330 



THE CANADIAN ENIOMOLOGIST. 



IV. — The fossorial anterior tibice. 

 The digging apparatus of the female consists of rather short, 



depressed, anterior tibiae, more or less hollowed 

 ventrad, and bearing at the distal end two con- 

 spicous stout spurs, the outer of which is de- 

 pressed and much longer than the inner (mesal). 

 They are admirably fitted for the purpose used. 

 (Fig 17 : Portion of anterior leg, ventral view, 

 showing the fossorial tibiae ; a and b, mesal and 

 lateral spurs; r, portion of basal tarsal joint; d, 

 distal three-fourths of tibia. Greatly enlarged.) 

 When thrown forward and forced into the 

 earth, and then drawn back, they hold the 

 earth like a shovel. The males possess the 

 same structure, though relatively more slender. 

 As would be expected, the anterior femora are 

 much stouter than the others. 



The two posterior legs are assistants to the 

 anterior, and for that reason they are much 

 slenderer and longer. Their tibise bear short, 

 slender spines ; those of the anterior tibiae are 

 true spurs or chitinous prolongations of the 

 part, wholly immovable. The legs are well 

 clothed with hairs. 

 There are very few references to this species in our literature, practi- 

 cally none bearing on its habits and life. This is apparently the first pub- 

 lished record of the method of oviposition of a Bibio. 



The figures were kindly drawn by Mr. John F. Strauss ; the writer 

 is also indebted to Prof. A. L. Quaintance, Washington, D. C., for timely 

 suggestions. 



Mr. Franklin Sherman, Entomologist of the North Carolina 

 Department of Agriculture at Raleigh, has been appointed Professor of 

 Entomology and Zoology at the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, 

 Canada, and enters upon his new duties this month. 



Mr. O. W. Barrett, Entomologist and Botanist of the Porto Rico 

 Experiment Station, has been appointed to the new office of " Plant 

 Introduce)" in the Bureau of Plant indusiry at Washington, and will have 

 charge of the distribution of tropical and subtropical plant slock and the 

 inspection and quarantine of both imports and exjjoris of plant shipments. 



Figf. 



