31 tJ"iy' 



two black points on the head postei-iorly (compare remarks on Ch. Zelleri). The neu- 

 ration varies in the amount of black and pale. Ch. ventralis is var. 7 of aspersa in 

 Schneider's Monograph (p. 112). It is widely distributed, but localized, and, 

 according to my experience, never presents any intermediate conditions in ventral 

 coloration, and on this character one is never in doubt in determining it. 



Ch. prasina, Burm. (Handbuch, ii [2], 981, 1839). — This ranks next in order 

 of priority, and heads the series of prasina, abdominalis, aspersa, and Zelleri. 

 Having stated that ventralis never leaves one in doubt (be its position specific or 

 varietal), we are now confronted with distinct difficulties. Latterly it has been the 

 custom to unite j^rasina and aspersa, and I have more than once strongly urged their 

 union. Recently I resolved to obtain a sight of Burmeister's type if possible, and 

 placed myself in communication writh Dr. O. Taschenberg, of the University of 

 Halle, who took infinite trouble to help me, and lent me what no doubt is the 

 original type, though Burmeister, probably subsequently, appears to have confused 

 aspersa and septempunctata (the specimens bear no labels on the pins). The type 

 may be the specimen figured by Schneider, or the latter author may have used one 

 of the few other specimens to which he refers (Monogr., p. 111). The type is in 

 good condition (but bleached by age), and agrees sufficiently with Schneider's de- 

 finition and figure, save in one matter, and that is important. The abdomen is not 

 discoloured (which happens too frequently in dried specimens of Chrysopce), and it 

 shows (unless I am very much mistaken) decided indications of the dark markings 

 on either side of the dorsum characteristic of abdominalis. The coloration of the 

 neuration agrees with Schneider's description and figure. Schneider points out the 

 totally black transverse neuration, and the two brown lines on the pronotum as 

 especially serving to distinguish prasina from aspersa. the importance of which I 

 fail to realize after an examination of a very long series of the latter ; nevertheless, 

 I do not feel sure that I have seen any other specimen precisely agreeing with 

 Burmeister's type. 



Ch. abdominalis, Brauer (Neurop. Austr., 61, 1859 : a modification of Ch. 

 abdomine-pituctata, Brauer, Haidinger's Abhandl., iv, 1850, where there is a figure). 

 I place this name in the present sequence for special comparison with Ch. prasina. 

 My recent endeavours to elucidate the specific position, or otherwise, of abdominalis 

 formed the raison d'etre of this short memoir. It is to be remarked that Brauer, in 

 his "Neuropteren Europas " (Festschrift, z.-b. Q-es. Wien, 1876), in analyzing the 

 Austrian species, says of abdominalis : — " Ich halte sowohl diese als audi die vorige 

 Art {prasina) nur fiir Varietaten von Ch. aspersa, Wesm." The principal point 

 in Brauer's earlier descriptions is the existence of elongate brown markings on either 

 side of the dorsum of the abdomen. I have shown that these apparently exist in 

 the type of prasina ; I will show later on that they exist in Zelleri. In the " Neu- 

 roptera Austriaca " we also find allusion to the black commencement of the sector 

 radii, and of the upper cubitus. It is well to remark that I have not seen an actual 

 type of abdominalis. At one time I temporarily rejoiced in the discovery of what 

 appeared to be a good character (not noticed by Brauer), but the illusion was soon] 

 dispelled. I possess examples from Saxony sent by Eostock as abdominalis ; I have I 

 seen one from the same source, and also from Burgdorf, Switzerland (Meyer-DiJr), 

 from Albarda's collection ; in 1885 I captured in Holland, and in the Schwarzwald, 



