ON THE BRITISH SPECIES OF SIMULIUM. 



29 



the following records : — England : Padstow, Cornwall (L.) ; Taunton {Miss B. K. 

 Taylor) ; Wells, Somerset (L.) ; New Forest [H., S., V., Y.) ; Crowborough, Sussex 

 (J.) ; Lee, Kent (F.) ; Weybridge, Surrey (F.) ; Wilton (/.) ; Netheravon (Capt. 

 E. P. Argyle) ; Burnham Beeches (E.) ; Felden and Bricket Wood, Herts. (P.) ; 

 Bath {Dr. A. Lutz) ; Crickleigh, Glos. {R. Newstead) ; Cambridge (J.) ; Whittlesford, 

 Cambs. {L.) ; Newmarket (F.) ; Ampton, West Stow and Tuddenham, Suffolk {N.) ; 

 Colwick Park, Staffs. (F.) ; Oxford {H.) ; Sherwood Forest and West Leake, Notts. {Cr., 

 Y.) ; Burley in Wharf edale {G.). Wales : Porthcawl and Llangammarch Wells (Y.). 

 Scotland : Kilmarnock {K.) ; Braidwood, Lanarks. {K.) ; Bonhill, Dumbarton {K.) ; 

 Hawkhead, Renfrew {K.) ; Edinburgh {Ct., G.) ; Nethy Bridge, Inverness {K.) ; Logic, 

 Elgin (J.) ; Loch Assynt, Sutherland ( Y.). Ireland : Clare Island {G.). 



Fig. 3. Front tarsi of female, British Simulium. 

 All X 40. a, S. ornatum ; 6, 8. variegatum ; 

 Cf 8. reptans ; d, 8. equinum ; e, 8. subexcisum. 



Habits. — As previously mentioned, it is doubtful whether this species is a blood- 

 sucker, the only record suggesting that it may be so being a note on a specimen 

 collected by Capt. E. P. Argyle to the effect that it was found on a pony's side. 

 Prof. J. W. Carr found numbers of females flying in a swarm, some of the 

 members of which were biting, but as the swarm also contained S. a/rgyreatum and 

 S. equinum, it is probable that these species were the offenders. Mr. F. Jenkinson 

 has also observed (at Wilton) a large swarm composed of females of this species and 

 S. equinum. Prof. B. Newstead has made some interesting observations on the habits 

 of this species. He says (Ann. Trop. Med., i, p. 40) : " Occasionally the insects were 

 seen completely immersed in the water, where they seemed at perfect ease either when 

 walking along the stems of the plants or cleaning their legs and antennae. In such 

 cases the wings were folded partly round the abdomen, so that they tapered to a 

 point behind, and in this way were seen to form a large air cavity. This remarkable 

 trait was observed in still water only." 



Synonymy. — There can be no doubt that this is the species described by Meigen, 

 though Culex sericeus of Linnaeus may be an older name for it ; at any rate Meigen's 

 description of S. sericea almost certainly indicates S. ornatum, rather than S. reptans, 



