ON THE INSECTS FROM NEW BRITAIN. 389 



Vertex of head shining, front densely and coarsely punctured and pubescent. 

 Thorax transversely quadrate, rugose above, with a carina along the middle ; the 

 small scutellum almost white, very hairy. Propodeum with very little sculpture, abruptly 

 declivous behind ; the portion in front of the declivity very short. Abdomen with 

 the tirst segment very deeply impressed in front, at the edge of the impression \ery 

 hairy, especially in the middle; just behind the large impression there is a small 

 depressed area, faintly metallic in colour, and coarsely punctured, but both the peculiar 

 colour and sculpture are much concealed by the dense pubescence of this part. The 

 second segment is covered above by coarse, transverse wrinkles, the following segments 

 being smooth and polished. There is a pallid spot on each side of segments 1 — 4 ; 

 that on the first segment stretches inwards towards its fellow, as does also that on 

 the third segment; the spots on the 2nd and 4th segments are quite small. The 

 peculiar plate at the end of the abdomen is terminated by a pair of saws (PI. XXXV. 

 fig. 13 a). 



Only one specimen was obtained of this species. Though in form, colour and 

 sculpture similar to various other species of the genus, — T. atratus, e.g. — it is remark- 

 able on account of the pair of saws at the extremity of the abdomen. Thynnidae 

 are believed to depredate on pupae or larvae of Lepidoptera underground, and it is 

 possible that these saws may be useful in penetrating cocoons. So little is known 

 as to the life-histories of these peculiar insects that this suggestion can be considered 

 as little more than a random guess. Dr Willey did not obtain any male Thynnus. 



Order Diptera. 



Of this neglected Order of Insects the specimens brought back from New Britain 

 are few. They were all placed in spirit, and consequently are mostly, since drying, 

 in a shrivelled condition : this method of collection being unsuitable for insects of 

 this Order. All the collection was made in New Britain : Dr Willey did not bring 

 back any Diptera from Lifu. 



In addition to the four species I have ventured to describe, the collection in- 

 cludes about 24 species. There are several Tipulidae of a commonplace character, 

 looking like European insects. The family Stratiomyidae is represented by a pair of 

 Engunia consobrinu, and two species of Ptecticus. The Engonia is of considerable 

 interest on account of the great difference in the structure of the antennae of the 

 two sexes. The male — which is twice the size of the female — has the intermediate 

 joints of the antennae distinctly segmented, and the terminal three joints elongate, 

 and densely hairy ; the terminal joint being remarkably long. In the female the 

 intermediate joints are closely compacted and swollen, and the terminal joint is short. 



The family Therevidae is represented by a new species of Leptipalpus allied to 

 L. waigiensis Bigot. Asilidae are apparently common in New Britain, a species of 

 Laphria (Maira) very near to L. cenea Macq. being represented by twelve specimens, 

 and there are also two or three species of Oinmatias. 



w. IV. • 53 



