BISKRA 
159 
Lepel., the huge Grasshopper Awidium aegyptiacum, Linn., and a 
Fly of the genus Sarcophaga . 
In the north-western outskirts of the town a rough grassy place 
adjoining the “ Tir-a-pigeons,” in the Beni Mora Oasis, was (when 
the mountain wind was not too strong) somewhat more productive. 
Here the characteristic Butterfly was Euchloe belemia, Esp., which 
on March 8th was not uncommon though not easy to catch. An 
odd specimen had occurred in the Jardin Landon four days before. 
Two Aculeates were captured, Colletes coriandri , Per., and Notogonia 
nigrita; a Ely very near to Tachina marhlini , Zett.; the Acridian 
Stenobothrus bicolor, and the Bug Lygaeus pandurus , the latter taken 
on the wing. Close by I disturbed what I feel sure must have been 
Macroglossa stellatarum. 
As regards the desert itself, as might have been expected, the 
more stony and wind-swept portions proved the least productive; 
thus the foothills to the north-east yielded no Lepidoptera at all, 
though I have a hazy recollection of having on one occasion seen 
what was probably P. cardui. But even in the parts that were com¬ 
paratively prolific, Lepidoptera were so scarce at the time of my visit 
that 1 was driven to collecting Hymenoptera and Coleoptera to 
occupy my time. Yet even with these it was not always easy to 
fill my boxes. 
The long-legged, apterous Heteromeron Adesmia bisJcarensis , 
Lucas, was rather common, looking not unlike a spider as it ran 
rapidly over the sand. On my first walk the only creature on the 
wing appeared to be Podalirius crinipes , Smith, of which the female 
might often be heard as it hovered over the flowers of the “ Qedad,” 
or Camel-grass {Acanthyllis tragacanthoides, Pom.). It proved, how¬ 
ever, hard to localize the sound, and therefore not easy to see the bee; 
moreover, it was decidedly difficult to catch, so that it took some 
time to secure four specimens. The same day I caught upon my 
coat that strange fly Hippobosca camelina , Leach; possibly in the 
desert, where food is scarce, man may be almost as great a delicacy 
as camel. These same foothills • yielded a week later a couple of 
Adesmia acervata , Klug, running on the ground; also Erisialis tenax , 
though assuredly there are no drains on those arid slopes. 
Hammam-es-Salahin, called by the French “ Fontaine Chaude,” 
lies some four miles to the north-east of Biskra, nestling close under 
the mountains at the head of, as it were, a bay of desert. It is 
known to entomologists as the place where Lord Walsingham stayed 
for several months, engaged for the most part, in studying the 
Tineina of the locality. His lordship’s fame as a collector, a skilful 
