110 MISCELLANEOITS PAPERS. 



oAaries still contained ova. The uterus in this specimen was very 

 long and coiled, and greatly distended by its contents. This is a high 

 record of reproductive capacity. It is quite probable, however, that 

 Blepharipa scuteUata exceeds even this record, for the fly is large and 

 the Qgg minute. Besides, a habit of leaf-oviposition would presup- 

 pose a lavish productiveness of eggs. Sasaki estimates a capacity of 

 oyer 5,000 for Crossocosmia sericcnnw^ and some of our native, species 

 having the same habit equal this estimate. Tachiria and its close 

 allies deposit a great many of their comparatively large eggs, but 

 their capacity does not seem to much exceed 100, judging from those 

 we have opened. The other species that we have so far studied have, 

 upon dissection, shown from 100 to 5,000 uterine eggs. The uterus 

 of a native macronychiid fly, Micro phthalma trifaseiata Say. which 

 deposits living maggots, was found by us to contain some 2,000 eggs 

 and maggots. Native species having the leaf-larviposition habit com- 

 monly show from 2,000 to 3,000 uterine eggs and maggots, and those 

 having the leaf-oviposition habit run up to 5,000 uterine eggs. The 

 genera of these are given farther on. 



THE REARING OF TACHINIDJE IN CONFINEMENT. 



It had currently been supposed that the oviposition of tachinids in 

 confinement was a most difficult thing to secure. With proper facili- 

 ties at hand, such is by no means the case. The Riley rearing cage, 

 large or small, is not at all adapted to the work, yet some species may 

 be induced to oviposit in it, and even in the very restricted space 

 under a jelly glass. The proper cage for this w^ork is our large out- 

 of-doors wire-screen cage, which is shoAvn in figures 25 and 2(>. For 

 indoor rearing of single caterpillars bearing eggs or containing mag- 

 gots we have adopted the glass cylinders shown in figure 20. These 

 have the top covered with cheesecloth, and are placed on a stand 

 which consists of a simple cloth-covered frame 5 inches square. Two 

 opposite sides of the frame are made higher than the other two, for 

 the completed stand to rest on, so as to allow circulation of air be- 

 neath. Cheesecloth will not do for the covering of the frame, since 

 the mesh will permit tachiiiid eggs and small maggots, or even small 

 caterpillars, to escape. For the same reason cheesecloth will not do for 

 the bottom of the " tanglefooted " trays. We have known full-grown 

 maggots to work through it with ease. For both frames and trays 

 a more closely-woven cloth should be used. Flies also can be placed 

 in the glass cylinders, but a little dry sugar and a bit of wet sponge 

 should be included with them. Many species will live for two or 

 three weeks in this way. These cylinders are especially adapted to 

 rearing tachinid maggots in single caterpillars, either indoors, or, 

 during warm weather, in one of the large cages outdoors, Avhich may 

 advantageously be furnished with shelves for this purpose. 



