45 8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., *O8 



of the main vein. According to the doubtless correct explana- 

 tion of the origin of the branch cited above, the first group is 

 the primitive one (at least as regards this character), the sec- 

 ond being a later development. In this and some other points 

 Ae. californica stands far from such -species as Ae. juncea, and 

 thereby nearer to, but not in, Coryphaeschna. It probably de- 

 serves subgeneric rank. 



Aeschna solida Scudder. 



Some of the more interesting characters of this species are 

 here described : 



(i). Stigma of hind wing comparatively short, bounding three cells 

 below (in Basiaeschna it is much longer, and bounds 4^4 

 cells). 



(2.) Postnodal cross veins 15 (Scudder's figure) to 16 (our speci- 

 men) in front wing; 17 in hind. The number is less in 

 modern JBschna, especially in californica. 



(3.) Doubling of cells between M t and M 2 begins two cells below 

 base of stigma. Almost exactly this condition is found in 

 M. constricta; in juncea it begins under apical half of 

 stigma, in californica and Coryphaeschna beyond stigna. Thus 

 there is a reduction of the doubling in the supposed line of 

 evolution. In Basiaeschna the doubling begins under anterior 

 half of stigma. 



(4.) The bend of M, is distinctly more gentle than in Basiaeschna. 

 This agrees with JEschna. The highest point of the bend 

 is distinctly before the stigma ; in M. constricta it is a little 

 further on, but nearly the same; in M. juncea it is under 

 the stigma; in californica under apex of stigma. 



(5.) M 4 has a decided kink in anterior wing, but in posterior this is 

 scarcely suggested. This practically agrees with the sup- 

 posed primitive section of JEschna, but differs greatly from 

 2E. californica. In Coryphaeschna the disturbance has gone 

 so far that M 4 looks as if it ran into M s , whereas it is 

 really widely deflected in the contrary direction. 



(6.) The branches of the cubitus in hind wing spread apically, so 

 that the single cells between them give way to dou- 

 ble or treble cells forming an irregular network. In 

 IE. constricta and juncea there are no single cells between 

 the cubiti ; in californica all those between the apical halves 

 of these veins are single; in Coryphaeschna there are no 

 double cells, or only one or two. Epiacschna hcros agrees 

 essentially with IE. solida. 



