^S PSYCHE [April 



taken at this time. The plum, sand myrtle (in southern New Jersey) willow and 

 other early spring flowers, and the sap of maple, birch, etc.. usually attract them 

 in considerable numbers. Chrysotoxum pubesccns, several species of Pipfza, 

 Chilosia, Syrphus and Sphegina are to be found at this time, Brachyopa vacua fre- 

 quents sap early in May, while several species of Eristalis and Helflphiliis frequent 

 the early flowers. The large Criorhina i-erbosa was taken as early as March 30 

 (1902) at Medford, Mass., by Mr. C A. Frost. C. iimhratilis and C. ana/is are 

 sometimes found in May but more commonly early in June. Brachypalptis 

 frontosus often appears early in April. 



Myopa vicaria and M. vesiculosa of the family Cofiopidae are to be found on 

 flowers, especially the plum. In the Tachinidae many species appear quite early 

 but almost all of them are to be found later. Anthomyidae are quite common, 

 while the graceful Cordylura and the pretty winged Tetanocera are frequently 

 taken. During the latter part of May those interesting Ortalids, Pyrgota undata 

 and P. valida are to be found. Many Sapromyzidae, Oscinidae and Ephydridae 

 may be collected by sweeping over the grass or in damp sheltered places for the 

 latter. By far the most interesting species is the little " hammer headed fly " 

 {Sphyracephala brevicornis Say) which is often taken on the leaves of the 

 " Skunk cabbage " as early as April, although found much later. I captured a 

 specimen at the Blue Hills, Mass., June 6. 



The spring of the year is a good time to work out (in part) the life history of 

 many species, the strange larvae one finds in old stumps, logs, or under stones, if 

 taken carefully and kept under like conditions usually pupate in a short time and 

 in a few days the imago appears. Notes and drawings should be made, or speci- 

 mens of the larva and pupa, if you have duplicates, should be saved. 



Merope tuber. I am able to add another to the sixteen records given by Mr. 

 Herbert S. Barber, in his interesting paper on the "Occurrence of the earwig-fly, 

 Merope tuber Newman." (Proc. Entom. Soc. Wash. VI, 50). This specimen, a 

 male, is in the local collection of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, Philadelphia. 

 It was captured several years ago by Mr. Philip Nell, in Fairmount Park. — C. IV. 

 Johnson. 



Pelecinus poLviURATOR Drury. Two males of this species were collected in 

 1902 by Mr. Owen Bryant, at Cohasset, Mass. Mr. Bryant has presented them to 

 the " New England collection " of the Boston Society of Natural History. — C. W. 

 Jo/mson. 



