312 ME. S. A. NEAVE — KfiPORT ON A JOURNEY 



the surface of the water \yith outstretched wings and passing their proboscis 

 through the surface film. 1 am inclined to attribute the large number of 

 males (often far exceeding that of the females) to the fact that tliev had 

 hatched in the neighbourhood and had not strayed far from it, whilst the 

 females had begun to scatter in search of vertebrate blood. I am also 

 inclined to attribute the great scarcity of the males in collections to the 

 fact that they are probably very short-lived compared with the females, 

 and that unless one is fortunate enough to be on the spot soon after their 

 emergence from the pupal state, one fails to find them at all. 



It is also worthy of note that in these localities, perhaps owing to their recent 

 emergence, even the females did not seem much inclined to search for food 

 or to bite. On the Lusangazi River, where in three days I captured with 

 the help of natives nearly 300 individuals of 11 species, not a single one 

 entered my tent, though it is usually a most attractive place for Tabani and 

 was situated not more than fifty yards from the water-holes. Perhaps (he 

 deep shade in which it was placed acted as a deterrent. 



I do not wish to suggest that these insects are really more common on 

 the tributaries of the Luang wa than on the nrain river, but merely that 

 their drinking, and perliaps breeding places being more concentrated and 

 localised they are much easier to find in quantity. 



The following are some pai'ticnlars of the species obtained up to the 

 })resent date, the identifications being only tentative: — 



1. Tahanustoiniola 'cind xixv.variaius {1\1 S S ^ ^^ ? ? )• This species is 

 widely distributed and has been taken in every localit}*. 



2. T. fraternus (1 c^ , 2 ? ? ). This seems to be a rare species. 



3. T. "^nyassce (3 (^ ,^, 2 ? ? ). 



4. T. higuttatus ('lO S ^, ^ ? ? > Very widely distributed, but nowhere 

 met with in very large numbers. 



5. T. Iliac id atushniis (3 c^ (^, 1 ? ). Up to the present observed in only 

 one locality. 



6. A small black and white species, near 7. inslynis (7 (^ (^ , 2 ? $ ). 



7. T.gratus (12 (^ c^, 6 ? ?). 



y. Tahamis sp., near dikeniatus (11 ^ S ■> 138 ? $ ). 

 9. T. thoracinus (1 ^, 2 ? ?). 



10. Tabanus sp. (83 (^ c^, 12 ? $ j. A robustly built species of medium, 

 or rather below medium, size ; black, with rows of spots of a bluish grey. 

 The female's wing is much darker than that of the male. 



11. Tahanus sp., near rothscldldi. Both sexes taken in large numbers ; 

 it seemed to frequent the water-holes at nearly every native village. The 

 females were exceptionally voracious. 



12. T. ustus, A good series was taken of both sexes. 



13. Tahanus sp., near densliamii (1 (^^ 1 $ ). 



