374 Professor E. B. Poulton on 
An observation on the cryptic attitude of Asilus. crabroni- 
formes during prolonged rest. 
As this Memoir contains certain miscellaneous observa- 
tions upon the Asilidz, such as the notes upon the court- 
ship of Dasypogon (Selidopogon) diadema on pp. 366-368, I 
have thought it worth while to include the followmg. On 
the evening of July 28, 1906, I observed a female of this 
species at rest on a head of Centaurea scabiosa beside 
the footpath leading to Stone’s Copse, above North 
Hinksey, near Oxford. The insect had evidently gone to 
rest for the night and was quite torpid. The appearance 
strongly suggested a rolled-up crumpled brown leaf or leaf- 
fragment which had accidentally fallen upon the flower. 
This cryptic resemblance was brought about by a remark- 
able attitude, the insect being precisely in the position 
formed by a half somersault,—arrested when the ventral 
surface was uppermost. Hence the closely-folded wings 
and the conspicuous gold and black bands were entirely 
invisible from above ; the only appearance being that of the 
brown shades on the legs and ventral surface. The colour- 
ing of these was so beautifully adapted to produce the 
cryptic effect suggested above that I think it is probable 
that I witnessed a single example of an attitude commonly 
assumed by the species during prolonged rest. 
Lophonotus (two species), Nos. 157-162.—Hymenoptera 
contribute half of the six victims recorded for this genus. 
The list is as follows: a Dragonfly, a beetle, a Geometrid 
moth, two Fossorial wasps, and a Chalcid. Some preference 
for Hymenoptera may be regarded as probable. 
Dysmachus (Nos. 163-174).—Five species have been 
discriminated by Col. Yerbury and Mr. Verrall in the 
material upon which this paper has been prepared. (See, 
however, note on p. 350.) They differ but slightly in size 
and superficially resemble each other in appearance. 
Twelve examples are tabulated, the prey belonging to the 
Coleoptera (3 Melolonthids, 1 Coprid), Lepidoptera (1 Geo- 
metrid, 2 Crambids), Diptera (1 Stratiomyid, 1 Empid, 1 
Anthomyid), and Hymenoptera (1 Ichneumon, 1 winged 
ant) At first sight the selection seems entirely indis- 
criminate and haphazard, but when regard is paid to the 
circumstances of the case it is found that choice was 
exercised at least in one case. When I captured the 
three specimens (Nos. 169, 170, 172) with Melolonthid 
