MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 361 



A further tribe of Fossores, the Sphegidce, comprises some of the largest and 

 also some of the smallest of existing wasps. Representatives of the following 

 genera occur within our limits : Tachysphex, Larra, Homogambrus, Notogonia, 

 Liris, Palarus, Miscophus, Gastrosericus, Pison, Trypoxylon, Ammophila, Sceli- 

 phron, Sphex, Pemphredon, Passalcecus, Diodontus, Gorytes, Stizus, Benibex, Philan- 

 thus, Cerceris, Oxybelus, and Crabro. 



The FormicidcB, or Ants, are numerous in individuals, but not so in species. 

 The largest and most conspicuous ant, frequently found in and about houses 

 is Myrmecocystus setipes, which occurs commonly in the Punjab. 



Coleoptera (Beetles) are numerous, the most noticeable being various species 

 of Scarabasus, which act the part of scavengers by breaking up and burying the 

 droppings of cattle and other animals in which they lay their eggs. Several 

 species of dctndeHdce (Tiger-beetles) are also common. The willow, poplar, 

 and other trees are much subject to the depredations of some large species 

 of beetles, but I am not certain to what genera these belong. 



Of the Lepidoptera (buttterflies and moths), the former are not very numerous, 

 at least in the immediate neighbourhood of Quetta. Perhaps the most common 

 is the almost ubiquitous Painted lady (Pyrameis cardni). The following are 

 the other butterflies which commonly occur near Quetta : Ganoris sp., 

 Belenois mesentina, Limnas chrysippus, Synchlce daplidice, Colias sp., Teracolus 

 faustus, ffippardhia parisates and H. thelephassa, Polyommatus bceticus, Aplmaeus 

 hypargyrus, Chrysophanus phlceas, Azanus uhaldus, Zhera karsandra, Lycana 

 balucha,L. persica, L. hylas and L. bracteata, with perhaps a few more Lyccenidce. 



The moths include Deilephila lirornica, a species of Macroglossa, a Catocala, 

 Tarache sulphuralis, one or two species of Plusia, and many others. 



Diptera or flies, which include of course gnats and mosquitoes, are very numer- 

 ous. Some of them, especially the predatory Asilidce, are of very large size, 

 and prey upon other insects. A species of this latter genus which occurs 

 commonly at Quetta is about 1£ inches in length, and is most voracious, 

 preying upon butterflies, moths and other insects, sometimes seizing those which 

 are twice its own size and weight. Culicidm (gnats and mosquitoes) are fairly 

 numerous during the summer, a few certainly passing the winter in houses in 

 a state of hybernation. The genus Anopheles has attained an unenviable 

 notoriety during the last few years as being the intermediate host of the mala- 

 rial parasite. Several species of this genus doubtless occur here ; last year 

 (1902) individuals were not numerous, owing to the prevailing drought ; and 

 during the present year I attribute their comparative scarcity, as before 

 mentioned, to the unusual number of dragonflies. 



Simuliidce (sand-flies) are very common, and few escape their irritating 

 attentions. Blood-sucking flies, also frequently called gad-flies, are very numer- 

 ous at times, and are especially annoying to horses and camels, the females 

 biting them to such an extent as frequently to cause considerable swellings on 

 the abdomen, I have seen several horses during the present year, including 

 one of my own, which were quite unfit for work owing to their bites. 



The Oestridce (Bot-flies) are not very frequently seen in the imago slate, but 



