HY G. H. HARDY. 257 



Synonymy. — The description of A. alUgans Walker conforms to A. rufiventris 

 Maequart, and therefore the name is placed here as a synonym of that species. 

 Miss Ricardo states that the type is lost. 



Description. — Each branch of the upper forceps of the male genitalia has an 

 attenuated apex which curves upwards apically ; a hump on the dorsal surface 

 of the genitalia, at half the length, partly conceals the lamella. 



Ilab. — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. 



A.siLus BLASio Walker. (Text-fig. 9.) 



Asilm blasio, Walker. List Dipt. Brit. Mus., ii., 1849, p. 441; and vii.. .supid. 3, 

 1855, pp. 730, 731 and 758; Ricardo, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), xi., 

 1913, p. 444. 



Status. — The species was described from Western Australia, hut Miss 

 Ricardo redeseribed it from a Victorian specimen as the type is very old au'I 

 worn. It is possible that the specimen described by Miss Ricardo is closely allied 

 to, but distinct from, Walker's species. A series from New South Wales is also 

 referable here and is used for the study of the genitalia. A male specimen from 

 Perth, Western Australia, differs in the genitalia by having the dorsal digitate 

 process missing ; the specimen has its genitalia broken on' one side but the other 

 side appears to be complete, as a line of fracture cannot be traced ; nevertheless, 

 it is advisable to I:eep these specimens under one specific name until the dif- 

 ferences in the male genitalia can be contirmed with new material from Western 

 Australia. 



Description. — The upper forceps of the male genitalia are more or less ellip- 

 tical in shape. Each branch of the upper and lower forceps contains a minute 

 projection at the extreme apex, aftid three conspicuous subapical bristles on the 

 ventral side. On the dorsal edge of the upper forceps there is a digitate process 

 situated at about three-quarters the length, which, however, is missing in the 

 specimen from Western Australia ; this specimen is also very mui'h brighter tlinn 

 those from New South Wales. 



Hah. — Western Australia: Perth, one male specimen: New South Wales: 

 Blue Mountains, Blackheath, a series of each sex collected during November, 1919 ; 

 Victoria: Dandenong Ranges (Ricardo). 



A.'siLUS MURINUS Maequart. (Text-fig. 10.) 



Asilus murinus, Maequart, Dipt. Exot., i., (2), 1838, p. 144; Walker, List Dipt, 

 Brit. Mus., TO., suppl. 3, 1855, pp. 729 and 736; Ricardo, Ann. Mag 

 Nat. Hist, (8), xi., 1913, p. 440. 

 Asilus murinus, var. Maequart, ihid., suppl. 2, 1847, p. 45. 



Description. — The shape of the male genitalia is more or less globular, a little 

 smaller in proportion to but scarcely differing from that of A. sydneyensis Mac- 

 quart. The Tasmanian A. alcetas Walker also contains similar shaped geni- 

 talia and, moreover, there does not appear to be any structural difference be- 

 tween the three species. 



^1. murinus Maequart is a dingy coloured species, whilst ^4. sydneyensis 

 Maequart is brighter and has a reddish tinge on tiie abdomen: thev are both from 

 New South Wales. A. alcetas Walker from Tasmania, is similar to A. murinus 

 Maequart, and much smaller in size. 



