6i 



trait is in accordance with the well-known predilection of other blood- 

 sucking Diptera, such as Anopheles and HcEiiiatopota, for resting 

 upon dark surfaces. The localities and dates of the Museum series of 

 specimens are as follows : — Felden, Boxmoor, Herts, September 5th, 

 189s (^. Piffard) \ Lewes, Sussex, June Sth, 1870 (C H. ]'erra/l); 

 Torcross, S. Devon, August 25th, 1903, and Porthcawl, Glamorgan- 

 shire, S. Wales, May 31st, 1903 {Lieiit.-Coloiiel. Yerbury). 

 Colonel Yerbury contributes the following note : — " In the British 

 Isles this seems to be an uncommon insect. It has been caught on 

 the backs of cattle at Barmouth (Merioneth), Porthcawl (Glamorgan- 

 shire), and Torcross (S. Devon). These flies collect in numbers on 

 the withers of young cattle, but are, as may be imagined, difficult to 

 catch. The writer while catching them on the back of one beast got 

 his net hung up on the horns of another, with disastrous consequences to 

 the net. This, or a very closely allied species has the same habits in 

 Ceylon, and was found in great numbers near Trincomali,on the backs 

 of the village cattle." 



The geographical range of L. irritans doubtless includes the 

 whole of Europe, since it is known to extend from Central 

 Scandinavia to Italy, where, according to Rondani, it attacks horses 

 as well as cattle. The species has been introduced into the United 

 States, where it is stated to have the habit of clustering in masses 

 about the base and on the concave side of the horns of cattle, and 

 has consequentl}- been termed the " Horn-fly." First observed on 

 cattle in New Jersey and Maryland in the summer and autumn 

 of the year 1887, it is said to be now generally distributed 

 throughout the United States and Eastern Canada. The Museum 

 possesses a specimen from Vernon, British Columbia, where it was 

 taken by Miss Ricardo on July 25th, 1902. The species is known to 

 American writers by its synon}-m Hamatobia scrrata, Rob.-Desv. 



