178 THE DIPTERA-BllACHYCERA OF TASMANIA 



Female, except for the broader abdomen, and long, 

 laterally compressed ovipositor, resembles the male in all 

 respects. 



Variation. The above description refers to Tasmanian 

 specimens, but from New South Wales I have received 

 specimens in which the thorax bears one broad, instead of 

 two narrow, median stripes. Such specimens can be dis- 

 tinguished from N. hyalipennis by the two scutellar 

 bristles. 



N. vuJgatus resembles N. hyalipennis, IV. caliginosus, 

 and N. abditus. From N . hyalipennis it is distinguished 

 by the scutellar bristles being o^nly two instead of four in 

 number', its smaller size, and by the coloured portions of 

 the tibiae being dark red instead of pale yellowish-red; 

 from N. cah'r/inosus by the evenly suffused wings, and the 

 v/hite instead of black abdominal bristles ; from N. abditus 

 by the different venation, the second posterior cell being 

 broad and not contracted, and the cubital fork distinctly 

 contracted in the middle and spread out as it reaches the 

 wing-margin, also by the lighter colouring of the anterior 

 tibiae. 



JV. vulgatus occurs commonly in the bush, settled on logs 

 or on fallen branches. My dates range from November 1 

 to January 18. 



Neoitamus abditus, Sp. nov. (Fig. 29). 



Thorax grey or brown, with two dark brown centre- 

 stripes; abdomen black, with hind-margins of segments 

 grey; femora black; anterior tibiae blackish, posterior 

 tibias light yellow-brown ; wings with the second posterior 

 cell conspicuously contracted at a short distance from the 

 wing-margin; cubital fork narrow and barely contracted 

 in middle. 



Length. Female, 11-12 mm. 



Hab. Bagdad Valley. 



Fig. 29. Wing of Neoitamus abditus. 



Female. Face grey-brown ; moustache black, with a 

 few white hairs below. Antennae black. Thorax grey or 



