the British. Neuroptera-Planipennia. 195 



Eggs placed on a long pedicle. 



These beautiful insects, familiarly known as " Golden 

 Eyes/^ have long been notorious for the aptitude which 

 some of them possess for emitting, when handled, a most 

 disagreeable smell of ordure (hence they are sometimes 

 called " Stink Flies ") which is retained by the fingers 

 long afterwards. But I am of opinion that this propen- 

 sity has been very greatly exaggerated, and that it is 

 shown only by certain species, and by them only at cer- 

 tain times. I have had many hundreds of living exam- 

 ples through my hands, and can safely assert that it was 

 only exceptionally that they left any odour behind ; 

 though, when this did take place, it was extremely nause- 

 ous. 0. septet) vpunctata is the greatest delinquent in this 

 respect, for I rarely handle a specimen of this species 

 without its leaving a reminder which any amount of 

 washing will not immediately remove. 



I divide the British species, formerly placed in Ghry- 

 sopa, into two genei-a; not because this is rendered 

 necessary for the determination of our insects, but be- 

 cause the large and rapid accumulation of forms from all 

 parts of the globe (nearly 150 species are already de- 

 scribed) makes it imperative that some division should 

 be made. The two genera will now stand as follows: — 



1. Chrysopa, Leach. 



Labrum more or less rounded in front. 



Third cubital cellule in the anterior wings divided 

 unequally (PI. XI. figs. 3 and 4, indicated at cc), the 

 upper portion being small, and more or less ovate. 

 Colour more or less green. 



2. NOTHOCHRYSA, n. g. 



Labrum more or less excised in front.* 



Third cubital cellule in the anterior wings divided 

 nearly equally (PL XI. fig. 5, indicated at c c), the two 

 portions being nearly elongate- quadrate, the two rows of 

 gradate veinlets less parallel. Colour more or less red- 

 dish or yellowish. Form more robust. 



* Curtis, in his " British Entomology," plate 520, gives the excised 

 labrum as a character for the whole of the genus Chrysopa as it then 

 stood, and thus figures it (fig. 2) in his dissections ; but if these dissec- 

 tions are intended to apply to his O. ahhreviata, he is certainly in error ; 

 Stephens (111. vi. 101) makes the same mistake. 



o2 



