1900] 251 



The spiracles shown at figs. 5 and 6 are drawn to the same scale, and show the 

 marked difference in size between the dorsal and ventral sets. 



Long., 7 — 10 mm. Lat., 4 — 5 mm. 



Hah. : N. Konkan, India. " Kept in special nests, built for the 

 purpose, by (Ecophylla smaragdina''' (Wasmann). Collected by Mr. 

 Wroughton. Ex Coll. Wasmann, 1899. 



It is much to be regretted that Mr. Wroughton has not furnished 

 further particulars with regard to the economy of this species. To 

 have known something of the nature and extent of the " special 

 nests," which the ants are said to construct for the express purpose of 

 housing the captive Coccids, would have been a valuable contribution 

 to our knowledge of this exceedingly interesting branch of natural 

 science. 



The general character of the ? is strictly Monophlebid, but does 

 not agree with anything known to me, and seems worthy of generic 

 rank. Moreover, the marginal spiracles do not, I believe, exist in 

 any other known species. 



The description is from specimens preserved in spirits, and I can 

 add nothing with regard to external characters. 



Chester: September, 1900. 



DROSOPHILA MACULATA, Dttfoub, A NEW BRITISH DIPTERON. 

 BY D. SHARP, M.A., M.D., F.R.S. 



On June 1st last I captured a fly in the New Forest that I had 

 not seen before, and on submitting it to Mr. Verrall and Mr. Collin, 

 they both pronounced it to bo something not in the British list. By 

 searching in Mr. Verrall's continental collection it was soon discovered 

 to be DrosopMla maculafa, Duf . The species is an Acalyptrate Muscid 

 intermediate in size between a Musca doinestica and a Chlorops, and 

 is highly, remarkable from its coloration ; the head between the eyes 

 is pure white. The thorax varies in colour according to the light ; in 

 some positions it appears to be brilliant white, and in others of a 

 leaden hue ; there is a pure white stripe on each side between the 

 wing and the eye. The abdomen is pallid, but each segment is marked 

 with large black spots. The legs are pale yellow. 



Dufour says that the species is connected with Boletus. I think 

 I found my specimen among old wood near Lyndhurst. 



Cambridge : Octoler Gth, 1900. 



