AS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF LIVING TYPES. 183 



these, I do not know that any authors have given any specific distinctions of families 

 among Neuroptera drawn from these characteristics. 1 



To enable us more readily to inquire how the two fossil forms under discussion are re- 

 lated to living types, we will reproduce some of the more striking of these characters in 

 epitome, and append a similar brief account of the venation of the wings in the fossils. 



Termitina, Nearly the entire wing is taken up with the simple and parallel branches of 

 the v. externo-media, the anal area being wanting. 



Embidina. The v. mediastina terminates near the tip of the wing by impingino- on the v. 

 scapidaris, which impinges in the same way on the v. externo-media. The v. externo-media 

 occupies the middle half of the wing with a few straight, simple, or dichotomous branches, 

 distantly united by straight cross-veins to one another and to the veins above and below ; 

 anal area considerable. 



Psocina. V. mediastina insignificant. The v. scapidaris occupies almost the entire wing 

 and is the only forked vein in it. It sends out a branch not far from the base, from which 

 arise most of the branches, which curve and refork in the freest manner (though the wino- 

 is less crowded with veins than ordinarily), united by only one or two cross-veins to one 

 another. The anal area is more prominent than the costal. 



Perlina. The v. mediastina is connected with the margin by numerous cross-veins, and 

 terminates by impinging on the v. scapidaris. The branches of this latter occupy the apex 

 only of the wing. It sends out a slightly diverging branch, which remains simple about 

 half its distance to the margin, then sends out simple branches from its under side, seldom 

 united by cross-veins. The v. externo-media branches like the branch of the v. scapidaris, at 

 about the middle of the wing, is connected by a cross-vein to that branch at its divarication, 

 while the branches of the v. externo-media are themselves connected here and there by cross- 

 veins and recurrent nervules. The v. inter no-media forks several times, the consecutive upper 

 forks continually reforking, and connected by a cross-vein at last to the v. externo-media at 

 its first divarication. By this continual connection of the principal veins, two large cells 

 are formed in the middle of the wing, the upper open, the latter filled with cross-veins in 

 one sex ; the last three veins are of not far from equal importance. 



Ephcmerina. The first three veins are simple. The v. externo-media occupies the largest 

 portion of the wing, though it forks and reforks but once or twice, the spaces being filled 

 by many intercalary nervures proceeding from the outer border. The v. intcrno-media and 

 ancdis are about equal in importance, and similar in character to the v. externo-media, though 

 with fewer intercalary nervures. All the nervures arc generally connected by frequent, 

 straight cross-veins. 



Odonata. The most peculiar in its venation of all the families. The v. marginalis ex- 

 tends only to the middle of the wing, the v. mediastina taking its place beyond. The v. scap- 

 idaris and externo-media are connected close to the margin by a cross-vein, from which arise 

 two veins which occupy the greater portion of the wing. The arcce marginatis, mediastina, 

 scapidaris, and interno-media are traversed by numerous cross-veins. The most of the rest of 

 the wing is filled with minute reticulations. 



Sialina. The v. scapidaris sends forth a branch in the basal half of the wing, which strikes 



l When this was written I had not seen Goldonberg's paper necessary for the object he had in view, he has given detailed 



on the carboniferous Insects of SaarbruYk, (Die fbssilcu la- comparisons of the venation in some of the families of Neu- 



scctea der Kohlenfornialion von Saarbiueken, aus den 1'alaR- roptera. I hope to revert at some future time to the relation 



ontograpbicia von Dunker und Meyer, Cassel 4°. 1854,) which the species of the genus Dictyoncura there described 



which must be excepted from this remark, for so far as was bear to the Sialina and other Neuroptera. 



JlEMOUtB BOST. SOC. SAT. HIST. Vol. I. Pt. 2. 47 



