Dec, 1901.] Observations on Insects. 169 



in abundance crawling over the trunks and foliage of trees, on the 

 fence along the woods and flying about generally. One pair was 

 observed in copulation on the fence, and I am of the opinion that 

 the presence of so many flies in the locality at the time is ex- 

 plained on the ground that it was the general mating place of the 

 sexes. On several occasions I have made observations which lead 

 me to believe that the sexes of various species of the family 

 copulate among foliage often high up in the trees. As Tabanids 

 are not easily procured with a net from the surface of a rough 

 rail, I tried the experiment of picking the specimens off with my 

 fingers and found that it was surprisingly successful, if the move- 

 ment toward them was made very slowly until just ready to touch 

 them when the fingers were gripped quickly. Near a watering 

 trough where a herd of cattle drank daily I found males in num- 

 bers resting on the ground where the turf had been tramped off. 

 Along Rocky River I observed both sexes fly down to the water 

 and dip several times in succession and then away to alight on a 

 stone on the bank or disappear from sight altogether. 



On July 29th I rode from Sandusky to Cleveland by boat. 

 Although we were from two to five miles off shore all the time, 

 males and females of T. sulcifrons often came on board and 

 alighted on the canvas and rigging of the boat. From this it is 

 evident that this species at least may fly for some distance over 

 water. 



We have taken Goniops chrysocoma on several occasions. It 

 has a habit which is of value to the collector. At Hinckley, 

 Medina County, I took several females and observed that they 

 have the habit of stationing themselves on the upper side of a 

 leaf, where by vibrating their wings rapidly and striking the 

 upper surface of the leaf at each downward stroke, make a rat- 

 tling noise which can be heard plainly several feet away. At 

 Vinton last spring Mr. Morse and myself identified the charac- 

 teristic sound of the species and were guided by it to procure 

 specimens. 



I have taken the male of Pangonia rasa on blossoms of sumac 

 at Medina, Ohio, in August. 



OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS. 



James S. Hine. 



Agromyza setosa lyoew — The larvae of several species of the 

 genus Agromyza are known to mine the leaves and stems of 

 various plants. Cabbage, potatoes, corn, clover, strawberries, ver- 

 benas, chrysanthemums and sunflowers are among the cultivated 

 plants from which various species of the genus have been reared; 

 while plantain, round-leaved mallow, golden-rod, aster, cockle- 



