1152 
DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, 
Societe Entoruologique cle France and in a later volume (4th ser. 
Vol. X. p. 146), appears a lengthy contribution on the young 
stages of Sciophila striata, Meig., and the perfect insect. 
Winnertz informs us that with all species having more than one 
generation in a year the pupa-state lasts seldom more than two 
or three weeks, but with those having only one yeai-ly generation 
and lasting through the winter, this period lasts longer. 
The perfect insects abound about Sydney, principally between 
the months of August and January inclusive ; though stragglers 
may be caught throughout the year. A few days’ rain succeeded 
by fine warm weather is sure to bring some out. Most if not all 
the species of which I have been able to obtain examples seem to 
prefer the shade during the day, beginning to take more extended 
flights towards the end of the afternoon when the sun is quickly 
losing power ; many may be taken on windows towards evening. 
Dense bushes, dark gullies strewn with logs, and caves, all seem 
favourite resorts. 
AVjout 800 species of Mycetophilidie are now known, representa- 
tives of many genera have been found almost throughout the 
world, and it is more than probable that the majority of generic 
forms will eventually be discovered to have an unlimited distri- 
bution. It is likely that most of the genera recorded as common 
to Europe and America also occur in Australia, and the little 
investigation to which these insects have been suVjjected, has 
conclusively shown that Macrocera, Ceroplatus, Platyura, Scio- 
phila, Leia, Trichonta, and Mycetophila, so numerously x’epre- 
sented in Europe, are also found here ; all these, with I 
think the single exception of Trichonta (which, however, occurs in 
North America), have in most cases a large number of species 
in both North and South America ; and although in America 
this group has received not nearly the amount of attention paid 
to it in Europe, we find from O.-Sacken’s “ Catalogue of the 
North Amencan Diptera ” published in 1878, that, notwithstanding 
this disadvantage, the therein recorded species ai'e referable to about 
three-fourths of the known European genera, and it may reason- 
ably be supposed that some of the old described species will, upon 
