Tabanidee of the Australian Region. 281 



Wales; and Cleveland, Tasmania (Dr. J. L. Purdy) ; with 

 the following note attached to this last specimen: — 



" March Flics. Very common in Tasmania, especially in 

 sheep districts in the Midlands. Bite sharp, like the prick 

 of a pin, and especially severe on children, causing swelling 

 and slight inflammation. Nuisance has recently become so 

 severe as to interfere with school discipline. The least touch 

 kills the Hits, and after school occasionally a shovelful can 

 be swept up." — Note bv Dr. J. S. Purdy, Chief Health 

 Officer, Hobart. 



Tabanus edentulus, Macq., is possibly identical or very 

 nearly related to this species. Tubulins acutipalpis, Macq., 

 appears very similar, but is larger in size. Both types are 

 in the Paris Museum. Tabanus f rater cuius, Macq., is said 

 by the author to be related to T. edentulus (the type is lost) 

 from Tasmania. A rather variable species in colouring, it 

 may be distinguished from Tabanus imperfectus and Tabanus 

 antecedens by its larger size and more reddish colour of the 

 abdomen. The forehead is very slightly broader anteriorly 

 than it is at the vertex, contrary to the usual rule. 

 Length 13-15 mm. 



Face covered with greyish tomentum and with short 

 white hairs, a few brown ones usually present on the centre. 

 Beard white, a few brown hairs intermixed. Palpi yellowish, 

 long and slender, stouter on basal half, ending in a long- 

 point, very hairy; the basal half with some grey tomentum and 

 with white hairs, on the apical half they are short and black. 

 Antenna reddish, the third joint dusky, the first two joints 

 with black hairs, the third joint wholly dusky or dull reddish 

 at base; it is rather broad at the base with a small tooth. 

 Forehead and subcallus with grey tomentum, the latter 

 often much denuded, appearing reddish or brown ; the 

 frontal callus almost square, reaching the eyes, with a lineal 

 extension, usually reddish brown or reddish yellow. Eyes 

 distinctly pubescent in fresh specimens. Thorax and 

 scutellum blackish with grey tomentum aud yellowish 

 recumbent pubescence, intermixed with longer grey hairs 

 on anterior part of thorax, 'and posteriorly aud on outer 

 border of scutellum; in denuded specimens two narrow 

 grey stripes appear ; shoulders and sides reddish. Abdomen 

 dull reddish yellow with grey tomentose segmentations and 

 small median triangular grey spots; in many specimens, 

 especially those from Queensland, the colour is more reddish 

 brown; pubescence short, black, with white hairs on the 

 segmentations and at sides below black hairs ; underside 

 reddish yellow, nearly bare, with very short white hairs on 

 Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 8. Vol xvi. 20 



