Identification of two genera of Nemestrinidae. 149 



Sacken's „Critical Review" meiner Arbeit über die Nota- 

 canthen (Wien 1883) he says, on p. 8: „I have determined as Pa- 

 rasymmictus Bigot a Nemestrinid from Greece, because it has 

 the second submarginal and the second posterior cells closed, while 

 of ray six specimens of Hirmoneura clausa O.S. I have referred 

 five to the genus Rhynchocephalus Fisch., and one to Parasym- 

 mictus, but conditionally, and in considering its right v\'ing only; 

 the left wing led nie to Bhynchocephalus, because it has the second 

 submarginal cell open. For this reason I take H. clausa O.S. for 

 a Rhynchocepliahis^ and thus the Statement of O.S. (Western Dip- 

 tera p. "224) is justified, as this genus occurs in Central-Asia, and as 

 Rh. clausus O.S. is. very like Rh. Tauscheri. My Parasymmictus 

 from Greece, is a very badly preserved specimen, and seems to be 

 nothing but a variety of Rh. Tauscheri, the venation of which is 

 in perfect agreement with that of H. clausa O.S. This blunder 

 notwithstanding we consider the works of Herr Baron 

 Osten Sacken as indispensable." 



This gentle treatment of my writings by Prof. Brauer appears 

 most refreshing, when we consider that the whole paragraph, quoted 

 above, about Hirmoneura. clausa O.S., Rhynchocephalus and Pa- 

 rasymmictus Bigot is simply nonsensical, because it is based 

 not upon any error of mine, but upon a most egregious blunder 

 of Prof. Brauer himself, who had wrongly determined the 

 six specimens which he had from Colorado, as H. clausa O.S. In 

 that same pamphlet (p. 8) Brauer says: „According to my examination 

 (meine Untersuchung) of six specimens from Colorado oi Hirmoneura 

 clausa O.S. it has a long proboscis which reaches as far back 

 as the bind coxae. O.S. makes no mention at all of the pro- 

 boscis." Far from „making no mention at all of the prol|jgscis" 

 my description contains the foUowing passage: „Face densely covered 

 with pale yellowish hair, through which a short, reddish pro- 

 boscis is hardly visible." Of a long proboscis, reaching 

 the bind coxae, there is no question. In consequence of ;his 

 blunder, the whole paragraph of Brauer about Parasymmictus, re- 

 jiroduced above, niust be Struck out, from beginnin g to 

 end, as any competent dipterologist will acknowledge. 



Heidelberg, Oct. 25. 1897. 



