216 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 45. 



and venation concolorous with the body; narrow space beneath sub- 

 marginal vein of fore wing clear and that wing clearer near base; eyes 

 bright red, naked; mandibles fuscous, their tips black; posterior 

 wings hyaline except proximad under the venation and a slight dis- 

 tance distad of the venation. Body shining black; mesoscutum 

 finely, transversely lined. 



Belongs to the nigra group and hke that species in general form, 

 but diiTering in the following structural details: The marginal ciUa 

 of the fore \^dng are distinctly longer, about three-fourths the greatest 

 wing width; the discal bristle of the fore wing is present; the stigmal 

 vein differs in shape, forms more of an angle with the marginal and 

 its sides are not parallel; moreover, its inner edge forms a more con- 

 cave curve *vdtli tlie inner edge of the marginal vein at its apex but 

 of itself is not concave; the caudal wings moderate in width but much 

 broader than mjiavopalliata, for instance. Easily distinguished from 

 nigra colorationally. Agreeing also with noacki Ashmead but may be 

 distinguished by means of the diiTerent wing fumation, the different 

 coloration of the tarsi and general body color, the somewhat longer 

 margmal fringes of the fore wing in pulchra and presence of the discal 

 bristle. Also agreeing structurally somewhat with maxima but in 

 that species the marginal cilia are shorter, the caudal wings distinctly 

 narrower, very broad in maxima. 



In pulchra the cephalic tibial spur is short but curved and many 

 tined beneath; the costal cell bears two short bristles proximad, 

 side by side; in the fore wing just distad of the discal bristle is a long, 

 very thin, oblique' hau'line running caudo-proximad and apparently 

 a fold in the wing. It is more conspicuous in some specimens and 

 then resembles a line of very minute, dark setae, the individuals of 

 which are not distinguishable; in other specimens there may be 

 several such Unes farther distad. The submarginal vein bears two 

 bristles, the marginal and stigmal a total of seven. The marginal 

 cilia of the posterior wing are distinctly longer than that wing's 

 greatest width, which is near apex, the blade subciavate. Fumation 

 of fore wing varies in density, sometimes very dense and conspicuous. 



From 11 specimens, |-inch objective, 1-inch optic, Bausch and 

 Lomb. 



Male. — Same as the female. Genitalia exserted, cylindrical, 

 rather long, bifid. 



From 19 specimens, the same magnification. 



This very beautiful species appears to be common in the United 

 States. It was described from the following balsam specimens in the 

 collections of the United States National Museum, United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture and the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural 

 History: Seven slides bearing respectively 1 male, 1 male, 1 male, 

 2 males (co types), 2 males, 1 male and 3 males, 1 female (types), all 



