THE YORKSHIRE SPECIES OF LEUCTRA, 



GEO. T. PORRITT, F.L.S., F.E.S.. 

 Dalton, Huchiersfield. 



Leuctra is a small and somewhat obscure genus belonging 

 to the family Perlidfe, in the order Neuroptera. For many 

 years only two species were recognised as British, named respec- 

 tively genicnlata and juscivcntris. Of these geniculata was 

 distinct enough, being considerably larger than any of the so- 

 called fusciventris, and having roughened antenucC. But 

 fiisciventris remained in a very unsatisfactory state, and prob- 

 ably most of us who took much interest in its group, were 

 satisfied that there were more than one species contained in it. 

 It was therefore no surprise when Klapalek separated a species 

 from it w'hich he called nigra ; but we were scarcely prepared 

 to find Kempny several years ago creating no fewer than four 

 additional species out of it. These he named Klapaleki, 

 albida, Jiippopus, and handlirschi with its varety inermis. Of 

 the six species now contained in our list I have taken all except 

 albida in Yorkshire. Geniculata is plentiful on the \Miarfe 

 at Grassington, on Scalby Beck near Scarborough, and probably 

 on most of our larger rivers ; whilst Klapaleki, Jiippopus and 

 the variet}" inermis of handlirschi seem to be abundant on all 

 the clough streams in South West Yorkshire, and probably 

 equally so in the other parts of the county. The claim of nigra 

 rests on a specimen I took at ' Bills o' Jack's,' near Hudders- 

 field, in 1888, which Mr. K. J. Morton determined as a male, 

 certainly referable to this species. It is to be hoped that some- 

 one will now soon add the remaining species, albida, (which is on 

 the wing in early June) to our county list. 



In the January Geological Magazine, Mr. J. W. Jackson records a 

 specimen of ArchaosigiUqria vanuxemi (Goppert) from the Carboniferous. 

 Limestone of Meathop Fell, \\'estmorland. This is the third record of the 

 species in Britain. 



Occasionally our good friend Punch has provided useful information 

 to the readers of The Natiivalist. We are glad to find, from the following 

 note in Punch for February gth, that we have been able to reciprocate. 

 ' The Contortionist. — ' The Naturalist ' of this month calls attention to a 

 gentleman who was " one of the founders of the Hull Geological Society, 

 and has passed through its presidential chair." Moreover, he has " acted 

 in the capacity of honorary secretary to the society almost without a 

 break." We can picture to ourselves a jolly evening with the H. G. S." 

 Those who know our friend Mr. Stather, will be glad to recognise him in his 

 new role. 



1910 Mar. I. 



