INTRODUCTION 5 



About the same flowers darted a swarm of Empidae, comprising 

 three species — Rkamphomyia corvina Loew, Empis triangula 

 sp. nov. Coq., and Microphorus jlavipilosus sp. nov. Coq. 

 Another insect that was extremely common was Bibio variabilis 

 Loew. In sweeping through the grass and low herbage several 

 interesting Mycetophilidaa were captured, including Diadocidia 

 borcalis sp. nov. Coq. and Sciara tridcnlata Rubs., the latter 

 originally described from Greenland. Two species of Tipulidaa 

 were taken in the same manner ; one of these, Rhypholophis 

 affinis Lund., is recorded from Greenland, the other, Tricy- 

 phona vitripennis (Doane), from the State of Washington. 



Very few beetles were in evidence. Amphichroum testaccum 

 occurred in vast numbers at the flowers of the salmon-berry. 

 Hypnoides musculus Esch. was found beneath stones along the 

 beach, while Podabrus piniphilus Esch. crawled about among 

 the foliage. 



Of Hymenoptera, the most conspicuous were the bumble-bees, 

 of which several species were noticed visiting the salmon-berry. 

 A single saw-fly, Tenthredo ferrugineipes Nort., was swept 

 from a branch of elder-berry, while an Ichneumon caught among 

 the grass was found by Mr. Ashmead to represent a new species, 

 Philonygus glacialis Ashmead. 



METLAKATLA, ALASKA 



June 4. — A stop of half a day was made at this interesting 

 missionary village, on Annette Island, at the extreme southeast- 

 ern limit of Alaska territory. The vicinity of the settlement 

 is rather favorable for the operations of the entomologist, since 

 it is open and marshy, with scattered clumps of scrub pine 

 {Pinus contortd) and occasional pools and small lakes. In the 

 marshy ground were found in full bloom many of the most 

 characteristic plants of southeastern Alaska, including Pingue- 

 cula vulgaris, Coptis trifolia, Menyanthcs trifoliata, Sieversia 

 calthifolia, Drosera longi/blia, Nephrophyllidium cristagalli, 

 Empetrum nigrum, Pubus cham&morus, Lysichiton kamtschat- 

 ense, Habenaria hyperborea, and Dodccathcon viviparum. 



Amidst this array of blossoms Diptera were very numerous, 

 and the net soon yielded over thirty species. At the flowers of 



