Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/459

Rh to the 'Entomologist' (1874, p. 137), and our ever kind old friend, the late Edward Newman, had no hesitation in naming the parasite Ornithomyia avicularia, as Mr. Austen has done, and who has kindly added the interesting note on the metamorphosis of the fly. My limited experience, however, does not exactly coincide with the remark that this species "appears to occur indiscriminately in the plumage of most wild birds." I have seen it in the plumage of several of the birds in the list following the above quotation, as Blackbird, Song-Thrush, Green Woodpecker—and I may name the Jay—but in very isolated cases; whilst, on the other hand, the Long-eared Owl is seldom obtained without some specimens of the fly being present. I have never seen it upon any other Owls, and had ignorantly supposed it was almost confined to Asio otus. Its short flights and peculiar manner of progression, especially amongst the soft loose plumage of the bird in question, is sure to strike the observer when once seen, and it is very interesting to know something of its highly remarkable life-history. I should also like to know if other observers have noticed its partiality for the Owl, or is it a local peculiarity? I can safely say I have seen scores upon the plumage of this particular bird, but I have detected but few upon any other species; and I formerly secured this and other bird-parasites for the microscopical work of my friend the late Rev. H.G.W. Aubrey.— (Ringwood, Hants).