18 E. W. Ferguson: 



As most of the Tasmanian specimens of T. circumdatus are 

 larger than the mainland ones, I think it is likely that this 

 synonymy will be found correct ; at present, however, I am not 

 quite certain, as I am not sure I saw the type, and as I did not 

 have undoubted specimens of T. circumdatus with me for com- 

 parison. For the present, therefore, I do not intend to describe 

 the specimens alluded to above which are certainly distinct from 

 T. circumdatus. They represent a species which seems confined 

 to Tasmania, Flinders Island (probably other islands of Bass 

 Strait), and the neighbouring portion of Victoria. 



Macquart gives the locality as follows: — De l'ile King, dans 

 rOceanie. M. Durville. Museum. Is it possible that King 

 Island in Bass Strait was intended? 



Tabanus antecedens, Walker (Plate II., fig. 3.) 



Walker <T List. Dipt, i., p. 178 (1848); $ List. Dipt. V, p. 

 253 (1854); Ricardo, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), XVL, p. 2/9 

 (1915); White, Roy. Soc. of Tasmania, Papers and Proc, p. 9 

 (1915). 



There can be no doubt from the description given by Miss 

 Ricardo of Walker's type, female, that White is correct in iden- 

 tifying it with a common Tasmanian species allied to, but dis- 

 tinct from, both T. circumdatus, Walk., and the species generally 

 known as T. edentulus, Macq. 



By a curious error, however, Miss Ricardo has reversed the 

 references given for the sexes, the male having been described 

 first in 1848. 



Referring to the male, Miss Ricardo gives the following note : 

 — " The male type of Tabanus antecedcns comes from New Hol- 

 land (Hunter), and the antennae are imperfect; whether it is 

 really the male of the above is doubtful." This opens up the 

 question as to the correct assignation of the name to the female, 

 which is further complicated by the possibility that the name 

 T. edentulus, Macq., should belong of rights to the species urfder 

 review and not to the one usually identified under this name. 



Pending further information I am content to leave the names 

 as at present utilised. Thus understood T. antecedens may be ' 

 distinguished from T. edentulus, Macq. and T. circumdatus, 

 AValk., by the pubescence on the eyes noticeably longer and 

 denser and white in colour, and by the more densely hairy front. 



In these respects it is nearer T. latifrons, sp. n., but the wider 

 forehead will distinguish that species. 



