PYEOPS. 179 



" On a probable Explanation of an Unverified Observation rela- 

 tive to the Family Fiilgoridse " (Tr. Ent. Soc. 1895, pp. 429 et seq.), 

 I have endeavoured to reconcile these contrary statements of 

 trustworthy observers by the suggestion of the sometime and 

 infrequent presence of parasite and luminous micro-organisms, as 

 have been found to have caused the luminosity of Midges (Chiro- 

 nomidse) and Talitrus, a genus of crnstacea (Amphipoda). 



Another purpose of this cephalic process has been predicated by 

 Mr. Annandale (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1900, p. 8G7) as a method of pro- 

 pulsion, and, to use his words, " if the tip of the nose and the dorsal 

 surface of the abdomen were pressed together between the finger 

 and thumb and then suddenly released, the insect would not fail 

 straight to the ground, but would be propelled for some distance 

 through tlie air before doing so ; just as would be the case if a 

 piece of A\halebone A\ere treated in like manner." This has since 

 been disputed by Mr. Fletcher ('Entomologist,' 1901, p. 50). 



>S>fnopsts of Genera. 



A. Gente before eyes rouuded or rouudly subtrun- 



cate ; apex of face profoundly sinuate ; meso- 

 notum not centrally carinate ; cephalic process 

 straiglit Pyeops. p. 179. 



B. Genaj before eyes truncate ; apex of face only 



moderately or slightly sinuate : mesouotum 

 centrally carinate ; cephalic process more or 

 less curved. 



a. Face not laterally rounded near apex : teg- 



mina always nearly completely, or with more 

 than apical third, furnished with transverse 

 small veins or veinlets, 

 (/. Cephalic process gradually, not suddenly, 



narrowed from a little in front of ej'es ; 



tegmina moderately broad, their greatest 



width more than a third of their length, 



their apical margins more or less convexly 



rounded Fulgora, p. 182. 



/;. Cephalic process suddenly narrowed from a 



little in front of eyes ; tegmina somewhat 



narrow, their greatest breadth less than a 



third of their length, their apical margins 



more or less obliquely subtruncate Saiva, p. 192. 



b. Face, laterally, somewhat roundly ampliate 



near apex ; tegmina with only third or apical 

 area furnished with remote transverse small 

 veins or veinlets Alcathous, p. 197. 



Genus PYROPS. 



Pvrops, Spin. Ann. Soc. Eiit, Fr. 1839, p. 231 ; Ainy. Sf Sero. Hem. 

 'p. 491 (1843) ; Stdl, Hem. Afr. iv. pp. 133 & 139 (18G6) ; Atkins. 



J. A. S. Beng. liv, p. 139 (1885) ; Bid. Tr. E. S. 1893, p. 443. 

 Zanna, Kirk. J. Nat. Hist. Soc. Bomb. xiv. p. 47 (1902) ; Melich. 



Horn. Faun. Ceylon, p. 13 (1903). 



Tyi)e, P. tenehrosw', Fabr., an Ethiopian species. 



