1P09.] , 134i 



out the whole course of my obserrations on this species, and more 

 especially on E. livida, I have never yet seen a female in possession 

 of prey except during copulation. 



That the females of E. opaca feed like other flies is quite certain; 

 for large numbers of them, and of the males also, were feeding half- 

 buried in the flowers of the dandelion. E. livida can often be seen in 

 numbers on bramble bloom, while E. tessellnta and other species are 

 often abundant on TJmbellifercB. 



In all some 40 individuals of both sexes with prey were captured : 

 34 of them were clasping various species of Bibios, 5 clasping each a 

 different species belonging to various families of Diptera, while one 

 had captured a male of its own species. Tn this respect E. opaca 

 affords a marked contrast with E. livida, which preys upon almost all 

 orders of Insecta, although it too chiefly attacks Diptera. 



Precise details of all these captures will be dealt with by Prof. 

 E. B. Poulton, F.K.S., in his next paper on " Predaceous Insects and 

 their Prey." 



My thanks are due to Prof. Poulton for much kind help and en- 

 couragement in making these observations, and to Mr. G. H. Verrall, 

 for kindly confirming my determination of the species. 



University Museum, Oxford : 

 May nth, 1909. 



