72 INSECUTOR INSCITI^ MENSTRUUS 



Mr. Edwards queries flavescens, variegatus and bipunctatus ; 

 but I am in favor of arbitrarily assigning these old unrecog- 

 nizable names to the species to which they most probably belong, 

 as was done in the case of some of Walker's types which were 

 indefinite. I have therefore removed the queries, and call the 

 species flavescens instead of lutescens. 



This seems to be the most ancestral form of the group, and 

 I can detect no difference in coloration, male genital structure 

 or larvae between American and European specimens. 



The European maculatus Meig. is closely represented by our 

 riparius D. & K., but the structures are distinctly degenerated 

 in the American form. The European semicantans Mart., with 

 freyi Edw., which I do not know, forms the basis of our 

 fitchii forms. I think that Icsnei Seguy is the same as either 

 semicantans or freyi, and not a synonym of the black-legged 

 sticticus Meig. as Edwards doubtfully refers it. Our stimulans 

 Walk, and cantator Coq. appear to represent a development of 

 the ancestral flavescens form, in the direction of degeneration, 

 and the type is apparently not represented in Europe. 



The excrucians series is represented by two species, annulipes 

 Meig., which we have nothing like, and a species which Edwards 

 calls excrMcians, citing surcoufi Theo. as a doubtful synonym. 

 The male structures are indeed much like the American 

 excrucians; but the larvae, which I have from Dr. Martini, 

 differ distinctly, the air-tube not being drawn out as in our 

 form and without any detached teeth to the pecten. I consider 

 the European form distinct, and if it be shown that the name 

 surcoufi Theo. does not apply, a new name will be required. 

 It appears that the male type of surcoufi is lost; but males from 

 the type locality may settle the question. 



These remarks are based on Dr. Martini's material. I am 

 aware that Wesenberg-Lund figures the larva of what he calls 

 excrucians with a drawn-out tube and at least one detached 

 pecten-tooth. Since it is possible that the drawings may be a 

 little exaggerated, it may not be necessary to suppose that two 

 species are involved, and yet that may be the case. Further 

 investigation would do no harm. 



