1904.] 109 



of a large felled beech tree in the Gibside, Ilollinside, and Winlaton Mill Woods. 

 They occurred mostly in and on a fine white fungoid growth, as well as on the 

 under portion of the bark, and seemed to prefer trees growing or lying in a damp 

 situation. The specimens captured varied a great deal in size, some scarcely mea- 

 suring 3 mm., and others as much as 1"75 mm. — Id. 



Ptiniix tecfus and Lathridius herqrofhi in Holborn. — It may be interesting to 

 record Ptinun fecfn.i, Eoield., and Lathridius lerfjrothi, Reitt., both taken from a 

 granary in Holborn in 1892. — A. J. Chittt, 27, Hereford Square, S.W. : March 

 25th, 1904. 



Formica fusca, toinged female in Kjyrinp. — In answer to Mr. Dalglish's rcjnarks 

 on my note on this species {ante p. 87) I should like to explain that he has fallen 

 into error in supposing that I was under the impression that the specimen was an 

 early emergence. I was, and am still, of the opinion that the specimen was an 

 example of retarded emergence which had not left the nest in the autumn. Possibly 

 the wording of my note, i. e., " thus early" instead of "at this time of the year " 

 was partly responsible for his mistake. As to the wings breaking off in setting, 

 they did not, in fact they set out as easily as under ordinary circumstances. Mr. 

 Cameron recorded Phyllotoma microcephala in the 1876 list for the West of Scot- 

 land, but this species, as well as a large number more of that gentleman's records, 

 was not included in the 1001 list. — J. R. Malloch, Bonhill, Dumbartonshire: 

 April, 1904. 



Andrena alhicann and Nomada bifida at Bonhill. — While digging for bees in a 

 sandy embankment on March 19th last, I unearthed a female of each of tlie above 

 species in adjoining cells off the same burrow. The cells were so close that they 

 were practically touching each other. Tliese species are I believe generally looked 

 upon as host and parasite, but perliaps this record may prove interesting. — Id. 



Notes on Bipfera in the New Forest, 1903. — The low average temperature, 

 record rainfall, and strong gales will cause the past year to be remembered by ento- 

 mologists as one of the worst ever known. Although I experienced much of the 

 bad weather, I was fortunate enough to be at Lyndhurst on two occasions when 

 there was some sunshine. First, about the third week of May, and later when 

 there was nearly three weeks of hot summer weather from Midsummer Day to the 

 18th of July. Owing to severe frosts, collecting in the early spring was very bad, 

 and only redeemed in my case by the capture of a second specimen of a fly which at 

 present is nameless. The first was taken in my garden on April 9th, 1899, and 

 later on submitted to Mr. Austen, who, however, could make little of it during our 

 short interview, but he advised me to send it to Mr. Collin who at the time was 

 working out the SelomyzidiB, a family which at first sight it strongly resembles. 

 This I did, and he subsequently wrote : " I consider your fly to be a species of 

 Palloptera and not a lilepharoptera or Helomyza, but can find no described species 

 to which to rofei: to it." And again, rather later, " Mr. Verrall is also sali^.fled it is 

 a Palloptera." So the matter rested, and I never saw another specimen until now, 



