun and in the dangerous 

 vicinity of strong, trailing bramble-shoots, whose recurved 

 prickles are waiting to rend to shreds the delicate gauze of 

 the net if carelessly allowed within their sphere of action, 

 offers a degree of sport and excitement which may hardly be 

 credited by those who have not tried the experiment. If the 

 fly be missed, and it is missed more often than not, it darts 

 away to a considerable distance like a stroke of lightning, 

 returning again after a second or two to the same spot to 

 tempt once more the panting and perspiring pursuer. 



A change of scene may be recommended after sufficient 

 sport (and let us hope, a fair spoil) has been obtained in this 

 way, and a cooler spot may now be chosen. The neighbour- 

 hood of water offers to the collector many chances of 

 acquiring a variety of interesting species. The low vegeta- 

 tion of a marsh may be swept with good results in the way 

 87 AND 88 II 



