102 MOF{PHOLOGY, ETC., OP THE MICROPTERYGIDjE, i., 



this particular neuration and the possession of scales are to be 

 found in insects having no claim to be lepidopterous." 



On the other hand, Coinstock in 1918(3), in removing the 

 whole of the Micropterygidm (sens, lat.) to the Trichoptera, as 

 stated above, bases that removal wholly upon the characters of 

 the wings. These characters are, "in the fore wings, the coales- 

 cence of veins Cu and 1st A* at the base of the wing; the Z- 

 shaped course of vein Cu; the formation of a serial vein consist- 

 ing of the base of the media, the posterior arculus, and the longi- 

 tudinal part of vein Cu; the coalescence of the tips of the second 

 anal vein and of two of the branches of the third anal vein; and 

 the cross-vein between the first and second anal veins. In the 

 hind wings, the coalescence of veins Cu and 1st A at the base of 

 the wing; the Z-shaped course of the cubitus; the anastomosis 

 of the first and second anal veins; the longitudinal direction of 

 the cross-vein connecting the second anal vein and the first 

 branch of the third anal vein; and the form of the branching of 

 the third anal vein. In addition to these common venational 

 features, the fibulae of the two insects are identical in structure." 

 He concludes: — "The possession of this remarkable series of 

 common features of their wings by these representatives of the 

 Phryganeina and Micropterygina, and which is found in no 

 insect not belonging to one of these two groups, can be explained 

 only by assuming that it indicates a community of descent of 

 the two groups. This conclusion is confirmed by the results of 

 Dr. T. A. Chapman's study of pupa?. For these reasons, the 

 Micropterygina must be regarded as more closely allied to the 

 Phryganeina than they are to any other group of insects; that 

 is, they are obviously Trichopterous insects." 



We see, then, that there are three conflicting views as to the 

 nature of the Micropterygidtr, which may be summarised as 

 follows : — 



(1) The Alicropteryyidce are true Leiridoptera. This is the 

 original view held by all past generations of entomologists, and 

 still championed by Meyriclc. 



* It must be remembered that Comstock's Cu is really Cux, his 1A is 

 Guj, his 2 A is 1A, and his anterior branch of 3 A is 2A. 



