Dec, 1906.] Dyar andJCnab: Larv^ofCulicid^. i73 



"One of the objects of classification is to simplify the identification 

 of species, but the new classification does not aid this in any way. 

 In practice, it will be found much easier to determine the specific 

 name of any specimen than its generic name according to the new 



system. 



"Species which differ widely in their habits and pathological si gmn- 

 cance are placed in the same genus, while those which are similar 

 in these important respects are placed in different genera. 



"Species of which the eggs and larvae, the characters of which are at 

 least as important as the shape of the wing scales in the adult insect, 

 are essentially different are placed in the same genus, while those 

 with eggs and larvae of the same type are placed in different genera. 

 "The distinctions between the different genera are not of equal 

 value, for whereas certain species are placed in different genera be- 

 cause' in the one case the wing scales are 'lanceolate' while in the 

 other they are 'mostly long and narrow' ; the fact that the abdomen 

 of one is densely covered with scales while that of the other is, prac- 

 tically speaking, entirely free from them, is not considered sufficent 

 to warrant these two species being placed in different genera. 



"Abnormal forms or monstrosities have been made the basis of new 

 genera and species. During the examination of the types of An- 

 opheles rossi deposited in the British Museum, Mr. Theobald encount- 

 ered a specimen the abdomen of which was covered with scales 

 arranged as in mosquitoes of the genus Culex. To us it appears very 

 probable that this is an instance of a monstrosity. Mr. Theobald, 

 however, classifies the insect without question as the type of a new 

 genus (Aldrichia). Another instance is the specimen on which Mr. 

 Theobald has founded a new subfamily (Heptaphlebomyina) ; the single 

 insect was provided with seven longitudinal veins on its wings 

 instead of only six." 



The final test of any system of classification is the degree of its 

 agreement with the phylogeny of the group. The past history is 

 indicated by all the stages, often more clearly in the larvae than in 

 the adults. ' We present the following study of the Culicid larvae m 

 the hope that it mav elucidate the subject. The senior author has 

 shown* that adult characters, rightly understood, harmonize beau- 

 tifully with those of the larvse in the case of subfamilies. Webe - 

 *Science, n. s., xxiii, 233, 1906. The classification of Dr. Lutz, in C. 

 Bourroul, Mosquitoes do Brasil, Bahia, 1904, approaches this. 



