Kinsey: The Genus Neuroterus 11 
As regards both subgenera and varieties, insect morphology 
and gall characters vary uniformly, the galls being a little 
less diagnostic. But between the species of Dolichostrophus 
and Diplobius there exists the striking condition of the insects 
being in the first instance more characteristic than the galls, 
and in the second instance the galls much more characteristic 
than the insects. An abundance of data I have not yet pub- 
lished shows that this is a very fair picture of variation 
thruout the Cynipidse. This is of importance to consider in 
connection with the prevalent neglect of all but morphologic 
data. In groups of insects (or other organisms) where phys- 
iologic data are unavailable or ignored, there must be much 
taxonomic work which is poorly established. On the basis 
of morphology alone, Dolichostrophus could be worked quite 
thoroly, while Diplobius would be handled very inadequately. 
In general the galls of varieties are not distinctive, but there 
are exceptions. Of the 63 American varieties known, 11 have 
galls which are distinguishable from those of related varieties, 
while in at least one instance, N. verrucarum pulvinus, the 
gall is distinct while the insect is practically indistinguishable 
from that of another variety. 
The variations of the modes of reproduction, hosts, and 
geographic distributions of these insects are treated under 
special headings. 
PHYTOGENY 
If classifications had to rest wholly upon insect morphology, 
Neuroterus would be a very difficult group to work with, 
and at some points impossible to understand. But good tax- 
onomy, if it is to deal with whole organisms and if it is not 
to confine itself to cataloging any certain few aspects of those 
organisms, must utilize every manifestation of the specific 
nature of the protoplasm of the material. Physiologic func- 
tionings, products of physiologies, behaviors and host and 
geographic distributions (which are reactions to stimuli), 
express the specific indentity as exactly as the morphology. 
In attempting to discover the phylogenetic relationships of 
the species treated in this paper, the following data have 
been employed, with the indicated interpretations : 
The degree of similarity of morphologic structures in gen- 
eral indicates the degree of the relationship. 
