WERNER aiARCHAND 59 



witch hazel leaf. A fly heard by Mr. E. A. Schwarz giving its pecu- 

 liar buzz on July 13, and which undoubtedly was ovipositing then, 

 was located by McAtee on July 17. On July 24 the female was 

 absent and the eggs were hatching. The larvas, dropping to the 

 ground, immediately burrowed in. 



These observations show that the female Goniops guards the egg 

 mass sometimes for a week at least, a fact which has escaped Wal- 

 ton's attention; that this precaution does not always prevent para- 

 sitism; that the period of incubation varies; and that the larvae are 

 fitted for a subterranean life upon which they enter as soon as 

 hatched. 



Walton placed the two batches of eggs found by him in breeding 

 jars and on the evening of July 25 the first larvae made their appear- 

 ance. The second lot appeared two days later. The eggs are, ac- 

 cording, to him, yellowish white when deposited and change but 

 little if any in color before hatching. The process of hatching was 

 observed. The larvag were quite lively when hatched and "it was 

 a curious sight to see them come tumbling out of the eggs by dozens 

 when the cluster was brought under the bright light." According 

 to him, the period of incubation is from 7 to 10 days. 



According to McAtee, eggs have hatched in from 2 to 11 days 

 from the date of collection. But from the fact that eggs are added 

 to the mass for several days, and that all hatch at the same time, 

 it must be inferred that the eggs within the body of the female keep 

 pace in development with those laid. To determine the true period 

 of incubation observations must cover the process from the laying 

 of the first egg to hatching (McAtee). 



All the egg masses found on Plummer's Island in 1910 (McAtee) 

 were on the steep north slope of the principal elevation of the island, 

 which is a well shaded, cool, and damp locality. The finding of 

 seven egg masses in this area of less than an acre in one season shows 

 that Goniops chrysocoma is not uncommon locally, even though little 

 is known of it and recorded captures are not numerous (McAtee). 



As to the larval stage, I have already related Walton's observa- 

 tions on the hatching process. The larvae obtained by him were 

 divided into three lots, the first placed in earth entirely submerged 

 in water, the second in dampened sand without food of any kind, the 



