SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 3. 



Tabanus abstersus, Walk. 



This is one of the commonest and most widely distributed species in 

 Australia, specimens have been received from Cardwell, North Queens- 

 land; Clarence River and Bega, New South Wales. 



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

 to the tips of the wings. It is of the usual stout form, with the abdomen some- 

 what flattened. The general colour is dark-brown, shading into grey tints; 

 the wings semi-opaque, with the nervures, base, and centre of the wings 

 clouded with brown. The under surface of the head and thorax is clothed 

 with fine, grey, downy hairs. The abdominal segments are edged along the 

 hind margin with a fine white band, well-defined 011 the first four segments, 

 and forming an angular blotch in the centre, sometimes, though not so 

 distinctly, expanded on the sides. 



, , Tabanus brevidentatus, Macq. 



(Fig. 1.) 



This is the common, small, greyish-brown March Fly, found in the scrub 

 or bush around Sydney, which comes round trying to settle upon one's face 

 or hands, to bite if undisturbed. They are most plentiful about shaded 

 watercourses and valleys in the Hawkesbury country, and have a wide range 

 along the coast. 



It measures under three-quarters of an inch in length from the front of 

 the head to the tips of the wings. The general colour is greyish-brown; 

 face and under surface of the head and thorax clothed with silvery- white 

 hairs. The centre of the upper surface of the thorax is marbled with 

 darker brown ; and the central portions of the abdominal segments lighter 

 than the outer edges, with a delicate white line along the extreme hind 

 margin of each segment. The wings are semi-transparent, with brown 

 nervures. 



Tabanus sanguinarius, Bigot. 



(Fig. 2.) 



This is one of our largest species, measuring up to an inch in length 

 from the front of the head to the tips of the wings. The eyes are dark 

 brown, with rich, silvery tints ; the face dull white. General colour, yellowish 

 brown; semi-opaque wings, slightly clouded with dull yellow along the front 

 margins. The abdomen is somewhat flattened and rounded at the tip. 

 This March Fly is common in the scrubs of the Tweed River and the 

 northern parts of New South Wales, and ranges into Southern Queensland. 



Tabanus ardens, Wiedm. 



(Fig. 3.) 



This fly was originally described from Java, but probably has a wide 

 range over the M&lay Archipelago, as it js very common in the 1 open forest 

 country of the Solomon Islands. 



