Insects. 2165 



Sp. 2. biatomella, Stainton. 

 Aphelosetia floslactis, Sircum in litt. 



Expansion of the wings 3 — 4 liues. Head, thorax and anterior wings powdery 

 gray, the latter with two dark spots ; one near the inner margin, about the middle of 

 the wing ; the other, which is larger, a little above the anal angle : at the apex of the 

 wing, on the costa, a darker patch is visible in certain lights. Posterior wings gray, 

 with paler and slightly yellowish cilia. 



Taken last summer by Mr. Sircom, on Durdham Downs. 



Sp. 3. RHYNCHOSPORELLA, Staillton. 



This has a certain resemblance to the preceding species, but the dark fascia beyond 

 the middle of the anterior wings will readily serve to distinguish it. It is found in the 

 North of England and Scotland. In the summer of 1846 I took several at Kilmun, 

 on the top of a hill, in boggy ground : they were hovering over and settling on the 

 beak rush (Rhynchospora), whence the name. 



Expansion of the wings 4 — 5 lines. Head, thorax and anterior wings dirty white, 

 the latter rather darker on the costa, and with a dark spot about the middle of the 

 wing ; near the inner margin, and beyond the middle is an angulated dark (rather 

 tawny) fascia ; at the apex of the wing on the costa is a dark blotch. Posterior wings 

 gray, with paler cilia. 



H. T. Stainton. 



Mountsfield, Lewisham, 

 April 10, 1848. 



Occurrence of Criorhina asilica near Penmanshiel. — I took two specimens of this 

 fine fly, in a marshy wood near Penmanshiel, on the 3rd of April : they were both 

 males : one was frequenting a swampy spot, like an Eristalis. Next clay I took ano- 

 ther, a female, on the flowers of the sallow, and saw a fourth basking on a stone. I 

 am not aware that it has hitherto been found in Scotland. I took a female two years 

 since in May, near South Shields, on the flowers of dandelion. — James Hardy ; Pen- 

 manshiel, by Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, April 5, 1848. 



Occurrence of Dilophus tenuis at Redheuyh. — I met with this species abundantly 

 on the sea-banks near Redheugh, Berwickshire, in July, on the flowers of the cow- 

 parsnep. I find no description of the female. In my specimen it is not so bulky as 

 the male ; the coxae are black, and the remainder of the legs shining brunneo-ferrugi- 

 nous ; the wings are whitish, iridescent, with a black stigmatic spot. — Id. 



Occurrence of Medeterus conspersus. — I find this pretty species very common on 

 heaths, around small pools of water. It is accompanied by M. curvipes and M. scam- 

 bus, but is not so disposed as either of them to promenade upon the surface, and is 

 much more readily taken. All three may feed upon gnats, which issue forth in great 

 swarms on the milder days. — Id. 



Galls of the Meadoiv-sweet.— The leaves of the meadow-sweet {Spircea Ulmaria) 

 in autumn are often clustered with a number of small yellowish or rust-coloured 



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