34 Transactions. 



The pupa (Plate I, fig. 2) is about | in. in length, rather stout ; the 

 thoracic breathing-appendages are about one-third the length of the wing- 

 cases ; moderately stout and strongly recurved. There are two dorsal 

 rows of hooks on each exposed abdominal segment, and one ventral row 

 near the terminal extremity. The cremaster is bifid, strongly recurved, and 

 very stout. The head and thorax are dark blackish-brown and highly 

 polished ; the abdomen greyish-ochreous, darker in the middle. The 

 cremaster and extremities of the hind-leg cases are reddish. The pupa 

 rests in a burrow made by the larva near the surface of the log. 



The perfect crane-fly appears from November till March. It is practi- 

 cally invisible when at rest on an old fallen tree-trunk, and it is evident 

 that the rather unusual colouring of both the wings and body has been 

 specially adapted to harmonize with the insect's natural surroundings. 



Family Syrphidae. 



Melanostoma decessum. (Plate I, fig. 5. 6*.) 



Melanostoma decessum, Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 33, p. 43. 



The larva of this fly (Plate I, fig. 4),' which is one of the so-called 

 *' rat-tailed maggots," feeds during the early spring in the liquid decay which 

 occasionally involves certain portions of the inner bark of the cabbage-tree 

 {Cordyline australis), and very possibly inhabits liquid decaying vegetable 

 matter generally. When full grown it is about ^ in. long, of the usual 

 maggot type, with a long breathing-tail and two short air-tubes near the 

 head. Although apparently very fragile and gelatinous, it is really extremely 

 tough. Its body is semi-transparent, and the internal organs are clearly 

 visible. The head is retracted within the second segment ; there are two 

 dark patches on each side of the head which may be rudimentary eyes. 

 A row of booklets extends along the outer edge of the second segment, 

 which assists the larva in progression. It is active in habit, being almost 

 constantly on the move. 



The pupa (Plate I, fig. 6) is about ^in. in length, immobile, pear-shaped, 

 flattened beneath ; the segmental divisions are very indistinctly indicated. 

 There are several obscure tubercles on the anterior portion, and two rows, of 

 about six in each, on the flattened ventral portion. The posterior segments 

 are strongly curved, and bear at their extremity the breathing-tube proper. 

 The pupa rests partially embedded in the dried portion of the decayed 

 bark of the cabbage-tree. 



The fly appears in November. ' 



