174 [January, 



the oblong pieces of pith, noticed in my general observations, for the 

 purpose of mounting them. The wings should be expanded in the 

 usual way on small setting-boards ; but in the case of very small 

 forms, the action of pinning will oj)en the wings sufficiently to admit 

 of the requisite examination. Very little is yet known of them, ex- 

 cepting European forms, though the exotic species are certainly very 

 numerous, and are much needed : some are of extreme beauty, and 

 sometimes even furnished with semi-metallic scales as in small moths. 

 This is possibly the most neglected family of that neglected order 

 Neuroptera, and the known species probably scarcely represent one 

 hundredth part of those that exist : — verhuni sap. ! 



Of the apterous (or semi-apterous) sjiecies (Atropos, CJotJiiUai 

 &c.) it may be truly said that most entomologists need instructions 

 as to how to get peimanently rid of, rather than how to procure, them. 

 They are everywhere, and always making themselves obnoxious by 

 destroying the peace of mind— and the collections — of the Naturalist. 

 One species, at least, is known to inhabit ants' nests, and many more 

 may yet be discovered as ant-guests. Any permanent mode of 

 preserving them as specimens is difficult. They may be carded — 

 unsatisfactory ! ; mounted on mica — also unsatisfactory ! ; or mounted 

 as microscopic slides— perhaps the most satisfactory. Collectors 

 should try to get rid of the notion (still fostered by some) that 

 these little pests are only larval forms of winged insects. Two 

 species (one Atropos, one Clothilla) are common in all houses, and 

 with them, no doubt, the larvas of minute winged sj)ecies that frequent 

 human habitations ; but the structure of these latter would detect 

 them. It may here be well to remark, that there is a suspicion, not 

 yet sufficiently grounded, that some winged tree-frequenting species 

 have apterous conditions allied to what is found in Termes ; it is 

 certain there are forms with imperfectly developed wings, and I think 

 these are always females. 



May -files (J^pJiemeridai) . 



Insects more attended to by the angler than by the entomologist, 

 and upon which much poetry has been written on the taken-for- 

 granted supposition that the romance of their few hours' existence is 

 founded on fact. Possibly, however, some few live only a day or two 

 as perfect insects ; but these are exceptions. The neighbourhood of 

 water, especially running water, is sure to produce multitudes of 

 May-flies. The males of some large species (Ephemei^a) dance in 

 swarms o\er the stream ; whereas, the females are only to be fouud 



