776 MK. E. B. AUSTDN ON A RECENT zooLoaioAL [June 16, 



With the exception of one or two species of Eristalis^ and 

 Volucella ohesa, F., scarcely any Hovei'-tiies (Syrphidaj) were seen. 

 Volucella ohesa, a brilliant inetallic-green species, -which also lias 

 bright green eyes when alive, is very widely distributed throiif,'hout 

 the Neotropical Itegion. Like tlie Bee {CJm/santheda niticla), 

 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 (AJusca donustica, 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 Pani. The species seems 

 to be now universally distributed, and has doubtless been carried 

 by ships all over the civilized world. Several species of Calohatu, 

 a narrow-bodied, long-legged fly belonging to the family Micro- 

 pezidiE, occur in the forest at the water's edge, and wei'e quite the 

 characteristic Diptera at the Parana de Buyasau. I shall have 

 occasion to revert to the genus directly in speaking of Mimicry. 



Of the Butter/lies I can say but little, since, as I have alresidy 

 indicated, not jniu-h attention was paid to them. Many of the 

 specimens taken were tattered and worn, a fact Avhich seemed to 

 aft'ord further proof that the best collecting season was alreadv 

 over when we arrived. Several magnificent species of Alorpho 

 were seen flapping majestically along forest-paths or over clearings, 

 but proved themselves singularly difhcult to catch. I may add 

 that at Santarem at the end of January the beautiful GaUithea 

 sappldra, 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 greeu-striped Urania leilus, L., which, although exceed- 

 ingly common, 1 cannot refrain from mentioning. This species is 

 diurnal in habits, and on our arrival at Para 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 Ongas 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 

 Para River and the Amazon. 



Coleoptcra. — One, at any rate, of the Beetles collected is of 

 interest. This is a male of the curious little soarlet-and-black 

 Longicorn Erythroplatys corallifer, White, which I took at 

 Obydos on Feb. 2iid. The species is at present repre.sented 

 in the Museum collection only b}' the type, which is a female. 



' Eristalis v'metoi-um, Fabr., K. agrorum, Fabr., and E. lateralis, Walk. 



