1947] 
Tabanus nigrovittatus 
63 
were hitched to the mowing machine. Tabanids were 
swarming around the patient animals. Practically all 
were Tabanus nigrovittatus , although a few other types 
— notably T. atratus and Chrysops species — were ob- 
served. The team was flecked with blood from the fly 
bites. The clots showed plainly on their light coats and 
gave an indication of favored feeding areas. In order 
of decreasing frequency, the chest region, the head and 
neck, the median side of the upper legs, the flanks, and the 
belly received most attention from the flies. However, 
the Tabanids were all over them and allowed them no 
respite. They were experienced horses and maintained 
a remarkable calm considering the severity of the inces- 
sant attack. 
It has long been known that such conspicuous objects 
as automobiles attract Tabanids. July eighteenth was 
another bright, warm day. After lunch the writer drove 
out Argilla Road towards Crane’s Beach, Ipswich. 
Where the road crosses Fox Creek its bed is raised well 
above the marshes. The coupe was parked just beyond 
the bridge while some observations were made. On re- 
turning to the car an astounding number of greenheads 
were noted in it. The thought of making a timed collec- 
tion suggested itself. The results are numerically em- 
phatic. They give graphic evidence of the abundance of 
the Saltmarsh Gfreenliead under favorable circumstances. 
In fifteen minutes actual collecting time a total of 475 flies 
were taken by simply lifting a half -pint bottle, containing 
some alcohol, under them when they alighted on the inner 
roof covering. The disturbance caused them to fly down- 
ward into the liquid which quickly dispatched them. This 
collecting, at the rate of more than thirty a minute, could 
unquestionably have been continued much longer without 
noticeably diminishing the supply. 
Mating. The mating of Tabanids is seldom observed. 
On one occasion only it was my privilege to find several 
pairs of T. nigrovittatus in copulation. At that time, un- 
fortunately, the rarity of such an event was not realized 
or more attention would have been given to details. The 
morning of July twenty-fifth was very warm, humid, and 
