Fly, magnified, with line showing natural length; puparium, magnified (showing incrustation), also natural size.
FIG. 25.—SHEEP SPIDER FLY, “KED,” OR “KADE,” MELOPHAGUS OVINUS, LINN.
August 29, 1895.
I am writing a few lines to mention that Mr. Meade has verified my identification of the New Forest Tabanidæ for me as being all correct, with one exception. He thinks the glaucopus is more like cognatus, but Brauer of Vienna says the latter is only probably a variety of the former, so this is no great matter. Mr. Meade is not only an eminently skilled dipterist himself, but he also possesses a collection of the Tabanidæ (our British kinds) named for him by Dr. Brauer, the great continental authority. So now we stand on a very firm footing (thanks to the trouble which you and Mr. Moens were good enough to take in supplying me with fresh specimens) as to the species of these bloodsucking pests which you have in the Forest. Would you tell Mr. Moens about this when you see him, with my compliments and thanks? I think you meet sometimes. I am longing to hear something of the military experiences.
1 and 2, young and full-grown larvæ; 3 and 4, larvæ magnified; 5, female beetle flying; 6, male beetle, slightly magnified.
FIG. 26.—BEET CARRION BEETLE, SILPHA OPACA, LINN.
October 8, 1895.
I am very much obliged to you for your letter received this morning, and (as you kindly allow me) I will just say what I should particularly like, but please believe me I should be very sorry to be really troublesome. First, about the Hessian fly straw. If you came on some that had been infested this would answer excellently. I have got some “flax-seeds” and I could slip some in. But really the “elbowed” straw (bent over) into an angle (fig. [16]) is what I want to show. I have excellent Gout specimens. One thing I should particularly like is a little bit of Mangold-leaf (say two or three inches square) showing Mangold maggot blister. I could dry this in blotting paper (like my pea- bean- and clover-leaf injuries from Sitones) and with a good supply of Mangold fly and pupæ which I have got, I think this would be very nice. I have good grubs of Carrion Beet beetle, which would be difficult to get, and I think plenty of the beetle (or at hand), but, for the mangold, if I could get them, I should very much like some of the Spotted or Black millepedes which were such pests earlier in the year. I am afraid though it is too late now. The only other thing which I am very much wishing for is a good specimen of apple twig, injured by American blight. A bit from six to nine inches long, which I could split down, would suit me very nicely.
I may mention that I am preparing an exhibit for the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society Show next May, but I am collecting beforehand to be sure. This afternoon I have arranged a nice case to show Bean and Pea seed and Leaf weevil injuries. [See Appendix [C] for list of cases and contents.]
October 22, 1895.