776 MR. E. E. AUSTEN ON A RECENT ZOOLOGICAL = [June 16, 
With the exception of one or two species of Zristalis‘ and 
Volucella obesa, ¥., scarcely any Hover-tlies (Syrphide) were seen. 
Volucella obesa, a brilliant metallic-green species, which also has 
bright green eyes when alive, is very widely distributed throughout 
the Neotropical Region. Like the Bee (C hrysantheda nitida), 
which it closely resembles when on the wing, this fly is the victim 
of an overpowering curiosity, and remains poised in the air in 
front of one in a way that is perfectly irritating. It seems to be 
an exceedingly stupid fly, and when caught in the net its move- 
ments at once become dull and sluggish. I found it very common 
everywhere. In houses and on board ship the Common House- 
fly of Europe (Ausca domestica, L.) was unpleasantly numerous ; 
indeed I have never met with it in such swarms as on the dinner- 
table of a house about two miles from Pard. ‘The species seems 
to be now universally distributed, and has doubtless been carried 
by ships all over the civilized world. Several species of Calobata, 
a narrow-bodied, long-legged fly belonging to the family Micro- 
pezide, occur in the forest at the water’s edge, and were quite the 
characteristic Diptera at the Parana de Buyassu. I shall have 
occasion to revert to the genus directly in speaking of Mimicry. 
Of the Butterflies I can say but little, since, as I have already 
indicated, not much attention was paid to them. Many of the 
specimens taken were tattered and worn, a fact which seemed to 
afford further proof that the best collecting season was already 
over when we arrived. Several magnificent species of Morpho 
were seen flapping majestically along forest. paths or over clearings, 
but proved themselves singularly ‘difficult to catch. I may add 
that at Santarem at the end of January the beautiful Callithea 
sapphira, Hiibn., was quite common. 
The majority of the Moths that visited the ship’s lights were of 
small size, and our series when worked out will no doubt be found 
to include many new species. To a different category belongs the 
beautiful green-striped Urania leilus, L., which, although exceed- 
ingly common, I cannot refrain from mentioning. This species is 
diurnal in habits, and on our arrival at Pard a specimen came 
drifting over the ship almost as soon as the anchors were let go. 
Its appearance caused immense excitement, but we soon found 
that the moths kept crossing the river singly or in couples through- 
out the day. If my memory serves me they all flew from the 
direction of the Ilha das Oncas towards the opposite shore, that 
is from north to south. These moths were also our constant 
companions when the ship was in the ‘“ Narrows” between the 
Parad River and the Amazon. 
Coleoptera.—One, at any rate, of the Beetles collected is of 
interest. This is a male of the curious little scarlet-and-black 
Longicorn Erythroplatys corallifer, White, which I took at 
Obydos on Feb. 2nd. The species is at present represented 
in the Museum collection only by the type, which is a female. 
) Eristalis vinetorum, Fabr., EZ. agrorum, Fabr., and E. lateralis, Walk. 
