58 PLATE CCCXV. 



The firft fpecies of Raphldliz known, was figured in the works of 

 Roefel, Die Fle'ine Landhaelftge. LanlibeUe fig. 6. y. pL 21 > it was 

 defcribed in the Fauna Suecica, by Linnseus, under the fpecific name 

 Ophiopfis; and again in the Syjiema Natura oi x\iQ fame author, with 

 a reference to the only figure of it then extant, that of Roefel. 

 Hence it appears that the true Raphidia Ophiopfis of Linn2;us, is 

 that figured by this author. In later editions, the works of Sulzer, 

 SchasfFer, GeofFroy and Scopoli, were added to the fynonyms, but 

 the figures thus quoted, evidently include two fpecies, one with 

 wings perfeftly clear, the other having a marginal black fpot on 

 each. Linnaeus feems to have confidered the two as varieties of the 

 fame fpecies, but he is evidently miftaken, for the two fexes of both 

 kinds are now clearly afcertained. 



Fabricius has followed Linnsus in his Species Infeflorum, has 

 indifcriminately adopted all the fynonyms, and thereby confounded 

 all the figures of the two Raphidas that have been noticed by authors 

 on European Infefts, under the name of Ophiopfis : and after this 

 he defcribes that very fpecies which has fpots on the wings as a 

 new and unfigured kind, under the name of notata. Thorace 

 cylindrico alis macula marginali fufca. Habitat in anglia. Had he 

 referred to the volumes of R.oefel, he muft have known that his 

 notata was the Linnsan Ophiopfis, and if either Infe6l was new, 

 it muft certainly be that deftitute of fpots. 



Gmelin in his Syftema Natura perpetuates the fame error ; he 

 follows the Species Infe£lorum of Fabricius, and gives the chara6ters 

 thus: " R. Ophiopfis alis immaculatis. Fah." & " R. notata, 

 *' alis macula marginali fufca. Fab." but whilft the works of Gmelin 

 are preparing for publication, Fabricius alters his opinion ; and in 

 the lad work. Syji, Ent. emendet et auSla, abolifhes his fpecific cha- 

 racters, and merely fays there is no difference between his former 

 fpecies " Raphidia notata, nuUo modo diftindla." Fab. Ent. SyJl.. 

 T. 2. />. 99. 



As 



