458 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., ’08 
of the main vein. According to the doubtless correct explana- 
tion of the origin of the branch cited above, the first group is 
the primitive one (at least as regards this character), the sec- 
ond being a later development. In this and some other points 
Ae. californica stands far from such species as Ae. juncea, and 
thereby nearer to, but not in, Coryphaeschna. It probably de- 
serves subgeneric rank. 
Aeschna solida Scudder. 
Some of the more interesting characters of this species are 
here described: 
(1). Stigma of hind wing comparatively short, bounding three cells 
below (in Basiaeschna it is much longer, and bounds 434 
cells). 
(2.) Postnodal cross veins 15 (Scudder’s figure) to 16 (our speci- 
men) in front wing; 17 in hind. ‘The number is less in 
modern 4¢schna, especially in californica. 
(3.) Doubling of cells between M, and M, begins two cells below 
base of stigma. Almost exactly this condition is found in 
4i. constricta; in juncea it begins under apical half of 
stigma, in californica and Coryphaeschna beyond stigna, Thus 
there is a reduction of the doubling in the supposed line of 
evolution. In Basiaeschna the doubling begins under anterior 
half of stigma. : 
(4.) The bend of M, is distinctly more gentle than in Basiaeschna. 
This agrees with Aischna. ‘The highest point of the bend 
is distinctly before the stigma; in 4. constricta it is a little 
further on, but nearly the same; in Ay. juncea it is under 
the stigma; in californica under apex of stigma. 
(5.) My, has a decided kink in anterior wing, but in posterior this is 
scarcely suggested. This practically agrees with the sup- 
posed primitive section of A/schna, but differs greatly from 
As. californica. In Coryphaeschna the disturbance has gone 
so far that M, looks as if it ran into M,;, whereas it is 
really widely deflected in the contrary direction. 
(6.) The branches of the cubitus in hind wing spread apically, so 
that the single cells between them give way to dou- 
ble or treble cells forming an irregular network. In 
Ai. constricta and juncea there are no single cells between 
the cubiti; in californica all those between the apical halves 
of these veins are single; in Coryphaeschna there are no 
double cells, or only one or two. Epiaeschna heros agrees 
essentially with 4. solida. 
