Hudson and Skuse. — On the X.Z. Gloicicorm. 47 



examined it with the microscope. I could, however, iiud uo 

 trace of insects entangled on their remains. I am quite at 

 a loss to explain either the light, the web, or the food of 

 the larva. I must leave these points for futui'e investigation. 



I should mention that the flies reared on the 4th April, 

 1889, and the 14th September, 1890, were both females, as it 

 is conceivable that this may have an important bearing on 

 future inquiry as to the use of the light. 



I attach a scientific description of the fly, which has been 

 kindly drawn up by Mr. Skuse, of Sydney, for the present 

 paper. 



Fam, MYCETOPHILID^. 



Sect. BOLITOPHILIN^. 



Genus Bolitophila, Hoffm. 



Bolitophila, Hoffm., Meigen, Syst. Beschr., i., p. 220, pi. 8, 

 figs. 1-4, 1818; Macquart, S. a B. Dipt., i., p. 126, 1834: 

 Messala, Cm'tis, Brit. Entom., xiii., p. 581, figs. 1-3, 1836: 

 Bolitophila, Walker, Ins. Brit. Dipt., iii., p. 71, pi. xxiii., 

 fig. 7, 1856 ; Winnertz, V. z.-b. G., Wien, xiii., p. 672, 

 pi. xix., fig. 5, 1863. 



Head small, roundish, fore part flattened. Eyes broadly 

 oval, a little emarginate on the inner side above. Ocelli three, 

 arranged in a somewhat bent line on the front. Palpi promi- 

 nent, incurved, cyhndrical, four-jointed ; first joint very small, 

 the following of almost equal length, the fourth the longest. 

 Antennce setaceous, pubescent, in the 3 as long as, in the 5 

 shorter than the body, 2- + 15-jointed ; the joints of the scapus 

 cyathiform ; the flagellar joints cylindrical, the terminal one 

 very small, almost gemmiform. Thorax small, oval, highly 

 arched ; scutellum small, roundish ; metathorax acchvous. 

 Halteres large. Abdomen very long and slender ; in the 3 

 Hnear, sub-cylindrical, 8-segmented, without the anal joint ; 

 in the $ laterally compressed, 9- segmented, the last segment 

 small. Legs long and slender ; tibiae with very short, weak 

 spurs ; the fore tibia? with a single range of spines on the inner 

 side, and the hind pan* with one range on the inner and two 

 ranges of shorter and weaker spines on the outer side. Wings 

 large, microscopically pubescent, as long as or somewhat 

 longer than the abdomen, with obtusely-cimeiformly narrowed 

 base ; incumbent in repose. Costal vein itniting with the tip 

 of the third longitudinal vein at or somewhat beyond the apex 

 of the wing ; auxiliary vein complete, joining the costa, united 

 to the first longitudinal vein by the sub-costal cross-vein ; third 

 longitudinal vein with an anterior branch (which is sometimes 

 wanting), the branch short, almost vertical, ending in the tip 

 of the first longitudinal vein or in the costa : small cross- vein 



