BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 217 



and perhaps genera, might be very considerable. It is to be 

 regretted that many of the entomologists of this and the other 

 colonies do not more endeavour to extend the knowledge of our 

 least known orders by submitting specimens to those who are 

 striving to work up particular groups. 



Tanypus and Geratopogon appear to have a distribution equally 

 as wide as that of Chironomus, and include by far the greater 

 number of the remaining species. Doubtless many species of 

 these small flies have been overlooked even in the most thoroughly 

 worked countries. 



No New Zealand species of Chironomidae appear to have been 

 described. 



The Midges, like the Culicidae, may be often seen hovering in 

 the air in great swarms, especially towards evening. As the 

 larvse and pupae mostly dwell in water, it is in such localities that 

 the perfect insects are most numerous. Many species may be 

 obtained by the sweeping-net among grass, etc., and others are 

 commonly met with in caves and similarly shady retreats. As far 

 as my observations go, most of these insects are not lovers of 

 sunshine ; the species of Ceratopogon, however, are often found in 

 sunny situations. Stagnant waters generally teem with the larvae 

 of Chironomidm. Some of the larvae are commonly known as 

 blood-worms on account of their colour. The larvae of Chironomus 

 stercorarius, Meig., reside in dung. Both larvae and pupae of 

 different species often exhibit marked variations of structure. 

 The habits of Tanypus and closely allied genera mostly resemble 

 those of Chironomus ; the larvse are often found in swampy places 

 and about the stems of aquatic plants. The larvae of Chironomus 

 oceanicus, Pack., has been obtained from the depth of twenty 

 fathoms in Eastport Harbour, Maine, and in Salem Harbour; and 

 the pupae and larvae of a Tanypus or allied genus were found in 

 great numbers by Packard in a salt-water lake in California. The 

 genera Halirytus, Eaton, and Psamaihiomya, Deby, have been 

 proposed for the reception of marine Chironomidae with rudi- 

 mentary wings. The first was discovered at Royal Sound and 



\ 



