OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME XIX, 1917 



33 



in the list of genera according to my interpretation of the figure 1 

 accompanying the original description. 



The obsolescence of vein 2 in the Gracilariidae appears not to 

 have been noted by Meyrick and is not in conformity with his 

 generic descriptions in several cases. When but one vein is ab- 

 sent in the dorsal series, he invariably specifies 3 as the one 

 which has been eliminated. In authentic European specimens 

 of Acrocercops brogniardellum Wallen., in the collections of the 

 U. S. Nat. Museum, I have found that vein 2 was obsolescent 

 while 3 remained strong. The same fact was observed in the 

 case of Dialedica Wlsm. and Chilocampyla Busck. In the species 

 strigifiniletta and salicifoliella there is a weakening of 2 but in 

 these cases 3 tends to disappear also. I may add that in the 

 original description of Chilocani pi/la Busck 2 3 was stated to be 

 absent, while it may easily be seen, by the figure accompanying 

 the description, that no veins are missing, but that 2 is disap- 

 pearing and is the one which was overlooked. 



It may be well to take up at this point some discrepancies 

 which have been noted in reviewing Meyricks Ke vision of the 

 Gracilariidae and which show the need of accurate figures to 

 accompany verbal descriptions. In the case of Leucanthiza 3 

 Clem., it is stated that 5 and 6 are stalked in the hind wings, 

 while the figure of the venation of this genus, Fig. 29 (b), shows 

 that vein 6 is absent. In this case as with Chilocampyla Busck, 

 mentioned above, the figure is correct while the description is 

 not. In regard to the genus Epicephala Meyr. 4 there is a simi- 

 lar disagreement. It is here stated that vein 3 of the forewing 

 is absent while the figure 21 a shows all 12 veins to be present. 

 In this case the writer is unable to judge whether the figure or 

 the description is correct. The only figure given of a species of 

 the genus Gracilaria, is that o'f (f. alchimiella Scop. 5 which shows 

 5 and 6 stalked, in the hindwing, and the stalk arising out of 7, 

 a type of venation which I have been unable to find in any of 

 the North American species of Gracilaria, and which does not 

 appeal 1 in any of the Kuropcan forms examined, including syrin- 

 gella, eloiif/clla, stigmatella, auroguttella and alchimiella. The pres- 

 ence also of 1 a in the forewing is certainly not normal as I have 

 been unable to find it in any of the species examined. 



The task of revising the Gracilariidae of the world must have 

 been very difficult and one which no one but Mr. Meyrick was 



1 liruun, Can. Ent., Vol. XLYII, p. 1!)0, fi K . 20, 1915. 



- Busck, Proc. U. S. Nal. Mus., Vol. XXIII, p. 248. 

 ( Meyrick, Gen. Ins., 128, p. 12, 1912. 



4 Meyrick, Gen. Ins., 128, p. 13, 1912. 



* Meyrick, Gen. Ins., 128, fig. 24b, 1912. 



