180 THE entomologist's record. 



the United States in 1877, and makes an attempt to explain the same. 

 He also deals with the importation of Psilojnis pallens into America 

 under most improbable circumstances ; the importation of Ciilex into 

 the Sandwich Islands, and lastly notices some of the remarkable 

 peculiarities in the geographical distribution of Si/rplms pj/rastri, but 

 this paper is rather outside our projected limits, and besides is easy of 

 reference. We may, however, mention an interesting note on the 

 introduction of F^ristalis tena.r and Miisca vomitoria into New Zealand, 

 which was published by Hudson {Trans. Keic Zeal. Inst., xxii., 

 p. 187), but much more important is that of Smith {Knt. 21o. Mag., 

 xxvi., pp. 240 et seq.) on Kristalis tena.r, M-hich, between 1888 and 1890, 

 not only appeared in the country but spread in great numbers over the 

 whole extent of the country on the east coast of the south island ; he 

 considers that its actual introduction was from the Pacific coast, and 

 points out that the numerous intervening groups of islands would 

 provide a ready means of dispersion if the necessary conditions for its 

 larval stage existed in the islands, but he is inclined to suppose that it 

 was imported direct by the mail steamers which ply monthly between 

 San Francisco and Auckland. In 1894, Smith sent another communica- 

 tion {loc. cit., XXX., pp. 54 etseq.) about the introduction of i\[iisca (Calli- 

 phora) vomitoria and concludes that the transoceanic migration of 

 nearly all the exotic diptera now flourishing in New Zealand has been 

 accomplished artificially, and especially so by fast steamers during 

 recent years. The genial climate of the islands with long summers 

 and mild winters is extremely favourable to the habits and development 

 of diptera from colder climes. It is possible that fresh immigrants of 

 previously introduced species may continue to arrive especially if the 

 fast steamers leave England or the ports of call during the summer 

 months. The species here referred to as M. vomitoria is, according to 

 Meade {loc. cit., p. 136), M. eri/throcephala, which is, in England, far 

 commoner about houses and towns, whilst M. vomitoria is commoner 

 in fields and country places. 



The gradual extension of Merodon eqtwstris in Britain is interesting. 

 It was not known in Britain till a specimen was caught by Verrall at 

 Denmark Hill, on June 8th, ls,S9, in a garden, where large quantities 

 of Dutch bulbs were annually planted. Since then it has become 

 abundant where the bulbs of Narcissi and allied plants are largely 

 grown, and McLachlan {Knt. Mo. Ma;/., xxxi., p., 114) notes that 

 there is no doubt that Merodon is becoming more common than 

 formerly owing to the large exportations of bulbs from the south of 

 Europe. He states that a friend of his, a well-known horticulturist, 

 never observed any signs of the ravages of the larvae until after having 

 purchased, in an unlucky moment, a bag of imported bulbs, since 

 which time the species has caused considerable damage in his garden. 

 The larva will feed on any kind of bulbs ; recently it came under 

 notice as destroying those of Eiinjcles, an Austalian genus. Bulbs of 

 Narcissus (and probably of other plants) that have been attacked by 

 the larva of Merodon, but not killed outright, are found next season to 

 have divided themselves into a varying number of healthy smaller 

 bulbs, so that to some extent, the attacks of a larva form a means of 

 propagation. 



The distribution of the Hessian fly {Cecidomi/ia destructor) during 

 the last quarter of a century has been the subject of a whole library of 



