JASSINiE. 265 



Subfamily V. JASSIN^E (including Acocephalin.e). 



Jassides, A?ny. §; Serv. Mem. p. oSl (1843). 



Jassina, Stal, Ofv.Vet.-Ak. Fork. 1870, p. 735 j Van Duzee, Tr. 



Am. Ent. Soc. xix, p. 207 (1892). 

 Jassaria, Oshan. Verz. Pal. Hemipt. Bd. ii, Homopt. p. 101 (1906), 

 Jassinae, Dist. ante, p. 158. 

 Acocephalidffi, iJohrn, Cat. Hem. p. 84 (1859) ; Edw. Tr. Ent. Soc. 



1886, p. 45. 

 Acocephalides, Sahib. Not. Fatm. Flor. Fenn. Fork. (21 ix, pp. 72 & 



352 (1871) ; Siffn. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 47. 

 Acocephalini, Puton, Cat, Hem. Pal. p. 79 (1886) ; Melich. Horn. 



Faun. Ceylon, p. 163 (1003). 

 Acocepbalina, Atkins. J. A. S. B. liv, p. 102 (1885) ; Van Duzee, Tr. 



Am. Ent. Soc. xix, p. 297 (1892). 

 Acocepbalai'ia, Oshan. Verz. Pal. Hemipt. Bd. ii, Homopt. p. 84 



(1006). 

 Acocephalinae, Dist. ante, p. 158. 



In my synopsis of the subfamilies of the Jassidae {ante, p. 158) 

 I proposed to keep the Acocephalinae and Jassinse distinct from 

 one another, as is done by most systematists. When, however, I 

 had been some time working at the genera included in these 

 divisions, I found myself in too many instances unable to decide 

 with certitude whether they belonged to one or the other. I was 

 not alone in this dilemma as is shown by the different conclusions 

 of those whose views can be accepted as belonging to competent 

 homopterists. Thus Xestocephaliis, placed by its founder, Van 

 Duzee, in the Acocephalinae, is by Melichar and Matsumura located 

 in the Jassinae ; Hecalus included by Stal, its founder, in the 

 Acocephalinae *, a view accepted by Melichar and Oshanin, is 

 considered by Van Duzee as a member of the Jassinae. Platy- 

 metopius is located by Puton and Oshanin iu the Jassinae, by 

 Edwards and Buckton in the Acocephalinae. Paranusus according 

 to the views of Puton, Buckton, and Oshanin belongs to the 

 Acocephalinae, by Van Duzee it is regarded as a component of the 

 Jassinae. Many other instances could doubtless be recorded, but 

 the above will suffice to shovs^ that though in some cases there is 

 no difficulty, in others it is impossible at present to find an exact 

 line of demarcation between the Acocephalinae and Jassinae. 



We recall the words of the late Prof. jN'ewton with respect to 

 the various proposed ornithological systems. " It is impossible 

 with our present knowledge to thread the maze in which the 

 taxonomer now finds himself." We must, however, remember that 



* Stal first described its species in the geuus Acoeephalus. 

 VOL. IV. T 



