1917] Marchand — Notes on the Habits of the Snow-Fly (Chionea) 1 43 



more than one species of Chionea in North America, though several 

 have been described, but Bezzi (1913) thinks that C. scita Walker 

 must be regarded as a good species. 



During a sojourn in Davos, Ct. Grisons, Switzerland, at an al- 

 titude of ca. 1560 m. (4,680 feet) above sea-level, I found occasion 

 to observe these insects, which were entirely new to me. As I 

 find that the peculiar hibernal habits of this and some other winter- 

 insects are not yet clearly understood, the publication of my re- 

 sults, however fragmentary, may be of some interest. 



The first specimen, a male, was found on November 21, 1913, 

 at Luginsland, Davos-Dorf, on a warm, sunny day, when the snow 

 on which a crust had already formed, was softened and partly 

 melted at the surface; and large numbers of flies of the families 

 Tipulidse (Trichocera), Simuliidse, Chironomidse (Diamesa, etc.), 

 Mycetophilidse, Borboridse, Muscidse, etc., were found alive or half- 

 frozen on the snow, having evidently escaped from their hiberna- 

 tion quarters, and fallen on the snow after a brief flight in the warm 

 afternoon sunshine. A few Trichoptera (belonging to Psilopteryx 

 zimmeri, a late fall species) and spiders were also collected. It 

 was only when I had returned home and assorted the captures, 

 that among the spiders the Chionea was discovered and its sys- 

 tematic position among the Tipulids readily ascertained with the 

 aid of Hueguenin's remarks on it. The specimen had, however, 

 been killed together with the other material. 



On November 24 at noon a new snow-fall set in, and a second 

 specimen, a female, was found about 4 p. m. running over the fresh 

 snow. This time, no other insects were seen on the snow. The 

 locality of these captures was a comparatively dry, sunny slope of 

 southeast exposure which in summer is covered with alpine mead- 

 ows. There were no trees except a few groups of Larch- wood 

 (larix), and low pines. 



After it had been collected, this Chionea was carried about for 

 several hours in a small glass bottle in my pocket. On my re- 

 turning home, it was placed on a plate on which it started running 

 about eagerly, attempting to climb up the margin. It was, how- 

 ever, invariably driven back when approached by the hand, which 

 gave me the impression that it was the heat of the hand which 

 caused it to change its course. A small piece of snow being placed 

 on the plate, the Chionea at once climbed on it, pressing its pro- 



