712 Charles Paul Alexander 



feet in shady spots, and has licen aptly termed by Johnson (1907-12 

 [1909] : 123) " the king of the tlancing tipuhds." Doubtless many interest- 

 ing facts remain to be discovered concerning the dances of the tropical 

 species of Brachypremna, Tanypremna, and Megistocera. 



Dancing.' — The dances of Thrypticomyia saltens (Dol.) should be 

 mentioned at this point. According to Doleschall (1857), Jacobson 

 (De Meijcre, 1911:22-23), and others, tliis species is common in Java 

 in shady places thruout the year. The insects have the habit of clinging 

 to spider webs by means of the fore feet, or, if a fore foot is lacking, one 

 of the middle legs is used. Often twenty or more of these flies are seen 

 hanging close beside one another on a horizontally spun web, all seesawing 

 rapidly up and down and at the same time swaying to and fro, sometimes 

 rhythmically, sometimes not. This ludicrous tight-rope dance is con- 

 tinued for a long time. Somewhat similar habits have been described 

 for Trentepohlia pennipes, Rhamphidia venustissima Alex., and other species 

 with white tarsi. 



Bobbing. — Species of Dicranomyia and Geranomyia, as well as a few 

 other crane-flies, have the curious habit of bobbing up and down while 

 resting, the long, slender legs acting as springs. The species of the latter 

 genus practice this same oscillating movement while resting on a head 

 of flowers and feeding. H. K. Munro has recorded tliis bobbiiig habit 

 in a species of Trentepohlia (p. 943). 



Resting habits. — When at rest crane-flies assume various positions 

 which are often fairly characteristic. Many species (Erioptera, Molo- 

 philus, and some Dicranomyia) resemble spiders when flattened against 

 a tree trunk or some other vertical support. Styringomyia resembles 

 a bit of cobwel), the fore and middle legs stretched out in front, the hind 

 legs directed backward. In a position of rest the tipuhne forms generally 

 hold their wuigs outspread or divaricate, exceptions being in the genera 

 Longurio, Oropeza, and others, and in a few species of Tipula, as T. ardica 

 and the woodland-inhabiting species of the marmorata group {T. Jragilis 

 and T. ignobilis). The limnol)iine forms usually fold the wings incumbent 

 over the abdomen, but here again exceptions are found in Pedicia, 

 Limnophila toxoneura, and other species, which normally rest with the 

 wings outspread. Oropeza hangs to the roofs of bridges, culverts, and 

 similar places, with only the fore legs attached to the support, the middle 

 legs divergent, the posterior legs hanging loosely behind. The apparently 



