36 fJ'i'y- 



In the absence of any data to tlie contrary, the subject may at 

 present be closed as follows: — 

 (1.) With the exception of the ventral and prosternal peculiarities 



exhibited in ventralis, all other characters seem to be essentially 



variable and often interchangeable. 

 (2.) There appears reason to believe that all the conditions may be 



only varieties of one species, for which the name ventralis has the 



right of priority. 

 (3.) Admitting ventralis as distinct, the others are varieties of one 



species, for which jji^asina should be adopted. 



In concluding these notes, it remains to me to acknowledge the 

 great assistance I have received from my correspondent Mr. Herman 

 Albarda, of Leeuwarden, to whom I am indebted for help to the extent 

 that some portion of the notice may be regarded as a joint production. 

 It is essentially a critical subject, and one on which I have the highest 

 regard for Mr. Albarda's critical acumen. He was so kind as to look 

 through a preliminary draft of these notes, and I have embodied most 

 of his suggestions ; which, moreover, caused me to re-examine my 

 materials, and, in so doing, additional points of importance were 

 discovered. 



Lewisham, London : 

 June, 1886. 



ON SOME POINTS OP VAEIATION IN CHRYSOPA 

 SEPTEMPUNCTATA, WESM. 



BY ROBERT McLACHLAN, F.R.S., &c. 



Chrysopa septemfunctata is a widely-distributed species in the 

 limits of the European Fauna, and, though by no means confined to 

 gardens, a common garden insect, and one of the most evil-smelling 

 of its genus. Its specific name is derived from the pi^esence (ordinarily) 

 of seven black markings on the face, viz. : — a usually large and often 

 ovate spot between the basal joints of the antennae, a more or less 

 lunate spot below (or before) each basal antennal joint, a more or less 

 I'ounded spot on the genje on either side, and a streak on either side 

 of the clypeus. Excepting differences in the size of individual examples 

 of the insect, the variation mainly concerns these spots on the face. 

 Schneider (Monogr., p. 102) recognised two such varieties, viz. : — 



"Duobus punctis iiigris ante antennas deficientibus : varietas quinque-punctata, 



mihi. 

 Etiam puncto nigro inter antennas deficiente : varietas quadri-punctafa, m." 



