BY ARTHUR WHITE. 37 



species of Bomhylius, Systoechus, Dischistus, and Geron are 

 not uncommon, whilst several species of Anthrax are abun- 

 dant. The TherevidcB are probably the most characteristic 

 Tasmanian family ; a number of species occur, most of which 

 seem to be confined to Tasmania; the genus most in evidence 

 is Anaharrhynchus, which contains a number of closely 

 allied species. The Asilidce are also numerously represented ; 

 a number of the species are common to both Tasmania and 

 the mainland of Australia, but the larger Australian forms 

 are wanting; the two most characteristic genera are Lepto- 

 gaster and Neoitamus, which, so far as the Austx-alian region 

 is concerned, seem to reach their maximum development in 

 Tasmania. The Empidce are represented by only a few 

 genera, which, however, contain a number of species; the 

 majority belong to the genera Empis, Hilara, and Leptopeza. 

 The Bolichojiodidcti seem to be represented by very few 

 species ; the genera Psilopus and Biaphorus are represented, 

 but the other species will probably require the creation of 

 new genera, A species of PhoridcB is common on windows. 

 With regard to the question of distribution, the only 

 families for which it is at present possible to give exact 

 figures are those dealt with in the present paper. These 

 families are represented, in Tasmania, by 15 genera and 28 

 species. Of these 15 genera, 5 are of world-wide distribu- 

 tion, 5 are common both to the mainland of Australia and 

 to Tasmania, and 5 are confined to Tasmania. Of the 28 

 species none occur beyond Australia; 7 are common both to 

 the mainland and to Tasmania, and 21 are confined to Tas- 

 mania. These figures may of course be modified by further 

 discoveries, but they seem sufficient to emphasize the dis- 

 tinctness of the Tasmanian fauna, even from that of the 

 neighbouring portion of the mainland. I might mention 

 that for my knowledge of the Victorian species, I depend 

 largely on the fairly comprehensive collection in the Mel- 

 bourne Museum, and that I have taken into account the 

 undescribed as well as the described species. 



Key to the Tasmanian Families of Brachycera. 



1. The thi*ee basal cells always long. 2 

 The third basal (or anal) cell short or wanting, 7 



2. Thorax without bristles. 3 

 Thorax with bristles. 6 



3. Third joint of antennae always annulated ; cubital 



fork well above the wing tip. STRATIOMYIDiE. 

 Third joint of antennae either not annulated, or, if 

 annulated, then the cubital fork not above wing tip. 4 



D 



