WERNER MARCH AND 101 



The pupa of Tahanus hromius L. has been figured also by Surcouf 

 and Ricardo (1909); the previous observations by Beling have not 

 been observed by these authors. 



This pupa (Plate 12, Fig. 151) was collected in the earth of a rail- 

 road embankment at Longny, Orne, France, by M. E. Cordier, from 

 whom the authors received it. The adult died in the act of hatching; 

 it proved to be a male of Tahanus hromius L. ; having left the pupal 

 shell half way, it had been unable to free itself in spite of numerous 

 efforts as proved by the pupal shell being unusually drawn out in 

 length. The manner of the hatching of the adult is evident from 

 the examination of this rare piece; the head causes the top of the 

 shell to burst and, consequently, to break open longitudinally, under 

 the pressure of the insect, down to the base of the first abdominal 

 segment, which remains intact like the following segments. When 

 the adult has reached this stage of its development, it takes flight, 

 and goes in search of food as soon as it is dry, 



Tahanus carolinensis Macquart. — ^Of this North American species, 

 Malloch has given us, in his synoptic table, the following data on the 

 pupal stage: 



'Pupa. — Dorsal abdominal segments, except first, armed with an irregular 

 transverse series, or two such series, of very stout thorns, their bases very much 

 dilated, slightly caudad of which series there are sometimes a few widely separated, 

 much longer spines. Seventh dorsal abdominal segment with 10 or 12 moderately 

 long thorns in a continuous transverse series, slightly cephalad of which is a 

 transverse series of very stout thorns longitudinally in line with the spaces be- 

 tween the thorns of the posterior scries." 



No illustrations are given. 



Tahanus corax Loew. — A large species with wings uniformly dusky 

 to the edge of the apex. Habitat, Africa. According to Neave, 

 common on the southern side of Mt. Mlanje, southern Nyasaland, in 

 the more wooded areas within the belt of heavy rainfall. On the 

 wing from the end of November to the beginning of January, 



We are indebted to Neave (1915) for a knowledge of its life history. 



The flies were kept by Neave in a comparatively large cage made of 

 mosquito netting and wood, each partition measuring about 5 by 4 

 by 3 feet, in which were boxes containing grasses and growing plants. 



