1 84 
THE GUIDE TO NATURE 
recognized, regardless of size and color, 
by the noticeably thicker and rough- 
ened beaks or rostra. The following 
figures show that size and color are in 
no way sexual characteristics and that 
those referable to the two larger groups 
are remarkably uniform in numbers, 
while those that might be termed 
strictly intermediate are comparatively 
few. The entirely black form is known 
as variety zimmermanni Fabr. 
TABLE OF COLORS. 
Entirely black 38 specimens — 20 
males and 18 females. 
Red present to a greater or less ex- 
tent on the rostrum, thorax, elytra 
(wing cases), legs and the basal and 
anal segments of the abdomen. 42 speci- 
mens (21 males and 21 females). 
Thorax and elytra both slightly 
marked with red, legs entirely black, 6 
specimens (3 males and 3 females). 
Thorax only slightly marked with 
red, rostrum and tibiae reddish, 5 speci- 
mens (2 males and 3 females). 
Elytra only slightly marked with red, 
legs black (1 female). Total. 92. 
TABLE OF SIZES. 
Smallest specimens, males and fe- 
males, 28 mm. 
Largest specimens, males and fe- 
males, 36 mm. 
Not exceeding 30 mm., 14 males and 
16 females; entirely black, 7 males and 
7 females ; marked with red. 7 males 
and 9 females. 
Exceeding 30 mm., 32 males and 30 
females; entirely black, 13 males and 
11 females; marked with red. 19 males 
and 19 females. Total. 92. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 
First row: 1, 2 and 3 males; 4 and 5 
females. 
Second row: 1. 2. 3 and 4 males; 5 
females. 
Third row: 1 and 2 females: 3. 4 and 
5 males. 
Fourth row: 1 female; 2 male; 3, 4 
and 5 females. 
This series shows practically a com- 
plete gradation between an almost red 
specimen (the first in the series) and 
the pure black specimen at the end of 
the last row. 
Charles \Y. Johnson. 
Boston Society of Natural History, 
Boston. Massachusetst. 
Flies in Winter. 
BY DR. A. F. GORDON MACKAY, MECKLEN- 
BURG, NEW YORK. 
I recently noticed an article in “The 
Rural New Yorker” that dealt with the 
question, “Where does the house fly go 
in the winter?” I have wondered over 
this because the accepted theory does 
not always answer the question. For 
instance, last February I moved into a 
house in which there had been a fire 
only once in four years, in the early 
days of January last. On the third day 
after our entrance I noticed one or two 
flies on an east window in the warm 
room. I have also at other times no- 
ticed flies in other sections of the coun- 
try in the middle of winter. Where do 
they come from and how do they 
subsist? 
Moreover, when living in New Jer- 
sey along the seashore some years ago, 
I found mosquitoes in the house in 
the dead of winter. Sometimes in very 
cold weather we found it comfortable 
to open the register in our bedroom (it 
Avas only in \'ery cold A\ r eather that we 
did so) and on those occasions A\'e had a 
\dsit from the mosquito. Sometimes 
they did not bite, but at other times 
they AA^ere as friendly and familiar as 
they AA-ere in the heat of summer. 
I haA'e a theory that AA’hen they AA r ere 
not A’isiting us they AA^ere possibly in 
the radiator, but Iioav they subsisted or 
got back there again is difficult to im- 
agine because AA r e ahvays closed the 
thing before going to bed. Once or 
tAvice Ave managed to catch our A'isitors. 
They seldom buzzed or became active 
until the lights Avere turned off. 
I should like to haA T e some comment 
on these facts, as I am not entirely 
satisfied Avith my OAvn theories, and my 
opportunities Avere too limited to obtain 
full information. 
Do Moths Use “Wireless”? 
It has for long been knoAvn that cer- 
tain species of moths are able to com- 
municate with one another eA-en though 
separated by a considerable distance. 
Tbis fact is to be noticed A~ery plainly 
during the pairing season. A female 
of the Vapourer Moth (Orayia) may 
be enclosed in a AA r ooden pill box. She 
AA r ill then attract males from all direc- 
tions, and these will come from a dis- 
tance of a mile or tA\ T o. — Scientific 
American. 
