170 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Therevidae. The family is new to Burmese amber, but is known 

 from Baltic amber and from the Florissant miocene. So far as 

 can be seen, the species may go in the genus Psiloeepliala, where 

 it is remarkable for the small size, broad wings, and strongly 

 diverging sides of the second posterior cell. It may be called 

 P. electrella. 



Psilocephala electrella, n. sp. 



Thorax and abdomen dark brown, bared (probably black in life) ; 

 wings not over 4-3 mm. long, very broad, hyaline, with brown veins, 

 the end of the subcostal cell clouded as usual. Compared with 

 Verrall's figure of the wing of Thereva ammdata, Fab., the following 

 differences are found : Wing considerably broader, with the apex 

 more obtuse ; auxiliary vein with a distinct double curve, so that it 

 approaches the first longitudinal subapically, and then curves 

 upward ; second submarginal cell narrower, scarcely going below the 

 apex of wing, the section of the margin it encloses presenting only a 

 slight even curve (instead of a conspicuous bend) ; anterior cross-vein 

 very distinctly before middle of discal cell ; second posterior cell much 

 more widely open, its sides diverging. 



ENTOMOLOGY IN THE HOLY LAND. 

 By Capt. p. J. Barraud, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



Whilst serving as Entomologist to the Egyptian Expe- 

 ditionary Force since the end of June, 1919, my time has been 

 largely occupied with malarial surveys, the collection and 

 identification of mosquitoes, and the supervision of anti-malarial 

 work. This has given me opportunities of visiting most parts of 

 Palestine and of making small collections of other insects at odd 

 times. 



In this series of papers I propose to place on record my 

 general notes on the insect fauna of Palestine. I have included 

 a few records obtained while on a somewhat rapid tour through 

 Syria and Oilicia in September and October last. The Culicidte 

 will be dealt with elsewhere separately. 



I am indebted to a number of friends at home who from time 

 to time have been kind enough to examine specimens I have sent, 

 iind to furnish identifications as far as possible. I wish to speci- 

 ally thank Dr. Guy Marshall, Mr. H. Kowland-Brown, Mr. L. B. 

 Prout, Mr. George Talbot and Mr. Herbert Campion for their 

 valuable assistance. 



A brief description of the physical features and climate of 

 Palestine is necessary. 



The country is divided into several distinct regions. 



Firstly, the coastal belt, a more or less rich tract of grain 

 lands and orange groves, varying in width from a few yards, 



