262 Transactions. — Zoology. 



(lesciibed may very possibly be discarded subsequently, when 

 our insects have been further investigated. Many that are here 

 described as species may afterv^'ards be reduced to varieties, 

 while some of my varieties may very probably be raised to the 

 rank of species. But, though blunders have been made, none 

 of the genera and species described in this paper have been 

 separated from others without considerable thought and care 

 where the issue seemed in any way doubtful. 



Classification. 



Winnertz, the great authority on this family of flies, 

 divided it into a large number of genera, separated from one 

 another by what at first sight appear to be comparatively in- 

 significant characteristics. His classification has been adopted 

 by all subsequent workers at the family, and has always been 

 found thoroughly satisfactory. Although it may seem in some 

 ways unnecessary to establish so many genera, yet if some 

 were eliminated the remainder would contain such an enormous 

 number of species that it would be necessary to establish sub- 

 genera and other minor divisions in order to provide for their 

 thorough, systematic classification. The family is divided by 

 Winnertz into three sections, according to the characters of 

 the alar venation. All of these sections are numerously repre- 

 sented in New Zealand. The last sub-section of all, Myceto- 

 philina, is divided into three classes, according to the number 

 and position of the ocelli. It is this division that seems to me 

 somewhat unsatisfactory so far as some of our New Zealand 

 species are concerned. In one genus, for instance, which I 

 have called Anomala, there are two species evidently closely 

 allied, but differing in size, coloration, and other specific 

 characters ; in addition to merely specific distinction, how- 

 ever, the larger species has only two ocelli, and the other un- 

 doubtedly has three, and on account of this difference would, 

 if "Wi^lnertz' classification were strictly adhered to, have to 

 be placed not only in distinct genera, but even in different 

 classes. As the two species are evidently so closely allied I 

 have included them both in the same genus, and hope subse- 

 quently to come across other species showing a transition, 

 and therefore justifying my classification. The first section is 

 divided into five sub-sections, of which all but the first have 

 New Zealand representatives. The second sub-section, Myce- 

 tohiiKB, as far as I can ascertain, embraces but a few species, 

 which are placed in three genera. I already possess four 

 distinct and in some respects peculiar species belonging to 

 this sub-section, and have found it necessary to establish three 

 new genera for their reception. From the comparatively 

 limited area over which I have searched compared to the vast 

 extent of forest-land in this country, I feel confident that 



