2 THE FAUNA OF SCOTLAND. 



the monographs of the Swedish and German authors, and then 

 only when the name adopted happens to differ from one in general 

 use. I have also mentioned the food plants of the larvae, so far 

 as they are known to me. As the species of Nemahis are so very 

 puzzling to a beginner, I have given descriptions of all the known 

 larvae. 



For information regarding the collecting and preserving of 

 these insects, I must refer the reader to a paper in the Proc. Nat. 

 Hist. Soc. of Glasgow, Vol. iii., p. 141. 



The classification which I have followed requires a word or 

 two of explanation, since it differs very considerably from any- 

 thing hitherto in use. My views may be best explained by the 

 following table, which shows what I take to be the natural 

 relations of the tribes : — ■ 



Tenthredina. 



CiMBlCIDINA. HyLOTOMINA. 



Nematina. 



{Cephalocera. Syzygonia). 



LoPHYRiDiisrA. Pterygophorina. 



Lydina. 



Xyelina. 

 Cephina. 



SIRICIDAE. 



It will be observed from this table that on the one hand we 

 have a number of small, sharply defined specialised groups con- 

 taining few species, and on the other two large homogenous 

 tribes, witli few closely allied genera differing but little 

 (comparatively), from each other, and embracing a large number 

 of species, which are mainly found in the Palaearctic and Nearctic 

 regions. Our ideas of the classification of the family will depend 

 largely upon our views as to the systematic position of Lojjhyrus. 

 In my opinion, its natural situation is close to Lyda, with 

 which it agrees in its multe-articulate antennae; it seems to 

 me to have no affinity whatever with the Tenthredina. If 

 this be granted, then I think furtlier that the Cimhicina and 

 Ilylotoma must be located near it, for these two groups show con- 

 siderable relationship with Lophyrus. Westwood, in his Classical 



