OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME XV, 1913. 17 



one may know to the contrary gig as may be the same as terrestris, 

 since all that we know about it is that the legs are more or less 

 brownish or yellowish. Now species of the genus may easily vary 

 that much, that is, from yellow to brown in the legs and basal 

 antennal joints, and making species on such differences is hazard- 

 ous, to say the least. Because of such tendency to vary, the 

 descriptions become all the more obscure. 



This species differs from any other species known to me, mostly 

 in its enormous size, its large fore wings, which bear almost forty 

 lines of discal ciliation across the wicles point, and the long antennal 

 joint, especially the second and third joints of the funicle. It is 

 distinctly larger than Cosmocomoidea morrilli Howard, which is a 

 large species for the family. The fore wings are much broader 

 than those of the North American graculus and sibylla. From 

 the European flavipes it differs again in its robustness in body 

 and appendages. The joints of the flagellum in male terrestris 

 shorten distad, but the proximal joint is somewhat shorter than 

 the second joint, which is at least six times longer than broad. 

 The shortening becomes noticeable as funicle joint 8. Joints 

 finely striate. 



The other male, which as stated was sent with terrestre as a 

 specimen of that species, is quite distinct and appears to be unde- 

 scribed. This case again illustrates how the members of this 

 genus may be alike in color, yet different in structure, and also 

 how careful we must be in dealing with these systematically 

 difficult insects. I describe the species herewith. 



4. Polynema poeta new species. 



Mule. The same as terrestre male, excepting as follows: Decidedly 

 smaller, slightly smaller than rubrii-cntre but still large for the genus, 

 measuring about 1.40 mm. The pedicel, scape, abdominal petiole and all 

 of legs except the black distal tarsal joints, chrome yellow, the convex 

 margin of the scape asperate slightly. Joints of the tarsi and of the fla- 

 gellum all somewhat shorter than in terrestre. The fore wings are entirely 

 different, except in the marginal vein. Thus, they are noticeably narrower 

 though of the same shape, while the discal ciliation is coarser and less dense 

 (only about twenty-six lines across the widest portion of the blade), the 

 longest marginal cilia about slightly over a third of the fore wing's greatest 

 width. The thorax apparently without sculpture, the parapsidal furrows 

 distinct, curved, a transverse line of fovea; across the apex of the scutellum, 

 near the margin. Joints of antennal funicle where longest (joints 2-5) at 

 least six or more times longer than wide, the second somewhat longer than 

 the first, which is subequal to joint 6; 7 somewhat shorter than 1, while 

 joints 8-11 are subequal and only about four times longer than wide. The 

 joints are longitudinally striate. 



