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358
Bulletin American Museum of Natural History
[Vol. XLII

Table I. Radial Cell

Genus No. of Species Nature of Radial Cell
Ceroptres ±16 Entirely closed
Synergus ±60 “      “
Periclistus ±10 “      “
Aulacidea 22 “      “
Phanacis 2 “      “
Timaspis 7 Closed in 1 sp.
Partly closed in 1 sp.
Entirely open in 5 sp.
Diastrophus 14 Closed in 1 sp.
Open in 13 sp.
Rhodites 36 Closed in 30 sp.
Open in 6 sp.
Aylax 26 Entirely open.
Neuroterus 54 ±closed in 6 sp.
Open in 48 sp.
Cynips (in European sense) Entirely open.
Disholcaspis 27 “      “
Amphibolips 25 “      “
All other Cynipini Open, usually entirely open.

Radial Vein
Plate XXXII

The first abscissa of the radial vein of the wings of the Cynipidæ varies from an arcuate to a sharply angulate condition, some species showing a pronounced, vein-like projection into the radial cell at the apex of the angle made by the vein. Every degree of gradation between the extreme forms may be found. Indeed, so remarkably complete is the list of transitional forms that it was this exhibition which first drew my attention to the existence of evidence of the course of evolution in the group, and I have failed to find any other one line of data which offers as complete a story as that presented by these gradations in vein form. A sufficient display of this variation is shown in the wings of the forty-five species which I figure to remove any necessity for an account of the details of conditions in particular species.

It is to be remarked that no great variation in the vein is to be found among the species of a single genus, i. e., the form of the vein is a generic character, indicating the same lines of generic limits which were drawn originally after considerations of very diverse morphological characters. In the Figitidae, in Aulacidea, Aylax, Neuroterus, Disholcaspis, Cynips (of European authors), and in Apmhibolips every species which I have seen agrees in details of venation with a pattern typical for its genus.