168 entomological news. [September, 



psammophilus . The present species is certainly distinct from 

 psammophilus in the character of the facets of the eye in the % , 

 as well as in the other points mentioned. It should be stated 

 that there is no distinct process at base of third antennal joint, 

 there being nothing more than a slight swelling which hardly 

 affects the symmetry of the basal portion. 



EPHYDRIDJE. 



2. Lipochaeta texensis n. sp. — Length 3 to slightly over 4 mm. Differs 

 from the description of L. slossoncz Coq. as follows : Head is even 

 broader than thorax. Clypeus projecting fully the length of face. Front 

 nearly as wide as oral opening in one specimen, in the other somewhat 

 narrower; scutellum in one specimen one-third, in the other fully one- 

 half as long as thorax. Claws are distinct, slender, and a little elongate, 

 but not large or stout. The third and fourth veins converge toward their 

 tips, but not strongly so. This fly may prove to be inseparable specifi- 

 cally from slossonce, but it will at least form a good variety, from its larger 

 size, longer scutellum, etc. 



Two specimens, June 8, 1895. Taken on moist beach at south 

 end of Padre Island. 



This is a sleek, densely whitish-pollinose, glossy ephydrid, of 

 a very peculiar aspect. It occurred in large numbers on stretches 

 of moist beach on the south end of Padre Island. The speci- 

 mens were taken and observed just after a rain, and while a heavy 

 wind was blowing. They flew up in numbers as one approached, 

 but rose only an inch or so from the sand. The whole insect, 

 save for the dorsal brownish pollinose portion, presents a marked 

 whitish appearance, including the wings, so that it is very diffi- 

 cult to detect it when alighted on the moist sand of the beach, 

 the white and brown tints assimilating well with the colors of the 

 beach. 



The Florida species has similar habits, and is doubtless a 

 maritime or shore species. It is from Punta Gorda. 



The genus Lipoch&ta, described recently by Coquillett for the 

 Florida species (Ent. News, September, 1896), is truly one of 

 singular aspect and anomalous position, though clearly allied to 

 the Ephydridae. It is, however, totally different in several im- 

 portant respects from that family as at present characterized. 

 The excessively short face, greatly widened and enlarged oral 

 cavity, the projecting clypeus showing in a wide semi-circle; the 

 elongate, flattened, and widened head, wedge-shaped in profile; 



