258 Mr. Curtis on the Nests of two Hymenojderous Insects of Brazil, 



a minute tubercle on each side at the middle, the extremity only ^rd as broad as the 

 abdomen, the margin yellow as well as that of all the abdominal segments, the basal 

 one the brightest : wings yellowish ; costal and subcostal cells yellow ; stigma ochreous, 

 with a fuscous streak extending to the apex : tips of thighs and of all the tibiae and 

 tarsi bright ochre. Length 4| lines ; expanse 9^. 



This wasp is more elegant in form than M. hrunnea, and its head, thorax and 

 abdomen are prettily and neatly marked with slender yellow lines ; its abdo- 

 men is more pointed, and the stings are often exserted. It appears to be related 

 to the P.pygmcea, Fab.*, but I expect the legs of that insect are black. 



In order to facilitate the study of these curious creatures, I will add a list 

 of the nine species I have found described, now forming four genera, which 

 must be established upon the structure of the trophi, for no assistance can 

 be derived from the form of the antennae or the neuration of the wings. 



1. Abdomen with the petiole short and gradually increasing. 



1. PoLisTES Gallica, Linn., Panz. 49. 22. Europe. 



2. P. Action, Hal., Linn. Trans, vol. xvii. p. 323 : the nest is similar to the 



foregoing. Brazil. 



3. P. Africana, Pal. de Beauv. pi. 8. f. 4. Kingdom of Oware. 



2. Petiole very short and abruptly increasing : thorax truncated behind. 



4. Epipone nidulans. Fab. Guepe cartonnifere, Reaum. vol. vi. pi. 20-24» 



E. chartaria, Lat. — Coq. Icon. X. 6. f. 3. Guer. Icon. pi. 72. f. "J. Cayenne. 



5. E. Lecheguana, Lat. Brachygaster analis, Perty, in Spix and Martius, 



Delectus, pi. 28. f. 6. The Honey-bee of Brazil and Mexico. 



3. Petiole elongated and clavate : thorax abruptly truncated. 



6. Chartergus {St. Farg.) morio. Fab. G. Tatua, Cuv. Cayenne. 



4. Petiole elongated and clavate : thorax sloping behind. 



7. Myraptera scutellaris, fVhite, Ann. Sf Mag. Nat, Hist. vol. vii. p. 315. 



pi. 4. f. 4-7. Brazil. 



8. M. elegans. Curt, supvk, p. 257. Brazil. 



9. M. BRUNNEA, Curt, supra, p. 256. Brazil. 



* Syst. Piez. p. 280. no. 53. 



