aberrant Species in the Genus ElacMsta. 271 



The Linnean description of Brunnichella (Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, 

 i. 2, p. 898, No. 448) is as follows : — 



*' Corpus minutum, lineare, planiusculum, atrum. Antennae 

 corpore breviores, infra apicem albae. Alse atrae fasciis tribus 

 violaceis sive chalybis candefacti colore, quarum prima ad basin, 

 secunda in medio, tertia curva ad apicem. Cilia postice inter 

 alarum apices, subulata in plures dentes." 



To this it may be objected that the antennae, though "infra 

 apicem albae," are not ''corpore breviores;" that the wings are not 

 "atrae," and the cilia are not "subulata in plures dentes." 



The position of the markings described is in wonderful accord- 

 ance with the insect we are considering, the basal fascia of which 

 frequently, if the specimens are at all worn, assume more or less 

 of a coppery or violet tint. 1 think, when it is further borne in 

 mind how very few species there are to the antennae of which the 

 "infra apicem albae" will apply, the coincidence of the agree- 

 ment in that respect and in the markings of the anterior wings is 

 more than can result from accident. 



Quadrella is no doubt rather an aberrant species of ElacMsta, 

 and in the larva changing to a pupa within the mine is quite sin- 

 gular, but the neuration of the wings and the structure of the palpi 

 both tend to show that it ought not to be removed from the remain- 

 ing species of the genus, and it is far better to admit a few semi- 

 discordant species than to multiply genera unnecessarily. 



