248 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



OxTCERA TERMiNATA, &c. — I see (Entom. 203) Mr. Billups records 

 the capture of two species of Oxycera terminata at Oxshott. May I refer 

 him to Entom. xxii. 84. Both my father and myself have taken it at 

 Glanvilles Woottou and Lyme Regis as long ago as June 1st, 1830, and 

 June 10th, 1865. It is quite true Mr. Verrall has placed it at the end of 

 his list as reputed British, but I possess other species in the same 

 predicament. I am rather surprised to find that Oxyphora arnica is 

 considered to be a rarity, as I have always considered it to be otherwise, 

 and found it so. Another little known species, Tepliritis plantaginis, is 

 common in July on the flowers of Statice limonium. I have both sexes 

 of Oxycera morrisii, Curt., although Mr. Brunetti states, " The male is still 

 unknown" (see Entom. xxii. 85). — C. W. Dale ; Glanvilles Wootton. 



Hypoderma bovis, Deg. — A fine male of this very curious Dipteron 

 was captured by myself while sweeping herbage near the powder magazine 

 at Plumstead Marshes, on the 29th of July last. T was much struck by the 

 very sluggish movements of the creature while in the net, the more so as 

 Mr. Verrall informs me its flight is very rapid, and it is very difficult to 

 catch. As the imago of this species is rarely seen on the wing, I thought 

 the record of its capture might be interesting. — T. R. Billups ; 20, Swiss 

 Villas, Copelstone Road, Peckham. 



SiREX GiGAS IN IRELAND. — This insoct is plentiful here this season. 

 The larvae are found at the end of borings which penetrate the trunks, 

 roots, and branches of the silver-fir. The trees attacked were blown down 

 some four or five years ago. The perfect insects may be seen at the 

 end of the burrows with their heads protruding therefrom, and I secured 

 several by the simple process of extracting them from the holes by means 

 of a pin. To give some idea of the abundance of the insect in this place, I 

 may mention that one stump of silver-fir, which I blew up with blasting- 

 powder, contained hundreds of larvae and pupae of S. gigas. — J. H. Leeoh ; 

 Kippure Park, Manor Kilbride, near Dublin, Sept. 10, 1891. 



SiREX GIGAS IN NoTTS. — On August Ist, a fine specimen of 8. gigas 

 was taken here, in a chemist's shop, and presented to me. I have taken 

 8. juvencus twice in the neighbourhood, and 8. gigas occurs with fair 

 regularity, though never commonly. The present specimen is the largest 

 I have ever seen. It is a female, and in fine condition. — E. G. Alderson ; 

 Worksop. 



SiREX GIGAS AT YoRK. — I have had several specimens of this insect 

 brought to me during the past few weeks, and all were in good condition. — 

 W. Hewett ; 12, Howard Street, Fulford Road, York, Sept. 19, 1891. 



Sirex juvencus near York. — A fine specimen of this somewhat rare 

 insect was taken at HesUngton, near York, on the 2nd September, whilst 

 at rest on a chrysanthemum flower. It is now in my possession. Some 

 seventy years ago this species occurred commonly on the towers of York 

 Minster, and was locally known as " The Minster Fly " ; but they entirelj' 

 disappeared after the Minster was set on fire by Jonathan Martin, February, 

 1829.— W. Hewett. 



The Locust (Acrtdium perrgrinum). — On my landing at Tangier 

 early on the morning of June Hrd (for a brief stay of from three to four 

 hours in Morocco, prior to the French Traiisiitlaiitic Steamer, in which I 

 had embarked from Cadiz, leaving at or about midday for Gibraltar], J took 



