(469) 



10. A Contribution to the St^ldy of the Soidh African Higher Myodarii 

 (Diptera Calyptratae) based mostly on the Material in the South 

 African Museum. By Dr. J. VILLENEUVE. 



(With eight figures in the text.) 



IT is intended to deal here with undescribed or little known species 

 occurring in this region ; the others will be dealt with later in another 

 communication. 



The material which I have been able to examine was supplied by the 

 Vienna Museum, the Entomological Research Committee of London, 

 and the South African Museum of Cape Town. I here tender my 

 thanks to Dr. Zerny and to Gr. A. K. Marshall, Esq., who have been 

 kind enough to send it to me, and generously allowed me to retain 

 duplicates. Dr. L. Peringuey, Director of the South African Museum, 

 has been particularly active and obliging in forwarding numerous 

 sendings of Tachinidae. Thanks to his efforts our knowledge has been 

 considerably increased, and I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude. 

 Lastly, Dr. J. Bequaert has collected several kinds at Durban, Natal, 

 and Port Elizabeth, Cape Province. They are intended for the Congo 

 Museum at Tervuereu, Belgium. 



There have been criticisms on the ultra-division of certain genera 

 including numerous species, on the ground that it leads to too con- 

 stricted sections. On the contrary, we approve and adopt this method, 

 although it compels us to create again new genera. It proceeds, in 

 fact, from the analytical method by inducing more precision ; it limits 

 research, and makes study easier, and it appears to us to lead to in- 

 controvertible advantages on practical lines. The study of the African 

 Myodarii is not without difficulties. Some palaearctic species inhabit 

 Africa also, and are there subjected to quite different influences of 

 latitude and temperature. Are they new species or varieties V Such 

 question arises somewhat often. Thus Phorinia Verritus Walk, seems 

 to be our Phorinia aurifrons Hob. Desv. with a different coloration 

 varying on the frons and thorax from ashy-grey to golden bronze, and 

 with a reduction of the discal abdominal setae. This lessening in 

 length of the abdominal setae is found also in African examples of 



32 



