June, 1912.] Proceedings of the Society. 139 



America and Europe. He had been studying this question for some time and 

 thought it a very interesting one, because the family Syrphida: was an old one 

 geologically and the larvae, being largely either predaceous or living upon 

 excrementitious material, were not like many groups, dependent upon some 

 particular food plant. About 400 species of this family were known from 

 North America and a similar number were recorded from Europe, and of 

 these 48 species included in 21 genera were common to both continents. 

 The distribution of the genera was found to be interesting and varied. 

 Of the 64 species of the genus Syrphiis known to inhabit Europe, 12 are also 

 found in North America ; of the 40 or 50 species of Eristalis found in Europe 



4 occur in America as well. In the large genus Chilosia, only one species is 

 common to Europe and America. In other large genera there is no species 

 common to both continents. There are 5 genera in which all the species 

 occur in both Europe and America. Concerning the distribution of these 

 species which inhabit both Europe and America, 40 occur in northeastern 

 America and of these 14 species are not found elsewhere on this continent. 

 21 of the 40 species are distributed southward into New Jersey and of these 



5 do not occur elsewhere in North America. Four of the 40 species found in 

 northeastern America range across the continent to the northwest. In the 

 northwestern part of America 9 species common to both continents occur and 

 of these s range southward into British Columbia. From southern British 

 Columbia and northern California 19 species common to both Europe and 

 America are recorded, and of these 15 occur in the eastern and northeastern 

 part of the continent. One species recorded from this locality is found in 

 Arizona and New Mexico and also in the East. One species, I'ohicella obcsa. 

 found in Central America, northern South America, Texas and Florida also 

 occurs in the South Seas and Indian Ocean but is not found in Europe. 

 Sphccrophora cylindrica has been recorded from Japan and is widely 

 distributed in North America. Ten species are widely distributed all 

 over Europe and North America and among these is Eristalis tenax L., 

 which is found throughout the world. The species Merodon equestris 

 burrows in lily bulbs in the larval stage and may be distributed in the infested 

 bulbs. It is recorded in America from the eastern United States and Wash- 

 ington. As to how most of this family has been distributed is a question, 

 but it seems probable that the European species common to America may 

 have come by way of Greenland. 



Discussion followed as to the various ways in which species were dis- 

 tributed. 



Society adjourned. 



E. L. DiCKERSON, 



Secretary. 



Meeti.ng of March 7, 191 1. 



A regular meeting of the New York Entomological Society was held in 

 the American Museum of Natural History, March 7, 191 1, at 8.15 P. M. with 



