XYMPH-STAGE OF THE EMBID^. 379 



mined the type), and the length of the antenufe is scarcely more 

 than a specific character. Oligotoma I regard as distinct on 

 account of the different neural characters. I feel sure that the 

 characters given for the antennae of O. Saundersii, viz. " antennod 

 W-articulatcB, ariiculo ultimo suhmamillato,'^ are incorrect, and 

 that these organs were broken in the example which served for 

 type. I have six individuals of O. Saundersii : the antennae are 

 mostly broken; but in one I see clearly nineteen joints, and think 

 that is the normal number ; in others the submamillate apical 

 structure is apparent, but this results from the organs having been 

 broken, the small apical projection being in fact the basal portion 

 of the succeeding joint. Eambur (' Hist. Nevrop.' p. 311) states 

 that his Embia Latreillii is evidently allied to O. Saundersii, but has 

 eighteen joints to the antennae : there can, I think, be no doubt 

 that the two are absolutely identical. 



Putting on one side, then, the characters given by Westwood 

 for the palpi and antennae, it appears to me that only two genera 

 can be defined with certainty at present, as follows : — 



1. Alarum sector (" nervus Stius ") trifidus, cum cubito (" nervo 

 4to ") per venulas transversales plus minus conuexus. Embia 

 {cum Olyntha). 



2. Alarum sector bifidus, cum cubito per venulas transversales 

 baud connexus. Oligotoma. 



Distribution of the Family. 



Distribution in time may be dismissed with the remark that 

 the larva of a species {Emhia antiqua, Pict.) has been noticed 

 fossil in amber. 



As regards existing distribution, the species mostly inhabit the 

 warm regions of both hemispheres. One (or more) inhabits the 

 Mediterranean region of Europe. I have one from North Persia. 

 India lias one or more species. The group occurs in North 

 Africa, also in Mauritius and Madagascar, and, no doubt, also in 

 East Africa ; for forms have been found enclosed in copal. Several 

 are found in Central and Tropical South America ; but nothing 

 has been noticed from Australia. 



Number of Species. 



Three only were noticed by Westwood in 1837 ; and at present 

 probably not more than a dozen species are in collections ; for it 



