Australia and the Fiji Islands. 215 



the sidbs, pubescence elsewhere black ; underside is iden- 

 tical, but the ^rey bauds ai^e present on every segment for 

 their whole widtb. Legs black, the fore coxae with whitish 

 tomentura and pubescence. Wings blackish brown, darkest 

 on the fore border in the subraarginal cells, becoming paler 

 at apex and on posterior border, and almost clear in the 

 basal, anal, and axillary cells ; stigma blackish ; veins brown. 

 It is distinguished from Silvius nlgripennis by the pale 

 base of wing, and by the shape of the frontal callus and 

 forehead. 



Silvius niger, $ , sp. n. 



Type (female) from Helensburgh, New South Wales, 

 9.3.15. Was resting on branch of low shrub; when dis- 

 turbed it circled round my head, evidently seeking to bite 

 {E. W. F.). 



A small robust black species, with a broad abdomen and 

 clear wings. Eyes slightly pubescent. Antennae and palpi 

 dull reddish yellow. Legs blackish. 



Length 1 1 mm. 



Face covered with brownish tomentum, paler on cheeks, 

 and with some dark hairs in the centre j on the cheeks they 

 are much thicker and long, increasing in length as they 

 attain the bases of cheeks. Beard same colour. Palpi 

 reddish yellow, curved on their upper edges, which are 

 clothed with a distinct fringe of black hairs, the lower 

 edges have a similar fringe ; they are somewhat stout at 

 base, ending in an obtuse point. Antennce rather a darker 

 shade than the palpi, the first two joints with black hairs, 

 the third joint with a very few at the base and on the 

 extreme tip ; the tooth represented by an obtuse angle. 

 Forehead same colour as face, with black pubescence, 

 parallel ; the frontal callus dark brown, very narrow, keel- 

 like. Ocelli very distinct. Thorax sepia, with two broad 

 grey tomentose stripes and grey sides ; a few scattered white 

 hairs on dorsum ; long black hairs on the grey tomentose 

 shoulders. Scutellwn a little darker. Abdomen blackish, 

 grey tomentum on the first segment; on the second, third, 

 and fourth segments appear short white hairs on the sides 

 and in the middle, not, however, joining each other to form 

 a baud ; pubescence elsewhere black ; segmentations with 

 traces of grey tomentum ; underside black with very narrow 

 white-haired segmentations. Legs black ; knees reddish 

 yellow, the tibiie obscurely so ; pubescence black. Wings 

 clear, veins yellow-ish brown, stigma yellowish. 



