ISO DR. A. D. IMMS ON 



5. Systematic Position of the Species. 



Embia major is more closely allied to E. sabulosa, Enderlein (Denskr. med. Naturw. 

 Ges. Jena, Ed. 13, 1908, pp. 347-48, with 2 figs.), from South Africa, than to any other 

 species of its genus. The male of major agrees with that of sabulosa in the form of the 

 basal joint of the left cercus, in the absence of any evident process to the right plate of 

 the 10th tergite, and in the completeness of the neuration of the wings, all the longi- 

 tudinal veins attaining the wing-margin. The following characters, among otbers, 

 readily separate the two species : — 



E. major, Imms. E. sabulosa, Enderlein. 



Male measures 12'75-18 mm. in length. Male measures 7'5-8-5 mm. in length. 



Female measures 1475-20-75 mm. in length. Female measures 10-11 mm. in length. 



Number of antennal joints varies from 20-29. Number of antennal joints varies from 17-21. 



10th abdominal tergite of the male completely In the male the line of division between the right 

 divided into right and left plates. The process and left plates of the 10th abdominal tergite 



of the left plate short and very much curved. does not quite extend back to the anterior 



margin of that segment. The process of the 

 left plate long, and only slightly curved at its 

 apex. 



The 1st tarsal joint of the hind pair of legs pro- The 1st tarsal joint of the hind pair of legs pro- 

 vided with two ventral pads or arolia in both vided with a single arolium. 

 sexes. 



6. The Ova. 

 The eggs are oval in form, with a smooth and faintly glistening appearance, and are 

 pale cream-white in colour. In average size they measure approximately 1 mm. in 

 length and "5 mm. in diameter. Below are recorded the actual measurements made on 

 21 eggs deposited by five different females : — 



Length 1-07 1-17 1-05 105 1-12 1-22 M5 1-10 V07 105 M7 



Diameter -55 -55 -55 -57 -65 -60 -55 -55 -52 "52 -65 



Length 1-20 112 112 115 105 102 1-07 T05 D07 1-05 



Diameter -55 -60 -52 -52 "55 -52 -55 -50 -55 -55 



It will be noted that the eggs vary from T02 mm.-T22 mm. in length and from 

 •52 mm.- - 65 mm. in diameter. 



At one extremity of the egg is a large prominent operculum (PI. 38. fig. 12). This 

 operculum is broadly pyriform in shape, and where it comes in contact with the rest of 

 the chorion there is a well-defined rim or margin. The general surface of the chorion 

 is finely sculptured into a series of irregular hexagons. The diameter of these figures, 

 measured between two opposite faces, varies between -031- - 05 mm. (fig. 10). Over the 

 surface of the operculum the sculpturing is of a somewhat different character; it takes 



