32 F. W. EDWARDS. 



Tinie of Appearance. — Though the dates of which I have records range from 20th 

 May to 28th August the principal months are June and July. It is considerably 

 later in making its appearance than S. ornatum, but apparently does not remain 

 on the wing so long. 



Distribution. — So far as these islands are concerned, S. reptans appears to be 

 almost entirely a Scotch insect, a fact which has already been noted by Austen in his 

 British Blood- sucking Flies. The following are the localities from which I have 

 examined specimens: — Scotland: Loch Assynt and Lochinver, Sutherland (Y.) ; 

 Dingwall and Loch Maree, Cromarty (K.) ; Nethy Bridge, Spey Bridge, Corrour, 

 Dunachton, Kincraig and Aviemore, Inverness {G., J., K., L., Y.) ; Ballater, Aberdeen 

 (J.) ; Logie, Forres and Brodie, Elgin (J., K., Y.) ; Kinlochewe, Ross {W. R. 0. 

 Grant) ; Aberfoyle, Comrie and Rannoch, Perth (Ct., G.) ; Lewis I. (L.) ; Hawkhead, 

 Renfrew {K.) ; Gorge of Avon, Lanarks. (K.). England : Bassenthwaite, Cumber-, 

 land (T. Hartley). Ireland : Kenmare, Kerry {K.) ; Cappoquin, Waterford {K.) ; 

 Newcastle, Co. Down (K.) ; Louisburgh, Co. Mayo (M.). 



Habits. — As is well known, this species is a troublesome blood-sucker. According 

 to Colonel Yerbury (quoted by Austen, British Blood-sucking Flies), it " occurs in 

 countless numbers in the Abernethy forest in June and July, and causes great 

 annoyance. A sweep or two with the butterfly net round one's head results in a 

 perfect holocaust of victims." Colonel Yerbury in his paper, The Diptera of Wester 

 Ross, records it as very troublesome at Lochinver, flying in company with Hydrotaea 

 irritans and biting his forehead. Mr. T. Hartley, in sending specimens to the British 

 Museum for identification, describes it as "a terrible pest to man, dogs and cattle 

 at Bassenthwaite." As regards the males. Colonel Yerbury has found them on 

 flowers of yellow saxifrage at Loch Assynt. 



Synonymy. — Although doubt might arise as to the interpretation of Linnaeus'^ 

 S. reptans it is beyond question that this is the species so regarded by Meigen and 

 Zetterstedt. Beyond this I think the names S. elegans, Mg., S. posticata, Mg., and 

 S. nana, Zett., probably apply to the same species, while there is nothing in the 

 original description of S. argyreata, Mg., to separate it definitely from S. reptans. 

 Lundstrom figures the species under the name Melusina reptans var. rostrata. 



4. Simulium morsitans, sp. n. (fig. 1). 



Differs from S. reptans as follows : — Male : middle tibiae only inconspicuously,, 

 and hind metatarsi scarcely perceptibly pale at the base, the latter a little more 

 enlarged. Claspers (fig. 1, d) much broader, slightly broadening out at the tip, apical 

 spine absent ; adminiculum of quite a different form, somewhat resembling that of 



5. ornatum and S. variegatum. Female : yellow markings of legs rather less conspicuous, 

 the hind metatarsi especially being only brownish yellow on the basal half. 



The species is distinguished mainly by the characters of the male genitalia ; these 

 organs were mounted and compared in three out of the four males examined, and 

 their structure appeared to be constant. Too much reliance cannot be placed on 

 the coloration. 



Type (J in the British Museum, from Christchurch, Hants., 23. v. 1897 (Y.). 



Time of appearance. — Most of the specimens examined were taken during May 

 or early June, but other dates are 21st April, 11th July and 13th August. 



