CLASSIFICATION OF THE ASCALAPHIDJE. 



237 



Abdomen fuscum, infra pruinosum. Alae breves, latae, posticae basin 

 versus valde dilatatae ; margine antico (area costali subcostalique) 

 pallide flavido tincto ; pterostigmate jiallide flavido, nigro-venato ( $ ). 

 Long. corp. 15"'; exp. alar, antic. 35"', postic. 32"'. 

 Hab. Brazil? 



This species connects the group of costatus with that of are- 

 nosus. 



10. H. iniquus, Walker. (Ascal. iniquus, Walk. Cat. Brit. Mus. 

 Neurop. p. 448.) Antennae alarum dimidio paullo longiores. Frons 

 nigro-villosus. Thorax supra fulvo-fuscoque varius, infra albo-prui- 

 nosus. Pedes albidi ; tibiis extus fusco-variis. Abdomen fulvum, 

 supra nigro geminato-punctatum. Alae vitreae, pernitidae, venuste 

 iridescentes ; venis venuhsque nigris ; pterostigmate brunneo, nigro- 

 venato : anticae elongatae, paullo angustatae ; posticae basin versus 

 valde dilatatae, apicem versus angustatae ( $ )• Long. corp. 17'"', 

 exp. alar, antic. 34'", postic. 29"'. 



Hab. Villa Nova, Amazons (Bates). 



11. H. arenosus, Walker. (Ascal. arenosus, Walk. Cat. Brit. Mus. 

 Neurop. p. 450.) Antennae nigro-piceae, alarum dimidio paullo lon- 

 giores ; clava nigra, infra ochraceo-sufFusa. Frons fulvo-piceoque 

 villosus. Thorax fuscus, supra utrinque testaceus, infra utrinque late 

 flavidus. Pedes testacei; tarsis nigris. Abdomen brunneum, basin 

 versus cinereo-villosum (thorax abdomenque interdum fere oinnino 

 albo-pruinoso). Alae vitreae, obtusae, sat latae ; venis venulisque nigris ; 

 pterostigmate flavo, nigro-venato. Long. corp. 14"' ; exp. alar, antic. 

 27-32"', postic. 24-29 ,,/ . 



Hab. Amazons (Bates). 



I think it very possible that arenosus, iniquus, and impediens 

 are forms of one species ; but this can only be decided by the 

 investigations of future observers. Mr. Bates paid but little at- 

 tention to the Neuroptera. In other orders he proved incontest- 

 ably that, in the regions he explored, different localities pre- 

 sented local forms that to all intents and purposes are entitled 

 to be considered distinct : this may also obtain in the AscalapMdce. 

 H. iniquus and impediens certainly appear to have the wings 

 much more glossy than arenosus ; and iniquus especially has nar- 

 rower anterior and more dilated posterior wings. 



The prothoracic lobe of the male in arenosus is much less evi- 

 dent than in that of the group of costatus : it is smaller, and so 

 closely applied over the front portion of the mesonotum as 

 to be scarcely distinguishable from the anterior lobe of that 

 segment. 



17* 



