20 



ten or twelve days. The flies appear in May and June. D.funebris has been reared 

 from pui)a tpken from mushrooms. It is sometimes known as the vinegar fly. Another 

 European species, D.Jlma, is stated by Curtis to mine the leaves of turnips, raising 

 blister-Hke elevations on their upper surface." 



The present species, D. ampelophilci, is described by Loew in Centuria Secunda 

 (Dipt. Amer. Sept. indigena), No. 99, page 101. It is exceedingly common (Professor 

 Hagen states) in the southern parts of Middle Europe and in Southern Africa, but the 

 only localities given for it in America, in Loew and Osten Sacken's Catalogue, are the 

 district of Columbia and Cuba. Professor Lintner, however, has bred it in New York; 

 it also occurs in Pennsylvania, and now Montreal must be added to the list. I also 

 think, from observations made in Quebec, that it, or an allied species, is found there. 

 At any rate, this immense area of distribution for such an insignificant insect is very 

 remarkable. 



Like the other species of this genus, and so many other dipterous insects, the larva 

 of ampelnphila feeds on decaying or fermenting vegetable matter. Professor Lintner 

 bred it from pickled plums ; in Pennsylvania it fed on decaying peaches, and I found 

 it in pickled raspberries. An earthenware jar had been nearly filled with this fruit and 

 vinegar, prepared by the good housewife for the purpose of making that favourite drink 

 (in Canada at least) called raspberry vinegar. On opening the jar about ten days after- 

 wards (16th August, 1879) it was found to be swarming with the larvfe and cocoons of 

 the insect. Hundreds of the larvae were crawling on the sides of the jar and the under 

 side of the cover, while pupse were found abundantly, singly and in clusters, particularly 

 where the cover touched the top of the jar. The short time required for the production 

 of so many individuals was surprising. I half filled a covered tumbler with the pickled 

 raspberries and larvjB, and they continued to produce flies for several weeks. I regret 

 not having more attentively observed the exact time required for the different stages, 

 and can only say that its growth from the egg must be very rapid, and its pupal state 

 does not last longer than ten or twelve days. 



The larvae (fig. 13 a) when full grown, are nearly one-fourth of an inch long, some- 

 what tapering towards the head, which is small ; and are sparsely covered with minute 

 hairs, particularly on the divisions of the segments. They have no feet, but can travel 

 quite rapidly on glass, seeming to retain their hold by a glutinous condition of the skin, 

 and moving by extending and contracting their bodies. They seemed to exist with ease 

 either in the vinegar or the air, moving through the former in search of food, and some- 

 times coming out of it, and either resting or moving about on the glass sides of the 

 vessel. Their bodies were quite transparent, and under the microscope their internal 

 organs could easilj' be seen. At both ends of their bodies are curious projections or 

 tubercles, which are also seen in the pupa. 



The puparium (fig. 13 b) is about three-sixteenths of a inch long, oval in shape, and 

 yellowish-brown in colour', with the tubercles at head and tail before referred to. 



The fly (fig. 12) measures about one-eighth of an inch in length, with a large 

 rounded thorax, long legs, and broad iridescent wings. The whole insect is yellowish 

 ill colour, and very hairy, even to the proboscis. Some of the hairs on the head bear 

 three or four branches. The wing forms a very beautiful object for the microscope. 



Last year the flies were attracted to some raspberry wine in process of fermentation, 

 hovering about the jars and alighting upon the corks, evidently seeking for an opening 

 through which they might pass to lay their eggs. It is doubtless in this way that fruit 

 is attacked by this or some allied species, The minute fly effects an entrance beneath 

 a not closely-fitting lid, and deposits its eggs on the fruit, or upon the side of the jar, 

 whence the young larvae make they way to the fruit, or find their sustenance in the 

 liquid. 



During the past summer I was desirous of again testing the matter. A few rasp- 

 berries, with a small quantity of vinegar, placed in a pickle bottle with a loose cover, 

 were quite sufficient. A fortnight afterwards a number of larviE were seen in the bottle, 

 and several pupae were attacheil to its sides. Absence from home, however, interfered 

 with the carrying out of the experiment. It could easily be tried this season by some 



