the British Neuroptera-Planipennia. 181 



Very abundant everywhere, throughout the year, ex- 

 cept in the depth of winter. 



Extraordinarily variable in size, and in the extent or 

 absence of markings on the anterior wings. It may 

 usually be separated by the isolated black spot near the 

 base, but this is occasionally absent. Some examples 

 are very dark, and bear considei*able resemblance to II. 

 nervosus. 



Independent of coloration, it seems probable that two 

 species may be here intermingled. In many dry ex- 

 amples, I find the appendices of the males longer, dilated 

 at the apex, but scarcely furcate, A careful comparison 

 of living examples is necessary in order to settle the 

 question. 



North American specimens do not differ from the des- 

 cribed European form, 



7. Hemebobius margin atus, Stephens. 



Hemerohius marginatus, Steph. 111. vi, 109 (1836). 

 H. flexuosus, Hag. Stett. Zeit. 1858, p. 131 (not described) . 



Pale primrose-yellow, face and antennoe concolorous ; 

 joa/j3i with the terminal joint blackish; sides of the ^ro- 

 thorax fuscescent. 



Abdomen pale yellow, with pale hairs. In the ^ , the 

 appendices form two broad, hairy, concave, obtuse, semi- 

 transparent yellow lobes, the upper margins of which are 

 slightly turned inwards (PL X, figs. Q-Qa) . In the $ , 

 the abdomen is obtuse. 



Legs very pale yellow ; tarsi brownish at the tips. 



Wings broad, the apical margin very oblique; pale 

 whitish-hyaline, with a yellowish tinge: anterior pair 

 usually with large fuscous blotches along the apical and 

 dorsal margins, and often with indistinct transverse 

 grayish fasciee along the gradate veinlets ; or these wings 

 are almost entirely without markings (these specimens are 

 usually males) ; neuration almost colourless, the costal 

 veinlets and longitudinal veins sparingly streaked with 

 dark fuscous, all the gradate veinlets dark fuscous ; three 

 sectors; about eight veinlets in the inner and outer gra- 

 date series ; two near the base : posterior pair colourless, 

 the pterostigmatical region slightly yellowish. 



Length of body 3^-4 lines ; expanse of wings 8|-9 lines. 



Not common, but occasionally met with in summer. 



