1126 
DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, 
upon the definitions of this family given by Meigen, Maccjuart, 
Zetterstedt, and Haliday, and to fully estimate the validity 
of the genera either introduced or established by them. Besides 
giving due consideration to the arbitrary characteristics em- 
jdoyed in the formation of an artificial system, Winnertz has 
not failed to take into account the young stages, manners of life, 
and metamorphoses as far as available information would allow, 
with the view to uniting the genera in natural groujis. In com- 
menting upon the work of Macquart, Zetterstedt, and Haliday, 
he points out that these authors have not only placed insects 
together which lack agreement in their external structure, but 
moreover have added to Meigen’s group (Fungicolie) insects which 
even disagree in their metamorphoses and manners of life. 
Winnertz deals exclusively with the European .Mycetophilidae, 
accejtts eighteen genera of previous writers, and proposes 
twenty-four new ones. These are first divided into three 
sections, and again distributed amongst seven sub-sections. All 
the ultra-European genera known to me up to the present, added 
to the European genera characterized since Winnertz wrote his 
monograph, may be conveniently ranked in one or other of the 
existing sub-sections. His arrangement of the genera, subject to 
some modifications in the interpretation of the venation of the 
wings and in the bestowal of an almost entirely different termin- 
ology, stands practically as follows ; — 
Division into Sections. 
Section T. — Second longitudinal vein arising from the fourth 
longitudinal vein, at the middle of it, or more or less before the 
middle of it. Marginal cross-vein elongated, very obliquely 
situated. Inner marginal cell dilated. Anterior branch of the 
second longitudinal vein seldom missing (in Diaxlocidia only). 
Anterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein issuing from the 
ba«e of the second longitudinal vein. Fifth longitudinal vein 
generally perfect. Ocelli on the front. 
Section II. — Second longitudinal vein arising from the fourth 
O O 
longitudinal vein near the root of the wing. Marginal cross-vein 
