BY R. J. TILL YARD. 131 



first and second anal veins," i.e., between 2A and 3A of our 

 notation in this paper, and its longitudinal direction in the 

 hindwing. Now, this cross-vein is present in some HepialidcB, 

 as may be seen by referring to Comstock's own figures of Pielus 

 and Sthenopis (3, figs.334, 335, 337); and, in the genera in which 

 it is clearly visible in the hindwing (it is not to be seen in Leto, 

 owing to the great swelling and fusion of 2 A and 3 A basally) it 

 has an oblique position, not far removed from the longitudinal 

 direction. Further, in many Trichoptera, as, for instance, in 

 the Hydropsychidcie with wide hind wings, its position is not 

 longitudinal, but transverse or oblique, and in some cases it is 

 eliminated by fusion of the two veins at a point. This character, 

 then, is of no ordinal value at all. However, it should be noted 

 that the llepialidce do actually possess all those cross-veins which 

 are generally regarded as Trichopterous. viz., hm, r-m, m en, cu-a, 

 and ia; they also possess the inter-median cross-vein (im) which 

 joins M 1+ -2 to M 3 , and which is found in most archaic Tricho- 

 ptera, though not in Rhyaeophila. They do not possess the 

 inter-radial cross-vein (ir) which joins R2+3 to R 4 _ t 5; this occurs 

 in most archaic Trichoptera, but not in Rhyaeophila: in Micro- 

 pteryyidai it is confined to Sababinca and Micrapteryx. 



Though the presence or absence of cross-veins cannot be used 

 as a character of ordinal value, yet we are bound to notice another 

 character, about which Professor Comstock is significantly silent, 

 though it is well known to all students of the Trichoptera. I 

 refer to the presence of the unique " wing spot," in the angle of 

 the fork made by K 4 and R-„ in both wings. Dr. Uhner, who 

 has examined more Trichoptera than any man living, says of 

 this wing-spot (12, p. 16): — "Allen Triehopteren, und zwar auf 

 beiden Flugelpaaren, ist ein dunkler, horniger Punkt (Flugel- 

 puukt) eigentumlich, welcher sicli an der IJasis der zweiten 

 Apicalgabel, oder wenn diese nicht entwickelt ist, doch in der 

 entsprechenden Region, findet : nur bei Hydroptiliden babe ich 

 diese Punkte nicht sehen konnen.' Putting aside, then, the 

 highly specialised and reduced HydroplUidce, which cannot be 

 brought into any discussion upon the relationships of the Micro- 

 pterygida,, we have this outstanding test to apply : — Do the 



