1908.] 181 



section of that group with black halteres, and is one of the most 

 characteristic species in the genus. The male possesses a peculiar 

 group of vibrissa? forming a fasciculus on either side of the mouth 

 In the ? these bristles are much smaller and do not form a fasciculus. 

 I identified my own specimens from Bonhill as curvipalpis, Ztt., 

 and sent them to Mr. Collin as that species. In returning the spe- 

 cimens Mr. Collin stated that it was synonymous with bicomis, 

 Kalt., and probably Zetterstedt may have mistaken the peculiar 

 upwardly directed fasciculus for the palpi, hence his name. The 

 species is undoubtedly bicomis, Kalt., and is very probably the insect 

 described by Schiner as curvipalpis, Ztt. I found one specimen among 

 a recent lot sent by Mr. Hainm, I have taken seven myself, Mr. Collin 

 tells me he has taken it also, and I have seen two specimens, taken, 

 I believe, in the Clyde district, belonging to Mr. R. Henderson, 

 Glasgow. 



Bonhill, Dumbartonshire, N.B. : 

 June, 1908. 



OBSERVATIONS ON EMPIS LIVIDA, L. 

 BY A. H. HAMM. 



It was with feelings of mingled surprise and delight that I read 

 Mr. Milburn Howlett's most interesting account of the pairing of 

 Empis borealis, which appeared in this Magazine for last October 

 (vol. xliii, ]). 229). The author here showed for the first time that 

 the prey upon which the female feeds during the period of copulation 

 is provided for her by the male. I there and then made a mental re- 

 solve to attempt to confirm the observation, and to witness for myself 

 this extraordinary phenomenon: and my desire has been gratified 

 beyond my expectations. 



The following brief account of various observations extending 

 from June 25th to July 7th inclusive will, I hope, speak for itself. 



During an afternoon ramble on June 25th, while in search of 

 Diptera and other insects, I came upon a spot by the roadside, about 

 two miles from Islip, on the London Koad between Islip and Wheat- 

 ley, with a fairly broad grassy margin bounded by a high hedge, on 

 which the herbage was very rank, the ground being of a slightly 

 marshy nature. At this spot many individuals of Empis livida were 

 seen resting on the leaves of various plants and grass stems. These 



