96 [April, 1908. 



campids). Also in the humeral area ( u lanceolate cell ") the humerus 

 and brachius keep apart till the actual apex of the cell, so that this 

 cell is never either ' petiolate " or " contracted," but either '' open " 

 or crossed near its apex by a transverse nervure. 



Two of the Selandriad genera, viz., Harpiphorus, Htg., and 

 Atkalia, Leach, may be separated at once from the rest and from each 

 other by peculiar characters in their antennae. These in Harpiphorus 

 have the basal joint shorter than the second, the reverse being the case 

 with all the other genera. In Athaiia the antenna? have at least ten 

 joints (and sometimes eleven or even twelve) instead of the normal 

 nine ; yet the total length of the antenna? is rather below than above 

 the average, the individual joints being short and subquadrate. Also 

 the antenna? (except the actual apical joint) are not in the least 

 attenuated towards the apex ; in fact, ihey become successively thicker 

 as they approach it, but so gradually that they could hardly be called 

 " clavate " — rather, perhaps, " sub-clavately filiform."* 



Harpiphorus, Htg. 



Tables for this genus are not required, as we have only one 

 species, H. lepidus,K\. This is a rather pretty little insect, something 

 like a Hoplocampa or a small Pteronus such as curtispinis, but 

 unlikely to be confused with either, owing to the very different alar 

 neuration. The radial area is, of course, " divided ; " there are three 

 closed cubital cells only (the first and second each receiving a 

 medial n.), the humeral area shows an oblique cross nervure. In the 

 hind-wing there is one closed (medial) cell. 



The insect is not, I believe, very common, though of wide distri- 

 bution. I never took it myself, but have a British specimen from the 

 late Dr. Capron's collection, and several correspondents have sent it 

 to me for determination. 



Athalia, Leach. 

 This is a very distinct and uniform genus, with but few species, 

 superficially all very similar, both in form and colour. Some are 

 very abundant in individuals, with broods rapidly succeeding one 

 another, and occurring with little local variation everywhere through- 

 out the Pala?arctic region. Others are comparative rarities every- 

 where, but even these are widely distributed. 



* I do not understand why Mr. Cameron has said that the antenna) of Athalia "resemble 

 those of Allaiitas except that they have more than nine joints." Generally at least, in the latter 

 genus the antennae are "fusiform," i. e., conspicuously thickened in the middle and tapering 

 from thence to the apex, and the separate joints an: also much more elongate than they are in 

 Athalia. 



