8 



bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



of Natural History for the fine figures of the types belonging to that in- 

 stitution, which they had made as illustrations. 1 



The task of working up the material has consumed much more time 

 than I anticipated when I undertook it fully two years ago, due not 

 only to many interruptions, but to the necessarily slow methods of 

 studying and comparing the specimens which belong to a group 

 unusually difficulty to classify. For these reasons the work has been 

 very tedious but I hope that future students may not be misled into 

 thinking it uninteresting. On the contrary, it is extremely fascinating. 



BETHYLIDAE. 



Handlirsch in his recent work (:07) on fossil insects records the 

 presence of a species of this family in Baltic Amber and I have already 

 figured (:06) a strange species from Florissant which most likely is a 

 bethylid. 



In the present series there is one very finely preserved species be- 

 longing to the genus Epyris. 



Epyris deletus, sp. nov. (Fig. 1.) 



Female. Length 5.5 mm. Black; the antennae brownish, except at the 



base, and the abdomen brownish toward the 

 tip. Head (as preserved) but slightly wider 

 than long. Antennae of the typical attenuated 

 form, stout basally and involute, the number of 

 joints not ascertainable; those near the middle 

 quadrate. Surface of head faintly shagreened. 

 Prothorax about one-third longer than the 

 mesonotum, which seen from the side is about 

 as long as the metanotum. The latter carinate 

 laterally, i. e. with a raised margin, its lateral 

 angles rather prominent, quadrate. Abdomen 

 slightly longer than the head and thorax to- 

 gether, seen from the side of the typical form 

 or perhaps slightly more slender or elongate. 

 Legs, except one of the anterior ones not pre- 

 served; this is very strongly incrassated, and 

 brownish yellow on the tibia and tarsus. Wings hyaline, with elongate, 



Fig. 1. 

 nov. 



- Epyris deletus, sp. 

 Type. 



1 The manuscript of the present paper was completed before the writer severed his 

 connection with the Milwaukee Public Museum, and he wishes to take this opportunity 

 to thank Mr. H. L. Ward, the Director of the Museum, for the interest taken by him in 

 the progress of the work. 



