1970] 
MacLeod — Baltic Amber Neuroptera 
149 
present scarcity, is the relative abundance of the interesting family 
Neurorthidae, which is represented by twenty-four of the specimens 
in the collection. 
Although the Lower Oligocene horizon represented by this amber 
is too recent to throw much light on such critical areas of our 
ignorance as that concerning the phylogenetic relationships of the 
families of the Neuroptera, the amber fauna does illuminate inter- 
esting areas relating to the phylogeny of several of the living genera 
and to the zoogeography of the order. These findings will be noted 
in connection with the specific discussions of the families involved. 
The present paper will treat the families Ascalaphidae, Nymphidae, 
and Psychopsidae. Although I feel that these groups do form an 
important phylogenetic unit (MacLeod, 1964 and below), a more 
practical reason for this grouping is that they are all represented by 
larval specimens. In the case of the Psychopsidae, adults are also 
present in the collection. 
Acknowledgements. It is to Professor F. M. Carpenter that I 
owe the most profound debt of gratitude, since it was he who 
first suggested that I undertake this project and who has done 
the yeoman’s work of gathering together the material for study. In 
addition, he has provided me with a continuing source of intellectual 
stimulation and with badly needed assistance in preparing the photo- 
graphic illustrations for this paper. His enthusiasm and friendship 
have in a very real way opened the difficult doors of insect palae- 
ontology to me. 
In addition to the basic collection contained in the Museum of 
Comparative Zoology, the following individuals and institutions 
have loaned important specimens, or have otherwise provided aid 
and advice, and their assistance is gratefully acknowledged : Pro- 
fessor R. Dehm, Beyerische Staatssammlung fur Palaontologie und 
historische Geologie, Munich; Dr. W. Hennig, Staatliches Museum 
fur Naturkunde, Stuttgart; Dr. H. Jaeger, Institut fur Palaontologie 
und Museum der Humboldt Universitat, Berlin; Dr. S. Larsson, 
Universitetes Zoologiske Museum, Copenhagen; and Dr. H. Weid- 
ner, Zoologisches Staatsinstitut und Zoologisches Museum, Hamburg. 
Finally, I must acknowledge the good counsel of Mr. Carl Moxey 
of the Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, who provided 
a learned supplement to my imperfect knowledge of Greek myth- 
ology, and Mrs. Alice Prickett, staff artist of the School of Life 
Sciences, University of Illinois, whose skill produced most of the line 
drawings. 
