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User:Notafly/Alexander Henry Haliday/British Entomology : Diptera

Tachydromia The three following species have been discovered by Mr. Haliday 3a umbrarum Hal Holywood, Co. Down, 5a arenaria Hal. D.Ho 5b Graminum Hal. taken in England."

Folio 210 [Anopheles bifurcatus]

1. A bifurcatus Linn., No 6 - Wings immaculate. This insect which I have frequently taken upon my windows at Lisson Grove, is found from the middle of June to the same period of July; and Mr. Haliday who has met with it in Ireland says 'the males hover in small flights about the skirts of groves near rivulets in the still evenings of June: during the day among brambles in shady ditches and swamps: the females are rare and generally solitary'. 2. A.maculipennis Hoff. Meig.I. 11. 2 tab 1 F.17 - bifurcatus Meig. Klass. - Wings with five fuscous spots on each. Occurs in May in the neighbourhood of London; and the beginning of September I observed a few at Litten in the Isle of Wight. Mr. Haliday says "these also fly in small swarms in the evenings of June, when I have taken them paired in the air; they are however much more abundant in dark outhouses and about sewers from May to September. They are very much infested by a small reddish parasite (Ocypete rubra?); I have found ten of these attached to the abdomen of a male".

Folio 745. [Psychoda sexpunctata]

The Psychodae are active little flies, which we see upon our windows in April and May; they are also found on walls, in drains, on aquatic plants, in hedges on the trunks of trees, etc. and sometimes they appear in prodigous quantities. My friend Mr. Haliday having transmitted to me his views regarding this singular genus I shall give as ample an abstract of his synopsis as my limits will allow. A little further explanation, however, of one of the figures which refers to the second species will be necessary. I represents the thorax in profile; w the base of the wing; a the base of the antennae, and? some remarkable appendages pointed out to my by Mr. Haliday; they seem to me to be the analogues of those developed in the pupae, and it may be by accident that they are not united to the prothorax, or absorbed in their change to the image, otherwise it would be difficult to explain the reason why they are not common to the genus.

A. saccopteryx Hal. Wings with a coriaceous pouch in the middle, at least in the males; 6 external cells. Antennae moniliform 1 verticillate 1. fuliginosa Meig. v.1. p.107.8 B. PSYCHODA wings tense; 6 external cells, 3rd petiolate. Antennae moniliform, verticillate. Valves of ovoscapt attenuate. Hal. 2. auriculata Hal. with two clavate appendages on the front of the thorax 3. ocellaris Lat. Meig. p1.3 f 14-17 4. tristis Meig. S. nubila Meg. 6 sexpunctata Curt. Brit. Ent. p1.475 Taken the middle of October at Niton, in the Isle of Wight. The figure at the bottom of the plate shows the natural size. 7. canescens Meig. - 8. plalenoides Linn - De Geer. 6. p1.27 F.6.9. 8. nervosa Schr. In this species the males are twice as large as the females. C. trichomyia Hal. Wings with 5 external cells, 2nd petioled, 5thcomplete; brachial cells not exceeding the first third of the wing; costal half divided; nerves very hairy. Antennae elongate, 1st and 2nd joints thick, the rest longer, somewhat conic. Valves of oviscaptbroad ovate. 9. urbica Hal. Brown, front thorax and base of abdomen clothed with dark yellow hairs, the rest of the abdomen, antennae and legs with black hairs; wings obscure, yellowish with two black bands; poisers pale with the knob blackish- brown: coxae, tibiae and oviscapt yellowish. Male unknown. One of the largest, found by Dr. Coulter in Dublin, in the morning on the walls of offices, in the day settling on the trunks of elms in the College park. C. SYCORAX Hal. Wings with 5 external cells, 2nd petioled, 5th incomplete; 3 costal cells, 2 brachial, extending to the middle of the wing: nerves only pubescent: body nearly naked. Antennae slender, pubescent, 1st joint very short, 2nd globose, the rest linear. 10. silacea Hal. Male pale ochre, wings obscure hyaline. A very minute and fragile species, found very rarely in drains at Holywood.

Folio 573 [Geranomyia unicolor] dated Nov. 1st 1835. In the cabinets of Mr. Haliday and the author. Unicolor Hal, Ent. Mag.1:155 Curt Guide Gen.1155b.1. Yellowish fuscous: eyes black: abdomen slightly pubescent: wings iridescent and vitreous, nervures fuscous, sub-costal one ochreous at the middle, bearing 3 fuscous spots, one at the middle, a 2nd towards the base, a third nearer the apex, the nervure in those places being black, transverse nervures suffused: ovipositor ochreous. I first discovered one of these curious insects in the Isle of Wight in 1828, and from the nervures of the wing agreeing with those of the Limnobia longirostris of Wiedemann, I concluded that it belonged to the same division, where it stood in my cabinet under the name of 'maculipennis’. Wiedemanns insect has since been formed into the genus Rhamphidia by Meigen, and it differs essentially from the species before us by having 16-jointed antennae; it is the clypeus that is so much elongated and not the trophi, and the palpi are four-jointed. My friend Mr. Haliday having found a female specimen of our insect on some rocks near the harbour of Donaghadee in Ireland, established it as a genus in the Entomological Magazine and gave it the name of GERANOMYIA UNICOLOR Curt Brit. Ent. p1.573 g and the 26th of last July we found both sexes in multitudes on the sides of damp and shady rocks of the Shannon near Tarbert.

Folio 409 [Dixa nebulosa]

In the cabinet of Mr. Haliday. 1. D. cinctus Curt. Guide, No. 1. Cinereous black, margin of the thorax ochreous, two stripes down the middle, scutellum and base of the halteres pale dirty yellow : wings immaculate : legs rather stouter than in the other species, and dull ochreous, tips of the tibiae and tarsi blackish.Taken at Southgate by Mr. F. Walker. 1. D. fuliginosa Walk. MSS. Cinereous black, posterior portion of thorax lurid; wings pale yellowish fuscous: legs dull ochre, tips of thighs and tibiae and the tarsi blackish.Taken at Southgate by Mr. F. Walker. 2. D. aestivalis Meig. 1. 218. 2. July on aquatic plants, Southgate, Mr. F. Walker. 2*. D. serotina Hgg.—Meig. 1. 217. 1. Inhabits the verge of the sea, Ireland, Mr. Haliday. 3. D. aprilina Meig. 1. 218. 3. tab. I.f. 12. c- In the spring at Southgate, Mr. F. Walker. 3*. D. moesta Hal. MSS. Very similar to D. maculata, but it is smaller, of a duller colour, the wings are darker, and the tarsi are blackish. Taken in Ireland by Mr. Haliday, who thinks it may be a variety of D. maculata. 4. D. maculata Meig. 1. 219. 4. Mr. Walker says " it is common at Southgate in April and October, flying in company in the evening like Trichocera. In April on aquatic plants, where it had recently assumed its perfect state." 5. D. nubilipennis Curt. Guide, No. 5. Smaller than the insect figured; and as all the specimens I have seen were alike, I think it is distinct from D. nebulosa : the 2 central black lines on the thorax are much longer, and the clouds on the wings much less distinct than in that species. I have taken this insect the middle of November, in the flowers of the Ivy at Arno's Grove, where Mr. Walker also finds it, as well as in the Isle of Wight, the middle of October.6. D. nebulosa Meig.—Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 409.The only specimen I have seen was taken by Mr. Haliday in Ireland. Folio 641 [Sciophila sylvatica]

7. rufa Meig. Supp. 6. 295. 16. Holywood, Downshire, Mr. Haliday.

Folio 765.[Simulium trifasciatum]

3. reptans Linn.—Fries. Mon. tab. 1.f. 6. 7, larva and pupa. —Tipula erythrocephala DeG. 6. tab. 2S.f. 5. 6.mas. —sericeum Gmel—argyropeza Meig. Klass. Found from March to November, Powerscourt waterfalls, Mr. Davis; and about ponds, bay of Belfast; the females in little swarms and very troublesome, Mr. Haliday; Glanville's Wootton, Mr. Dale; Scotland, Mr. Lyell. The larvae live in the stalks of Sium latifolium, pi. 750, and Phellatidrium aquaticum.

Folio 337 Beris geniculata The following are recorded as British species of this pretty genus, and are divided, I. With an eight-spined scutellum (fig. 10.) B. abdominalis Steph. 2. B. lucida Steph. 3. B. fuscipes Meig. 2, 8, 11.— Black shining; scutellum aeneous; feet fuscous : base of tibiae yellow. II. With a six-spined scutellum (fig. 10 a). 4. B. femoralis Meig.—Thorax chalybeous, shining eneous behind; abdomen caeruleous-black; feet fuscous yellow at the base. 5. B. nigra Meig.—Black shining; feet rufescent, thighs and tarsi fuscous at the apex. 6. B. similis Forster—nigripes Meig.?—Feet simple and black; wings subferruginous; halteres white; thorax bluishgreen, shining; abdomen chalybeous black. 7. B. chalybeata Forst.—atra Meig. Kl.—6-dentata Fab. fem? —Thorax shining blue-black; abdomen black, holosericeous; wings and halteres black; feet testaceous, posterior tarsi dilated and black. June, Bay of Belfast, and near Bexley, Kent, Mr. Haliday; and bred in May in moss from Leicestershire, by Mr. Davis. 8. B. geniculata Hal.—Curt. Brit. Ent. pil. 337. mas.—Taken by Mr. Haliday with the last in Ireland, from June to the 8th of August : Mr. Davis, from Hebden Bridge. 9. B. clavipes Linn.—Panz. 9. 19.—Thorax black, shining; abdomen and feet rufous; tarsi fuscous; wings smoky. From Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, Mr. Davis. 10. B. vallata Forst.— Meig.—clavipesFab.—nigritarsis Lat. —Thorax black, shining; abdomen and feet rufous; apex of tibise and tarsi fuscous; wings smoky in the male, subhyaline and yellow at the base in the female. Found from April to the middle of July, on palings

Folio 513 [Heleodromia bistigma]

At the time the Guide was published I found much difficulty in locating the insect figured, of which I had only one injured specimen, and as the antennae appeared to agree better with those of Gloma than Brachystoma, I included it in that genus. Mr. Haliday has since formed it and some others into the genus Heleodromia, and as I possess an undescribed species, I shall give short characters of the whole, which he thus divides.

A. Proboscis perpendicular, longer than the head, palpi short, incumbent. 1. H. immaculata Hal. Ent. Mag. 1. 159. " Cinereous : antennae and feet black, wings ferruginous immaculate (Long: .1.). In woods rare. B. Proboscis short thick somewhat exserted: wings with an oblique apical nervure. 3. unicolor Curt. Olive-brown, beneath grey, coxae and tips of thighs ochreous, wings immaculate. Length l and 1/2 line, breadth 3 and 3/4 In abundance the 15th of August standing on wet moss at the spring near Ventnor in the Isle of Wight, and Mr. Dale has taken it at Black Gang Chine. 2. bistigma Curt. Brit. Ent.pl. 513. I took a single specimen of this rare insect many years back in Norfolk, and the Rev. G. T. Rudd has favoured me with the sexes and the following memorandum : " I find it abundant on the edges of large stones on the rocky shores of the Tees, between Middleton and Croft. The insect is difficult to see, and still more difficult to capture." 5. bipunctata Hal. Ent. Mag. 1. 159. " Cinereous: with a fuscous dorsal stripe, legs testaceous, wings with a fuscous stigma. (Long: .12.) About ditches in summer very rare." 4. stagnalis Hal.—punctipennis Curt. Olive-brown, beneath slate-colour, tips of thighs ferruginous; transverse nervures of wings suffused with fuscous. Length 2 lines, breadth 4. The Hon. C. A. Harris and myself found this insect the beginning of October flying over and alighting on little puddles in a brick-field near Pool. Mr. Walker takes it the end of March at Southgate, and Mr. Haliday says it "inhabits duck-meat [Lemna) on the surface of ponds early in the spring, skipping very actively in small troops, and scarcely to be taken without sweeping the surface of the water." G. fontinalis Hal. Olive-brown, beneath slate-colour, legs ferruginous, tarsi dusky; wings with 3 yellow-brown spots round the disc, the costa fuscous. Length 2 lines, breadth 4. Mr. Haliday finds this insect in the shady beds of small rivulets in summer; it is rare, but he has been so kind as to add specimens to my Cabinet.

Folio 397 [ Drapetis aterrima]

Aterrima Haliday's MSS.—Curt. Guide, Gen. 1210. Shining black, slightly pubescent : wings iridescent pubescent, nervures brown, ochreous towards the base: halteres very pale ochreous : knees and tips of posterior tibiae ferruginous. In the Cabinets of Mr. Haliday and the Author.

Through the zeal and kindness of my friend Mr. Haliday I am enabled to figure a new species of Drapetis, which he has discovered since the publication of my Guide. D. aterrima Hal.—Curt. Brit. Ent. pi. 397. Mr. Haliday says, " It is distinguished from D. exilis by the abdomen being entirely deep glossy black in the living insects of both sexes" : he adds, " The sea-coast seems the peculiar habitat of mine; I seldom have seen it a hundred yards from high-water mark. It was taken at Holywood." Neither of Meigen's species have yet been discovered in our islands, but as it is very probable they soon may be, I shall give his descriptions. 1. Dr. exilis Mg.—Meig. v. 3. p. 91. tab. 23.Jg. 25—28. " Head black, nearly orbicular. Eyes a little separated in both sexes. Hypostoma very narrow. Three ocelli on the vertex. Antennae black, approximate at the base, then bent upwards towards the side, shorter than the head with a long naked terminal bristle (25). Proboscis somewhat prominent with incumbent palpi, whose figure is not easily determined from their minuteness. Thorax shining black above, without any transverse suture. Abdomen in male entirely shining black, rather long nearly cylindric, of seven segments : in female more oval, acuminate, reddish yellow above, with black bands at the hind margin of the segments, entirely reddish yellow beneath. Thighs a little incrassated, black; tibiae brown unarmed, feet yellow. Poisers black; wings hyaline, incumbent and parallel in repose, with microscopic hairs, rounded in front. The genus is easily distinguished by the neuration. After death the abdomen of the female becomes nearly all black from contraction, only a little of the yellow remaining visible. These flies run with extraordinary agility, so that they are hard to catch. In Aug. and Sept. common on palings. Megerle sent the same out of Austria. Male 1/2, female 3/4 line long." Meigen in a subsequent volume gives the following specific description of D. exilis. " Black shining; tibiae and tarsi yellow; segments of abdomen equal", v. 6. p. 344. 2. Dr. nigra Meig. Supp. v. 6. p.344. " Black, shining; anterior tibiae and tarsi entirely yellow, fourth segment of the abdomen the largest." " The fourth segment of the abdomen embraces more than half of its entire length. In my specimen the poisers are not visible. One male from Winthem. Fully half a line long." Mr. Haliday says, " From the correction of the characters of Dr. exilis, Meigen seems to have found the yellow colour of the abdomen a delusive character, perhaps the effect of disease. I should add that, according to my observations, all the insects of this family have three-jointed antennse. The difference therefore between this and the preceding family is, that in the Empidae the 2nd joint is the smallest, and the palpi reflected; in Tachydromiae the 1st joint is the shortest, the palpi incumbent."

Folio 729.Nemotelus nigrinus

The following are British species of Nemotelus. 1. uliginosus Linn.—Meig. v. 3. 114. l.pl. pl. 25.fem? . —Don. 15. pl. 519. f. 1.2. " Thorax black with a lateral white stripe : abdomen wjiite with a black spot before the apex in the males, or black with the margins and dots white in the female. 3 lines long." June, flowers in meadows, Tollsbury, Essex, and Thetford; July, a female, on Mangerton Mountain near Killarney. 2. pantherinus Linn., Meig. pi. 25 f 20 mas —uliginosus Panz. 46. 21 mas .—marginatus Fab.? .—Panz. 46. 22? . " Thorax black, immaculate; abdomen white, with a black spot before the apex in the male, or black, with the margins and dots white in the females. 2 to 2 and 1/2 lines long." End of May, marshy meadow. North Cray, Kent, Mr. Haliday. June, Cambridgeshire, J. C. 3. nigrinus Fall.— Curt. B. E. pl.729 fem.—Panz. 107. 17 Beginning of July, Swaffham, Thetford warren and Battersea; Bog of Allan, Connemara and Holywood, Mr. Haliday. 4. brevirostris Meg. " Black shining : legs white, thighs black : rostrum very short and obtuse. 1 and ½ line long." Recorded as having been taken near London.

Folio 753 [Syrphus lucorum]

22b maculatus Meig.—Ireland, A. H. Haliday, Esq.

Folio 757 Pipunculus pratorum

By the structure of the mouth, the form of the antennae, and the neuration of the wings, this remarkable genus is evidently allied to the Syrphidae, but in what way it is related to the Dolichopidae I cannot determine, for the incurved apex of the abdomen is indicative of the female sex in Pipunculus, whilst in the former family it characterizes the males. The mouth, like that of Platypeza, is very imperfect, and the 3rd joint of the antennse varies considerably; the pulvilli are largest in the females, and the wings are longer and frequently obscure in the males, as remarked by Mr. Haliday. The following is Mr. Walker's arrangement of the genus.

a 4th longitudinal nervure simple. f Abdomen cylindric, base a little narrowed. Wings immaculate, or with the stigma not coloured. 1. maculatus Walk. Ent. Mag. 2. 261. 1. July, furze and heath near London. 2. sylvaticus Meig. v. 4. p. 20. No. 3. June, Lowestoft, New Forest; July, on grass beneath trees. 3. geniculatus Meig.—Panz. 108. 17? May, grass beneath trees; August, Lulworth. aa Stigmatic space coloured. 4. flavipes Meig. fab. 33.Jl 21. October, grass beneath trees. 5. fulvipes Macq. 2. 11. 9. 6. varipes Meig. 7. pratorum Fall.—Curt. Brit. Ent. pi. 751. cJ. I took the male figured the 7th May in Coomb Wood. 8. campestris Lat. May, June, and July, Coomb Wood, Windsor, New Forest, and Clifton : 7th September, flying about laurels and young beech-trees at Durnford near Salisbury. 9. dentipes Meig. 7. 146. 15.—ater Meig.? June, Oxford and Glanville's Wootton. ff Abdomen flat. Wings immaculate. 10. modestus Hal. Ent. Mag. 1. 162. May and June, on grass beneath trees, Kent, and Coomb Wood. 11. ruralis Meig. May—July, Coomb Wood, Windsor, New Forest, and Horning, Norfolk. aa4th longitudinal nervure emitting a branch.fig. 9. 12. auctus Eall. May—July, Birchwood, Windsor and New Lanark.

Folio 489 [Opetia lonchopteroides]

Order Diptera. Fam. Dolichopidiae. Type of the Genus, Opetia nigra Mcig. Opetia Meig., Hal., Curt. Antennae inserted near the middle of the face, approximating, nearly as long as the head, subsetaceous, pubescent, 5-jointed, 3 basal joints furnished with a few bristles, 1st somewhat cupshaped, 2nd a little larger, ovate, 3rd ovate conic or subfusiform, 4th minute, 5th a long seta hairy to the apex (3). Labrum, Tongue, Mandibles and Maxilla undiscovered. Palpi shorter than the lip, simply clavate and naked (1f ). Lip short bilobed and hairy (g). Trophi small, situated at the lower part of the face (2 g). Head transverse, face orbicular, with a line of bristles on each side : eyes large, ovate and contiguous in front in the male (2); remote in the female, with a few bristles on each side: ocelli 3, elevated on the crown of the head. Thorax subglobose, oblique-ovate in profile, the fore part being very gibbose andprojecting over the head : scutellum a little elevated. Abdomen 6-jointed. Wings incumbent and parallel when at rest, rather short and broad, with 7 longitudinal nervures, the 5th furcate (9). Halteres terminated by a rather large obovate club. Legs simple : thighs a little stouter than the tibiaj, which gradually thicken towards the apex : tarsi as long as the tibiae, 5-jointed, basal joint very long, the remainder ovate, slightly decreasing in length : claws bent and acute : pulvilli small and hairy (8, a fore leg). lonchopteroides Hal.—Curt. Guide, Gen. 1248*. 2. Piceous-black : antennae with the 3rd joint subfusiform, and as long as the 1st and 2nd together; seta equal in length to all the other joints (fig. 3) : eyes reddish : wings fuscous, costa of a deeper tint, the 3rd longitudinal and the furcate nervures the lightest , halteres pale fuscous, legs the same with an ochreous tinge. In the Cabinet of Mr. Haliday. An opinion has long been entertained by Mr. Haliday and other Entomologists that there is a considerable affinity between the Empidae or Tachydromidae and Dolichopidae, and the present genus seems to be one of the connecting links, making an approach to Callomyia as well as to Cyrtoma and Drapetis (pl. 397). I am at a loss to account for the introduction by Meigen of the Stratyomidae and Syrphidae between the families alluded to, for the former appears to be nearly allied to Beris (pi. 337), and the latter to the Conopsidae and Muscidae, and my only reason for not attempting such an arrangement in my Guide, was a desire to render references to Meigen easy, and similar causes induced me to follow the arrangement of Latreille through a great portion of the Hymenoptera. Mr. Haliday having detected a new species of Opetia in Ireland, which he very kindly communicated to me, there are now two found inhabiting our Islands. 1. O. nigra Meig. v. 6. p. 357. tab. 66.f. 17—20. Length 1 and 1/4 line, breadth 2 and 2/3. Piceous black, antennae with the 3rd joint ovate-conic, shorter than the two basal joints united : eyes red : wings fuscous, darker at the costa, and very pale at the opposite margin : legs black. Mr. Haliday informs me that the males are common in September, and the females are rare in the vicinity of Holywood in Downshire; Mr. Dale has also captured specimens in August, at Lulworth in Dorsetshire. 2. O. lonchopteroides Hal.—Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 489. Mr. Haliday observes, that this species is distinguished by its longer antennae and the colour of the legs : it was taken by him in the same neighbourhood as the last.

Folio 568 [Rhaphium macrocerum] R. longicorne Meig. 4. 28. 1. Female. Coppery-green, head thorax and scutellum more blue, forehead violet, clypeus silvery-grey; antennae black, similar I believe in both sexes, but longest in the males, 5th joint half as long as the 3rd; wings fuscous, costa brown; halteres yellow; legs black. Length 2 and 3/4 lines; antennae 1 line. Mr. Dale took two specimens near the decoy pond in the New Forest in June, where Mr. Rudd has also found it in abundance
 * on the 27th of August Mr. Haliday and myself observed

it in a peat-bog going to Knoch in the Isle of Skye; and the beginning of last August two specimens alighted on our friend Dr. Farren as we were riding to Oughterard in Galway. 2. macrocerum Wied.—Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 568

I first met with the sexes in abundance on nut bushes and hedges in Mr. Dale's gai'den at Glanville's Wootton the 10th of May, when I was first led to believe that the antennae were very diiferent in the sexes. I have also captured it in the New Forest the beginning of June; and Mr. Haliday has taken this and R. caliginosum near Holywood in Downshire.

Folio 541 [Porphyrops wilsoni] Porphyrops is evidently allied to Rhaphium and Medeterus (pl. 162.) the masculine antennae of the former very much resembling those of section B, and the tarsi in the same division being frequently irregular in their structure as they generally are in the male Medeteri. Mr. Haliday has given a list of the species found near Belfast, in the 5th Vol. of the Zool. Journal, and described some new ones.

Folio 677 [Myopa fulvipes] The Myopae are fond of flowers, and the following species are natives of our islands. + 2nd joint of the antennae stouter and a little longer than the3rd, 1. picta Panz. 54. 22. In Edinburgh botanic-garden, Mr. James Duncan; and in the vicinity of London. 2. buccuta Linn. May and June, hedges, Suffolk, J. C. 3. testacea Linn.—buccata Panz. 12. 24 May, Coomb Wood, on umbelliferas; Norfolk, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Holywood near Belfast. 4. dorsalis Fab.—ferruginea Panz. 22. 24. May, July and August, hedges, round London. 5. ferruginea Linn.—Meig. v. 4. pl. 37. fig. 11 and 12. End of June Darent, and July near Thetford, J. C.; the North and West of England, Edinburgh and Ireland. 6. fasciata Meig.—ephippium Fab. I took one the end of August on the hills near Ramsdown, Hants, and Mr. Haliday found another near Kenmare. 6b. occulataWied. I do not remember on whose authority this has been admitted as British.

++ 2nd joint of antennae not stouter but twice as long as the 3rd. 7. atra Fab.—Panz. 12. 23.—annulata Fab. — femorata, Fab.— cinerascens Meig.—maculata Meig. —micans Meig. Klass. vars. August, on flowers near Ventnor in the Isle of Wight; Bourne-mouth, Hants, and Dover, J. C; sunny banks Ireland, Mr. Haliday, and near Edinburgh, Mr Duncan. 8. pusilla Meg. Found near London. 9. fulvipes Desv.—Curt. Brit. Ent.pl- 677. Ash-colour, sericeous, 2nd joint of antennae long clavate and ochreous beneath, 3rd ferruginous inside at the base, 4th joint minute; crown of head ferruginous, blackish at the base; face satiny-white with a narrow shining white margin to the eyes : thorax with a black central stripe and 2 lateral triangular ones: abdomen transversely rugose with reflected lights, the apex and scutel shining black: wings very pale fuscous with a yellow tint, brightest and deepest at the costa, nervures brown : halteres yellowish-white : legs dark ochreous, clothed with black hairs: thighs brownish outside: anterior coxae and tibiae satiny-white outside, hinder tibiae brown near the base and at the apex; tarsi black; pulvilli ochreous. The specimen figured I found the 9th of August in the Isle of Bute, not far from Loch Fad.

Folio 697 [ Phasia speciosa] The Phasias are remarkable-looking flies, especially the females, which have the wings very broad towards the base. Robineau Desvoidy has divided Meigen's genus into several others, of which 3 are inhabitants of this country, and are thus characterised : I. Elomvia Desv. 1st posterior cell closed but not petiolated. 1. cana Hgg,—Meig. v. 4.p. 201. no. 30. "Cinereous; thorax striped with black; wings hyaline. 3 lines." Taken, I believe, by Mr. Haliday in Ireland.

Folio 529 [Miltogramma punctata]

This genus extends considerably to the South, two species having been found in Egypt and Mogador. Like many of the tribe to which it belongs, it appears to be parasitic, and in all probability the larva of our species feeds upon, either the maggot or pupa of Colletes fodiens (pl. 85). When we were in the Isle of Arran the middle of last August, I was desirous of showing my friend Mr. Haliday the habitations of the Colletes fodiens, which swarmed there nine years before, when Mr. Dale and myself visited that interesting Island; we therefore visited several spots by Brodick Bay, and by searching a declivity perforated by these Bees we soon had the satisfaction to capture several females and 2 or 3 males , but my attention was soon attracted by some of the Miltogrammae pursuing the Bees as they flew to their holes, as an Oestrus hovers about a Horse, and they reminded me of the male Anthophora (folio 357), for as that Bee attends his bride, so does the Miltogramma follow the Colletes like its shadow, although for a very different purpose; the Anthophora waits upon his mistress, inspired by love, but the Fly watches the Bee, I suspect, for the purpose of depositing its egg that it may be nourished in the cells of the Bee; but whether, like an Oestrus, she drops her ova upon the Bee as she is entering her burrow, or in the cell itself, I have not yet ascertained. As it might be expected, every specimen of the Miltogramma was a female, and out of many more at different times taken in Hampshire, I met with only one male.

Folio 549 [ Musca chloris]

In the Cabinets of Mr. Haliday, Mr. Clifton, and the Author.

Many of the following British species, arranged according to Meigen, I have only seen in the cabinet of Mr. W. Clifton, to whom I am greatly indebted for much valuable information respecting the Muscidae. A. Golden-green colour. Muscee nobiles. a. Apical transverse nervure sharply angulated. 1 *. Chloris Hal.—Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 549? . The green shining cheeks distinguish this species from the following. 1. Caesar Linn.. 2. cornicina Fab. 3. sericata Meg.-. 6. regalis Meig. 7. illustris M. 8. ruficeps M.? 9. parvula M. splendida M. 14. Caesarion Hgg. 15. puella M. 16. regina M. 17. albipennis M. b. Apical transverse nervure with the angle rounded. 18. Serena Meig. v. 5. p. 59. Mr. Clifton has discovered a yellow spot on the pleurae of this and of M. azurea. 19. cadaverina Liym. B. Common coloured; thorax striped. Muscae familiares a. Apical transverse nervure acutely angulated. 21. vomitoria L. 22. erythrocephala M. 23. cognate M.; coerulea M. 13. equestris M. 24. azurea Fall. 25. Lanio Fab. 26. atramentaria M. 27. Vespillo Fab. 28. rudis Fab. 28. degener Hal. 29. varia M. 31. domestica Linn. 32. corvina Fab. 33. agilis M. 34. sepulcralis M 34b. macellaria Hal. 38. vitripennis M. 34b. consobrinus Curt.—Male 5 lines; green with shining gray reflections, clothed with black hairs and bristles:legs and head black, margins of eyes and face dirty shining white : palpi ferruginous : thorax with 4 black stripes: abdomen depressed. Taken by W. Clifton, Esq. at Putney. b. Wing with the angle rounded. + Eyes naked. 39. hortorum Fall. 40. pascuorum M 41. pabulorum Fall. 42. stabulans Fall. 43. cassia M. 44. tempestiva Fall. ++Eyes hairy. 45. cyanella M. 46. versicolor M. 48. maculata Fab. 49. meditabunda Fab.

Folio 768 [Hydrotaea ciliata] 94. militaris Meig. Page 136. July, Turk Mountain, Ireland. 90. occulta Wied.—Meig. 133. Taken by Mr. Haliday : it forms a portion of Meigen's genus Lasiops, a name alluding to the hairy eyes, distinguished from Jricia by the fine pubescent seta of the antennae and longish abdomen, and from Hylomyia by the hairy eyes. 91. irritans Fall.—Meig. Page 134. July, Killarney.

Folio 405 [Scatophaga scybalaria] scybalaria Linn. Faun. Suec. 458. 1860. Curt. Guide, Gen. 1293. I. Orange ochre, clothed with soft hair of the same colour, but the bristles are black, underside of head and palpi yellow 3 lip brown: eyes and back part of head ash brown which forms a peak over the ocelli and extends along the eyes. Thorax and scutellum brown and ochre, the latter with several obscure darker longitudinal lines. Abdomen with the 1st joint cinereous, darker at the base, 2nd joint of the same colour at the base and extending down the back in a pointed line 3 the edges of the other segments cinereous : wings very ample, slightly iridescent, stained brown, the costal portion and the nervures orange-ochre, excepting the 2 transverse nervures which are piceous : halteres ochreous : tips of the posterior thighs blackish. In the Cabinets of Mr. Haliday and the Author.

The Scatophagi are exceedingly abundant in meadows and on paling; they frequent the dung of animals early in the spring, and some of the species are found during the whole year. Since the Guide was published, eight species have been added to our Fauna, and amongst them several new ones by Mr. Haliday, who has very kindly presented them to me.

A. With the seta pubescent. 1. S. scybalaria Linn.—Curt. Brit. Ent.pl. 405.—Sea coast, Ireland; very rare. I have preferred this Linnean species for illustration, as there is no other figure of it. 2. S. stercoraria Linn. F. S. 1861.—putris Harris, pi. 21. f. 1. 2.—scybalaria Don. 10. pl. 346. 5.? Found in March, April, May, August and September, in meadows, and wherever cow-dung is met with. I have observed this species feeding on Empidae, a group which feeds on flies also. 3. S. merdaria Fab. E. S. 4. 344. 133.—A perennial species, and found with the 2nd. 4. S. lutaria Fab. E. S.—Meig. 5. pl. 45. f. 28.—leucophaeus Harr. pl. 21. f. 3.—June Hants : in profusion in Ireland in the autumn. 5. S. inquinata Meig. 250. 5.—The S. turpis, Haliday's MSS., is probably a small variety of this species; it is found in England and Ireland. 5b. S. eximia Hal.—" Yellow, thorax subcinereous, 3rd and 4th nervures of the wings conniving at the apex. Like the larger variety of the last, but the wings distinguish it." 6. S. spurca Meig. 250. 6.—Autumnal, found in England and Ireland. 7. S. analis Meig. 251. 7-—Vernal in Ireland; June Hants. 7a. S. Ostiorum Hal.—Cinereous black, face silvery, palpi and halteres ochreous. I took this insect in abundance, upon rocks washed by the sea, at Dover the middle of August; Mr. Haliday finds it inhabiting the estuary of the river at Belfast. 8. S. cineraria Meig. 251. 8.—I have taken a female. B. With the seta naked. 8a. S. squalida Meig. 252. 10.—Found in England and Ireland. 8b. S. arrogans Hal.—Like the last, but the anterior thighs are black at the base. 9. S. furcata Fab. E. S.— Coq. tab. 24. /. 9.—Near Ely; the Rev. L. Jenyns. 10. S. rufipes? Meig. 253. 13. 10a. S. calida Hal.—Obscure cinereous, thorax lineated, anus, feet, and two first joints of aiitennse ferruginous : abdomen of the male clothed with yellow hairs. Taken in Ireland. 10b. S. rudis Hal.—" Obscure cinereous, thorax lineated, hypostoma and tibiae ferruginous : abdomen of the male clothed with yellow hairs." Taken in Ireland. 11. S. fucorum? Fall. Meig. pi. 45. /. 29.—Recorded by Mr. Stephens as British. 12. S. litorea Fall.—Meig. 254. 15.—Abundant in Ireland and England. 13. S. decipiens Hal.—" Hoary, hypostoma pale, apex of thighs, tibise and tarsi testaceous, wings hyaline." Size of the last, the head much broader : a single specimen taken in Ireland, and I believe I have one taken in England.

Folio 605 [Sapromyza litura]

In the Cabinets of Mr. Dale, Mr. Haliday, and the Author. The Sapromyzae are said to live on putrid substances and on Fungi : they are placed between Dryomyza and Ortalis byMeigen, but I think they are very nearly related to Helomyza (pl. 54; 5.). Fallen has formed those whose wings have a vibrating action into the genus Palloptera, and Mr. Haliday's genus Phyllomyza is based on the species figured in consequence of its deflexed wings. The following are British and Irish species.

aWings unspotted. 1. rorida Fall.—Harris Expo. pl. 34 f. 20.? New Forest and Belfast. 2. obsoleta Fall.—flava Fah. 3. pallida Fall. Holywood, Mr. Haliday. 4. flava Linn. Hampton Court and Holywood. 6. albiceps Fall. Mr. F. Walker, Southgate. 7. quadripunctata Linn. 8. sexpunctata Meig. 12. femorella Fall. Galway, Mr. Haliday. 14. praeusta Fall. Holywood. 16. pallidiventris Fall. Holywood. 17. rivosa Meig. Kent, and July Glengariff. aa Wings with dark dots or streaks. 21 inusta Meig. Tullymore Park; July, Turk Mountain. 22. trimacula Meig.—minutus Harris, pl.2 f.7. Common. 24. unicolor Fab.—marginella Fall. 25. ustulata Fall. Holywood near Belfast. 26. umbellatarum Fab.—gangraenosa Panz. 59. 22. Umbellate flowers. Isle of Wight, 15th of Aug.; and 13th of June, Suffolk. 27. arcuata Fab. Belfast. 29. decempunctata Fall.—Meig. pi. 46.f. 12. Belfast. 30. notata Fall. 20. litura Hof.—Curt. B. E. pl. 605. fig. N, the natural size. Oak-trees, Tullymore Park, Mr. Haliday; Niton, Isle of Wight, Mr. Vine; June and July, New Forest, Mr. Dale; and July common on oaks, under Turk Mountain, Killarney, J. C.

Folio 245 [Sepsis annulipes]

In the Cabinets of Mr. Haliday and the Author.

Sepsis is distinguished from Ortalis, to which Meigen considers it nearly related, by the naked seta of the antenna, and by the narrower and less ample wings; the head is also larger and globose, and the thorax and body more slender and elongated. It is with pleasure that I lay before my readers the following account of the species composing the genus Sepsis, which has never been noticed by any English writer. A. Wings with a black spot near the apex. 1. S. cynipsea Linn., Meig.—This is apparently our commonest species, and may be found the whole of July and later in gardens, running over the leaves of plants. I have particularly observed it upon the scarlet beans. It sometimes swarms about Willows; and I once saw it in myriads in the garden of Edward Browne, Esq. at Norwich. 2. S. hilaris Meig.—29th July, and 7th August in abundance on umbelliferous flowers, and on the Burdock at the back of the Isle of Wight. Mr. Haliday took a specimen at Bexley with an additional nervure in each wing. 3. S. nigripes? Meig. 4. S. punctum Fab.—Stigma Panz. 60. 21.—Mr. Haliday took one specimen in July, in marshy ground near Belfast, and another the beginning of September, at Moresby near Whitehaven. B. Wings unspotted. 5. S. cylindrica Fab., Meig.—nitidulia Fall. 7th August in abundance on the leaves of the Burdock, with S. hilaris. Shady places near Belfast. 6. S. Leachi Meig.—In the British Museum, I believe. 7. S. putris Linn.—From February to October on the seashore, and in groves near Belfast; it is found also on old bones and refuse from houses. Mr. Haliday has taken a smaller one in company with this, which appears to be different. 8. S. annulipes Meig., Curtis Brit. Ent. pi. 245.—For specimens of this pretty and distinct species I am indebted to Mr. Haliday, who took two last June in marshy places at Bexley, near North Cray, Kent; and in July, several in Cornfields near Belfast, Ireland.

Folio 621 [Lucina fasciata] In the Cabinets of Mr. Haliday, the Author. I am induced to illustrate this genus and give a figure of the male of this rare insect, in consequence of Meigen having seen the female only, which sex is represented in his plate; and Macquart's figures are so bad that they are utterly useless. In some respects Lucina resembles Cordylura (pi. 4-85), the abdomen of the male being incurved and horny; nevertheless I have little doubt that it is more nearly allied to theTetanocerae and to Actora (Helcomyza, pi. 66), close to which Meigen has placed it. Lucina fasciata is the only species known of the genus, and had only been found at Marseille until it was discovered by my friend Mr. Haliday on the sands at Portmarnock near Dublin, where he took both sexes in June and transmitted me a very fine series.

Folio 545 [Helomyza rufa]

Helomyza is characterized by the bristly costa to the wings , and the peculiar manner in which the intermediate tibiae are armed with bristles will be found valuable in distinguishing: them. They are partial to damp situations, but not uncommonly enter houses. The following British species may be thus arranged. A. With a feathered or distinctly hairy seta to the antennae. 2. rufa Fall.— Curt. Brit. Ent.pl. 545? . Taken by Mr. Haliday near Holywood as well as Nos. 5, 10. 11, 14? 15 and 26, by Mr. F.Walker near Southgate, and Mr. W. Clifton at Putney. 3. flava Meig. vol. 6. p. 50.—5.pallida Fall. Meig. tab. 51.f. 31 6. affinis Meig. 10. praeusta Meig. 11. tigrina Meig. Length 3 lines, breadth 7 and 1/4. Ferruginous, antennas orange, the seta clothed with short hairs (fig. 3): thorax and scutellum freckled : abdomen more or less dusky on the back, edges of the segments black in the male and producing long bristles, wings very pale fuscous, the costa yellowish, transverse nervures brown, the tip fuscous, forming 3 spots: halteres whitish: thighs very pubescent; tarsi pale ochreous, tips blackish, pulvilli orange. I found several on oaks at Cartland Craigs the 3rd Sept. 11b. trifasciata Curt. Female 2 lines long, 6 broad; pale ochreous, antennae bright, seta clothed with short hairs, crown of head, thorax and base of scutellum slate-colour, thorax clothed with exceedingly minute ochreous hairs, with the shoulders entirely pale with them : abdomen with the margins of the 3 basal joints piceous; wings yellowish , very iridescent; tarsi, especially the posterior, densely clothed with short black bristles. I took a female with the last species. 12. griseola Meig. B. With a naked seta to the antennae. 14. ustulata Meig. t.51.f. 30? Birchanger, Essex, Mr. Clifton. 15. serrata Linn. De Geer, v. 6. tab. l.f. 15—18. Found on windows all the year, especially in the autumn. 16. villosa Meig. Taken at Yarmouth by Mr. C. J. Paget. 18. fenestralis Fall.—24. rufiventris Meig. End of July on a window at Dolbadam Lake in Wales. Mr. Clifton. 26. inscripta Meig.—27. humilis Meig. 30. ruficornis Meig. June; Mr. Clifton took 2 at Dover on the stalks of nettles, one of which he kindly added to my cabinet, and Nos. 3? 5, 6, 12, 15, 26 and 27 have been taken near Putney by the same gentleman. .34. arenarum Hal. MSS.

Folio 473 [ Drosophila cameraria]

Cameraria Hal. MSS.—Curt. Guide, Gen. 1334. 2b. Ochreous and pubescent, with a few long black bristles, 2nd joint of antennee fuscous, seta black, head and thorax dark ochre, with a fuscous stripe down the back, terminating in a spot at the scutellum, and an obscure ferruginous stripe on each side : abdomen brown, the segments edged with ochre, broadest on the sides, with an obscure pale line down the back : wings stained pale fuscous, the nervures piceous : tips of tarsi fuscous.

In the Cabinets of Mr. Haliday and the Author. As the type of Latreille's genus Mosillus seems to be different to our group, I have retained Fallen's name. For several of my species I am indebted to Mr. Haliday and Mr. Walker, who have detected 10 unrecorded as natives since the Guide was published; those taken at Clifden, near Belfast, are from the former gentleman, as well as the observations on some of them, and those from Southgate are from Mr. Walker. 1=*. D. nigrita Hal. The size of D. cellaris, shining ochreous fuscous; liead, thorax and scutellum piceous; eyes castaneous : segments of abdomen with the margins whitish : halteres whitish-ochre : tarsi tipped with black, anterior with the 2 basal joints in the first pan- a little dilated, with a black spot on the back of each. On Larches, e. Sept. & Oct., sometimes in windows, Clifden. 2 cellaris Linn.? Taken with the former one at Clifden. Mr Walker has frequently observed it struggling in ale, but not drowned; and Mr.R. Brown showed me vast quantities of the pupae in the tubs of vinegar that contained the buds and flowers of the Rafflesia Arnoldi. It is found all the year round in cellars and on windows. 2a. funebris Fab. .-erythrophthalma Panzl 7. 24 Mr. Haliday bred the fly from Boleti, the middle of October and one of the pupae is figured in the plate {vide fig. F, the upper extremity being the head). 2b cameraria Hal-Curt Brit. Ent. P. 4.73. Clifden Mr. Haliday says this differs from D. fenestrarum in having longer antennae; the thorax is opake and unusually hairy : it is also larger : the dusky blotch of the thorax is constant in this. I found great numbers in windows early in October, probably out of the same Boleti from which D. funebris came. - phalerata Meig. tab. 59.f. 3. In Boleti, Clifden. 4. fenestrarum Fall.—Meig. v. 6. p. 83. 4 5. transversa? Fall.-Meig. 84. 5. Clifden and Southgate. Mr. Haliday says, " It agrees with the characters except in size, being smaller than D. phalerata' 6. virginea Meig. 84.6. Southgate and Clifden. 9. melanogasterMeigen -.85.9. "Belly pale with an interrupted black band down the middle." Clifden and Southgate. 12 tristisFall—Meig. 86. 2. Southgate. 13 graminum Fall.-Meig. 86 13. Clifden meadows throughout the summer, and Southgate; Isle of Wight, beginning of October, J. C. 16. littoralis? Meig. 87. 16. Southgate. 20. flava Fall.-Meigen .88.20. Rare, near Belfast, in meadows, in the summer; the thorax has faint ferruginous Imes placed as in D. graminum. These two are rather dissimilar from the rest. Folio 413 Ephydra spilota

spilota Haliday's MSS.—Curt, Guide, Gen. 1339. Dull black somewhat shining; hypostoma black; clypeus clothed with short ochreous pubescence, antennae with the 3rd joint subovate, the seta ciliated with bristles above nearly to the apex : thorax brassy : abdomen pilose : wings iridescent transparent, bearing about 15 rather large fuscous spots mostly between the nervures: halteres, tips of the thighs, and base of the tarsi ochreous.

In the Cabinets of Mr. Haliday and the Author. The following are British species of this pretty genus, and on a reference to Meigen's Plate, it will be seen that the wings and antennae ofdifferent species vary sufficiently to form several divisions. B. Seta of antennae pectinated above only. 2. E. palustris Fall.—Meig. 6. 115. 2.—July, marshy places, Southgate. 3. E. obscura Meig.—May, moist grass, Southgate. 5a. E. spilota Hal.—Curt. Brit. Ent. pi. 413.—Taken in Ireland by Mr. Haliday. 5b. E. defecta Hal.—A single specimen on grass.—Ditto ditto, C. Seta of antennae pubescent or entirely naked. 6. E. littoralis Meig.—End of May, Southampton, J. C.—May and June, moist grass, Southgate and Ireland. 7. E. coarctata Fall.—Ireland, not rare; Mr. Haliday has a specimen in which the nervures vary. 8. E. 4-punctata Meig.—May and June, moist grass, Southgate. 8a. E. compta Hal.—Taken in Ireland. 9. E. riparia Fall.—I first found specimens the middle of October, flying over salt-water ponds in an island called New England, on the coast of Essex, and afterwards on the shore near Wareham, in June. Mr. Haliday finds it in similar situations, and Mr. Walker takes it on aquatic plants at Southgate, as well as Nos. 11. 12. 14. 15. 16. and 19. 9a. E. micans Hal.—Found with the former. 10. E. aquila Fall.—Mr. Haliday, Ireland I 10a E. cesta Hal.—On grass, Ireland. 11. E. lacustris Meig. 12. E. stagnalis Fall.—Abundant in Ireland on sea-coast marshes; beginning of May, Wrentham, Suffolk. 12a. E. lutosa Hal.—With the last, common. 12b. E. aestuans Hal. 13. E. paludum Meig.—Not common, on sea-coast marshes, Ireland. 14. E. noctula Meig.—Beginning of May, in abundance in a ditch. Coombwood, J. C.; on grass, Ireland. 14a. E. Graminum Hal. 15. E. quadrata Fall.—On grass, Ireland. 15a. E. despecta Hal. 16. E. 4-guttata Meig. 19. E. glabricula Meig.—Not common in Ireland. 20. E. leucostoma Meig.? 21. E. stictica Meig. 23. E. interstincta Fall. 25. E. flavipes Fall. 27. E. posticata Meig. 30. E. picta FalL The last 5 species were taken by Mr. Haliday in Ireland, who says they seem to be in some degree related to Sciomyza, and that E. picta, according to the antennae, belongs to division B. 31. E. guttata Fall.—June, moist grass, Southgate. 34. E. Fossarum Hal.—On moist banks, Ireland. The value of giving an entire list of Meigen's species belonging to those genera that were contained in his last volume is well exemplified in this genus, for at the time my Guide was published, only 3 of his species had been ascertained to be British, but by the exertions of two friends, our Fauna is now augmented to upwards of thirty.

Folio721 [Heteroneura albimana] There are several characters which distinguish Heteroneura from Agromyza and congenerous groups, as the slender linear abdomen, the large second joint of the antennae, the situation of the seta and the neuration of the wings. They are said to affect grassy situations : the species are rare in Germany, and one only has been detected in France. The only one which is known to inhabit this country is the species figured; and having taken the first specimen in Scotland in July 1836, I named it at that time Scotica; but Meigen having since described it, my name must fall. On the 5th of July, 1836, after a most awful thunder-storm at Ingleton in Yorkshire, I took a female Heteroneura on the inside of the window of the inn. Mr. Haliday has sent it to me from Belfast, and he informs me that his U. spurca seems to be the Heteromyza flava of Meigen.

Folio 469 [Borborus hamatus] This genus is distinguished from neighbouring groups by the short and dilated basal joints of the posterior tarsi, and several divisions are formed by differences in the neuration of the wings, and one species is apterous. These little flies are found on windows in houses, in marshy places, and on putrid substances, as dungheaps, &c. Mr. F. Walker informs me that he has 50 species, many of which he captured by sweeping grass, and others were flying about cucumber-frames. I am indebted to Mr. Haliday for the species figured, as well as for two very distinct ones which I shall describe. The following I am able to record as native species : A. Winged, a. Wings as in Meig. t. 62. f. 16. 1. B. grossipes L.? b. Wings as in Meig. t.62.f. 17. 2. B. subsultans L.—curvipes Lat. Belfast Mr. Haliday, and Southgate Mr. Walker. 3. B. denticulatus Meig. May, meadows, Southgate, Manchester, Scotland and Belfast. c. Wings similar to the species figured. 4. B. nitidus M.—5. equinus Fall.—6. niger M. Southgate, and 5th at Belfast.—8. fimetarius M. 8a. B. hamatus Hal— Curt. B. E. pi. 469 mas. 11. B. ater M. Southgate, and middle of October, Lowestoft Denes. 17- B. rufipes.? M. April, paling near a dunghill; middle of October, Isle of Wight. e. Wings as in Meig. t. 62. f. 20. 23. B. limosus Fall. Belfast and Southgate. 24. B. silvaticus M. The male of this insect has very curious intermediate legs; there is a brush of hair on the thighs beneath, a pencil of bristles inside the tibiae, and others at the apex; the 2 first joints of the tarsi are elongated, and the basal one is emarginate beneath; the penultimate joint of the abdomen is furnished with a curved process at each angle. Beginning of May, Suffolk, Belfast and Southgate. 25. B. fenestralis Fall. Southgate.—26. clunipes M. May, Suffolk, Dorset and Southgate. 27. B. pumilioM. Southgate.—29. ochripes M. Southgate and Belfast. f. Wings shorter than the body; 4th and 5th nervures not united. 29a. B. nivalis Hal. Scarcely 1 line long : rather dull piceous; hypostoma ochreous : wings brownish; legs ochreous brown; intermediate tibiae with 2 pairs of bristles on the outside. Common about roots of trees in the winter, Belfast, g. Wings with the 2nd longitudinal nervure not reaching the apex, and forming a large oval cell, the transverse nervures close together at the centre. 29b. B. nigerrimus Hal. Length one third of a line. Velvety black; seta of antennae pubescent; wings transparent; anterior tarsi a little dilated. Taken near Belfast. B. Apterous. Meig. t.62.f.21. 30. B. pedestris M. Banks of the Wandle above Wandsworth, Mr. Haliday; and end of March, amongst moss, Glanville'sWootton, Mr. Dale. 469 Borborus hamatus, add to the specific description, hinder thighs of the male armed at the base with a hooked tooth. 477 Tachydromia. The three following species have been discovered by Mr. Haliday. 3a umbrarura Hal., Holywood, County Down. 5a arenaria Hal. Ditto. 5b Graminum Hal. Taken in England.


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User talk:Chutney regis

Beeswaxcandle (talk) 08:45, 11 June 2011 (UTC)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: User talk:Chutney regis


text:
Author:Walter Armitage Justice Ford

Works

 * (Song in Music)
 * "The Magic of Folk Song" - The Radio Times, 2 November 1923, p.174
 * "The Magic of Folk Song" - The Radio Times, 2 November 1923, p.174

title: Author:Walter Armitage Justice Ford


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ALF an hour later Rouletabille and I were on the platform of the Orleans station, awaiting the departure of the train which was to take us to Epinay-sur-Orge.

On the platform we found Monsieur de Marquet and his Registrar, who represented the Judicial Court of Corbeil. Monsieur Marquet had spent the night in Paris, attending the final rehearsal, at the Scala, of a little play of which he was the unknown author, signing himself simply "Castigat Ridendo".

Monsieur de Marquet was beginning to be a "noble old gentleman." Generally he was extremely polite and full of gay humour, and in all his life had had but one passion,—that of dramatic art. Throughout his magisterial career he was interested solely in cases capable of furnishing him with something in the nature of a drama. Though he might very well have aspired to the highest judicial positions, he had never really worked for anything but to win a success at the romantic Porte-Saint-Martin, or at the sombre Odéon.

Because of the mystery which shrouded it, the case of "The Yellow Room" was certain to


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Rh so theatrical a mind. It interested him enormously, and he threw himself into it, less as a magistrate eager to know the truth, than as an amateur of dramatic embroglios, tending wholly to mystery and intrigue, who dreads nothing so much as the explanatory final act.

So that, at the moment of meeting him, I heard Monsieur de Marquet say to the Registrar with a sigh:—

"I hope, my dear Monsieur Maleine, this builder with his pickaxe will not destroy so fine a mystery."

"Have no fear," replied Monsieur Maleine, "his pickaxe may demolish the pavilion, perhaps, but it will leave our case intact. I have sounded the walls and examined the ceiling and floor and I know all about it. I am not to be deceived."

Having thus reassured his chief, Monsieur Maleine, with a discreet movement of the head, drew Monsieur de Marquet's attention to us. The face of that gentleman clouded, and, as he saw Rouletabille approaching, hat in hand, he sprang into one of the empty carriages saying, half aloud to his Registrar, as he did so, "Above all, no journalists!"

Monsieur Maleine replied in the same tone, "I understand!" and then tried to prevent Rouletabille from entering the same compartment with the examining magistrate.

"Excuse me, gentlemen,—this compartment is reserved."

"I am a journalist, Monsieur, engaged on the 'Epoque,'" said my young friend with a great


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 give a regular account of it, having only been able to obtain occasional glimpses. After many preliminary grotesque mummeries have been performed, the doctors or priests of the tribe take each a boy, and hold him for some time with his head downwards near the fire. Afterwards, with great solemnity, they are invested with the opossum belt; and at considerable intervals between each presentation, they are given the nulla-nulla, the boomerang, the spear, &c. Whilst these arms are being conferred upon them, the other natives perform a sham fight, and pretend to hunt the pademella, spear fish, and imitate various other occupations, in which the weapons, now presented to the youth, will be of service. As these ceremonies occupied a fortnight or more before they were concluded, many other ridiculous scenes were undoubtedly enacted, and during all this time, the women did not dare to approach the performers. Each man was also provided with a singular instrument, formed of a piece of hollowed wood fastened to a long piece of flax string; by whirling this rapidly round their heads, a loud shrill noise was produced, and the blacks seemed to attach a great degree of mystic importance to the sound of this instrument, for they told me, that if a woman heard it, she would die. The conclusion of this ceremony, was a grand dance of a peculiar character, in which the boys join, and which the women are allowed to see. This dance is performed with much more solemnity than the ordinary


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Rh show of gesture and politeness, "and I have a word or two to say to Monsieur de Marquet."

"Monsieur is very much engaged with the inquiry he has in hand."

"Ah! his inquiry, pray believe me, is absolutely a matter of indifference to me. I am no scavenger of odds and ends," he went on, with infinite contempt in his lower lip, "I am a theatrical reporter; and this evening I shall have to give a little account of the play at the Scala."

"Get in, sir, please," said the Registrar.

Rouletabille was already in the compartment. I went in after him and seated myself by his side. The Registrar followed and closed the carriage door.

Monsieur de Marquet looked at him.

"Ah, sir," Rouletabille began, "You must not be angry with Monsieur de Maleine. It is not with Monsieur de Marquet that I desire to have the honour of speaking, but with Monsieur 'Castigat Ridendo.' Permit me to congratulate you—personally, as well as the writer for the 'Epoque.'" And Rouletabille, having first introduced me, introduced himself.

Monsieur de Marquet, with a nervous gesture, caressed his beard into a point, and explained to Rouletabille, in a few words, that he was too modest an author to desire that the veil of his pseudonym should be publicly raised, and that he hoped the enthusiasm of the journalist for the dramatist's work would not lead him to tell the public that Monsieur "Castigat Ridendo" and the examining magistrate of Corbeil were one and the same person.

"The work of the dramatic author may


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Rh ," he said, after a slight hesitation, "with that of the magistrate, especially in a province where one's labours are little more than routine."

"Oh, you may rely on my discretion!" cried Rouletabille.

The train was in motion.

"We have started!" said the examining magistrate, surprised at seeing us still in the carriage.

"Yes, Monsieur,—truth has started," said Rouletabile, smiling amiably,—"on its way to the Château du Glandier. A fine case, Monsieur de Marquet,—a fine case!"

"An obscure—incredible, unfathomable, inexplicable affair—and there is only one thing I fear, Monsieur Rouletabille,—that the journalists will be trying to explain it."

My friend felt this a rap on his knuckles.

"Yes," he said simply, "that is to be feared. They meddle in everything. As for my interest, monsieur, I only referred to it by mere chance,—the mere chance of finding myself in the same train with you, and in the same compartment of the same carriage."

"Where are you going, then?" asked Monsieur de Marquet.

"To the Château du Glandier," replied Rouletabille, without turning.

"You'll not get in, Monsieur Rouletabille!"

"Will you prevent me?" said my friend, already prepared to fight.

"Not I!—I like the press and journalists too well to be in any way disagreeable to them; but Monsieur Stangerson has given orders for his


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Rh door to be closed against everybody, and it is well guarded. Not a journalist was able to pass through the gate of the Glandier yesterday."

Monsieur de Marquet compressed his lips and seemed ready to relapse into obstinate silence. He only relaxed a little when Rouletabille no longer left him in ignorance of the fact that we were going to the Glandier for the purpose of shaking hands with an "old and intimate friend," Monsieur Robert Darzac—a man whom Rouletabille had perhaps seen once in his life.

"Poor Robert!" continued the young reporter, "this dreadful affair may be his death,—he is so deeply in love with Mademoiselle Stangerson."

"His sufferings are truly painful to witness," escaped like a regret from the lips of Monsieur de Marquet.

"But it is to be hoped that Mademoiselle Stangerson's life will be saved."

"Let us hope so. Her father told me yesterday that, if she does not recover, it will not be long before he joins her in the grave. What an incalculable loss to science his death would be!"

"The wound on her temple is serious, is it not?"

"Evidently; but, by a wonderful chance, it has not proved mortal. The blow was given with great force."

"Then it was not with the revolver she was wounded," said Rouletabille, glancing at me in triumph.

Monsieur de Marquet appeared greatly embarrassed.


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Rh "I didn't say anything—I don't want to say anything—I will not say anything," he said. And he turned towards his Registrar as if he no longer knew us.

But Rouletabille was not to be so easily shaken off. He moved nearer to the examining magistrate and, drawing a copy of the "Matin" from his pocket, he showed it to him and said:—

"There is one thing, Monsieur, which I may enquire of you without committing an indiscretion. You have, of course, seen the account given in the 'Matin'? It is absurd, is it not?"

"Not in the slightest, Monsieur."

"What! The Yellow Room has but one barred window—the bars of which have not been moved—and only one door, which had to be broken open—and the assassin was not found!"

"That's so, monsieur,—that's so. That's how the matter stands."

Rouletabille said no more but plunged into thought. A quarter of an hour thus passed.

Coming back to himself again he said, addressing the magistrate:—

"How did Mademoiselle Stangerson wear her hair on that evening?"

"I don't know," replied Monsieur de Marquet.

"That's a very important point," said Rouletabille. "Her hair was done up in bands, wasn't it? I feel sure that on that evening, the evening of the crime, she had her hair arranged in bands."

"Then you are mistaken, Monsieur Rouletabille," replied the magistrate; "Mademoiselle Stangerson that evening had her hair drawn up


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Rh in a knot on the top of her head,—her usual way of arranging it—her forehead completely uncovered. I can assure you, for we have carefully examined the wound. There was no blood on the hair, and the arrangement of it has not been disturbed since the crime was committed."

"You are sure! You are sure that, on the night of the crime, she had not her hair in bands?"

"Quite sure," the magistrate continued, smiling, "because I remember the Doctor saying to me, while he was examining the wound, 'It is a great pity Mademoiselle Stangerson was in the habit of drawing her hair back from her forehead. If she had worn it in bands, the blow she received on the temple would have been weakened.' It seems strange to me that you should attach so much importance to this point."

"Oh! if she had not her hair in bands, I give it up," said Rouletabille, with a despairing gesture.

"And was the wound on her temple a bad one?" he asked presently.

"Terrible."

"With what weapon was it made?"

"That is a secret of the investigation."

"Have you found the weapon—whatever it was?"

The magistrate did not answer.

"And the wound in the throat?"

Here the examining magistrate readily confirmed the decision of the doctor that, if the murderer had pressed her throat a few seconds longer,


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Rh Mademoiselle Stangerson would have died of strangulation.

"The affair as reported in the 'Matin,'" said Rouletabille eagerly, "seems to me more and more inexplicable. Can you tell me, Monsieur, how many openings there are in the pavilion? I mean doors and windows."

"There are five," replied Monsieur de Marquet, after having coughed once or twice, but no longer resisting the desire he felt to talk of the whole of the incredible mystery of the affair he was investigating. "There are five, of which the door of the vestibule is the only entrance to the pavilion,—a door always automatically closed, which cannot be opened, either from the outer or inside, except with the two special keys which are never out of the possession of either Daddy Jacques or Monsieur Stangerson. Mademoiselle Stangerson had no need for one, since Daddy Jacques lodged in the pavilion and because, during the daytime, she never left her father. When they, all four, rushed into The Yellow Room, after breaking open the door of the laboratory, the door in the vestibule remained closed as usual and, of the two keys for opening it, Daddy Jacques had one in his pocket, and Monsieur Stangerson the other.  As to the windows of the pavilion, there are four; the one window of The Yellow Room and those of the laboratory looking out on to the country; the window in the vestibule looking into the park."

"It is by that window that he escaped from the pavilion!" cried Rouletabille.

"How do you know that?" demanded Monsieur


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Rh de Marquet, fixing a strange look on my young friend.

"We'll see later how he got away from The Yellow Room," replied Rouletabille, "but he must have left the pavilion by the vestibule window."

"Once more,—how do you know that?"

"How? Oh, the thing is simple enough! As soon as he found he could not escape by the door of the pavilion his only way out was by the window in the vestibule, unless he could pass through a grated window. The window of The Yellow Room is secured by iron bars, because it looks out upon the open country; the two windows of the laboratory have to be protected in like manner for the same reason. As the murderer got away, I conceive that he found a window that was not barred,—that of the vestibule, which opens on to the park,—that is to say, into the interior of the estate. There's not much magic in all that."

"Yes," said Monsieur de Marquet, "but what you have not guessed is that this single window in the vestibule, though it has no iron bars, has solid iron blinds. Now these iron blinds have remained fastened by their iron latch; and yet we have proof that the murderer made his escape from the, pavilion by that window! Traces of blood on the inside wall and on the blinds as well as on the floor, and footmarks, of which I have taken the measurements, attest the fact that the murderer made his escape that way. But then, how did he do it, seeing that the blinds remained fastened on the inside? He passed through them like a shadow. But what is more bewildering than all is that it is


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Rh impossible to form any idea as to how the murderer got out of The Yellow Room, or how he got across the laboratory to reach the vestibule! Ah, yes, Monsieur Rouletabille, it is altogether as you said, a fine case, the key to which will not be discovered for a long time, I hope."

"You hope, Monsieur?"

Monsieur de Marquet corrected himself.

"I do not hope so,—I think so."

"Could that window have been closed and refastened after the flight of the assassin?" asked Rouletabille.

"That is what occurred to me for a moment; but it would imply an accomplice or accomplices,—and I don't see—"

After a short silence he added:—

"Ah—if Mademoiselle Stangerson were only well enough to-day to be questioned!"

Rouletabille following up his thought, asked:—

"And the attic?—There must be some opening to that?"

"Yes; there is a window, or rather skylight, in it, which, as it looks out towards the country, Monsieur Stangerson has had barred, like the rest of the windows. These bars, as in the other windows, have remained intact, and the blinds, which naturally open inwards, have not been unfastened. For the rest, we have not discovered anything to lead us to suspect that the murderer had passed through the attic."

"It seems clear to you, then, Monsieur, that the murderer escaped—nobody knows how—by the window in the vestibule?"


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Rh "Everything goes to prove it."

"I think so, too," confessed Rouletabille gravely.

After a brief silence, he continued:—

"If you have not found any traces of the murderer in the attic, such as the dirty footmarks similar to those on the floor of The Yellow Room, you must come to the conclusion that it was not he who stole Daddy Jacques's revolver."

"There are no footmarks in the attic other than those of Daddy Jacques himself," said the magistrate with a significant turn of his head. Then, after an apparent decision, he added: "Daddy Jacques was with Monsieur Stangerson in the laboratory—and it was lucky for him he was."

"Then what part did his revolver play in the tragedy?—It seems very clear that this weapon did less harm to Mademoiselle Stangerson than it did to the murderer."

The magistrate made no reply to this question, which doubtless embarrassed him. "Monsieur Stangerson," he said, "tells us that the two bullets have been found in The Yellow Room, one embedded in the wall stained with the impression of a red hand—a man's large hand—and the other in the ceiling."

"Oh! oh! in the ceiling!" muttered Rouletabille. "In the ceiling! That's very curious!—In the ceiling!"

He puffed awhile in silence at his pipe, enveloping himself in the smoke. When we reached Savigny-sur-Orge, I had to tap him on the shoulder to arouse him from his dream and come out on to the platform of the station.


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Rh There, the magistrate and his Registrar bowed to us, and by rapidly getting into a cab that was awaiting them, made us understand that they had seen enough of us.

"How long will it take to walk to the Château du Glandier?" Rouletabille asked one of the railway porters.

"An hour and a half or an hour and three quarters—easy walking," the man replied.

Rouletabille looked up at the sky and, no doubt, finding its appearance satisfactory, took my arm and said:—

"Come on!—I need a walk."

"Are things getting less entangled?" I asked.

"Not a bit of it!" he said, "more entangled than ever! It's true, I have an idea—"

"What's that?" I asked.

"I can't tell you what it is just at present—it's an idea involving the life or death of two persons at least."

"Do you think there were accomplices?"

"I don't think it—"

We fell into silence. Presently he went on:—

"It was a bit of luck, our falling in with that examining magistrate and his Registrar, eh? What did I tell you about that revolver?"

His head was bent down, he had his hands in his pockets, and he was whistling. After a while I heard him murmur:—

"Poor woman!"

"Is it Mademoiselle Stangerson you are pitying?"

"Yes; she's a noble woman and worthy of being


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 coloured with very pale yellow ochre, instead of the usual deep red, whilst their hair is drawn up and crowned by the high top-knots of grass, resembling nodding plumes, which ornament is, I think, peculiar to the blacks north of the Hunter,—at least, I have never seen it farther south, where the hair is usually matted with gum, and decorated with dogs' tails and teeth. After all the preliminaries are settled, and the surrounding tribes arrived, the blacks repair to the Cawarra ground. This is a circular plot about thirty feet in diameter, carefully levelled, weeded, and smoothed down. It is, in general, situated on the summit of some round-topped hill, and the surrounding trees are minutely tatooed [sic] and carved to such a considerable altitude, that one cannot help feeling astonished at the labour bestowed upon this work. The women are now dismissed to the distance of two miles from the Cawarra ground; for if one of them should happen to witness, or hear any portion of the ceremony, they would be immediately put to death. The first evening is passed in dancing the ordinary corroberree; during which, the invited blacks sit round their respective fires as spectators, whilst the boys, who are to undergo the ceremony, squat down in a body by themselves, and keep up a bright fire for the dancers. From the repugnance which the blacks at the MacLeay displayed on my looking at their performance, and their angry refusal to allow me to see the main part of the ceremony, I am unable to


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Rh pitied!—a woman of a great, a very great character—I imagine—I imagine."

"You know her then?"

"Not at all. I have never seen her."

"Why, then, do you say that she is a woman of great character?"

"Because she bravely faced the murderer; because she courageously defended herself—and, above all, because of the bullet in the ceiling."

I looked at Rouletabille and inwardly wondered whether he was not mocking me, or whether he had not suddenly gone out of his senses. But I saw that he had never been less inclined to laugh, and the brightness of his keenly intelligent eyes assured me that he retained all his reason. Then, too, I was used to his broken way of talking, which only left me puzzled as to his meaning, till, with a very few clear, rapidly uttered words, he would make the drift of his ideas clear to me, and I saw that what he had previously said, and which had appeared to me void of meaning, was so thoroughly logical that I could not understand how it was I had not understood him sooner.


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 without any violence. In a few rare instances, I have known the females to be forcibly stolen away, but hostilities then, invariably, ensued between the injured tribe and the tribe of the aggressors. None of the women bore those frightful scars and cicatrices, resulting from the blows of their inhuman masters, which scarcely any female in the tribes south of Sydney is exempt from.

It is remarkable, that whilst a great proportion of the men of a tribe are unprovided with ‘gins,’y numbers of them are allowed to retain two, and even three. In other respects, a rigid equality is preserved among the different members of the tribe; thus, if a pair of trowsers, handkerchief, or coat, be given to any black, he is allowed to keep it a certain time, and then it is worn by the others in succession until it is destroyed, or they become tired of it.

As the boys of a tribe approach the age of puberty, a grand ceremony, to inaugurate them into the privileges of manhood, takes place. This ceremony is entirely different at the MacLeay and Nambucca rivers, to what it probably is in other parts of the colony, for the natives there do not strike out the front tooth as elsewhere. When a tribe has determined on initiating their youths into these rites, they send messengers to the surrounding tribes of blacks, to invite them to be present on the occasion. These messengers or ambassadors appear to be distinguished by having their head-bands


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 retain the juices of the meat, which would otherwise be dried up by their simple mode of cookery; but as soon as the animal is sufficiently done, the skin is easily pulled off, and rejected. The MacLeay river natives always clean and gut their fish, and cook them carefully on hot embers, and they eat nothing whatever in a raw state, except cobberra and grubs. The Australian Aborigines, therefore, though not remarkably scrupulous as to cleanliness, are, at least, equally so with the less uncivilized New Zealanders, and much more so than many of the African tribes; and their food is, at any rate, not of a more revolting nature than that of other uncivilized communities, such as the blubber and train oil of the Esquimaux, fish in the last stage of putrefaction, which are relished beyond all other food by the Samoyeds, the uncooked horse-flesh of some of the Tartar tribes, and the heterogeneous rubbish devoured by the Boshiesmen, who have even been known to roast and eat the old cast-away shoes of the Dutch boors. So dainty were the blacks at the MacLeay, that I knew them refuse to take any of the flesh of a bullock in fine condition, which was accidentally killed in the bush.

The MacLeay river tribes do not practise so much brutality towards the women as I have seen in other parts of the colony. The girls, as they become marriageable, are either taken by men of the same tribe, or else are sometimes given to those of the neighbouring tribes at the close of some corroberree,


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HE Château du Glandier is one of the oldest châteaux in the Ile de France, where so many building remains of the feudal period are still standing. Built originally in the heart of the forest, in the reign of Philip le Bel, it now could be seen a few hundred yards from the road leading from the village of Sainte-Geneviève to Monthery. A mass of inharmonious structures, it is dominated by a. When the visitor has mounted the crumbling steps of this ancient donjon, he reaches a little plateau where, in the seventeenth century, Georges Philibert de Sequigny, Lord of the Glandier, Maisons-Neuves and other places, built the existing town in an abominably rococo style of architecture.

It was in this place, seemingly belonging entirely to the past, that Professor Stangerson and his daughter installed themselves to lay the foundations for the science of the future. Its solitude, in the depths of woods, was what, more than all, had pleased them. They would have none to witness their labours and intrude on their hopes, but the aged stones and grand old oaks. The Glandier—ancient Glandierum—was so called from the quantity of glands (acorns) which, in all times,


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Rh had been gathered in that neighbourhood. This land, of present mournful interest, had fallen back, owing to the negligence or abandonment of its owners, into the wild character of primitive nature. The buildings alone, which were hidden there, had preserved traces of their strange metamorphoses. Every age had left on them its imprint; a bit of architecture with which was bound up the remembrance of some terrible event, some bloody adventure. Such was the château in which science had taken refuge—a place seemingly designed to be the theatre of mysteries, terror, and death.

Having explained so far, I cannot refrain from making one further reflection. If I have lingered a little over this description of the Glandier, it is not because I have reached the right moment for creating the necessary atmosphere for the unfolding of the tragedy before the eyes of the reader. Indeed, in all this matter, my first care will be to be as simple as is possible. I have no ambition to be an author. An author is always something of a romancer, and God knows, the mystery of "The Yellow Room" is quite full enough of real tragic horror to require no aid from literary effects. I am, and only desire to be, a faithful "reporter." My duty is to report the event; and I place the event in its frame—that is all. It is only natural that you should know where the things happened.

I return to Monsieur Stangerson. When he bought the estate, fifteen years before the tragedy with which we are engaged occurred, the Château du Glandier had for a long time been unoccupied. Another old château in the neighbourhood, built in


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Rh the fourteenth century by Jean de Belmont, was also abandoned, so that that part of the country was very little inhabited. Some small houses on the side of the road leading to Corbeil, an inn, called the "Auberge du Donjon," which offered passing hospitality to waggoners; these were about all to represent civilisation in this out-of-the-way part of the country, but a few leagues from the capital.

But this deserted condition of the place had been the determining reason for the choice made by Monsieur Stangerson and his daughter. Monsieur Stangerson was already celebrated. He had returned from America, where his works had made a great stir. The book which he had published at Philadelphia, on the "Dissociation of Matter by Electric Action," had aroused opposition throughout the whole scientific world. Monsieur Stangerson was a Frenchman, but of American origin. Important matters relating to a legacy had kept him for several years in the United States, where he had continued the work begun by him in France, whither he had returned in possession of a large fortune. This fortune was a great boon to him; for, though he might have made millions of dollars by exploiting two or three of his chemical discoveries relative to new processes of dyeing, it was always repugnant to him to use for his own private gain the wonderful gift of invention he had received from nature. He considered he owed it to mankind, and all that his genius brought into the world went, by this philosophical view of his duty, into the public lap. Rh


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Rh the inextinguishable flame of Monsieur Robert Darzac! It needed that Monsieur Robert Darzac himself should not deny this matrimonial rumour to give it an appearance of truth, so unlikely did it seem to be well founded. One day, however, Monsieur Stangerson, as he was leaving the Academy of Science, announced that the marriage of his daughter and Monsieur Robert Darzac would be celebrated in the privacy of the Château du Glandier, as soon as he and his daughter had put the finishing touches to their report summing up their labours on the "Dissociation of Matter." The new household would install itself in the Glandier, and the son-in-law would lend his assistance in the work to which the father and daughter had dedicated their lives.

The scientific world had barely had time to recover from the effect of this news, when it learned of the attempted assassination of Mademoiselle under the extraordinary conditions which we have detailed and which our visit to the chateau was to enable us to ascertain with yet greater precision. I have not hesitated to furnish the reader with all these retrospective details, known to me through my business relations with Monsieur Robert Darzac. On crossing the threshold of "The Yellow Room" he was as well posted as I was. Rh


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OULETABILLE and I had been walking for several minutes, by the side of a long wall bounding the vast property of Monsieur Stangerson and had already come within sight of the entrance gate, when our attention was drawn to an individual who, half bent to the ground, seemed to be so completely absorbed in what he was doing as not to have seen us coming towards him. At one time he stooped so low as almost to touch the ground; at another he drew himself up and attentively examined the wall; then he looked into the palm of one of his hands, and walked away with rapid strides. Finally he set off running, still looking into the palm of his hand. Rouletabille had brought me to a standstill by a gesture.

"Hush! Frédéric Larsan is at work! Don't let us disturb him!"

Rouletabille had a great admiration for the celebrated detective. I had never before seen him, but I knew him well by reputation At that time, before Rouletabille had given proof of his unique talent, Larsan was reputed as the most skilful unraveller of the most mysterious and complicated


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Rh crimes. His reputation was world-wide, and the police of London, and even of America, often called him in to their aid when their own national inspectors and detectives found themselves at the end of their wits and resources.

No one was astonished, then, that the head of the Sûreté had, at the outset of the mystery of "The Yellow Room", telegraphed his precious subordinate to London, where he had been sent on a big case of stolen securities, to return with all haste. Frédéric who, at the Sûreté, was called the "great Frédéric," had made all speed, doubtless knowing by experience that, if he was interrupted in what he was doing, it was because his services were urgently needed in another direction; so, as Rouletabille said, he was that morning already "at work." We soon found out in what it consisted.

What he was continually looking at in the palm of his right hand was nothing but his watch, the minute hand of which he appeared to be noting intently. Then he turned back still running, stopping only when he reached the park gate, where he again consulted his watch and then put it away in his pocket, shrugging his shoulders with a gesture of discouragement. He pushed open the park gate, reclosed and locked it, raised his head and, through the bars, perceived us. Rouletabille rushed after him, and I followed. Frédéric Larsan waited for us.

"Monsieur Fred," said Rouletabille, raising his hat and showing the profound respect, based on admiration, which the young reporter felt for the celebrated detective, "can you tell me whether


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Rh Monsieur Robert Darzac is at the château at this moment? Here is one of his friends, of the Paris Bar, who desires to speak with him."

"I really don't know, Monsieur Rouletabille," replied Fred, shaking hands with my friend, whom he had several times met in the course of his difficult investigations. "I have not seen him."

"The concierges will be able to inform us no doubt?" said Rouletabille, pointing to the lodge the door and windows of which were close shut.

"The concierges will not be able to give you any information, Monsieur Rouletabille."

"Why not?"

"Because they were arrested half an hour ago."

"Arrested!" cried Rouletabille; "then they are the murderers!"

Frédéric Larsan shrugged his shoulders.

"When you can't arrest the real murderer," he said with an air of supreme irony, "you can always indulge in the luxury of discovering accomplices."

"Did you have them arrested, Monsieur Fred?"

"Not I!—I haven't had them arrested. In the first place, I am pretty sure that they have not had anything to do with the affair, and then because—"

"Because of what?" asked Rouletabille eagerly.

"Because of nothing," said Larsan, shaking his head.

"Because there were no accomplices!" said Rouletabille.

"Aha!—you have an idea, then, about this


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Rh matter?" said Larsan, looking at Rouletabille intently, "yet you have seen nothing, young man—you have not yet gained admission here!"

"I shall get admission."

"I doubt it. The orders are strict."

"I shall gain admission, if you let me see Monsieur Robert Darzac. Do that for me. You know we are old friends. I beg of you, Monsieur Fred. Do you remember the article I wrote about you on the gold bar case?"

The face of Rouletabille at the moment was really funny to look at. It showed such an irresistible desire to cross the threshold beyond which some prodigious mystery had occurred; it appealed with so much eloquence, not only of the mouth and eyes, but with all its features, that I could not refrain from bursting into laughter. Frédéric Larsan, no more than myself, could retain his gravity. Meanwhile, standing on the other side of the gate, he calmly put the key in his pocket. I closely scrutinised him.

He might be about fifty years of age. He had a fine head, his hair turning grey; a colourless complexion, and a firm profile. His forehead was prominent, his chin and cheeks clean shaven. His upper lip, without moustache, was finely chiselled. His eyes were rather small and round, with a look in them that was at once searching and disquieting. He was of middle height and well built, with a general bearing elegant and gentlemanly. There was nothing about him of the vulgar policeman. In his way, he was an artist, and one felt that he had a high opinion of himself. The sceptical tone


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Rh of his conversation was that of a man who had been taught by experience. His strange profession had brought him into contact with so many crimes and villanies that it would have been remarkable if his nature had not been a little hardened.

Larsan turned his head at the sound of a vehicle which had come from the château and reached the gate behind him. We recognised the cab which had conveyed the examining magistrate and his Registrar from the station at Epinay.

"Ah!" said Frédéric Larsan, "if you want to speak with Monsieur Robert Darzac, he is here."

The cab was already at the park gate and Robert Darzac was begging Frédéric Larsan to open it for him, explaining that he was pressed for time to catch the next train leaving Epinay for Paris. Then he recognised me. While Larsan was unlocking the gate, Monsieur Darzac inquired what had brought me to the Glandier at such a tragic moment. I noticed that he was frightfully pale, and that his face was lined as if from the effects of some terrible suffering.

"Is Mademoiselle getting better?" I immediately asked.

"Yes," he said. "She will be saved perhaps. She must be saved!"

He did not add "or it will be my death"; but I felt that the phrase trembled on his pale lips.

Rouletabille intervened:—

"You are in a hurry, Monsieur; but I must speak with you. I have something of the greatest importance to tell you."


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Rh Frédérick Larsan interrupted:—

"May I leave you?" he asked of Robert Darzac. "Have you a key, or do you wish me to give you this one."

"Thank you. I have a key and will lock the gate."

Larsan hurried off in the direction of the château, the imposing pile of which could be perceived a few hundred yards away.

Robert Darzac, with knit brow, was beginning to show impatience. I presented Rouletabille as a good friend of mine, but, as soon as he learnt that the young man was a journalist, he looked at me very reproachfully, excused himself, under the necessity of having to reach Epinay in twenty minutes, bowed, and whipped up his horse. But Rouletabille had seized the bridle and, to my utter astonishment, stopped the carriage with a vigorous hand. Then he gave utterance to a sentence which was utterly meaningless to me.

"The presbytery has lost nothing of its charm, nor the garden its brightness."

The words had no sooner left the lips of Rouletabille than I saw Robert Darzac quail. Pale as he was, he became paler. His eyes were fixed on the young man in terror, and he immediately descended from the vehicle in an inexpressible state of agitation.

"Come!—come in!" he stammered.

Then, suddenly, and with a sort of fury, he repeated:—

"Let us go, monsieur."

He turned up by the road he had come from the


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Rh château, Rouletabille still retaining his hold on the horse's bridle. I addressed a few words to Monsieur Darzac, but he made no answer. My looks questioned Rouletabille, but his gaze was elsewhere.


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E reached the château, and, as we approached it, saw four gendarmes pacing in front of a little door in the ground floor of the donjon. We soon learned that in this ground floor, which had formerly served as a prison, Monsieur and Madame Bernier, the concierges, were confined.

Monsieur Robert Darzac led us into the modern part of the château by a large door, protected by a projecting awning—a "marquise" as it is called. Rouletabille, who had resigned the horse and the cab to the care of a servant, never took his eyes off Monsieur Darzac. I followed his look and perceived that it was directed solely towards the gloved hands of the Sorbonne professor. When we were in a tiny sitting-room fitted with old furniture, Monsieur Darzac turned to Rouletabille and said sharply:—

"What do you want?"

The reporter answered in an equally sharp tone:—

"To shake you by the hand."

Darzac shrank back.

"What does that mean?"

Evidently he understood, what I also understood, that my friend suspected him of the


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Rh attempt on the life of Mademoiselle Stangerson. The impression of the blood-stained hand on the walls of "The Yellow Room" was in his mind. I looked at the man closely. His haughty face with its expression ordinarily so straightforward was at this moment strangely troubled. He held out his right hand and, referring to me, said:—

"As you are a friend of Monsieur Sainclair who has rendered me invaluable services in a just cause, monsieur, I see no reason for refusing you my hand—"

Rouletabille did not take the extended hand. Lying with the utmost audacity, he said:—

"Monsieur, I have lived several years in Russia, where I have acquired the habit of never taking any but an ungloved hand."

I thought that the Sorbonne professor would express his anger openly, but, on the contrary, by a visibly violent effort, he calmed himself, took off his gloves, and showed his hands; they were unmarked by any cicatrice.

"Are you satisfied?"

"No!" replied Rouletabille. "My dear friend," he said, turning to me, "I am obliged to ask you to leave us alone for a moment."

I bowed and retired; stupefied by what I had seen and heard. I could not understand why Monsieur Robert Darzac had not already shown the door to my impertinent, insulting, and stupid friend. I was angry myself with Rouletabille at that moment, for his suspicions, which had led to this scene of the gloves.


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Rh For some twenty minutes I walked about in front of the château, trying vainly to link together the different events of the day. What was in Rouletabille's mind? Was it possible that he thought Monsieur Robert Darzac to be the murderer? How could it be thought that this man, who was to have married Mademoiselle Stangerson in the course of a few days, had introduced himself into "The Yellow Room" to assassinate his fiancée? I could find no explanation as to how the murderer had been able to leave "The Yellow Room"; and so long as that mystery, which appeared to me so inexplicable, remained unexplained, I thought it was the duty of all of us to refrain from suspecting anybody. But, then, that seemingly senseless phrase—"The presbytery has lost nothing of its charm, nor the garden its brightness"—still rang in my ears. What did it mean? I was eager to rejoin Rouletabille and question him.

At that moment the young man came out of the château in the company of Monsieur Robert Darzac, and, extraordinary to relate, I saw, at a glance, that they were the best of friends.

"We are going to `The Yellow Room'. Come with us," Rouletabille said to me. "You know, my dear boy, I am going to keep you with me all day. We'll breakfast together somewhere about here—"

"You'll breakfast with me, here, gentlemen—"

"No, thanks," replied the young man. "We shall breakfast at the Donjon Inn."

"You'll fare very badly there; you'll not find anything—"

"Do you think so? Well, I hope to find


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Rh there," replied Rouletabille. "After breakfast, we'll set to work again. I'll write my article and if you'll be so good as to take it to the office for me—"

"Won't you come back with me to Paris?"

"No; I shall remain here."

I turned towards Rouletabille. He spoke quite seriously, and Monsieur Robert Darzac did not appear to be in the least degree surprised.

We were passing by the donjon and heard wailing voices. Rouletabille asked:—

"Why have these people been arrested?"

"It is a little my fault," said Monsieur Darzac. "I happened to remark to the examining magistrate yesterday that it was inexplicable that the concierges had had time to hear the revolver shots, to dress themselves, and to cover so great a distance as that which lies between their lodge and the pavilion, in the space of two minutes; for not more than that interval of time had elapsed after the firing of the shots when they were met by Daddy Jacques."

"That was suspicious evidently," acquiesced Rouletabille. "And were they dressed?"

"That is what is so incredible—they were dressed—completely — not one part of their costume wanting. The woman wore sabots, but the man had on laced boots. Now they assert that they went to bed at half-past nine. On arriving this morning, the examining magistrate brought with him from Paris a revolver of the same calibre as that found in the room (for he couldn't use the one held for evidence), and made his Registrar fire


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Rh two shots in 'The Yellow Room' while the doors and windows were closed. We were with him in the lodge of the concierges, and yet we heard nothing, not a sound. The concierges have lied, of that there can be no doubt. They must have been already waiting, not far from the pavilion, waiting for something! Certainly they are not to be accused of being the authors of the crime, but their complicity is not improbable. That was why Monsieur de Marquet had them arrested at once."

"If they had been accomplices," said Rouletabille, "they would not have been there at all. When people throw themselves into the arms of justice with the proofs of complicity on them, you can be sure they are not accomplices. I don't believe there are any accomplices in this affair."

"Then, why were they abroad at midnight? Why don't they say?"

"They have certainly some reason for their silence. What that reason is, has to be found out; for, even if they are not accomplices, it may be of importance. Everything that took place on such a night is important."

We had crossed an old bridge thrown over the Douve and were entering the part of the park called the Oak Grove, The oaks here were centuries old. Autumn had already shrivelled their tawny leaves, and their high branches, black and contorted, looked like horrid heads of hair, mingled with quaint reptiles such as the ancient sculptors have made on the head of Medusa. This place, which Mademoiselle found cheerful and in which she lived in the summer season, appeared to us as


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Rh sad and funereal now. The soil was black and muddy from the recent rains and the rotting of the fallen leaves; the trunks of the trees were black and the sky above us was now, as if in mourning, charged with great, heavy clouds.

And it was in this sombre and desolate retreat that we saw the white walls of the pavilion as we approached. A queer-looking building without a window visible on the side by which we neared it. A little door alone marked the entrance to it. It might have passed for a tomb, a vast mausoleum in the midst of a thick forest. As we came nearer, we were able to make out its disposition. The building obtained all the light it needed from the south, that is to say, from the open country. The little door closed on the park. Monsieur and Mademoiselle Stangerson must have found it an ideal seclusion for their work and their dreams.

Here is the ground plan of the pavilion. It had a ground-floor which was reached by a few steps,


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Rh and above it was an attic, with which we need not concern ourselves. The plan of the ground-floor only, sketched roughly, is what I here submit to the reader.

1. The Yellow Room, with its one window and its one door opening into the laboratory.

2. Laboratory, with its two large, barred windows and its doors, one serving for the vestibule, the other for The Yellow Room.

3. Vestibule, with its unbarred window and door opening into the park.

4. Lavatory.

5. Stairs leading to the attic.

6. Large and the only chimney in the pavilion, serving for the experiments of the laboratory.

The plan was drawn by Rouletabille, and I assured myself that there was not a line in it that was wanting to help to the solution of the problem then set before the police. With the lines of this plan and the description of its parts before them, my readers will know as much as Rouletabille knew when he entered the pavilion for the first time. With him they may now ask: How did the murderer escape from The Yellow Room?

Before mounting the three steps leading up to the door of the pavilion, Rouletabille stopped and asked Monsieur Darzac point blank:—

"What was the motive for the crime?"

"Speaking for myself, Monsieur, there can be no doubt on the matter," said Mademoiselle Stangerson's fiancé, greatly distressed. "The nails of the fingers, the deep scratches on the chest and throat of Mademoiselle Stangerson show that the