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NEUROPTERA. 



Synopsis of the British Phryganid^e. 

 By Dr. Hagen. 



[The first portion only of this Paper is now given, owing to its length 

 and the pressure of other matter.] 



Introduction. 



England is the cradle of our present knowledge of the 

 Phryganidce. More than a century and a half ago 

 Willoughby gave (Maii Hist. Ins.) a review of the cases 

 of the various species, which shows an accurate acquaint- 

 ance with the subject. Nearly fifty years ago we find in 

 Dr. Leach's excellent article Entomology (Brewster's 

 Encycl. vol. ix. 1815), the first useful classification of the 

 Phryganidce. At p. 136 we read : — " We must refer to a 

 work which Dr. Leach is about to publish, entitled, ' Tri- 

 choptera Systematica.' " Unfortunately this work has 

 never appeared. However, the genera established by Leach, 

 from their truth to nature, essentially constitute the founda- 

 tion of every subsequent work, and at the same time prove 

 how earnestly he had occupied himself with this subject. 

 There can be no doubt that even now the publication of his 

 manuscript investigations upon the Pliryganidce (in case 

 they be still in existence) would be of great value to science. 



