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The Atoll of Funafuti, Ellice group : its zoology, botany, ethnology and general structure based on collections made by Charles Hedley of the Australian Museum, Sydney, N.S.W.

Family Tachinaridæ

Family Tachinaridæ.

Genus Degeeria, Meig.
Degeeria dawsoni, ♂ et ♀, sp. nov.

(Plate i., fig. 2.)

Long. 8 mm., lat. 3 mm.

Expanse of wings—Long. 4 mm., lat. 2 mm.

Head—occiput black, clothed with black hairs; forehead black with coarse black hairs or bristles; cheeks, grey; eyes, rich mahogany-brown; occelli, three; antennas, black. Thorax grey, clothed on superior surface with short coarse black hairs or bristles, seven dark grey longitudinal bars run the entire length of pro-and meso-thorax. Abdomen—dorsal surface grey with page 98black median patches, and black transverse bars at junctions of segments, clothed with few short black hairs; sides yellow-brown, darkest at posterior extremity, sparingly furnished with short black hairs; ventral surface dull white, with two small oblong yellow-brown patches, each patch fringed with short black hairs. Anus, black. Breast, dark brown. Legs black, clothed with black hairs and few short strong spines. Wings covered with hair-like scales, semi-transparent, with brassy reflections.

♂ Copulatory organ, a long telescopic, fleshy, pale yellowish process, consisting of seven segments, the extremity of each segment furnished with long, strong bristles.

One ♂ and three ♀ specimens.

At the request of Mr. Hedley this species is named after W. Pudsey Dawson, R.N., First Lieutenant of H.M.S. "Penguin," who did so much to facilitate the scientific objects for which the expedition was organised.

Genus Ebenia, Nob.
Ebenia nigricruris, ♀, sp. nov.

(Plate i., fig. 3.)

Long. 4½ mm., lat. 1 mm.

Expanse of wings—Long. 4 mm., lat. 2 mm.

Head—occiput black, clothed with black hairs; forehead black with coarse black hairs or bristles; cheeks, grey; eyes, rich mahogany-brown; occilli, three; antenna?, black. Thorax dark brown, shoulders grey; superior surface clothed with few short black hairs; sides furnished with long coarse bristles. Abdomen black at anterior extremity, second, third, and fourth segments grey, with broad black median transverse bar, the latter uneven in outline; junction of segments black; dorsal surface thinly clothed with moderately long, strong, black hairs; ventral surface dirty white with moderately long black hairs; anus, black. Breast black, with few short black hairs. Legs black, clothed with black hairs, and armed with short strong spines. Wings covered with hair-like scales, semi-transparent, with brassy reflections; veins, black.

A single specimen.

Ebenia fieldi, ♀, sp. nov.

(Plate i., fig. 4.)

Long. 4½ mm., lat. 1 mm.

Expanse of wings—Long. 4 mm., lat. 2 mm.

page 99

Head—occiput black, clothed with black hairs; forehead black, with long, coarse black hairs or bristles; cheeks, white; eyes, rich mahogany-brown; occilli, three; antennæ, black. Thorax grey; two dark longitudinal bars extend from anterior extremity of pro-to near posterior extremity of meta-thorax; few rather long coarse black hairs; sides of a lighter grey colour, and furnished with a few long coarse black hairs. Abdomen, dark, with lateral patches of a light grey colour; posterior extremity black; dorsal surface furnished sparingly with short black hairs; ventral surface grey, and sparingly furnished with short black hairs; anus, black. Breast black, with few short black hairs. Legs black, clothed with black hairs, and armed with few short strong spines. Wings covered with hair-like scales, semi-transparent, with brassy reflections; veins, black.

A single specimen.

By request I have named this species after Captain Mostyn Field, R.N., Captain of H.M.S. "Penguin," as a permanent tribute to his courtesy, and a mark of the sense of indebtedness felt by the members of the Expedition for assistance in many ways.