146 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Phora minuta, n. sp. 



Head black the front broad, convex, with a few minute hairs slanting 

 towards the middle line ; the usual bristles rather small, arranged as 

 shown in figure. Ocellar prominence defined by a very fine impressed 

 line, which continues down the front. Antennte brownish-black. Palpi 

 brownish, with a few black bristles at tip. Proboscis small, yellow. 

 Thorax uniformly black, with but few bristles. Abdomen black, tapering, 

 the last segment slender and cylindrical. Halteres light yellow. Wings a 

 little infuscated, except toward the posterior border. Second heavy vein 

 forked near the end. Light veins four in number, the first nearly straight ; 

 costal margin with fine bristles to the end of the second heavy vein. 

 Front legs yellow at the coxae, gradually browner toward the tarsi, 

 without any conspicuous bristles. Middle legs brown, one long spur at 

 the apex of each tibia. Hind legs black, apex of each tibia with one 

 long spur ; about seven short bristles form a row down the back side of 

 the apical half of the tibiae. 



Length of body, 1.2 mm ; of wing, 1.3 mm. Brookings, South Dakota. 



One $ specimen, reared from Cimbex atfiericana, Leach. Date of 

 emergence, June i. 



In preparing these descriptions I have been unable to make much use 

 of the characters of the dorsum of the thorax, because this region is 

 injured by the pin in most of my specimens. The smaller points of 

 structure were determined with a compound microscope, mostly at 60 

 diameters, but occasionally with a higher power in the smaller species. 



The accompanying sketches, though somewhat rough, will serve to 

 show the number and arrangement of the frontal bristles. Frontal 

 sutures, where present, are also shown. No attempt was made to draw 

 to a uniform scale ; and, as the point of view was necessarily not quite 

 the same in all cases, the outlines given are not to be relied upon for the 

 comparative shape of the fronts. 



I shall be glad to receive specimens of Phoridae from any North 

 American locality, and will try to return any favours of this kind. As the 

 species are all very small, the best method of mounting is as follows : — 

 Cut a piece of cork (or pith) yi inch square and }l inch long ; near one 

 end of this run through a No. 00 Klaeger pin till it projects nearly j^ 

 inch ; cut off the head end close to the cork (with scissors, most 

 conveniently) ; lay the little fly on its back on a smooth surface, and using 

 a lens if necessary, introduce the point of the pin into its body between 

 the middle legs until it has just reached the dorsal surface ; then stick a 

 stouter pin through the other end of the cork in the opposite direction 

 from the first one, far enough so that about half will project below. 



