PSEUDONEUROPTERA. 6? 



of one of the lines of development of winged insects. This posi- 

 tion is indicated by fan-like form of the wings, which is characteristic 

 of the primordial insects, and by the paired openings of the repro- 

 ductive organs, a feature not found in highly developed animals. 



Our representatives of this family have not been thoroughly 

 studied. Eaton in his monograph* enumerates less than one hun- 

 dred species from the whole of North America. But these he dis- 

 tributes among more than twenty genera. The following key is 

 based on the characters given for the genera and groups of genera 

 by this author. It will aid the student in classifying his specimens : 

 but it should be regarded as merely provisional. 



In distinguishing subordinate groups in the Ephemeridae much use is made 

 of the venation of the wings. It is necessary here to describe only that of the 

 fore wings. The system adopted is that of Eaton. 



The principal nerves of the fore wing show a tendency to be segregated into 

 three groups, as follows : (Fig. 66.) 



CM. s. 



a 

 Fig. 66. — Fore wing of May-fly. 



Group I. — This group consists of three veins, which communicate directly 

 with the thorax. These are named the costa (c), subcosta (sc), and radius (r). 

 The costa is coincident with the anterior margin of the wing; and the sub- 

 costa and radius are nearly parallel with it ; the three veins are united near the 

 base of the wing by the great cross vein. 



Group II. — This group also consists of three principal veins ; but the first of 

 these gives off a prominent branch before the middle of the wing, which is 

 termed the sector (s). The sector is a branch of the cubitus (cu) ; just behind 

 the cubitus is the fircebrachial (fir), and behind that the fiostbrdchial 

 This group of veins is annexed to the first group, or terminates in the wing 

 membrane adjacent to it, close to the base of the wing. 



Group III. — The remaining veins constitute the third group. This is asso- 

 ciated with the prominent curved or angulated crease in the membrane of the 

 wing, which forms the boundary of a depression near the base of the wing. 

 The first vein of this group is the anal (a) ; the remaining ones are termed the 

 axillary veins (ax 1 , ax", ax % , etc). The anal vein as a rule subtends directly the 

 anal angle of the wing; in one group of genera it is joined at its base to the 

 postbrachial vein. 



*A Revisional Monograph of Recent Ephemeridae or May-flics, by the Rev. .\. E. 

 Eaton. This work is to form Volume III. of the Trans, of the Linn. Soc. of London. 

 Only four parts have appeared at the present writing. 



