234 Transactions. 



Homalomyia fraxinea. 



Not common. Two specimens were captured on Mount Cargill, Febru- 

 ary (1909). 



Coenosia algivora. 



This species was common on sandliills and patches of dried kelp diiring 

 October (1908) at the Nuggets, and less common at Ocean Beach, March 

 (1909). 



Division II.— MUSCID.E ACALYPTKAT^. 



Fam. Phycodromid^. 

 Coelopa monstruosa. 



Not common. Found on sea-beaches during the whole year, several 

 being captured near the mud-flats at the head of Otago Harbour in the 

 middle of winter (1909). If examined microscopically, the contents of the 

 stomach are found to be composed of various portions of algae, upon which 

 the fly evidently feeds. This species is not very rapid in flight, and, since 

 it only flies for a short distance near the ground, it can easily be run down ; 

 when on water it rests with the wings incumbent, and supports itself by 

 placing the five tarsal joints along the surface. Being aquatic, this fly 

 runs moie rapidly on water than on land. If it happens to alight on its 

 back, it wriggles about on the distal extremities of the long femora uaatil 

 it rights itself. The habits of this species are, generally speaking, sluggish. 



Fam. HELOivrYziD^. 

 Helomyza scutellata. 



Common. Several specimens were captured on a window at the 

 Nuggets during October (1908), and in the bush of the same locality ; 

 others were found in a swamp behind Murdering Beach, January (1909), 

 and at Roslyn in February of the same year. 



Fam. ScioiMYziD^. 



Trigonometopus bipunctatus. 



Common. Has been previously captured at the Chatham Islands, but 

 not in New Zealand. Fomid in the same localities as C. monstruosa, and 

 resembles that species in being aquatic as well as in its mode of flight. It 

 burrows in the sand under the heaps of dried seaweed. This fly did not 

 sufier from being placed in a jar of water which I kept agitated, and from 

 which the specimen flew when the water was allowed to become smooth. 

 I held another specimen under water for a short time (a minute and a 

 quarter), but when released it rose to the surface, ran about for a few 

 seconds, and flew away. This species is buoyed up by the numerous 

 globules of air which adhere to the bristles and hairs. 



Fam. Sapromyzid^. 

 Sapromyza dichromata. 



Not uncommon. 



Lauxania bilineata. 



Abundant about Dunedin from November (1908) to February (1909). 

 To be observed resting upon grass, lupin-bushes, and other forms of vege- 

 tation. 



