1919.] 



33 



instead of a black thorax. Stephens includes it in his Manual, but 1 believe 

 that it has not found a place in any British handbook or catalogue since his 

 time, nor have I any recollection of a record of its capture here. A specimen 

 was talven by my friend Mr. C. E. Stott in moss at Llandrindod Wells in Sep- 

 tember 1917, and sent to me for identification. — E. A. Newbery, 13 Oppidans 

 Road, N.W.3: Jnnuanj lUh, 1919. 



Gerris nsper Fab. in Norfolk. — In March 1918, 1 took three specimens of 

 a Gerris on a slow-flowing- brook at Holt, Norfolk. Mr. E. A. Butler, to 

 whom I submitted one of the examples and to whom my best thanks are 

 due, informs me that they are Gerris asper, and that he knows of no other 

 authentic occurrence of this insect south of the Tweed. — G. E. Hutchinson, 

 Ayrthorpe, Newton Road, Cambridge : January 17th, 1919. 



The range of Flusia moneta in Britain, — Dr. Imms's record (this Magazine, 

 liv, p. 211) of this species for Lymm certainly carries it a little further 2vest 

 than Bramhall (" Entomologist," xxxix, p. 291), but his records are beaten, so 

 far as the north of Cheshire is concerned, by Sale (Ent. l. c), and Ashton-on- 

 Mer.~ey (Ent. 1, p. 208) and all Cheshire records are beaten easily by York 

 (Ent. Mo. Mag. liv, p. 21). There is now a " further west '" record for Cheshire 

 in the current number of the "Entomologist," p. 23 (Alvanley). I have also 

 a note of the larva being found at Arnside, Westmorland, which is the 

 farthest north as yet, but I cannot trace the source of the record now. Perhaps 

 some reader can put me on to it. We want records of this species from 

 N. Walws, Isle of Man, Ireland, and Scotland. Has it not reached any of 

 these districts yet? — C. Nicholson, 35 The Avenue, Hale End, E. 4 

 December dth, 1918. 



Bombiis terrestris L. in New Zealand. — Is not Mr. Hudson in error (last 

 vol. p. 212) in speaking of harrisellns Ivirby as a variety of above species Y 

 I thought it belonged to hortormn L., or, more correctly, ruderatus F. 

 according to Sladeu. — C. NicHOLsiON. 



The " sinyiny " of Syrphus ribesii ivhile at rest. — I notice that Mr. Carter, 

 in his notes upon this subject, states that he was unable to observe any motion 

 when these flies were producing their shrill singing noise : but I think if he 

 watches them again verj' closelj' he will find that the wings are really in 

 motion at the time. The movement is very slight and exceedingly rapid — 

 indeed, the only effect that is produced is that the wings suddenly appear out 

 of focus when the song is commenced. The change is, perhaps, more easily 

 seen when the song ceases, for then the outline of the wdngs becomes suddenly 

 much sharper aud more distinct. There are some other flies of the same genus 

 that I have noticed producing a similar noise, but I cannot be quite sure from 

 memory as to which species I have observed. I suspect the sharp buzzing 

 sound they all make when caught is produced in the same way. — Eustace 

 F. Wallis, Newton, near Kettering ; January 12'th, 1919. 



