230 Transactions. 



(1909), and in the same month, as well as in March, several were captured 

 on the hills of Purakanui. H. antipodus produces, during flight, a hum- 

 ming sound like that of a bee, but of a more acute tone. 



Helophilus ineptus. 



Common at Roslyn during February and March (1909). One very 

 hot and sunny day in January I captured this fly on the banks of a small 

 stream above Murdering Beach. 



Helophilus chathamensis. 



There is no record of this fly having been found before in New Zealand, 

 since Captain Button's specimens were captured at the Chatham Islands. 

 I found an individual on the sea-shore of Taieri Mouth, where it had been 

 blown by a strong wind, in January (1908), and the following month I 

 paptured another hovering above a clump of marigold-flowers at Roslyn. 

 On a small cliff at Tomahawk, during October (1908), a large number were 

 taken while at rest on or hovering over some wild flowers attached to the 

 rock ; at the foot of this cliff a stream runs into the sea. 



Helophilus latifrons. 



Captured on a hillside near the bush at Taieri Mouth, December (1907). 

 Two specimens were obtained at Roslyn during September (1908), and two 

 more from Tomahawk in the following month. 



Syrphus novae-zealandiae. (Plate XXIX, fig. 1.) 



One of the most abundant of New Zealand Syrphids : it is to be found 

 everywhere during the season, appearing about September and becoming 

 less common in April ; only a few are to be seen dining May, and then only 

 in sunny weather. This species varies greatly in colour, the yellow being 

 in some a deep in others a very light shade, and may even be tinged with 

 green. If a specimen be captured shortly after it has emerged from the 

 pupa, the yellow spots are transparent, the black colour transmits the 

 light, and thus the organs contained in the abdomen are rendered visible. 

 I kept two specimens in confinement • — a male and a female — for a few 

 days. The male flew about more than the female, the latter feeding, 

 most of the time, on the pollen of daisies which I had put in for food. 

 These observations were made during May (1909), at which period the 

 weather was becoming cold, so that the Sjrrphids were inert ; but on the 

 application of a little warmth they immediately showed signs of returning 

 animation — the female returned to the flowers, while the male amused 

 itself by endeavouring to find an exit. After a few minutes the female 

 would stop feeding and stretch out the proboscis to its full length ; this 

 action having been accomplished once or twice, feeding was resumed ; 

 occasionally the fly would rub the proboscis with the fore tarsi. AMien 

 this species alights, the wings are either held outstretched or folded over 

 the abdomen, which is frequently kept in motion, as in E. tenax. On a 

 drop of nitric acid being held about a quarter of an inch from the antennae 

 of a female, the fly immediately started back or dodged from side to side, 

 endeavouring to avoid the acid ; when held at the side of the thorax the 

 acid did not appear to affect the specimen. 



Syrphus ortas. (Plate XXIX, hg. 2.) - 



This species is rare. I have found only one specimen, which was resting 

 on a dandehon exjjosed to the sun— Roslyn, September (1908). 



