the British Neuroptera-Planijpemiia. 157 



edge ; four (very rarely three ) discoidal areoles, varying 

 much in form, the second being frequently triangular, 

 and shorter than the others ; neuration strong and black, 

 the base of some of the longitudinal veins, the costa for 

 about half its length, and the two first costal veinlets, 

 generally yellow; marginal veins bifurcate or quadri- 

 bifurcate at the apical, simply furcate on the dorsal 

 margins. 



Expanse of wings 11-14 lines. 



The largest and perhaps the most common species. 

 The above description is made from specimens beaten 

 from fir-trees near Croydon. Some examples from other 

 localities have a slightly different appearance, and the 

 sub-costa does not so closely reach the pterostigma, but 

 I can detect no other important difference. 



This must certainly be the true notata of Fabricius, 

 who described the species from an English specimen, 

 and no other allied insect is found here. Moreover, a 

 fragment of Fabricius' type still exists in Banks' collec- 

 tion, and is sufficient to decide the matter, although 

 nearly destroyed. I am not clear as to the notata of 

 Schneider and others, which ordinarily should have only 

 three discoidal areoles, indistinct ocelli, etc., etc. 



2. Raphidia xanthostigma, Schummel. 



Raphidia xanthostigma, Schum. Versuch, p. 12, fig. 3 

 (1832) ; Burm. Handb. ii. 963; Schn. Mon. Raph. 71, 

 pi. iii. fig. a-e ; Brauer, Neurop. Aust. 53 ; Hag. Ent. 

 Ann. 1858, p. 31, Tr. Ent. Soc. ser. 3, v. 495. R. Lon- 

 dinensis (Leach), Steph. 111. vi. 130 (1836), but not of 

 Hag. Ent. Ann. 1858, p. 31. 



The following description is drawn up from a freshly- 

 killed male example. 



Head widened in front, gradually narrowed behind ; 

 brassy-black ; slightly but distinctly punctured above 

 and beneath ; upper surface nearly flat, with a deep 

 longitudinal median line which is reddish ; front grayish- 

 white, with a black spot below the base of each antenna ; 

 clypeus grayish-white, with two reddish spots in the 

 middle ; labrum brownish, its anterior edge pale ; palpi 

 black, the sutures of the joints yellowish ; ocelli indis- 

 tinct ; antennae fuscous, the basal third yellow. 



