SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH PHRYGANID^. 61 



sheaths of the penis, or the penis itself. Besides these ap- 

 pendages, the upper and lower margins of the last abdominal 

 segment, and sometimes peculiar appendages on the ventral 

 surface of the penultimate and antepenultimate segments, are 

 also of value as characters. 



In the females the apex of the abdomen either forms a 

 telescopic tube or a spine-like ovipositor, or it is obtusely 

 ti'uncated, with the orifice of the oviduct over the penulti- 

 mate segment. Sometimes, in the females, the same parts 

 may be detected as in the males, especially app. superiores, 

 inferiores and intermedia; in most cases, however, the 

 parts are too much changed to allow any analogy. In 

 general the specific distinctions of the females are here less 

 distinctly marked. 



VII. Lastly, in the seventh place, the coloration of the 

 animals presents specific characters, in the application of 

 which, however, great care must be employed. The colora- 

 tion and marking of the insects consists principally in the 

 covering of hair, which is very easily rubbed off, and besides 

 the colours fade by long keeping. Moreover, the coloration 

 and marking vary within rather wide limits, and animals 

 newly excluded are pale and nearly colourless, and very old 

 insects are often completely rubbed. The coloration of parts 

 destitute of the hairy covering are also not perfectly stable. 



I find the most profitable mode of capturing the insects to 

 consist in beating into the umbrella [or beating -net], espe- 

 cially amongst firs and willows on the margins of w r oods, 

 even at a considerable distance from water. A convenient 

 place for taking them is also presented by walls or palings 

 by the water side, especially in the forenoon. Some genera 

 (Leptocericlce) swarm in great quantities over the water, and 



