600 



THE PANORPOID COMPLEX, iii., 



Text-Fig.61. 

 Wings of Merope tuber Newm. (x 6^). Lettering as on p. 535. k, cross- 

 vein taken by Comstock to be the basal piece of Cuj. 



The above explanation is made clear in Comstock's figure by 

 his labelling of the ( cross- vein which I have marked k, in the 

 hindwing, (Text-fig. 61) as Cu 1( The cross-vein in the same 

 position in the forewing is left unlabelled by him; but the word- 

 ing leaves us without any doubt that this same cross-vein is in- 

 tended to be taken as Cu 1 in the forewing also, and is the 

 means whereby this vein has become fused with M. 



Now, in all Meeoptera, it is the vein Cu 2 (always a very 

 concave vein) which lies along the anal furrow. Also, except 

 in the highly specialised Bittacidae and Nannochoristidae, the 

 fusion of Ciij with M for a short distance is confined to the 

 hindwings. It would be very remarkable if such an admittedly 

 archaic type as Merope were to be highly specialised in these 

 two characters. Thus I doubted from the first the correctness 

 of Comstock's diagnosis, and was led to study the genus more 

 carefully myself. 



