Hutton. — On the Diptera brachycera of New Zealand. 43 



second longitudinal vein not sinuated near the tip ; the 

 tliii'd and fourth straight. Length, 6 mm. ; wing, 5^ mm. 



Hab. Christchurch (F. W. H.). 



My only specimen has, unfortunately, lost the antennae ; 

 but it is so distinct in other respects that it will be easily 

 recognised. The neuration of the wing agrees with that of 

 M. fasciata. 



Melanostoma decessum, sp. no v. 



Male and Female. — Vertex black, the face silvery; an- 

 tennas piceous, the third joint oblong; tips of the proboscis 

 and palpi fulvous. Thorax black, with slight aeneous reflec- 

 tions ; scutellum black. Abdomen oblong, black, without 

 any bands. Femora black, the tibiae and tarsi fulvous. 

 Wings colourless, the stigma pale-brown ; veins dark-brown ; 

 the spux'ious vein absent. Length, 8 mm. ; wing, 7 mm. 



Hab. Christchurch (Clark) ; Ashburton (W. W. Smith). 



The eyes are hairy and contiguous in the male. The 

 posterior cross-vein and the bend of the fourth longitudinal 

 (apical cross-vein) are straight. 



Series CYCLORRHAPHA SCHIZOPHORA. 



Division I. MUSCIDEA CALYPTRAT^L 

 Squamae covering the halteres. 



Key to the New Zealand Families. 



Antennae in rounded pits . . . . . . . . CEstridce. 



Antennae not in rounded pits. 



Fourth longitudinal vein bent forwards. 



Arista bare or pubescent . . . . . . Tachinidce. 



Arista plumose at the base, bare at the tip . . Sarcophagidce. 



Arista plumose . . . . . . . . Muscidce. 



Fourth longitudinal vein not bent forwards . . Anthomyida. 



Family CE STRIDE. 



Antennae inserted in rounded pits ; the middle part of the 

 face very narrow ; the opening of the mouth very small ; the 

 oral organs rudimentary. 



Genus Gasterophilus, Leach (1817). 



Body hairy ; front broad. Antennae very short, seated in 

 a cavity of the face ; the third joint round ; arista bare. 

 Squamae very small. Fourth longitudinal vein nearly straight, 

 slightly inclined backwards, and ending at some distance from 

 the tip. 



