272 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



Lithoryssus parvus Brcks. 



There are three specimens of this species in the present collection (No. 2051- 

 2054, Mus. Comp. Zool, Florissant, Col., No. 5080, 5110 (reverse), 5522, and 

 14,045, S. H. Scudder Coll.), none of them so perfectly preserved as the type, how- 

 ever, which is in the American Museum of Natural History. In one the wings 

 are better preserved, and I find that the humeral area is divided by a cross-vein 

 just before the origin of the basal nervure, and not "apparently undivided," as 

 stated in the original description of the species (:06). In size they are all larger 

 than the type, 4-5 mm., but seem otherwise identical. 



Cephites Heer. 



Two species, C. oeningensis and C.fragilis Heer, have been placed in this genus 

 by Heer ('47), who considers them to be related to Cephus and Xiphydria. 1 



The front wings have two radial cells, the first under but extending beyond 

 the stigma ; the first submarginal cell is large, seven-sided, and touches the stigma \ 

 second longer and narrower; those beyond, if any, obliterated. Two discoidal 

 cells, the first distinct and moderately large, rhomboidal ; the following (third) 

 open apically where the neuration becomes obsolete. Humeral area narrow but 

 distinct. Basal cell wider, the transverse median nervure present. 



From this diagnosis it will be seen that Cephites approaches Lithoryssus in 

 many respects, and in view of the fact that such close relationship prevails be- 

 tween many of the Florissant and Oeningen types, it is not unlikely that the two 

 may be quite similar. I have therefore placed the European form near Lithoryssus, 

 tentatively at least. 



1 Konow ('97) believes that these are Neuroptera, but Handlirsch (:07) does not 

 agree with him, and thinks that they have been correctly placed by Heer. Not 

 having had access to any specimens, and thus compelled to rely on Heer's figures, 

 I have merely pointed out the resemblance which they apparently show to the 

 American Lithoryssus. 



