1909.1 ]57 



1 (Type) 643. rhamniella Z. 



Etti-Splr. Lp-Fn. Baden 256 sp. 636 (1898). 



Herrich-Sc'haffer [SB. Schm. Eur. 5 12, 46 PI. 13-4-6 (1853)] 

 adopted Momphn from Hiibiier for species allied lo eonturhatella Hb., 

 carefully pointiufr out that rhamniella Z. differ^ in several respects 

 from the other species. Heineinaun restricted '• Moinpha HS " to 

 rhamniella Z. ; this was not one of Hiibner's types, and certainly 

 was not rej^arded as typical by Herrich-Schiitfer. Mcinemann's de- 

 scription " Vdfi. mit neun Aesten " etc. is erroneous, or taken from 

 an abnormal specimen. 



Walshia rhamniella Z. has normally FVV : 12 veins, 7 and 8 

 stalked, 7 to costa (2-3, and 5 sometimes weaker than the other 

 veins) ; H\V : S veins, all separate, 4 remote from 3, approximated 

 to 5, 6 and 7 approximated (owing to proximity stalking may occur 

 in abnormal specimens). 



In Staudinger and Rebel's Catalog 3575 rhamniella Z. is wrongly 

 included in Blafodacna VVk. (HW : 5 and 6 stalked out of 7), apart 

 from the neuration rhamniella can be readily separated from afrn 

 Hw. and vinolentelJa H8. by the structure of the antennae. 

 Walshia amorphella Clms., and rhamniella Z. have but a single 

 bristle on the basal joint of ihe antennae ; Blastodacno and Laverna 

 have a well-developed pecten. It is interesting to be able to add 

 this American genus to the European list. 



Merton Hall, Tlietford : 



June -[0th, 1909. 



[To be continued). 



FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE EMPINM. 

 EY A. H. HAMM. 



Empis option, F.— Since writing the account of this species in the 

 June number of this Magazine (p. 132), I have been making further 

 observations with a view to test the suggestion then made that the 

 prey provided by the male is a physiological necessity. In a number 

 of instances, the male having been seen to pair and settle down with 

 the female in possession of the prey, a record was made of the time 

 during which copulation lasted. The period wns found to vary from 

 a minimum of two-and-a-half to a maximum of five-and-a-half minutes, 

 the average being about four minutes. The duration probably varied 

 with the size of the victim, which was in my experience exclusively 

 Dipterous. The male, after uncoupling, flew away, and the female 



