Report of Entomologist. 
37? 
In these three genera the heads are quite similar, being prolonged 
into a long slender beak or proboscis; and in the males the end of 
the body is furnished with a pair of stout, sharp-pointed hooks. 
The genus Nemoptera is remarkable for the singularity of its 
wings. Although the order Neuroptera is defined as having four 
wings of equal size, we here have a genus of that order in which the 
hind wings are double the length of the forward pair, and are exceed¬ 
ingly narrow and slender, like blades of grass, and the wings remain 
spread apart when the fly is at rest. 
Finally, the genus Merope differs from all the preceding genera in 
having the head withdrawn under the thorax, the eyes kidney-shaped 
and several other characters which have already been stated; the fly 
resembling a cockroach, the males having forceps like an earwig. 
These two genera have the head slightly prolonged, and forming 
a short beak or snout; they have no small simple eyes, and their 
maxillary feelers are short, not reaching beyond the jaws. They 
evidently constitute a subfamily separated from the three first genera 
by the shortness of their beak. Dr. Rambur, who was unacquainted 
with the last genus, elevates Nemoptera to the rank of a family 
(Neilropteres, page 332j, which he characterizes as having the hind 
wings very long and nearly linear. But it being the distinctive mark 
of the family Panorpid^e that its mouth is prolonged into a beak, the 
great difference which exists in the length of this beak is the most 
natural and perspicuous character on which to found a primary 
division of this family. And thus the two genera, Nemoptera and 
Merope will constitute a subfamily, Nemopterides, having the beak 
short, little, if at all, longer than thick. 
Two or three facts are all we as yet know of the habits of this rare 
and anomalous insect. It comes abroad in its perfect state from the 
middle till the end of the month of July. It flies around in the 
night, and probably secretes itself and remains at rest during the day. 
It is attracted by a light, and by night flies into the lighted rooms of 
dwellings through the open windows and doors. It was in a lighted 
parlor that my specimen of the female was taken, it having entered 
at an opened window. The male occurred running among the papers 
on my writing table, having no do\ibt flown in at the open door and 
alighted on the table unobserved. From its aspect and motions I 
confidently supposed it to be a cockroach, until in securing it its 
formidable forceps were seen. • Thus by its habits also this insect is 
related to the genus Nemoptera, one of the species of which is stated 
by Olivier to enter houses by night, attracted by the light. 
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