the British Neuro'ptera-Planipenma. 209 



Wings linear, obtuse, nearly equal [Boreiis is sub- 

 apterous), no anal space ; hyaline ; the costa and sub' 

 costa are sub-parallel, and both join the costa before the 

 apex ; ptcrostigma indistinct. In repose the wings are 

 carried longitudinally, and nearly horizontally. 



Larva subterraneous. 



The two British genera form two families, and the 

 generic characters apply to the families in so far as our 

 insects are concerned. 



Family I. PANORPID^. 

 Genus I. Panorpa, Linne. 



Rostrum long ; ocelli present ; clypeus elongated, acu- 

 minate at the apex, projecting to the extremity of the 

 labrum ; mandibles narrow, unidentate ; maxillce with 

 two ciliated lobes ; maxillary palpi with the joints nearly 

 equal, the terminal one more slender ; labium elongate ; 

 lubial palpi 4-jointed (according to Westwood) , the three 

 first joints broad, the terminal one more slender. 



Abdomen sub-cylindrical, long ; the second segment 

 is sometimes produced above posteriorly ; the fifth seg- 

 ment is elongated, and somewhat acuminate. In the 

 male the three terminal segments are corneous and 

 modified ; the two first being more or less conical ; the 

 terminal (or eighth) is dilated, and carries a pair of 

 forceps. The composition of this segment is very 

 complicated ; the basal portion, which is probably the 

 true segment, is small, and carries two large dilated 

 pieces, at the extremity of which is placed the forceps, 

 the branches of which are irregularly toothed within ; 

 the upperside (or the surface which is opposite the 

 dorsum of the abdomen when the terminal segment is 

 recurved) is occupied by an elongate oval plate placed 

 between the two lateral pieces ; the lower side (that 

 which is seen uppermost) carries two long appendices 

 arising from the base of the segment, and within these 

 are spine-like processes which are probably the penis- 

 sheaths, the penis being small and concealed. In the 

 female the three last segments are slender and not re- 

 curved, the terminal one carrying two diverging articu- 

 lated appendices.* 



* Althoixgh I have here followed other authors in giving eight ahdo- 

 niinal segments, it appears probable that there are in reality nin^ ; the 

 first being confused with the hinder part of the meta-thorax. If this 

 supposition be correct, the three modified male terminal segments should 

 be called the seventh, eighth, and ninth, instead of the sixth, seventh, and 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1868. PART. II. (JULY). ? 



