Miller. — The Diptera Fauna of New Zealand. 173 



one male specimen of my new species seoljoralis this 3rd posterior vein is 

 totally absent, although present on the left wing. The right wing is shown 

 in fig. 7. In all my other specimens of this form the 3rd posterior vein 

 is present. When this vein is absent, as in the above case, one would pro- 

 bably be inclined to place the species in the genus Beris — that is to say, 

 if only one specimen were available. 



In most cases the antennae of the <$ are considerably shorter than those 

 of the $, and the eyes of the former are slightly closer than those of the 

 latter. 



This genus has a distribution throughout New Zealand, most of the 

 species being found both in the North and the South Islands. Only one 

 form, spiniger, is common to Australia and New Zealand, while seoljoralis 

 n. sp. ranges from sea -level to 3,000 ft. altitude. 



In his work on the Brachycera,* Hutton describes five species, of which 

 his new form alpina I place in the genus Berismyia for reasons stated under 

 that division. I also agree with Walker that E. opposita of Hutton belongs 

 to the genus Actina. 



The sexes may be distinguished mainly by the length of the antennae, 

 proximity of the eyes, size of body, and form of the abdomen. In the c? 

 the abdomen usually has parallel sides or sides restricted along the middle 

 and is narrower than the thorax, while the $, although narrower at the 

 base than the thorax, as a rule becomes wider beyond the middle. 



Although both the genera Exaireta and Actina are very much alike in 

 general appearance, they may be distinguished by the fact than the eyes 

 of the former are bare and those of the latter pubescent, either denselv 

 or thinly so. 



According to the venation of the wings, I have divided the species of 

 this genus into two main groups — (1) those with the first submarginal cell 

 obtuse, and (2) those with this cell acute. In the one species forming the 

 first group the wing is not clouded or is only faintly coloured, while the 

 anterior branch of the 3rd vein arises before the middle of this vein. The 

 four species of the second group have the wings clouded and the anterior 

 branch of the 3rd vein beyond the middle. This group is further divided 

 into two subgroups by comparing the lengths of the anterior cross,-vein 

 and the vein between the discal and 5th posterior cells. To one of these 

 subgroups three species belong, and are themselves distinguished mainly 

 by their coloration. 



Table of Species. 

 'First submarginal cell proximally obtuse ; wings not clouded, almost 



clear ; 1st abdominal segment deep purple, remainder with 

 1 • dense silvery pubescence . . . . . . . . seoljoralis n. sp. 



First submarginal cell proximally acute ; wings clouded : abdomen 



without dense pubescence . . . . . . . . 2 



Vein between discal and 5th posterior cells shorter, never longer, 



than the anterior cross-vein . . . . . . . . 3 



Vein between discal and 5th posterior cells distinctly longer than 



anterior cross-vein . . . . . . . . . . spiniger. 



(Wings tinged with yellow proximally and brown distallv. or also 

 with a distinct transverse cloud . . . . . . . . 4 



Wings clouded with brown both proximally and distally, and with 

 clear interspaces .. .. .. .. .. hoheria n. sp. 



I Wings with a distinct transverse median cloud, the distal half 

 lighter brown ; abdomen of a uniform purplish-bronze ( ) . . straznitzkii. 

 Wings without transverse cloud ; abdomen tawny, with purple apex apicalis. 



* F. W. Hutton, 1901, Synopsis of the Diptera brachycera of New Zealand, Trans. 

 N.Z. Inst., vol. 33, pp. 1-95. 



