154 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '07 



tical, even to the peculiar dark red color of their bodies. By 

 the study of the superficial characters the relationship of Culex 

 signifer with Ma-nsonia was never suspected. The species was 

 first described under Culex, then placed in Stegomyia, and then 

 made the type of the genus P?ieumaculex . 



The genus Grabhamia was erected by Theobald for certain 

 mosquitoes in which the wings bear light and dark colored 

 scales of a certain type intermixed. Illustrations are here 

 given of two species, Feltidia jamaicensis and Aedes squamiger, 

 which, according to the wing-scales, are typical representatives 

 of Theobald's genus Grabhamia. While these species are now 

 both referred to Aedes they belong to separate well-marked 

 groups, which, in a previous paper, Dr. Dyar and the writer 

 have characterized as Jantlmiosoma and Aedes. These two 

 groups are exceedingly well defined in the larval stage and in 

 the male genitalia. However, as no good characters could be 

 found for separating the females, they have been united, and, 

 at the best, can only be recognized as groups of subgeneric 

 rank ; Feltidia again separating from Janthinosoma proper by 

 the simple claws of the female. Aedes squamiger has been de- 

 scribed by Miss L/Udlow under the name of Grabhamia denie- 

 dmannii. Recently Mr. Coquillett has erected the genus 

 Lepidoplatys for this species which has toothed claws in the 

 female. The genus Grabhamia as defined by Mr. Coquillett 

 is identical with the group Feltidia as above characterized. 



The last two figures of the plate are added to show the in- 

 consistency of the Theobaldian classification. According to 

 scale characters these two species should be placed in separate 

 genera, yet the relationship is so obvious by other characters 

 that not even the boldest disciple of the scale-classification 

 has presumed to separate them. The test of the value of 

 such characters would lie in their consistent and undeviating 

 application and such a test the system evidently will not 

 stand. 



I am under obligation to Mr. H. S. Barber of the National 

 Museum for the photomicrographs from which the figures 

 were made. The figures all represent the same portion of the 

 wing so that a proper comparison can be made. 



