GIGLIOLI, ON PARASITICAL INSECTS FROM CHINA. 25 
hairs, and covered with a downy hair, amongst which are 
scattered a few larger hairs; veins distinct and parallel ; 
length about ~,th of aninch. The length of the body is a 
‘little more than —=!;th of an inch. 
The following most interesting insect belongs to that 
anomalous family the Nycteribiide, wingless, long-legged, 
spider-like creatures, which inhabit exclusively Vespertiliones. 
Professor Westwood, who kindly examined my specimens, 
proposed to make them types of a new genus; and having 
lately studied the Nycteribiide with some care, I cannot but 
agree as to the propriety of such a thing. 
Genus Potyctenss, Westwood and Giglioli. 
Head large and prominent, elongated, obtuse, and rounded 
in front; on its posterior dorsal part is a plate of a 
nearly semicircular form, edged all round with thick spines. 
On the sides of the fore part of the head are two three-jointed 
organs (antenneze ?), bent backwards. A short neck-like piece 
joins the head to the thorax, which is elongated and divided 
into two parts. 
The prothoraz is double the size of the metathoraz, and is 
bordered posteriorly with a line of large spines, as those on 
the head in the male. 
Abdomen of moderate size; it enlarges distally, and is 
segmented. 
Anterior legs rather short, the two following pairs rather 
long and slender. 
Polyctenes molossus, Westwood and Giglioli (Pl. 1s, figs. 
13 and 14).—This remarkable creature inhabits the Chinese 
Molossus. 
Body ofa light colour, about ;°,ths of an inch in length. 
Head rounded in front, where a well-marked clypeus, of a 
nearly semilunar shape, is divided off ; just under its posterior 
angles are inserted the two antenne (?); over their insertion 
are five large spines on each side; these do not exist in the 
other specimen, which I take to be a female. Each antenna 
consists of three rather thick, cylindroid joints, the basal one 
being the longest and the thickest; a few hairs fringe their 
inner borders, and they are bent backwards. Do they at all 
correspond to the organs which have been termed palpi and 
maxilli in Nycteribia? The integument of the head is finely 
striated ; a few hairs are scattered over it. I could make out 
nothing like eyes, and therefore suppose that those organs do 
not exist. 
The buccal apparatus appears well developed, and very 
