The Crane-flies or Daddy-longlegs are a large family with long slender legs, from which they take their popular names, and might be described as exaggerated mosquitoes that do not bite. They have the usual small head and long thread-like antennae (in some groups the latter are clothed with long hairs, in others short and feathered); in most species the ocelli are wanting. The thorax has a V-shaped transverse suture, and the well developed wings have a complete venation. They are to be found in all situations among low scrub, but prefer the shelter of cliffs, or tree trunks in damp gullies, often resting in considerable numbers in retired spots during the day, where they can easily be captured. They require to be killed and mounted in the place of capture to secure good specimens, as their legs drop off very readily, and on this account are not a popular group with the ordinary collector. The larvae live in the ground or among decaying vegetable matter. They are divided into two large groups, characterised by the possession of long or short palpi, the _Tipulidae brevipalpi_ and _Tipulidae longipalpi_; about 20 species had been recorded from Australia when Skuse’s Monograph, “Diptera of Australia Pt. VII.” (Pro. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1889) appeared; in this he added over 80 new species. The Painted Crane-fly, _Gynoplistia bella_, described by Walker in 1835, is one of our commonest species, frequenting flowers and low scrub in the early summer months. It is a very distinctly marked black and orange yellow fly, the wings thickly barred and mottled with the former colour; and is one of the short-legged species. It has a wide range from Western Australia and Tasmania to N.S. Wales; the genus is represented by 17 described species in Australia. The Long-horned Crane-fly, _Macromastix costalis_, has a wide range from Tasmania to Queensland. In the neighbourhood of Sydney they are commonly found resting among the low scrub. It has a uniform dull brown tint with clear transparent wings, striped along the front margin with dull brown, and can be easily recognised from its large size, with the long slender antennae three times the length of the wings in the male, and its curious darting flight when disturbed. It was described by Swederus as _Tipula costalis_ in 1787, and has been renamed half a dozen times since. _Clytocosmus helmsi_ was described by Skuse from specimens obtained at Mt. Kosciusko; it is a large handsome fly with the stout thickened abdomen black, and bordered or mottled along the segments with white; the wings are semitransparent shaded with yellow; the head and thorax are reddish yellow.