superior JVhig of the Hymenoptera. 209 



Several circumstances concurred to lead me to a studiously care- 

 ful inspection of the neuration of the sui)erior wing throughout 

 the order ; and the result has been the discovery of a nervure 

 which, by the degree of influence it exercises over several that are 

 subservient to it, will, I expect, afford important assistance in re- 

 ducing to order some of the yet comparatively chaotic tribes. 

 Upon making this discovery my first object was to ascertain the 

 name of this nervure, for I could not remember that any had been 

 applied to it ; and, as I had surmised, I sought in vain, for no full 

 and detailed description of the wing has as yet been given ; and I con- 

 sidered that before I proceeded with the elaboration of my discovery 

 it would be both useful and desirable to give a full description of the 

 reticulation of the nervures upon the superficies of the wing, and 

 to apply individual names to such as had as yet been either neg- 

 lected, or named in conjunction with others. I have taken the 

 wing of Gorytes mystaceus as my type, for I consider it the most per- 

 fect in the order, and of which the rest are only modifications or 

 aberrations. I candidly admit that I ought to have restricted 

 myself to merely naming the hitherto anonymous portions, but I 

 .thought that if I did so it might tend possil)ly to confuse ; I have 

 therefore preferred incurring your censure by the recapitulation of 

 Avhat has been already done before me, that I might give greater 

 lucidity and precision to my own views, and in consideration that 

 a full description of this organ has never yet been given in one 

 tablet. 



The contour of the wing is formed by its anterior, apical, and 

 posterior margins. The anterior margin is that portion which is 

 situated anteriorly upon its expansion in flight, extending from its 

 base to the distinctly visible extremity of the costal nervure, a little 

 beyond the marginal cell ; at its termination the apical tnargin com- 

 mences, and extends to the sinus of the wing, which is the incision 

 at the apex of the posterior margin, which latter extends from this 

 sinus back to the base, and it is by this margin that the upper and 

 under wings are connected in flight. The costal nervure is the first 

 longitudinal nervure of the wing, and, as we have seen, extends upon 

 the anterior margin to just beyond the extremity of the marginal 

 cell. The second longitudinal nervure is the post-costal ; this ex- 

 tends to the stigma, which is that thickened point or spot upon the 

 wing placed upon its anterior margin at about two thirds of the 

 distance between its base and extreme apex, and appears to me to 

 be a dilatation of the costal nervure. 



The third longitudinal nervure is the externo-medial, which pro- 

 ceeds in a direct line nearly parallel with the preceding for a little 



