HARDWICKKS SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



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femora in this species are wholly blackish. The 

 bands on the wings partially disappear after the 

 death of the insect. The females of this species, 

 which appears during the spring, are usually found 

 with a glutinous egg-cluster at the extremity of the 

 abdomen. 



Ttzniopteryx trifasciata, Pictet. Palpi very promi- 

 nent. Femora blackish only at the extremities. Of 

 this insect, Parfitt remarks, "This very distinct 

 and apparently rare species I captured by Exwick 

 Weir (Devon). The fasciae on the wings are very 

 distinct when the insect is fresh. The posterior 

 wings have a beautiful delicate purple tint, except 

 along the anterior edge, where it is, as Mr. Stephens 

 remarks, ' fuscescent. ' The body and legs vary a 

 good deal in colour, from reddish yellow to pitchy 

 black." 



The females of this species appear more often met 

 with than are the males. The pupa undergoes a 

 slight change when it nears the time for becoming an 

 imago. The thorax becomes rounded instead of 

 square ; the body tapers more, and the wing rudi- 

 ments, previously yellowish, become deeper in colour, 

 as does the entire body. 



Ltuctra geniculate, Stephens. This appears to be 

 widely distributed ; it is taken somewhat sparsely in 

 the south, but it is very common at many places in 

 the north. It may be looked for in June. The 

 wings are generally rolled round the body in a half- 

 cylinder. Mr. McLachlan has recorded in the " Ento- 

 mologist's Monthly Magazine," his having observed a 

 female of this species carrying her eggs upon the back 

 of her abdomen. 



Leuctra fusciventris, Stephens. This species also 

 rolls its wings in a semi-cylinder. It is, at times, 

 found on flowers in fields. It may be taken in June 

 and July, and, although somewhat uncommon in the 

 south of England, is abundant in the north. The 

 larva of this species has no respiratory sacs. 



Nemoura variegata, Olivier. This is, perhaps, the 

 most common of our stone-flies, appearing from April 

 to August. Anglers call it the " willow-fly." True 

 to its specific name, it varies greatly in colour, speci- 

 mens occurring even of a reddish hue ; these latter 

 form the variety Fuliginosa. The larv:e, in which 

 respiratory sacs are not .visible, are found both in 

 stagnant and running water. 



Nemoura Meyeri, Pictet. The male and larvae are 

 unknown. Rare. 



Nemoura nitida, Pictet. This, the largest of the 

 genus, is a very pretty species, the wing nervures 

 being edged with yellowish-grey. It seems confined 

 to the north, the larva; frequenting mountain rills. 

 These larvse have respiratory sacs. Rare. March 

 to October. 



Nemoura cinerea, Olivier. As regards colour this 

 is the most variable species of the genus, and much 

 confusion has arisen on that account. It is common 

 in the north in May. 



Nemoura humeralis, Pictet. This species is dis- 

 tinguished from all others by the contrast of the 

 almost opaque colour of the wings and the light 

 colour of the feet. It is, however, sometimes con- 

 founded with N. cinerea, which has the prothorax 

 wider than long. Common in the north in May. 

 Larva unknown. 



Nemoura sulcicollis, Stephens. Generally dis- 

 tributed. June to October. Larva unknown. 



Nemoura inconspicua, Pictet. This is the most 

 minute species of the group. Its pale colour persists 

 throughout its life. The larva bears thoracic respira- 

 tory sacs. Rare. 



The foregoing species being enumerated, I have 

 nought to do but to draw speedily to a finish. 



In this short paper, no attempt could be made to 

 treat the subject exhaustively, or even to give a full 

 description of each species, and indeed the present 

 contribution is but a series of notes on the known 

 British species of the family. However, as I fully 

 recognise its defects, I hope to remedy them at some 

 future period, by the publication of a series of articles 

 in some other periodical entirely devoted to the con- 

 sideration of entomological subjects. 



A few words as to the best books and papers treat- 

 ing of the Perlina. These are : — By Pictet : " His- 

 toire Naturelle de la Famille des Perlides " ; Paper in 

 the " Annales des Sciences Naturelles," 1833, (Zoo- 

 logical section); Paper in the "Memoires de la 

 Societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de 

 Geneve," vol. vii. By Stephens : " Illustrations of 

 British Entomology," vol. vi., Mandibulata. By 

 Newman : " Magazine of Natural History," 1S39 ; 

 " Entomological Magazine," vol. iv., 1837. By 

 Burmeister : " Handbuch der Entomologie," ii. By 

 Curtis : " British Entomology." By Brauer : "Neu- 

 roptera Austriaca, " 1857- By Rambur : "Histoire 

 Naturelle des Insectes Nevropteres," 1842. By 

 Walker : " Catalogue of Neuropterous Insects in 

 the British Museum," Part I., 1S52. (Descriptions 

 in Latin.) For other references the student should 

 obtain the " Catalogue of British Neuroptera," pub- 

 lished by the Entomological Society of London, in 

 1870. 



In conclusion, I may say that I shall be pleased to 

 help anyone, by naming specimens or giving other 

 information relating to the Perlina.* I shall also be 

 very glad to receive contributions of insects of this 

 group for my own cabinet, with the usual data relating 

 to place of capture, etc., from which to gain a better 

 knowledge of the distribution of the Perlina in the 

 British Isles. Communications may be addressed to 

 me, at 29, St. Philip's Road, Dalston, London, 

 N.E. 



* All specimens should be sent securely packed, and the 

 address written on a label fastened to the string with which 

 the package is tied. In the case of an answer, or insects being 

 required to be returned, stamps sufficient to cover postage 

 should be sent to me, 



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