46 Psyche [April 



the three is close, which is the more remarkable because their 

 places of origin were widely separated, both geographically and 

 geologically. I expect to publish later data from a study of pres- 

 ent-day species of gall-wasps; it points to Aulacidea as the most 

 primitive Cynipid genus. It would be important to know some- 

 thing of the time and manner of origin of the more highly special- 

 ized, oak-gall-forming species with their complex biology. A care- 

 ful search through collections of fossils would likely lead to the 

 discovery of species that might supply further information on that 

 question. 



Aulacidea Ashmead 



The characters of the first three antennal segments, and the size 

 of the second abdominal segments of all the fossils are Aylax or Au- 

 lacidea characters. The straight apical branch of the subcostal 

 vein, and the arcuate first abscissa of the radius shown in two of 

 the species are rare characters among Cynipidse outside of Aulaci- 

 dea. 



Aulacidea progenitrix sp. nov. 



Female. Head: with the 1st and 2nd antennal joints stouter 

 than the following joints, and the last joint longer than the penulti- 

 mate. Thorax: with parapsidal grooves apparent. Abdomen: 

 broadly oval, the second tergite half the length and little more than 

 half the depth of the whole abdomen, with three other segments 

 apparent, and the sheaths of the ovipositor extending to the dorsal 

 line. Length: 3.5 mm. 



Locality: Miocene, of Florissant, Colo. 



Type: specimen number 2376 in the Scudder collection of 

 fossils in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. (Fig. 1, A.) 



This specimen has the head very much distorted, and traces of 

 but fragments of the antennae, legs, and wings. The second dorsal 

 abdominal plate extends little beyond the dorsal fine, and is smaller 

 than in any other species of true Cynipid, likely indicating more 

 primitive relationships. 



Aulacidea ampliforma sp. nov. 



Male. Head: with filiform antennae, the second joint stoutest. 

 Thorax: with parapsidal grooves apparent. Abdomen: broadly 

 oval, the second dorsal plate extending half the length of the abdo- 



