Makshall. — On Neio Zealand Diptera. 269 



branch and to costa ; another fainter patch about half-way 

 between this and the apex, reaching from second longitudinal 

 to costa ; other fainter patches on the two branches of the 

 third longitudinal. 



I have only one specimen of this fine insect. It is the 

 same specimen as that from which Captain Hutton's descrip- 

 tion of Platyura tridens was drawn. It was taken at Wel- 

 lington. The very exceptional features in its neuration compel 

 the creation of a new genus for its reception. 



Genus Mackocera, Meig. 



Head broad, oval, flattened on the fore part. Eyes oval, a 

 little emarginate on the upper side above. Ocelli three, of 

 unequal size, in a triangle on the front, the foremost one 

 smaller. Palpi four-jointed, cylindrical ; the first joint small, 

 the following ones of equal length, or the fourth somewhat 

 lengthened. Antennae 2 + 14 jointed, very long, frequently 

 much longer than the body, projecting forward, arcuated ; the 

 first joint of the scapus spheroidal, the second more cupuli- 

 form ; the first flagellar joint cylindrical, the upper ones seti- 

 form, pubescent, a little seciferous on the under side, the last 

 two joints densely covered with hair and setse. Thorax oval, 

 highly arched. Scutellum small, almost semicircular. Meta- 

 thorax highly arched. Abdomen flattened, almost cylindrical 

 in the female, broadest in the middle, with seven segments in 

 both sexes. Legs slender, long, the fore ones short ; tibige 

 spuried, the spurs small, lateral spines wanting. Wings hairy, 

 or only microscopically pubescent, large, broad, with a very 

 broad base ; usually rather longer than the abdomen, half 

 open in repose. Auxiliary vein complete, terminating in the 

 costa, and united to the first longitudinal vein by the sub- 

 costal cross-vein ; costal vein extending far beyond the tip of 

 the second longitudinal vein, and almost reaching the apex of 

 the wing ; second longitudinal vein very much arched, forming 

 a long-stalked fork, the anterior branch, always very short, 

 lying in a very oblique position, terminating in the costa; 

 fifth longitudinal vein more or less undulated. 



This genus is evidently well represented in New Zealand, 

 as I already possess specimens of four distinct species. One 

 species, M. antennatis, is very fine, possessing antennse three 

 times as long as its body. Another species, M. scoparia, 

 which, so far as I have been able to judge, is extremely com- 

 mon throughout the colony, is remarkable owing to the fact 

 that the anterior fork of the second longitudinal vein is entirelv 

 wanting. This peculiarity, Mr. Skuse writes me, is not un- 

 known in the Macrocera, but is apparently rare. I am unable 

 to quote any other species showing the same peculiarity. 



