9. MICROCHRYSA 197 



to or just before the origin of the prsefurca, and emitting from its end two veinlets 

 to the wingmargin (and sometimes an abortive third veinlet) besides the upper 

 branch of the postical vein which appears to issue from the discal cell because the 

 small cross- vein is absent, so that the upper branch of the postical vein forii s the 

 lower margin of the discal cell for a short distance or even to nearly one-third of the 

 length of the cell ; discal cross-vein placed only a little before or at the middle of 

 the discal cell ; postical vein with part of its ui:)per branch forming the lower margin 

 of the discal cell and otherwise running simple to the wingmargin, but with its 

 lower branch rapidly curved downwards so that it joins the anal vein a considerable 

 distance before the wingmargin, and consequently the portion of the anal vein afttr 

 the anal cell is about half as long as the anal cell ; hindmarginal cells including the 

 subapical and postical cells four more or less complete, or if the discal cell emits an 

 imperfect veinlet five, of which two are incomplete ; alula evidently developed 

 though small. Wing-membrane minutely pubescent, but not ribbed or rippled. 

 Alar squamie present though rather small, distinctly fringed on their margins: 

 thoracal squamae undeveloped, though traceable as a raised line near the squamal 

 angle. 



The Berince are most allied in their venation to the Pmhynustrtnce, 

 from which the elongate seven -segmented abdomen and the very distinct 

 antennse in European species at once distinguish them ; the Xylomyinm, 

 which are the only species with a similar abdomen and an 8-annulated 

 flagellum are really the most allied, but are easily distinguished by having 

 the prffifarca ( = common base of the radial and cubital veins) originating 

 far before the base of the discal cell, by the elongate hexagonal discal 

 cell, longer anal cell, unarmed scutellum, and spurred posterior tibiae. 

 Important characters for the Berinm may lie in the peculiar sharply 

 defined darkened stigma which fills the whole of the marginal cell, and 

 in the shortened anal cell caused through the peculiarly downturned 

 lower branch of the postical fork. 



The Berince are composed of about ten genera, which are known to 

 occur all over Europe, North, Central, and South America, Australia, and 

 New Zealand. Five genera and about ten species are palsearctic, and two 

 genera and seven species are now described as British. 



The metamorphoses of very few species are known, but the larva of 

 Chorisops tibialis was described and figured by Handlirsch in 1883 (Verh. 

 zool.-bot., Wien, xxxiii., 243). 



Considering the uncertain etymology of Beris, I prefer to use the term 

 Berince for the subfamily, just as Canis makes Ganince, etc. Agassiz 

 derived Beris from " /Brjpo?, vestis," but I cannot trace any such Greek 

 word, and I am inclined to derive it from ^/jpvXXog, the beryl, because of 

 the brilliant green coloring of the thorax. 



Table of the Palmarctic Genera of Berince. 



1 (2) Scutellum unarmed, smooth margined. Allognosta. 



2 (1) Scutellum armed with four or more marginal spines. 



3 (8) All 'tibiae without spurs. Abdomen rather narrow, with almost 



parallel sides. 



4 (5) Palpi obsolete or minute. Eyes hairy, touching in the male. 



10. Beeis, 



