New Methods of Classification. 9 



The harpagones (hp) are a pair of small clasping organs lying 

 •above the harpes and within the base of the clasps. They are 

 frequently strongly curved and terminated by a stout recurved 

 hook. 



The unci consist of a pair of processes on the ventral margin 

 and may be easily seen in Culicinae, but seem to be absent in 

 Anoplielinae. In certain groups (as Chrysoconops) they are stout 

 and provided with a peculiar series of chitinous teeth. The 

 setaceous lobes (si) are part of the rudimentary eighth segment. 

 They are in the form of chitinous lobes with a series of stout, 

 chitinous spines. 



NEW METHODS OF CLASSIFICATION. 



Two new methods of classification have recently been proposed, 

 the characters taken being (i) the male genitalia and wing veins 

 and (ii) the larvae. 



The former has been brought to notice especially by Felt,* 

 the latter by Dyar and Knab,f and at the same time Dyar has 

 formulated a grouping of genera by the genitalia. As characters 

 the genitalia are undoubtedly of specific value, and according to 

 Felt and from what is shown in this work they present marked 

 generic characters, but to found genera on this one male character 

 alone is scarcely wise. 



The majority of known mosquitoes are females only, and thus 

 we should not be able to place many of our well-known species 

 in any genus and might have to wait years before males could 

 be obtained. The classification given by Felt is as below (only 

 his new genera being referred to), and it will be noticed he 

 gives in addition to the male genitalia the characters presented 

 by certain parts of the venation, namely, the relative lengths 

 of the petiole of the fork-cells and the cross-veins. These 

 are unfortunately variable ; in some species the variation is 

 great, in others slight, but it is such that generic characters 

 cannot be fixed by them, nor even specific characters in some 

 •cases. 



" Culicelsa. n. gen. — Petiole of anterior fork-cell of female 

 wing about one-half its length. Posterior cross- vein more than 



* Bull, 79, Ent. 22. New York State Museum (1904). Felt, 

 f Journ., New York. Ent. Soc., xiv., 4 (1906). Dyar and Knab. 



