222 MR. A. M. ALTSON ON THE LIFE-IIISTORY AND 



"... the female is a rich dark green, tlie abdomen nearly 

 black, the bead and thorax dorsad, reflecting brassy scintillations, 

 in some lights entirely brassy ; in the venti-al aspect and also the 

 latei'al, the thorax a.ppeais bluisli ; the antennae dark, the scape 

 and pedicel a rich brown, the legs mostly brown with darker 

 femora. On the contrary, the males appear a bi'illiant bright 

 metallic green, reflecting brassiness, tlie antennte and legs light 

 yellowish brown, the wings small, clouded, with a soiled appear- 

 ance ; the ventral aspect is the same, but with slight traces of 

 metallic bluish. The male is noticeably more brilliant and bright 

 than the female, which is somewhat sombre." (6.) 



Text-figui'e 17. 



Male JSf. brevicornis. Greatly uiagnified. Original. 



Variations of the foregoing description of tlie type species 

 were observed in the females ; with light brown or j^ellowish 

 brown femora, not (lurk or clouded; general colour deep metallic 

 blue ; fore-wings not naked in the basal triangle of wings below 

 the submarginal vein, the costal margin with more bristles. Of 

 six sucli specimens mounted for microscopical examination, no 

 uniformity was found in the venation. The number of setse 

 in basal area of fore wing varied from 2-5, position also varied. 

 Bristles on costal margin also varied, as many as 14 were 

 observed. 



Courting and Mating. — " Courting in this insect is not a com- 

 plex habit. It follows almost immediately after emergence, at 

 least in confinement. Where a number of both sexes are 

 gathered togethei', all recently emerged, the males and females 

 are constantly in motion, the former active, seeking the females ; 

 the antennte of both sexes also constantly in motion, held inclined 

 upward in the natural position, giving quick, jerk}', wavy move- 

 ments. When one individual meets another, the antenme simply 

 touch whichever poi-tion of the body presents itse'f first, and the 

 two turn aside and pass on ; or if they happen to be individuals 

 of opposite sex and (appai-ently) the occasion is suitable — which 



