42 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



a-. Head as long as pronotura ; fastigium at least as long beyond narrowest part 

 of vertex as its extreme breadth ; last ventral segment of male more produced 

 and somewhat acutely acuminate. 



b^. Head with a relatively narrow or no occipital median fuscous stripe, which 



never nearly equals the width of the fastigium. 



c^. Fastigium triangular, the sides converging in a nearly straight or onlj' 



slightly curved line, the tip narrowly rounded alarris Scudd. 



C-. Fastigium semielliptical, the sides converging with a well rounded curve, 

 the tip very broadly and bluntly rounded neomexicana Thorn. 



h-. Head with a broad fuscous occipital stripe, almost or quite as broad as the 



greatest width of tlie fastigium. 



ci. Fastigium semielliptical and strongly rounded apically, the sides well 



curved • . vir/ilans sp. nov. 



C-. Fastigium acutely triangular, with the sides straight and the tip hardly 

 blunt rosti-atu McNeill. 



Mermiria texana Brun. 



I have seen no male of this species. My specimens come from Col- 

 orado, 7UU0', Morrison, and Coahuila, Mex., Palmer. It was originally 

 described from Texas and the State of Durango, Mex. McNeill also 

 credits it to Arizona. 



Mermiria bivittata (Serv.). 



I am inclined to think that Bruner's 31. macullpennis must be regarded 

 as at most only a variety of this species ; I have seen it from Texas and 

 Colorado only, and all are females. McNeill accepted it with doubt, and 

 my inaculate specimens, including one named by Bruiier, vary in the 

 breadth and arcuation of the fastigium to the same extent as do those 

 undoubtedly to be referred to bivittata. 



This is our commonest species, and is wide spread. From east of the 

 Mississippi I have specimens from Georgia only, but numerous speci- 

 mens from Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, 

 and Texas, and some immature specimens, which may belong here, from 

 Iowa, collected by Allen. McNeill also credits it to Virginia, Illinois, 

 and Nevada. Morse found it common in New Mexico on bunch grass, 

 but it was rather shy and flew freely. 



Mermiria intertexta sp. nov. 



In color, markings, and size this species exactly resembles the preced- 

 ing ; in all specimens seen, however, there is a slender mediodorsal 

 fuscous stripe on head and pronotum. The head is distinctly shorter 

 than the pronotum, and the fastigium in both sexes is scarcely broader 



