May, 1908.] 97 



Besides the peculiarities of its antennae, Athalia differs from all 

 other Selandriads (and also from the Hoplocampids and Blennocampids) 

 in the strong convergence of its eyes towards the mouth-parts. In 

 the other genera the eyes, viewed from the front, are sub-parallel. 

 The neuration of both wings is complete and well-developed — divided 

 radial area, four cubital cells, humeral area with oblique cross n., two 

 closed celis in hind-wing, &c. — it seems to represent well what may 

 be called the central or original type of neuration in its family, from 

 which the other forms appear to have deviated mainly by obliteration 

 of nervures (chiefly transverse) which were present in their ancestors. 



A single type of coloration characterizes the whole genus. The 

 ground-colour is a bright testaceous-orange, with the head {ore 

 excepto !) and the thorax (at least above) entirely or largely black, 

 and the legs (esp. tibia) and tarsi) with conspicuous markings, also of 

 black, which generally take the form of rings at the apices of the 

 several joints. Exactly this type of colour appears in Arge {Hi/lotoma) 

 rosce, and Mr. Cameron has even said that Athalia " mimics " that 

 insect. But, as this colour-scheme is universal in Athalia, while it 

 appears only as an exception, i. e., in a few species only in the other 

 get.us, and as most Athalia spp. are also much more common and 

 widely distributed than are Arge rosce and its allies, I would suggest 

 that, if this kind of mimicry really exists between the insects in 

 question, it would be more natural to suppose that the Arge spp. 

 were the mimics, and Athalia the type mimicked. It may be worth 

 note, also, that in most Stlandriad genera (and also in the Blenuo- 

 campids, Nematids, Dolerids, &c.) one or two particular species occur 

 whose colour differs from that of their congeners more or less in 

 the direction of the Athal ia-y attern {e. g., Selandria serva, Empria 

 (Poecilosoma) luteola, Emphytus serotinus, &c, any of which might be 

 mistaken by an inexpert or hasty observer for an Athalia). But to 

 discuss this matter further would carry us beyond the purpose for 

 which these Notes have been undertaken. 



Six British species of Athalia are described in Mr. Cameron's 

 Monograph, five of which — the same as are enumerated by Thomson 

 for Scandinavia — I have myself taken in this country. The sixth, 

 viz., scutellarice, Cam., is unknown to me ; and not being quite clear 

 how to place it in my Tables, I must omit it there, but will add a 

 note upon it afterwards. 



SYNOPTIC TABLE OF FIVE BRITISH ATHALIA Spp. 



1. Middle lobe of mesonotum and scutelluui testaceous like the abdomen... 



spina rum, F. 



— Mesonotum and scutellum entirely black 2. 



I 



