MR. II. m'LACHLAN ON THE ASCALA P1I I I) M. 



219 



An Attempt towards a Systematic Classification of the Family 

 Ascalaphidcd. By R. M'Lachlan, F.L.S., Sec. Ent. Soc. 



[Read May 4, 1871.] 



For some years I have been collecting materials with the hope 

 that I might some day publish a monograph of this interesting 

 Neuropterous family ; but the difficulty of defining the limits of 

 species, owing to their innate tendency to variation, and the ab- 

 sence, in many cases, of one sex, prove to me the impossibility of, 

 at present, writing an exhaustive work. Collectors generally have 

 paid very little attention to these insects ; and without an exami- 

 nation of an extensive series from different localities, a safe 

 generalization on specific forms could not be attempted. I have 

 therefore drawn up the present paper as a sketch of my present 

 knowledge of the family, and as an assistance to myself and 

 others in investigating it. 



A glance may here be taken at the progress made in the study 

 of these insects. Linne, at the time of publication of the 12th 

 edition of the 'Systema Naturae,' knew of only two species, 

 which he placed with Myrmeleon. A few years previously, and 

 afterwards, such competent entomologists as Scopoli and the 

 authors of the '"Wiener Verzeichniss,' deceived by external form, 

 described two of the gay-coloured South-European species as 

 Papilios. 



The genus Ascalaphus, which is synonymous with the family 

 as it now stands, was instituted by Fabricius in his ' Systema 

 Entomologise,' in 1776, and at the time of publication of the 

 second volume of the 'Entomologia Systematica,' in 1793, he 

 indicated six species, and one more in his ' Supplement ' in 1798. 



For a long time the progress was scarcely evident. Bur- 

 meister, in 1839, in his ' Handbuch der Entomologie,' enume- 

 rates only eighteen species as then known to him. In this work 

 is what was probably the first attempt at dividing the old genus 

 Ascalaphus into sections ; and Burmeister in one instance indi- 

 cates a divisional name (Haploglenius), which has since been 

 adopted for a genus. 



In 1842, Lefebvre, in Guerin's ' Magasin,' made the first 

 essay at a generic splitting-up of Ascalaphus, and divided it 

 into ten genera, under the names Ptynx, Azesia, Amcea, Thele- 

 proctophylla, Proctarrelabris, Ascalaphus, Hybris, Acheron, Orphne, 

 and Suphalasca. This short paper shows great research and an 



LINN. JOURN. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XI. 16 



