112 [May, 



their associates, prey, etc., with notes on tlieir habits, including Cerceria 

 are7iaria, Fespa norvegica, Crabro capitosus, Mellinns arvensis, Syntovutsipis 

 cynnea, etc. Mr. Edwards, S. American Nyviphalidae, including Clothilda 

 insitpiis, etc. ^[r. Tonge, a coal-black female of Hibernia proycmvmria 

 v.fuscata. — IIy. J. Turnkk, Hon. Editor of Proceedinys. 



NOTES ON THE PYTHIDAE WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. 



BY K. G. BLAIE, B.Sc, F.E.S. 



(Published by permission of the Trustees of the British Museum.) 



In working out the undetermined material of this family contained 

 in the British Museum Collection, I have found many species that ap- 

 parently have never been described, as well as others that have been 

 evidently misplaced in the genera to whicli they have been assigned. 



Attempts have already been made by various authors to break up 

 some of the larger genera — Sphae^'iestes (^ = Salpinyns), Lissodema, and 

 Rhinosimus — into subgenera ; in many cases these divisions appear to be 

 well worthy of retention, but in some instances, probably through having 

 been based upon too localised a fauna, they do not appear to form 

 structurally separable groups. Something further in the same line is 

 here attempted, but many of the described species remain unknown to 

 me, and tlie descriptions are too meagre for me to deal anything like 

 adequately with the genus Sjykaeriesfes. 



As all the genera considered belong to the subfamily Salpinyinne, a 

 key to the described genera (subgenera being given equal value) of this 

 subfamily is given in the hope that it may facilitate study of the group. 



-Kci/ to the Genera of the Salpinginae. 



1. Antennae with last 3 joints enhirged, forming an abrupt S-jointed 



club 2. 



Antennae gradually thickened towards apex, ol'ten forming an indistinct 

 club of 3 -6 joints 9. 



2. Thorax not margined at tlie sides ; rostrum .short or wanting .... 3. 

 Thorax transverse, with lateral impressions forining a more or le.-s com- 

 plete marginal line ; antennal club very pronounced 7. 



3. Sides of thorax not denticulate 4. 



Sides of thorax denticulate 6. 



-4. Form elongate, parallel. Head not or scarcely rostrate, not enlarged in 



front of antennae , 6. 



Form oval, head and thorax considerably narrower than elytra ; head with 

 a short rostrum enlarged in front of antennae. 



3. Neosalpingus Blackb. 



