ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE FAMILY 261 



the veins, and there are at least three sets as to length, all 

 of which, however, are of essentially the same outline, viz., 

 symmetrical and obovate. The large proportion of long 

 scales and their rounded ends, gives a peculiar velvety 

 appearance to the wings of this genus. Although separated 

 from Psorophora on other grounds, the veins in the genus 

 Mucidus are equally peculiar, being provided with large, 

 thick, obovate scales, with relatively long stems, all of 

 which are of the same form and size. They also present 

 the additional peculiarity of some of these being parti- 

 coloured, the basal half of the scale being yellowish, and 

 the distal black ; the all-yellow and the parti-coloured scales 

 being disposed in alternate groups along the veins, so as 

 to give a characteristically brindled and rough appearance 

 to the wing. 



It is interesting to be able to note that the soundness 

 of Mr. Theobald's judgment in selecting characters of this 

 description as the basis of his new generic scheme is 

 receiving early confirmation from the notes that are coming 

 to hand as to the habits of the species of the new genera. 

 Thus, the eggs of some at least of the Stegoniyia are 

 deposited separately, like those of Anopheles, and much 

 resemble them in structure and form. Those of Panoplites, 

 too, and Mucidus are also deposited separately, a circum- 

 stance which alone should suffice to establish their generic 

 distinctness from the Culices, with which they have been 

 hitherto associated. 



One of the new genera, Deinokerides, has been con- 

 stituted on the peculiar character of the antennae, which 

 have their second joints as long as three or four of those 

 that succeed it, instead of being of about the same length, 

 as in all other gnats, except the queer little Mosquito 

 already mentioned, that inhabits the domiciles of West 

 Indian shore-crabs. 



Certain other genera are also distinguished from neigh- 

 bouring forms by peculiarities of the venation of the wings, 

 but the consideration of these points will be better left to 

 be taken in connection with the grouping of genera in each 

 sub-family. 



