The Microscope and Biology. By W. Wesche. 413 



preparations of predaceous flies, Empis livida L., the Dolichopid 

 Mcdeterus truncorum Mg., and the Cordylurid Nordlia spinimana 

 < Mg., which contain the hairs and scales of gnats (Culex). 



What will appeal to a section of my fellow microscopists is 

 the fact that two of my preparations show that when alive they 

 had a taste for the Diatomace?e. 



An unnamed Camosid from Geelong, Vic, has three small 

 Navicular inside ; while Scatophila despecta, Hal., a minute Ephy- 

 drid, has a whole collection, and is like a slide spread with 

 Pinnuliarce and Naviculce. "We may infer that they found their 

 food in marshv spots, which, however, is already known of these 

 two genera. 



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Remarks on the Food of Diptcra. 



Mycetophilid^e. — In Glaphyroptera fascipennis Mg. I find 

 some digested pollen and the usual black granular stain. 



Bibionid.e. — In Bihio hortulanus L. $ , the digested food 

 appears to contain some very fine earthy debris, some of it quite 

 crystalline. This is an appearance often met with. 



In the male of the same species I can distinguish some pollen. 



Dilophus (?), an undetermined or unnamed insect from New 

 Zealand, shows spores of mould or mildew. 



SimuliD/E. — In S. reptans L. the food is much cracked, yet not 

 clearly characteristic of the blood-suckers. 



Chironomyid.e. — The abdomens of several species of Chiro- 

 nomus are full of pollen ; the colouring in some species is affected 

 by it. Another shows short fine rods of dark colour : these 

 adhere in small bundles, and are unique in my observations. 



In the intervening families, Ornephilidae, Psychodidse, Culi- 

 cidse, Dixidee, Ptychopteridae, Limnobidaj, Tipulidas, and Rhy- 

 phidae, my observations call for no record ; traces of " black 

 granule " can be seen in most. 



Stratiomyid.e. — Beris vallata Forst. $ and Chloromyia formosa 

 Scop. $ show a dark, amorphous mass, of which little can be 

 made, though the " black granule " is very marked. 



CyrtidtE. — In two females of Oncodes gibbosus L. I find the 

 intestine full of a dark mass ; in two males, empty. Both sexes 

 are absolutely without mouth-parts, the cavity being covered over 

 with a membrane. This mass in the female is probably larval 

 food, necessary to sustain her through the stages of maternity. 

 The male I would expect to die soon after coitus. 



Empid^e. — Rhamphomyia pennata Mg. $ has some fine sedi- 

 ment with the black granule, and another female shows a minute 

 spore of fungus or mildew. One preparation of Empis chioptera 

 Fin. $ shows the intestines full of a very minute reddish, or 

 reddish brown granule, rather dried up in appearance ; this, by 



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