4 ALASKA INSECTS 



stantly kept in mind was the relation between the insect fauna 

 and the northern flora. Through the courtesy of the botanists 

 of the Expedition, the writer has been furnished with identi- 

 fications of the plants which he collected incidentally in connec- 

 tion with this work. 



It is needless to say that the great length of the itinerary, 

 together with the shortness of the stops possible at most of the 

 stations, were hardly propitious for thorough observations along 

 these lines. Such work can only be properly carried forward 

 by resident naturalists with time at their disposal to follow the 

 course of the seasons from one year to another. But such 

 general facts as were observed are set down for the benefit of 

 those who shall subsequently visit these regions and investigate 

 more fully the natural history. 



The conditions are so different in different parts of the Alaska 

 coast that it seems desirable to summarize briefly, from the 

 entomological standpoint, the special features of each stopping 

 place, including the more important discoveries, and such ob- 

 servations upon the biology of the insects as time and circum- 

 stances permitted. 



LOWE INLET, BRITISH COLUMBIA 



June j. The first landing made by the Expedition was at 

 this small settlement on the northern shores of British Colum- 

 bia, where several hours were spent in making collections. The 

 clearings about the village were thickly overgrown with a tangle 

 of plants belonging to species common along the coasts of Wash- 

 ington and Vancouver Island, as the salmon-berry (Rubus spec- 

 tabilis), wild currant (Ribes bracteosum), and elder-berry (Sam- 

 bucus racemosus), all of which were in bloom. Several other 

 familiar plants were also in evidence, as the yellow violet ( Viola 

 glabella) and the dwarf cornel (Cornus canadensis). 



Insects were by no means abundant, but by dint of consider- 

 able sweeping a number of species were brought to light, prin- 

 cipally Diptera, of which group 23 species were taken. About 

 the flowers of the salmon-berry several Syrphidas hovered, in- 

 cluding Sphegma infuscata Loew, Baccha obscuricornis Meig., 

 Platychirus peltatus Meig., and Melanostoma mellinum (L.j. 



