are 
30 Parasitic Diptera 
very probable that the names Cyrt. longicornis and Orn. victoria 
synonymous 1 . 
The habit of the above-named Australian fly Cyrt. longicornis living upon 
the bird nestlings recalls that of the African species belonging to the recentlv 
established genus Passeromyia, and the comparative study of the specimens 
of the Australian and African forms shows that they are very closely allied. 
The wide distribution of the African species indicates moreover the im¬ 
portance of a careful study of specimens of this species from the Oriental 
region. In fact, to this group belongs the species Muscina longicornis from 
Java, previously described by Stein (1909, p. 221). He noticed in this species 
the elongated third antennal joint, but has overlooked the hairiness of the 
eyes. In 1915 Dr Villeneuve described under the name Muscina heterochaeta 
a new African fly showing aberrant characters. The larvae of this fly have 
been previously described by Rodhain (1914, p. 214). The same year (1915) 
Rodhain and Villeneuve established for this African species the new genus 
Passeromyia and in 1916 appeared a very important paper by Rodhain and 
Bequaert on the structure and life-history of this fly ( Passeromyia heterochaeta ). 
Professor Stein in a recent letter (1920) informed me that the specimens 
of Passeromyia heterochaeta sent to him by Dr Villeneuve, are identical with 
his paratypes of Muscina longicornis. I was able myself to compare the 
paratype of longicornis of my collection with Australian specimens and found 
that they were strictly congeneric; it is even a matter of some difficulty to 
distinguish the Australian species from the African. It can be concluded now 
that the genus Ornithomusca Tyler Townsend 1916 is synonymous with the 
genus Passeromyia Rodhain and Villeneuve 1915, and that the type species 
heterochaeta Villeneuve 1915 is synonymous with longicornis Stein 1909. As 
the last name is already preoccupied by Macquart’s species, A llleneuve’s name 
heterochaeta must be retained. 
The two species of the genus Passeromyia can be distinguished as follows: 
1 (2). The dust of the entire body, chiefly that of the abdomen of the 
male, is of a distinct bluish tint; third antennal joint about nine to ten times 
longer than the second joint, and extending almost to the mouth border; 
bristles of all femora less numerous, shorter and thinner; hind tibiae shortly 
ciliated; fourth longitudinal vein with the tw r o portions on either side of the 
bend, of nearly the same length; average size 7 mm. longicornis Macquart. 
2 (1). Dust of the body grey or slightly bluish on sides of the abdomen of 
the male; third antennal joint seven or eight times longer than the second 
1 Another question arises in connection with the species Cyrtoneura analis Macquart. This 
species was described from a type specimen with the second and third joint of antennae missing, 
and it is therefore not certain that this species belongs to the genus Ornithomusca. The description 
of the abdomen recalls the fly Synthesiomyia nudiseta which was originally described as Cyrtoneura 
and which is present even in Australia. The hairy eyes and the black first antennal joint of analis 
do not agree with nudiseta. Bigot in 1877 (p. 250) placed the species analis in the genus 
Graphomyia but removed it in 1887 (p. 584) to the genus Dasyphora. 
