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THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 35 



In defence of lier subfamily Psorophorinae, Miss Mitchell states that 

 it is based chiefly on characters of tb.e early stages. Herewith I quote her 

 characterization of the subfamily, adding after each item the genera or 

 species that show the same characters. It may be stated that only a few 

 promising forms have been drawn upon for comparison. 



" PSOROPHORINyE." 



I. " LarV/E insectivorous, their mouth-parts fitted for seizing and 

 tearing." — Psorophora, Anopheles Barbert, MegarJiiiius (including Anky- 

 lorhynchus and Toxorhyfichiies), Lutzia, Sabefhes, Lesticocampa. 



* 2. " Mouth-brushes a few appressed plates, heavily pectinate along 

 the entire inner margin, and directed obliquely backward beneath head or 

 held out at right angles to it." — The units of the mouth-brushes of 

 /!ff;'i'//i£'r« can hardly be termed "a few" — there are fifty or more of 

 them in each brush. In Megarhinus, which Miss Mitchell perhaps 

 confused with Psorophora, there are from 9-12 units ; Liitzia holds an 

 intermediate position in this respect. Ail intergrades occur in the matter 

 of pectination. 



3. " Maxilla trapezoidal, with many curved spines, a few short 

 hairs." — Psorophora, Lutzia. Li mat us. 



4. " Laterat, comb of mandible a few heavy, immovable spines, 

 their base almost at right angles with top of mandible." — Psorophora, 

 Lutzia. 



5. " Marginal comb of mandible absent." — Psorophora (in part !), 

 Anopheles Parberi, Lutzia, Megarhinus, Lesticocampa, Joblotia. 



6. " Biting part very large." — Psorophora, Anopheles Barberi and 

 other species, Megarhinus, Lutzia, Joblotia, Limatus. 



7. " An'ienn/T: near middle of sides of head, eyes near posterior 

 margin." — These characters are present in a more or less pronounced 

 degree in many mosquito larvce. 



8. " Pup.E with anal flaps as broad as long." — This is incorrect. 

 Measurement of a number of specimens shows them to be about one-third 

 longer than broad. 



9. " Adults with femora and tibiae bearing many outstanding scales 

 irregularly and thickly arranged around them, never a fringe. Wing-scales 

 narrow." — ^The outstanding scales of the legs are evanescent or absent in 

 certain species of Psorophora. Enough has already been said on the 

 subject of wing-scales. 



