16 COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Mar. 



During my work of last winter, I was enabled to make the 

 following additions to the collection: — Mr. Comstock, from 

 Ithaca, N. Y., and Dr. LeBaron, State Entomologist of Illi- 

 nois, sent me their collections for determination, and allowed 

 me, in return, to retain some of the rarer species. Likewise, 

 having prepared a report on the diptera from Colorado, col- 

 lected by Lieut. Carpenter (Hayden Expedition), and on 

 those from the Polaris Expedition, collected by Dr. Bessels, I 

 added to the Museum collection some valuable specimens, 

 derived from these sources. Other contributions received 

 were from Messrs. F. G. Sanborn (a number of very valuable 

 specimens from Massachusetts, and, latterly, from Kentucky), 

 ^y. p. Austin (Massachusetts), E. Burgess (id.), G. E. 

 Crotch (California and British Possessions west of the Rocky 

 Mountains), B. P. Mann (Tabanidee from South Carolina), 

 C. E. Webster, Binghamton, N. Y. (metamorphosis of 

 Microdon trishis and Trypeta solidaginis) , E. Palmer (Taba- 

 nidae from Florida), the late Prof. J. Wyman (an apparently 

 new Chrysops from Florida) ; finally, the specimens taken by 

 me during my travels last summer, were also incorporated in 

 the collection. 



//. OoUections of European Diptera. — Thej^ comprise: — 



1. Types of Genera, named by Messrs. Loew, Schiner and 

 Gerstaecker, the three European authorities on diptera. Dr. 

 Loew's collection contains 355 genera, 707 species and more 

 than 1,000 specimens. Dr. Schiner's, 180 species; Dr. 

 Gerstaecker's, about 100 species. These types are of the 

 utmost importance to the future work on the North American 

 diptera, at the Museum. They are in excellent preservation. 



2. The collection of European diptera acquired from Dr. 

 Imhofi", in Bale. The collection is not large, but contains, 

 rather numerous specimens of each species, which is an 

 advantage in the comparison of American with closely allied 

 European forms. It is in a very good state of preservation. 



3. The collection of Swedish diptera, acquired from Mr. 

 Ljungh. It is not named, but rather rich in specimens, and 

 quite well preserved, considering its old date. 



The dipterous faunae, of Europe and North America, are so 

 much alike, and again, in some respects, so very different. 



