52 AUSTRALIAN STRATIOMYIID.E, 



Ahtissa cuprea, Walker. 



Glitellaria cuprea, Walker, List Dipt. B.M., iii., 1849, p. 

 524. 



Antissa cuprea, Walker, List Dipt. B.M., v. suppl. 1, 1854, 

 p. 63. Id., Braur, Offines schr., 1883, p. 7. Id., 

 White, P.L.S. N.S.W., xli. 1916, p. 81. 



Genus Antissella, Walker. 



Antissella, White, Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasm., 1914, p 52. Text 

 fig. 4. Id., White, P.L.S. N.S.W., xli., 1916, p. 81. 



Type.; — Beris parvidentata, Macquart ... Tasmania. 



Status. — White placed the genus Antissella near 

 Antissa, but neither this nor Anacanthella lias been recog- 

 nised since they were described, and also the descriptions 

 afford insufficient data to settle relationships. The three 

 genera need further study. 



Antissella parvidentata , Macquart. 



Beris parvidentata, Macquart, Dipt. Exot., suppl. 4, 1894, 



p. 40, PI. iii., fig. 1. 

 Antissella parvidentata , White, Proc, Roy. Soc. Tasm., 



1914, p. 52. Text fig. 4. Id., White, P.L.S. N.S.W., 



xli., 1916, p. 81. 



Subfam. STRATIOMYIINiE. 



Notes. — The Australian species of this subfamilv are 

 placed in one genus, and from their descriptions are liable 

 to be considerably confused. Before new material can be 

 dealt with much further research is needed, especially with 

 reference to the types. The present study is based upon 

 numerous examples with the intention of finding the limits 

 of species and specific variation, and thus laying the basis 

 for further study on structural rather than colour charac- 

 ters. 



Where do structural characters! have been found to 

 separate species undoubtedly distinct, colour characters 

 have been taken into account rather for a guide than for 

 final conclusions. No structural characters have been 

 found to separate 0. carinifacies, Macquart, 0. sydneyen- 

 sis, Schiner, and some forms of 0. decipiens, Guerin, and 

 yet they are apparently distinct, species that are found not 

 to merge into each other when long series are examined. 

 0. decipiens, Guerin, will be found to comprise a large 

 nulmber of variations, and although many of these at first 

 sight appear distinct, they cannot be separated when series 

 of considerable length are examined. 





