38 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM VOL. 92 | 
PACKARD’S DESCRIPTIONS OF STREPTOCEPHALUS TEXANUS 
From a thorough study of the original and subsequent descriptions 
of S. texanus it becomes clear that Packard confused specimens of 
S. seali with his new species. The original description (1871) is 
vague, but the fact that he compared it with S. similis Baird, 
1854, and stated its close kinship to this species shows that he must | 
have had some specimens of S. seali. This is borne out by the fact 
that the figure 13 published with his short notice of S. texanus in 1874 
is certainly a figure of S. seal. It is a rather crude drawing, but 
characters of the furecae and clasping antennae indicate S. seali 
rather clearly. In 1877 Packard described S. watsonz, using specimens 
from Ellis, Kans. (U.S. N. M. No. 58808). Subsequently he declared 
this species a synonym of S. texanus (1883) and repeated the descrip- 
tion as a part of a redescription of S. teranus. Since this last descrip- 
tion seems to be free from confusion with S. seali and is accompanied | 
by good figures, our conception of S. texanus should be based on this | 
one, and the original used for the sake of establishing priority alone. 
Incidentally, the cotypes of S. watsoni, in the absence of types of 
S. texanus, become the real basis for the latter species. Through 
the courtesy of the U. S. National Museum I have examined these 
specimens and thereby verified my own identifications. 
KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF STRETOCEPHALUS 
(Modified from Creaser, 1930, to include S. dorothae) 
1. Male caudal furcae with setae along basal portion and heavy, curved spines 
distally: - 2 aot Se eye ae Ud fe se een ee eee 2 
Male caudal furcae setiferous along CpITe MOART OU oe a ee ep eae ee eee 3 
2. Inner shorter branch of male clasping antennae with 2 processes on anterior 
Niarpin: near proximal eng). 22 As fe fe ee baer ees seali Ryder 
Inner shorter branch of male clasping antennae with 3 processes on anterior 
MATIN wear’ Proximal CNG 22 —e  ee B ete similis Baird 
3. Inner branch of male clasping antennae with a process on posterolateral margin 
near distal end; posterior spur of the longer outer branch blade-shaped. 
texanus Packard 
Inner branch of male clasping preenrne without a process near distal end; 
posterior spur of the longer outer branch shaped like a miniature foot at 
URLS CDG oe, Sheet ee 2 ees re nae ee har Oe Ce nee dorothae, new species 
