36 THE DIPTERA-BKACHYCERA OF TASMANIA, 



During tlie last fifty years, however, very little work has 

 been doue ou the Tasmaniau Diptera, indeed the dipterous 

 fauna <f 'J'asmauia has never been studied as a whole, and 

 not only are there now a large number of new species to 

 describe, but it is also necessary to j>lace many of the older 

 species in different genera to those in which they were 

 originally described. 



The method of classification that I propose to adopt in 

 this and any subsequent, papers is the following: — 

 Suborder i. — Nemocera. (Families: Tipnlidce, Psychodidce, 



Discidoc, CuIicidfP, Cliir(,notnidce, Cecidimyidie, Myceto- 



2)hillda^, Bihiotiidce, iSimulida', Bl^pharoceridoe, Orphne- 



philidoB, Ryphido'.) 



Suborder ii. - BpachycePa. (Families: Leptidce, Stratio- 

 myidff, Acaai homer idee, Tabanidcc, Nemestrinidce, Gyrtidc?., 

 J'omhylidre, TherevidcB, Scennpinidce, Mydaidce, Apiocerida, 

 Asilidce, Empidcv, DoIirhopodidfP, Lonchopteridce, Phoridce.) 



Suborder iii. — Athericera. (Families : Plntijpezidce, 



PipuncuUdo', Sijrphidce, Gonopidx, Tachinidce, Dexidce, 

 Sarcophagidce. ^stridcf, Muscidcf, Anthomyidae, Muscidce- 

 Acalypferfr.) 



Suborder iv. — Pupipara. (Families: Hippoboscidce, Streh- 

 HdcE, Kycteribiidtv.) 

 The two first Sui>orders form the OrtllOrrhapha, the last 



two the Cyelorrhapha. 



DIPTERA-BRACHYCERA. 



Of the Suborder Brachycera the following eleven families 

 •are represented in Tasmania: — Leptidce, Siratiomyidce, 

 Tabcmidce, Nemestrinidce, Cyrtidce, Bombylidce, Therevidce, 

 Asilidce. Empidcf, Dolichopodidce, and Phoridcv. 



The Brachycera are \\ell represented in Tasmania, although 

 many of the species are not met with unless searched for 

 carefully ; the great majority are inhabitants of the bush. 

 Taking the families seriatim, the Leptidce are somewhat local, 

 though usually common where they occur. The Siratiomyidce, 

 with the exception of two species, occur very sjjaringly, and 

 are seldom met with. The Tahaniclcn are numerously repre- 

 sented, l>ut only a very few species can be described as 

 common ; they are inhabitants of the bush, with the excep. 

 tion of a single species which frequents sandhills en the 

 coast. The Nemestrinidce are represented by two species, one 

 common, the other rare and local. The Cijriidce are of very 

 infrequent occurrence, most of the species being known from 

 oulj single specimens, 'i'he Bombi/lidce a,Ye well represented 



