NOTES ON MASONIA EDWARDSELLA, A PSYCHID NEW TO SCIENCE. 45 



are the largest) , the hairs on them f au-ly strong and conspicuous ; the 

 prolegs weak and extending but little beyond the skin-surface ; those 

 on abdominal segments 3-6 have hooks arranged as in P. villosella, 

 but on 10 the partial ring is almost circular. There is, however, no 

 pit or depression in the centre of the ring of hooks on the prolegs, as 

 in the larger Psychids. The six ocelli are placed rather further from 

 the base of the antenns, and the 6th ocellus (the last of the ventral 

 ones) is not so far distant from the 5th as is the case in the larger 

 species (P. villosella, &c.). [Bacot. Described from larvas obtained at 

 Aix-les-Bains, by Mr. Edwards, April, 1898] . 



Pupa. — ? . The female pupal-skin is semitransparent, pale 

 yellowish in colour, the surface smooth and shiny. It consists of a 

 long, smooth, oval abdomen, the thorax and head being represented 

 by a minute black collar at the anterior end, no structural details 

 being obvious. The pupa is 6-5mm. in length, and the black collar 

 representing the head and thorax is less than •75mm. The abdominal 

 segments 2-6 are larger than the others ; the first is smaller, and 

 tapers rapidly to join the minute thorax ; 7-10 taper more gradually 

 to the anus, which ends in a blunt point ; the rudiments of sexual 

 organs are clear and well-marked. The spiracles are distinct on 

 abdominal segments 2-7, and are surrounded by a slightly raised 

 chitinous ring. On the anterior edge of segments 4-7 dorsally is a 

 row of small curved spines or hooks pointing backwards, these are 

 darker than the ground colour of the pupa, and show up pretty dis- 

 tinctly under a 1" power. On the posterior edge* of the 4th and 5th 

 abdominals there is a row of small frail and almost transparent spines 

 pointing forwards, these require some search to discover. Primitive 

 set^e are present, but are difficult to detect owing to the reflected light 

 from pupa- skin ; they are placed dorsally in trapezoidal form (as in 

 larva) , and the inconspicuous lateral setas appear to be in the same posi- 

 tion as in the larva. Certain portions of the skin-surface are covered 

 with minute spicules (Bacot, June, 1898). 



This species is most closely allied to Masonia saxicolella, Brd., and 

 21. mhfiavella, Mill. Indeed, we should not be surprised to find that 

 it was the former species, which has been absolutely lost since Bruand's 

 time, but his wing measurement for M. saxicolella, 15mm., is 

 much too great for that of ill. edwardsella, and his suggestion that his 

 saxicolella might be a var. of Bruandia comitella (which has a cellula 

 intrusa) adds yet another difficulty to our acceptance of this species as 

 saxicolella. The specimens here described were bred from cases col- 

 lected by Mr. Edwards and Dr. Chapman at Aix-les-Bains, in early 

 April, 1898. We were under the impression that some of the cases of 

 this species were also obtained on the rocks and walls about Antibes 

 and Cannes, but Dr. Chapman is positive that those from which the 

 examples were bred came from Aix-les-Bains. We have great pleasure 

 in naming this species after Mr. Stanley Edwards, whose skill in find- 

 ing, and energy in seeking, Psychid cases is most remarkable and 

 praiseworthy. 



* In view of Dr. Chapman's remarks on these spines in Scioptera zermat- 

 tensis {ante, vol. xi., p. 181), it is possible that they are really on the interseg- 

 mental membrane in this species also. — A. B, 



