90 [April, 



autumn, and if the galls are kept as recommended for Z^. sfi/Iafa the 

 flies can be bred the following year. 



Splienella marc/inata Fin. — Not an abundant species. I have taken 

 a few b}^ sweeping various thistles and ragwort, chiefly in the neighbour- 

 hood of Shotover Hill, during July and August. 



Carpliotriclia gufhilaris Mg. — Not uncoihmon in a ])Iece of rough 

 pasture, on Shotover Hill, during July 1916. Both Mr. Britten and 

 m3^self endeavoured to determine the plant from which they were swept, 

 but neither of us could come to any certain conclusion. Perhaps the 

 tlies came from ragwort more frequentlj'' than any other plant. 



Ensina soncJii L. — This very small, pale Trypetid was exceedingly 

 abundant all over the district last autumn (September and October), and 

 obtained by sweeping various Compositae, such as dandelions, hawkweeds, 

 fleabane, etc. It was not, however, swept from Sonclius after many 

 attemj)ts, in spite of its name. This small fly bears a striking resem- 

 blance in colour to the grass-seeds of many kinds that are so plentiful 

 at this time, and mixed up together as the}'^ all are in the swee^Ding- 

 net, the insects are hard to distinguish ; but in a short time, the flies 

 begin to crawl up the sides of the net and can then be readily boxed 

 or tubed. 



TepJiritis miliaria Schrk. — Not uncommonly taken b}" sweeping 

 the creeping thistle {Gnicits arvensis). It occurred localh" throughout 

 the district from June to August. 



T. (Oxi/na) j)'i'oioscidca Lw. — Taken by Mr. J. Collins, first at 

 Wolvercote, June 15th, 1911, and again at Sunn3'meade, July 8th, 

 1915, on both occasions hj sweeping Ioav herbage. 



T. {Oxyna) ahsinthii F. — I have oyAj taken this species once — near 

 Bi-asenose Common, August 10th, 1915, — by sAveeping a lo^v bank Avith 

 short herbage. 



T. hijosci/ami L. — Occurs both in spring and autumn. I have 

 taken it plentifully b}^ sweeping the spear thistle (Cnictis lanceolatus) 

 in early June, and again in August, from the same patch of thistles. 

 It also hibernates. Mr. Britten, after beating furze on Shotover 

 Hill, March 4th, 1916, for Coleoptera, etc., gave me a sample of the 

 various flies he had obtained, and among them was a specimen of this 

 species. On April 1st we visited the same spot together, and by vigorous 

 beating obtained a few more examples. Those Avho have never tried 

 beating furze for Diptera during the winter months may be advised 

 that many interesting species of hibernating flies can be obtained in 

 this wav. 



