48 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



Platytyhllus sp.?, June 21. 



Neurocolpus niibilus Say, Aug. 1. 



Poscilocapsus lineatns Fab., July 18. 



Capsus ater Linn., June 21. (4) 



C. ater semiflavus Linn., June 21. 



Camptohrochis grandis Uhl., July 18. (7) 



Gerridae. 

 *Gerris marginatus Say, July 18. (4) 



Saldidae. 



Saldida major Prov. 



S. pallipes Fab., July 18. (2) 



5. sphacelala Uhl., June 21. 



5. opaciila Zett., July 18. 



S. sp.?, June 21, Aug. 1. (3) 

 *Micracanthia hum His Say, June 21, Aug. 1. (9) 



Some of these were taken under seaweed where they were 

 very numerous on Aug. 1, though not so ordinarily. Stranded 

 specimens were very active as soon as they left the water, and 

 probably those under the seaweed had taken temporary refuge 

 there after escaping the waves. 



Corixidae. 

 Corixa verticalis Fieb., July 18. (2) 



Kindly identified by Prof. J. F. Abbott. 



It is well known that some insects can withstand prolonged 

 submergence in salt water, but from the condition of the more 

 fragile species, many of which gained the shore alive, it seems to 

 me probable that the flights occurred on the same day, shortly be- 

 fore the insects were washed ashore. If this be true, a possible 

 explanation of the flights presents itself. On a clear day with a 

 light, on-shore breeze the surface of the ocean reflects the sunlight 

 with a peculiar sparkling brilliancy which might conceivably attract 

 insects already flying above the land in unusual numbers because of 

 some favouring combination of atmospheric conditions. The 

 absence of the latter factor would account for the lack of a flight 

 on days which were otherwise favourable. Thus, a light, on-shore 

 breeze rather than a strong, off-shore wind may be the more fre- 

 quent cause of the flight of insects over the water, and their conse- 

 q.uent presence in the drift. 



