PR0UTIA BETULINA. 285 



short pectinations, those on the 4th longer, on the 5th-12th about equal, 

 but on the 8th, perhaps, the longest ( = 2^x length of antennal joint), 

 both branches spring from base of joint ; joints scaled dorsally in two 

 rows (basal and middle) but not very regularly ; ventral aspect of joints 

 with hairs and pectinations (without scales) covered with sparse sense- 

 hairs, dorsally as well as ventrally, length of hairs about one-third of 

 antennal joint. ? . The head black, small, partly retractile within the 

 fleshy hood of prothorax and placed ventrally ; very large compound 

 eyes, each occupying greater part of cheek ; antennae almost colourless, 

 transparent, 14 joints (but with a tendency to fusion that leaves a 

 doubt whether there are 13, 14 or 15 joints) ; prothorax, mesothorax, 

 and metathorax well- developed, shiny and entirely corneous dorsally ; 

 the abdominal segments very wide (front to back) ; the legs dark, tarsi 

 paler (almost colourless and transparent), 4-jointed, each with two 

 pale terminal claws. The ground colour of the body yellowish-brown 

 tinged, with vinous (becoming entirely vinous when dead) ; each of the 

 segments appears to be divided into two subsegments (really the seg- 

 ment and intersegmental membrane) ; on the anterior part of the 

 segment is a large, dull, brownish-black, rough, corneous, quadrangu- 

 lar dorsal plate, ventrally a smaller nerve patch may be observed ; the 

 intersegmental membrane of the ground colour ; there are no scales 

 as in Luffia and Bacutia, and although there are scattered hairs the 

 general surface is practically naked. On the underside of the 7th 

 abdominal is a thick protruding tuft of pure snowy- white silky hairs, 

 beyond which is the exceedingly long (when protruded) ovipositor, 

 the joints of which are about equal to the length of the body when 

 both are fully stretched ; the front edge of each of the abdominal seg- 

 ments has a raised brownish rim, the dark quadrangular plate occupies 

 about four-fifths of the dorsum of each segment ; the tubercles i and ii 

 appear to be represented by conspicuous, brownish, circular areas. 

 Tbe venter of the thoracic segments is also- black, shiny, and corneous 

 the front edge of the dorsum of these segments being noticeably rough 

 and darker, and suggesting an analogy with the dorsal quadrangular 

 abdominal areas. [Described from ? s sent by Whittle July 10th, 

 1899.] Speyer describes the female as dirty yellow tinged with red, 

 and with glossy snow-white anal tuft. Bacot notes that the female 

 has small, shiny, semitransparent sacs on the meso- and metathoracic 

 segments which represent the wings. These Chapman says are small 

 triangular pale lappets (not narrow ribbons as in Lufjia). Bacot also 

 notices the scattered whitish hairs or hair-like scales on the lateral area, 

 and says that the anal tuft is of a glistening snow-white colour. It may 

 be here noted that the female carries the pupal head-piece on the 

 imaginal head as in Epichnopteryx pulla. 



Comparison of Proutia betulina and Bacotia sepium. — The 

 males of B. sepium and P. betulina show much superficial resemblance. 

 There is, in both, a dark shade at the end of the discoidal cell, and the 

 nervures beyond the cell are somewhat darker. Newly-emerged speci- 

 mens of B. sepium have soine slight suggestions of the reticulations 

 common in the Taleporiids, but these never seem to occur in P. 

 betulina. Tbe best distinction between the two insects is in the 

 neuration B. sepium having an accessory cell in. the apex of the dis- 

 coidal cell, whilst P. betulina is Avithout it, but the latter possesses the 

 " cellula intrusa," which is not represented in B. sepium. The acces- 



