236 MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSETTM 



Many of tlie genera, especially in my subfamily Iduridnx, were included by 

 Walker, Westwood and Mayr, among the Agaonidx, a position not tenable. The 

 genus Podagrion Spinola, too, on account of the swollen and dentate hind femora 

 was placed by Mayr, Howard and others with the Ghakididse. The swollen and 

 dentate hind femora, although of great taxonomic importance, in themselves should 

 not alone be depended upon to place genera and species. Many genera and species 

 are now known with such femora that unquestionably belong to other families. In 

 the family Cleonymidte there is a whole subfamily Avith such hind femora and it 

 would be absurd and most unnatural to classify it with the Chahididx on that ac- 

 count alone. 



In establishing families many characters must be carefully considered, weighed 

 and analyzed, and we should not be led astray by superficial resemblances or b}' 

 characters common to many groups. 



Six fairly well defined subfamilies have l)een recognized. 



TABLE OF SUBFAMILIES. 



1. Mesotlioracic furrows not well defined, the scapulae therefore scarcely or indistinctly separated ; abdo- 



men in 9 conically pointed, the ovipositor not exserted 6 



Mesotboracic furrows distinctly defined, the scapulae therefore well separated ; ovipositor always 

 prominently exserted, most frequently very long 2 



2. Hind tibise with only one apical spur 5 



Hind tibiie with two apical spurs. 



Posterior margin of the mesepisternnm incised beyond the middle ; metepimeron curved, dilated 

 above the apex ; posterior femora simple, neither armed with a tooth nor serrate 3 



Posterior margin of the mesepisternnm entire ; posterior femora rarely simple, more or less 

 swollen, serrate or armed with one or two teeth beneath, sometimes much swollen and armed 

 with several teeth beneath 4 



3. Stigmal vein always long ; abdomen usually more or less depressed ; if subcompressed the hyjiopygium 



is large and prominent ; males frequently apterous, the head usually oblong, with a triangular fovea 

 anteriorly in which lie the antennae ; abdomen short, never tubularly lengthened. 



Subfamily I. Idarnin^. 



Stigmal vein very short, the knob of same being sessile or subsessile ; abdomen usually subcompressed, 



the hypopygium not prominent ; males most frequently winged ; if apterous, the head not oblong 



and without a triangular fovea anteriorly Subfamily II. Toeymin^. 



4. Hind femora not much swollen, as long as their tibiae, beneath feebly serrate or armed with one or two 



teeth beyond the middle towards apex, their tibiaj straight ; 'fcietanotiinJ' usually with a median 

 carina, coarsely rugulose or punctate ; stigmal vein not long, but still longer than in the Torijminx, 



oblique and clavate Subfamily III. Monodontomerin^. 



Hind femora much swollen and armed with from four to cli/lit teeth, their tibiae arcuate ; metanotum 

 with a A-sluiped carina ; stigmal vein sliort, the knob subsessile, similar to the Torijmlnie. 



Subfamily IV. PoDAGRiONiNiE. 



