300 [December, 



September 15th ; Cambridge, September 25th (Miss Haynes). Nearly all were on 

 flowers of Cumpoxitre ; they sit with the wings overlapping, and so have a pointed 

 look behind. It is an odd looking insect. — Id. 



Trigonometoptis fro)ifalix near Newburi/. — I found this species fairly common 

 among sedge, &c., at West Woodhay, in April and September. Whether it is an 

 autumn species that hibernates I do not know. [Since this was written I notice 

 (Ent. Mo. Mag., xxxii, p. 212) that Mr. Morley took the insect at Ipswicli in Sep- 

 tember and March].— Id. 



Aeletoxenus syrphoides, Frauenf., at Cambridge. — On July 14th five specimens 

 occurred in my garden of a very lovely fly, which I could not find in Walker's 

 Diptera. The first was noticed by my housekeeper, who called me to catch it ; the 

 others were taken by myself and by my parlourmaid, who has become infected with 

 our enthusiasm. On July 19th I caught another, and took it over alive to New- 

 market, wliere it was at once identified by Mr. Collin, who has kindly consented to 

 write a description of it, and to do what he can to clear up the tangled synonymy. 

 The plate which will accompany his paper was sketched by Mr. Edwin Wilson from 

 a living specimen. Four more occurred on July 21st (one flying, obvious when on 

 the wing) and following days, and one on August 10th.— Id. 



Note on EristaJis tenax in New Zealand. — On July 5th, or a fortnight past 

 mid-winter's day at the Antipodes, Mr. Dyherberg, manager of the Ashburton 

 brickyards, sent me a box containing twenty-seven individuals of this cosmopolitan 

 Dipteron, which he found hibernating together in a cliink in a clay bank when 

 breaking it down preparatory to making bricks. The direction of the clay bank is 

 from east to west, and it is exposed to the hot autumn sun which causes it to contract 

 somewhat, and form small fissures, while it is on the drier and warmer sides of the 

 yards during winter. I have occasionally observed this remarkable Dipteron hiber- 

 nating under the eaves of dwelling and out-houses, but never gregariously. There 

 is a small area of stagnant swamp on the property adjoining the yards, which is 

 used as a domestic duck farm. The larvse are numerous in the stagnant water and 

 mud of the swamp throughout the summer and autumn, which accounts for their 

 presence hibernating in considerable numbers in the brickyards during the winter. 

 After a chilly, damp summer, the month of May and first half of June were 

 remarkably fine, and E. tenax was very numerous in this district. On June 2nth 

 the weatiier became wet, with cold light frosty nights, which has continued more or 

 less up to the present time. These insects suddenly disappeared when the weather 

 became cold, and have not as yet left their winter retreat. 



Since the foregoing was written delightful spring days, with a shade tempera- 

 ture of 65° to 70° began on the 24th, wliich induced these interesting Diptera to 

 leave their winter quarters. To-day I observe them abundant on the white flowers 

 of the Laurustinus. — W. W. Smith, Ashburton, N. Z. : August 30th, 1901. 



Tarsostenus univittatus, Rossi, and Lyctus brunneus, StepTi., at Hanoich. — I 

 have been asked by the Rev. Guy S. Whitaker to record the capture of the above 

 species at Harwich ; they were found in some small numbers boring into an old 

 box. The capture of Tar.so.sfenus is interesting, us it lias not occurred, as far as I 



