ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE FAMILY 255 



microscope for the determination of the generic position of 

 a species, this is less of a drawback than might be imagined, 

 as after a Httle practice, it will be found that examination 

 by reflected light, under a low power, such as a one-inch 

 focus objective, suffices for all purposes ; and it is quite 

 unnecessary to destroy the specimen for the purpose, as all 

 that is required can be seen by placing the pin on which 

 the insect is set at various angles so as to give the various 

 points of view required. The simplest waj'^ is to stick the 

 disc pin at the required angle into a small piece of cork, 

 and to handle the latter in the same way as one does a 

 slide. A great many microscopes, however, will not rack up 

 sufficiently to admit of an object raised a pin's length 

 above the stage being focussed, and on this account a 

 portable stand m which the stage is detachable is a great 

 convenience, as instead of the latter one can place a small 

 plank of wood on the foot and so obtain ample room. With 

 ordinary stands, if they will not rack up enough, the same 

 difficulty may be generally got over by contriving a sort of 

 miniature stool of wood, which can be placed over the foot 

 and mirror, and using this as a stage, the objective being 

 made to, so to say, peep through the aperture of the 

 ordinary stage. 



In the new classification, the five old-established genera 

 form the types of the sub-families Anophelina, Megarliinina, 

 Culicina, Mdomina, and Corethrina, and each of these is 

 subdivided into one or more genera, the total number of 

 which becomes twenty-four, though it is already certain 

 that two or three more will require to be added. Even, 

 however, with this increased subdivision, the influx of new 

 species has left the genus Culex, though its limits have been 

 much restricted, still overloaded with more species than 

 ever, over 150 forms being included within it, so that its 

 further subdivision is much needed ; but it is by no means 

 easy to hit upon any character likely to prove serviceable 

 for the purpose, though it is possible that the structure of 

 the male palpi, which vary greatly in the genus, might 

 possibly be used for the purposes of a further subdivision. 

 Of these five sub-families, the last, or Corethrina, which form 



