MARCH FLIES. 



It measures slightly over half an inch in length from the front of the 

 head to the tips of the wings. The eyes are dark and shining; face dull 

 yellow; general colour brownish yellow, with the upper surface of the last 

 two segments clouded in the centre with brown. The sides and under 

 surface of thorax and abdomen are clothed with yellow hairs, which also 

 form a fringe along the outer edge of the abdominal segments. Wings 

 semi-opaque, clouded with brown; nervures brown. 



Tabanus edentulus, Macq. 



(Fig. 5.) 



In size and general colouration this species might be easily taken for 

 Tabanus brevidentatus ; but it can be easily distinguished by the more 

 irregular or lobed form of the thorax, which is of a uniform greyish-brown 

 tint, not showing any darker black or brownish markings on the dorsal 

 surface, while the apical bands on the hind margins of the abdominal 

 segments are more defined and lighter coloured. 



This species is common on the highlands of the southern parts of New 

 South Wales, and probably ranges into eastern Victoria. Specimens in our 

 collections were obtained at Binda, near Bega, and others from the slopes 

 of Mount Kosciusko. 



Tabanus gregarius, Erich. 



(Fig. 9.) 



This distinctive species is just under three-quarters of an inch in length 

 from the front of the head to the tips of the wings. The head and thorax 

 are lead-coloured; antennae yellow at base, black at the tips; legs brownish 

 on thighs, with tibiae and tarsi yellow ; wings hyaline, with the front margin 

 very lightly clouded with yellow. The under surface of the head and 

 thorax is clothed with long silvery hairs; the abdomen with fine golden 

 hairs on upper and under surface. The abdomen is dull yellow, with a 

 broad stripe of blackish brown down the centre of the back, spreading out 

 towards the apex. 



This species was originally described by Erichson, from Tasmania, but 

 ranges along the eastern coast of Australia well into Queensland. 



Tabanus jacksonii, Macq. 



(Fig. 6.) 



This large species is common on the slopes of Mount Kosciusko, and 

 differs from all the other greyish-brown species in its larger size, uniform 

 lead-coloured thorax, and the abdominal segments being mottled with yellow 

 and brown down the centre, forming fine transverse bands fringed with 

 golden hairs along the apical segments. 



The face is grey, the antennae and legs yellow. The under surface of the 

 head and thorax is densely clothed with long, white, downy hairs ; the under 

 surface of the abdomen with more scattered hairs. Wings semi- opaque, 

 slightly clouded, and blotched in the centre. 



