1921] Miiir—The Phylogeny of Homoptera 119 



Fiilgoroidea are in connection witli the base of the sedeagus. They 

 are probably homologous. 



In the Fulgoroidea there is great diversity of structure and it 

 is very difficult to decide which is the most generalized. In cer- 

 tain forms (i. e., certain Delphacidse) it is of a simple tubular 

 nature with a small ring round its base. In other forms this ring 

 is greatly enlarged and forms an outer tube around the inner tube. 

 In some forms there are even three tubes and one may be exceed- 

 ingly complex. 



Until we understand the homologies of the various types within 

 the order Hemiptera any homologizing with other orders is but 

 guesswork and not scientific evidence, although the guesses may 

 be correct. 



Dr. Crampton has so often associated the Psocidge and Psyllida) 

 together, as if the latter Avere descended from the former and all 

 else followed naturally, that there is a possibility of readers not 

 acquainted with the Homoptera accepting that conclusion as well 

 founded. For that reason I raise the above objections. 



Certain remarks in Dr. Crampton's papers leads one to believe 

 that he holds views on evolution considerably different to those of 

 the majority of biologists ; or his metaphors are so anthropomorphic 

 that they are misleading. As an exam])le of this I quote from 

 a recent work:^ 



"Taking their anatomy as a whole, the Hymenoptera show vm- 

 doubted affinities with the Neuropteroid insects (i. e., the Neu- 

 roptera, Mecoptera, Tricoptera, etc.), but they also present certain 

 points of similarity to the Psocoid insects, such as the Homoptera, 

 Thysanoptera, Psocida, etc. The lines of development of all of 

 these form.s apparently arose from ancestors intermediate between 

 the Zoraptera (with the Isoptera) on the one side, and the Cole- 

 optera (with the Dermaptera) on the other — much as a family 

 of children inherit traits from the father's side — and I am inclined 

 to consider that the Hymenoptera inherited tlieir social tendencies 

 from the side of the Zoraptera (with the Isoptera) while their 

 type of genitalia apparently comes from the side of the Coleoptera 

 (with the Dermaptera)." 



Does Dr. Crampton believe that new orders arise as hybrids from 

 the crossing of individuals belonging to different orders, or are 

 things not what they seem in the quoted paragraph? 



sEnt. News XXXII 5. (1921) p. 1S7. 



