CLASSIFICATION OF TTIF ASCALAPHIDJT3. 



233 



it is very desirable that the outline characters that follow in the 

 consideration of each genus should be consulted. Tables are 

 matters of great convenience ; but if they be in all cases implicitly 

 relied upon for determining genera or species, confusion must 

 ensue. 



The exigences of a tabular arrangement have widely sepa- 

 rated genera that are closely allied one to the other. The affi- 

 nities of the various genera may be indicated in the following 

 manner : — 



Division Holophthalmi. — Haploglenius. Ptynx. Me- 



lambrotus. Tmesibasis. Gormodes. Idricerus. 



Division Scbtzophthalmi. — Cordulecerus. TJlula. 



Orphne. Golobopterus. Acmonotus. Suphalasca. 



Bubo. Theleproctophylla. Siphlocerus. Helicomitus. JEn- 



cyoposis. Og cog aster. Glyptobasis. Acheron. Hybris. 



Nephoneura. JProctarrelabris. Helcopteryx. Buer. 



Ascalaphodes. Ascalaphus. 



Division I. Holophthaimi. 

 G-enus Haploglenius, Burmeister. 

 (Aniosa, Lefebv. ; By as, Ramb.) 



Wings extended nearly horizontally in repose, almost as in Li- 

 bellnla, but a little elevated ; long, and generally rather broad, 

 the basal portion never much narrowed ; the anterior pair vary- 

 ing in the formation of the basal portion of the inner margin, 

 which has either a long but slight excision with a rather pro- 

 minent axillary angle, the same with the angle produced into 

 a broad triangular tooth, or regularly convex with the angle 

 obsolete ; network open ; pterostigma very large. 



Antennae equalling half the length of the wings, or longer or 

 shorter than the half ; club varying, but more or less elongate. 



Thorax slightly villose ; in the <J the prothorax is produced 

 above posteriorly into a valve, which fits over a concave space 

 in the front portion of the mesonotum. 



Abdomen moderately long, slender ; in the 3 there is sometimes 

 a pair of minute lateral appendices before the apex. 



Legs, witb the spurs of the posterior tibia? scarcely so long as the 

 first two tarsal joints. 

 Hab. Central and South America. 



Much confusion has existed with regard to this genus, which 



