On Austrulian Species of Tabanus, 2G3 



Discognathus wanes, sp. n. 



Depth of body 4 in tlie length, length of liead 4^ to 4|. 

 Snout rounded, nearly as long as postorbital part of head ; 

 diameter of eye 5 in length of head ; interorbital region flat, 

 its width nearly ^ lengtli of head. Width o£ mouth \ length 

 of head ; two barbels on each side, shorter than diameter of 

 eye. Upper lip with minute papillsenear the margin ; lower 

 very narrow ; beliind it a circular disc divided into a papillose 

 anterior and a smooth posterior portion, and with only the 

 posterior edge free. Dorsal III 7 ; origin equidistant from 

 tip of snout and base of caudal ; first or second branched ray 

 longest, nearly as long as head. Anal 115. Pectoral ex- 

 tending I of distance from its base to pelvics, which nearly 

 or quite reach vent. Caudal deeply emarginate. Greyish, 

 mottled with darker. 



Five specimens, the largest 80 mm. in total length. 



XXVIl. — 0)1 certain recently described Australian Species 

 o/Tabanus. By Ernest E. Austen. 



(Published bj permission of the Trustees of the Britisli Museum.) 



The following notes, which relate to a paper published last 

 year^ by Mr. Frank H. Taylor, F.E.S., Entomologist to the 

 newly established Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine, 

 at Townsville, Queensland, are written in no spirit of 

 churlish criticism, but solely with a view to assist other 

 workers at an important family of Diptera, the study of 

 which is beset with peculiar difficulties. The descriptions 

 of the older authors relating to this family are almost 

 always unsatisfactory and incomplete, and, based as they too 

 often were on rubbed or otherwise damaged specimens, are 

 frequently misleading. It follows, then, that their correct 

 interpretation is in many cases well-nigh impossible for those 

 who are unable to examine the types, and are unassisted by 

 access to a well-equipped library or a large collection of 

 accurately determined material. In the case of Tabanidse, 

 again, Australia appears to be peculiarly rich in groups of 



* Cf. 'Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Report for the Year 

 1911' (Sydney: Angus and Robertson, Ltd. London: The Oxford 

 L'niversity Press, 191ii). Pp. GO-70, and pi. xiv. — The title-page of this 

 ])ublication bears no date, but the writer has been informed by Mr. Taylor 

 tliat the Report appeared in Mav, 1913. 



18* 



