THE NEW SYSTEM OF THE DERMAPTEKA. 159 



detail in the second paper quoted. The Anisolahidae contains 

 Anisolabis and " perhaps Braclnjlahis " ; considering the peculiar form 

 of the antenna^ pronotum and abdomen, it seems likely that the 

 latter genus will require a family for itself. The Gonolabidae contain 

 Gonolahix, Burr, and (Tounlahina, n., /:iiId/,-at:i, n., a new species and 

 genus from Chili. The Isolahidac are a new family with three genera 

 and four new species, all from Africa. They appear to resemble the 

 Anisolahidae, but the head is much narrower anteriorly, the eyes are 

 extremely large, the head has distinct impressions, the 2nd tarsal 

 segment is larger, the lateral folds on the 3rd and 4th abdominal 

 segments are very strongly developed, and the 10th segment is smaller 

 than the 8th and 9th together, whereas in the Anisolahidae it is larger 

 than these two together ; the 10th tergite is distinctly emarginate 

 posteriorly ; the shape of the genital organs appears also to differ. 

 The three new genera are holabin (1. hraueri, n.), Leptisolabis (usam- 

 barana and theoriae, nn.) and Ctenisolabis (to(ioe7isis). 



In this second paper he refers again to the Monandria family 

 Cheliduridae, which he here divides into two groups, rhelidurinae, for 

 Mesochelidnra and (lielidurella, and also holabellidae, for Isolabella 

 ijraeca, a new genus and species from Greece, which make an interesting 

 addition to the list of European earwigs. 



The Piplatf/idae follow in order, for Diplatys, Natinopygia and 

 Cylindrui faster, three very closely allied genera ; the distinction between 

 the first and the latter is but small, and Nannopynia will almost 

 certainly coincide with Diplatys. The next family is the Pyyidi- 

 cranidae, falling into two subfamilies, Pyyidicraniuaeiov Pyyidicrana and 

 Tayalina, and the Pyrayrinae, for Pyrayra, Echinosouia and probably 

 Echinopsalis. The last family Lahiduridae, calls for little remark, it 

 includes Labidnra and Forcipida, with, probably, Psalis. 



There remain to be discussed, doubtless in some future paper, the 

 genera Labia, Xeolobophora, Stronyylopsalis, Carcinophora, Anataelia, 

 Platylabia, Lahidurodes and Mecomcra. 



It has long been known that certain genera have very different 

 genitalia from others ; in the article dealing with earwigs in the 

 Cambridye Natural History, i., p. 211, Dr. Sharp gives a figure from 

 Dufour, showing the very different form of the ovaries in Labidura and 

 in Forficula, but no one has before made a comparative examination 

 of nearly all the genera with a view to the establishment of a more 

 natural system, and Dr. Verhoeft' is to be congratulated upon the 

 results of his preliminary publications ; the distinction of certain of his 

 new genera, e.g., Sphinyolahis from Aiiteryyida, ( 'osmiella from Opistho- 

 cosmia, appear to be somewhat arbitrary, and also the approximation of 

 the Sparattinae to the Forjjcidinae, but when he further explains his 

 " number of new characters and organs," and elaborates the new 

 system which at present he has drawn up in outline, doubtless these 

 points will be justified, though to one who is imbued with the old- 

 fashioned arrangement they appear to be a little forced. 



We are aware that Dr. Verhoeft' has a third and fourth '^An/sat:: " 

 in the press, which will be discussed in due course, and a fifth is in 

 preparation, dealing mainly with Anisolabis and its allies. 



Unfortunately no figures are given, and from the descriptions 

 alone, it is difficult to gather an idea of the general appearance of the 

 insects in question. We hope that the author will shortly give 



