285 



A PRELIMINARY REVISION OF SOME GENERA BELONGING TO THE 

 DIPTERA BRACHYCERA OF AUSTRALIA. 



By G. H. Hardy. 



(Sixteen Text-figures.) 



Tlie ehief purpose of this paper is to define some genera of the Diptera 

 Brachycera. Hitherto, many of these genera were based upon individual species 

 and some specific characters were used for generic determination, or else a num- 

 ber of heterogeneous species were grouped together under one generic name as 

 they possessed in common some character of but trivial importance. 



No attempt has been made to establish synonymy amongst genera having 

 characters identical with those given in this paper, as further study may yet 

 elucidate discriminative characters. 



A study of the antennae of species belonging to the subfamily Dasi/pngoninae 

 has provided new characters of generic value, and an entirely new interpretation 

 is given to those characters which were previously published. 



New species are only described where they are required to illustrate remarks 

 and criticisnLS made under their respective genera and new synonyms to species 

 are recortled wiierever found. 



The outlines of the i-evised taxonomy proposed here were based upon the 

 study of various collections, the most important of which are in the Macleay, 

 Australian and Queensland Museums, and in the Agricultural Department of 

 Queensland. Various private collections, including that of Dr. E. W. Ferguson, 

 were also examined. 



Acknoioledgements. — Much of this pajaer was based upon facts gathered 

 together during the preparation of my previous papers and consequently the 

 same sources of help are again gratefully acknowledged. In addition, thanks 

 are due to Mr. H. A. Longman, Director of the Queensland Museum, and to Mr. 

 Henry Tryon, Entomologist of the AgTicultural Department, Queensland, for per- 

 mission, so readily granted, to examine the collections under their charge. 



Family LEPTIDAE. 



Note. — White (1914) proposed the genus Clesthentia which he placed in 

 the Leptidae. Subsequently it wa.s revised, still under this family, by me (1919). 

 A further study of the genus lias convinced me tliat White misplaced his typical 

 .species which has characters tliat conform better to those of the family There- 

 vidae, under which see further remarks. 



