INSECUTOR INSCITI^ MENSTRUUS 73 



near relatives of argcntcus occur in America, but there are 

 plenty of them in the East Indian region. 



The division into New World and Old World series is not 

 shown in the larvae, which retain a uniform type; only in the 

 genitalia, which are obviously more plastic structures, indi- 

 cating a more exact degree of relationship. 



To return to the native fauna, in contradistinction to the 

 above, the species do not exhibit a wide range. Some few 

 may be found to be common to America and the north of 

 Europe, although this has not been shown as yet in any case. 

 Still, there are some suspicious approximations. But, in gen- 

 eral, the species are local, sometimes unexpectedly so, as I 

 found in the mountains of California and Washington. 



Considering the North American species in detail, the fol- 

 lowing groups may be recognized : 



Group I. — Harpago a stout seta arising from a conical base; 

 side piece without lobes. 



This comprises zvalkeri, albonotata, aureostriata, busckii and 

 fiik'ithorax, and probably also septemstriatus D. & K., quad- 

 rivittatus Coq., sexlincata Theob., ioliota D. & K., and aurites 

 Theob., the males of which are unknown. All of these species 

 have the claws of the female simple and correspond to the 

 genus Hozvardino Theobald. It is, however, simply a section 

 of A'cdes in a primitive condition. All the known larvae live in 

 tree-holes or leaves of Bromeliacefe. 



Group II. — ^Harpago with a distinct stem, the seta forming 

 a more or less filamentous appendage ; side piece without lobes. 



This comprises mediovittata, thorntoni, podographicus, 

 osivaldi and triseriatus and probably also knabi Coq., hortator 

 D. & K. and Icucomelas Lutz, the males of which are unknown. 

 The known larvae live in tree-holes. Three subgroups appear. 

 In mediovittata a very peculiar basal spine has been developed, 

 inserted below the base of the side piece. A dichotomous 

 line has plainly started here, but seems to have been carried 

 no farther. The other species form a compact section with 

 the characters of the group, except triseriatus, in which there 

 is an indication of the formation of lobes on the side piece, by 



