334 0. B. Osten Sachen: 



In the present paper I call post-alar niembrane the con- 

 necting membrane of ni.y previons pnblication. It occurred to 

 nie since, that the latter terni is too vague, and maj' he applied to 

 any membrane connecting the sclerites of the body (for instance, 

 the abdominal ones). The term post-alar membrane does not 

 allovv such a misunderstanding. Weinland, in his „Beitr. zur 

 Kenntn. d. Baues des Dipteren-Schwingers", Berlin 1890, p. Ki, uses 

 „Verbindungsschüppchen" for the same organ. He, liko R.-D., quite 

 correctly considers the post-alar membrane as a part of the wing: 

 „Der Theil des Flügels, welcher denselben innen (hinton) mit dem 

 Thorax verbindet" (1. c. p. 16, line 7 from top). 



A celebrated French painter, I believe it was Ingres, used to 

 say: „Le dessin est la probite de l'art." So itmaybesaid: „Litera- 

 ture is probity in science." If, during the last six or seven years I 

 have spent a considcrable amount of time in apparently tedious re- 

 searches in entomological literature, I had some reason for considering 

 such rosearches as my special duty. I have the advantage of possessing 

 a rather complete dipterological library, over the contents of which, 

 by dint of Indexes, extracts and cross-references, I have ac(piired a 

 certain (although still very insufficient) mastery. Another advantage 

 which I enjoy, consists in an almost absolute freedom in the dispo- 

 sal of my time. Under such favorable circumstances, it is much 

 easier for mc, than it would bc for others, to fultil some duties of 

 drudgcry, indispensable, among the deluge of literature, for main- 

 taining a decent level of scientiiic probity. And I believe that my 

 labour is not lost, so long as I am helping others to maintain 

 that level. 



Note I. 



On the terminology ofthe scale-like organs which lie 

 between the roots of the wings and the scutellum of Dip- 

 tera, — by R. H. Meade. (Entom. Monthly Mag. London, 

 Febr. 1897, p. 29—30.) 



„B^ C. R. Osten Sacken has lately published an interesting 

 little paper upon these small lobcs or scales which are very con- 

 spicuous in the higher Muscidae. They have received very ditferent 

 names from different entomologists. The term alidae or winglets 

 has been most frequently used by tliose in Britain, as Westwood, 

 Walker etc., but it is incorrect, for they have no real alliance witli 

 the win s; the haltcres or poisers being considered as the represen- 



