140 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. IV, 



Metopiine series — Prof. Osborn's important observations on 

 the habits of Senotainia (Ohio Nat., VII, 1906, p. 38) indicate 

 that these flies are guided to the nests of the host by observing 

 the latter in the act of transporting spiders or caterpillars with 

 which to provision same. I believe the maggots are deposited 

 in choria, and stuck to the spiders or caterpillars. After the 

 nest is closed the increased temperature probably arouses the 

 maggots to activity, whereupon they first devour the egg or 

 grub of host and then attack the stored provision. The entire 

 contents of the uterus, which are not great, are deposited almost 

 certainly at one time, extending over several hours, and prob- 

 ably may all be deposited in one nest if the conditions are fav- 

 orable. Perhaps the fly attaches a maggot to the egg of host. 



COMPSILURINE series — Eucelatoria australis n. sp. (Peru) 

 has been dissected and drawn. The piercing larvipositor in 

 this group is composed of two pieces, of which the upper is 

 much shorter than the lower, the lower being concave dorsally 

 and the upper concave ventrally. Both are sharply pointed 

 but the lower piece curves broadly downward to the point and 

 forms the main piercing organ. The two pieces are hinged at 

 the posterior edge of their broad basal portion and the vagina 

 opens between them. The maggot is expelled between these 

 pieces within the skin of the host. Bouche, Heim and Kirsch- 

 ner were right as to the piercing function of this organ, while 

 Giard was wrong. Nielson adopted the latter's view in his 

 criticism of my original announcement of subcutaneous larvi- 

 position in these forms, to which I replied in Science (issue of 

 Feby. 4, 1910, p. 195). 



There are other forms with what appears to be a piercing 

 larvipositor. Mention has already been made of TD 480, 

 which seems to be near Alophora (see Phasiine series). Another 

 case is furnished in a fly from Massachusetts with pseudodexiine 

 aspect, TD 371, which has a broad blade-like larvipositor. 

 These, if true piercers, are probably cases of independent 

 specialization not indicating relationship with this group. 

 Emphanopteryx (not Cryptomeigenia) has a piercer-like organ 

 in the female, but it is doubtful if it is functional as piercing 

 the skin of the host. 



The genus Celatoria probably also possesses a piercing larvi- 

 positor similar to that of Compsilura. Judging wholly from 

 the descriptions and figures, Coquillett evidently misinter- 



