OF WASHINGTON. 



203 



branous edges transversely striated at the extremity ; the union 

 of these three pieces forms a central passage * * * for 

 the protrusion of the egg. ' ' 



He also exhibits a more highly magnified view of the base 

 of the ovipositor, to show, as he correctly states, ''that the 

 superior channel (10) originates from the base of the basal part 

 (9) of the outer sheath." 



So far as the ovipositor proper is concerned the foregoing 

 description is correct ; but in the manner of the attachment of 

 the latter to the so-called basal plates, and of the latter again 

 to the abdomen, considerable additions and modifications must 

 be made. 



The general relationship of these parts was shown in my 

 article already referred to in the figure of Metopius rileyi, which 

 I reproduce (Fig. 9). In this insect the ovipositor includes, 

 with supports, the yth and 8th abdominal segments. 



PIG. 9. Metopius rileyi: a, female from side ; b, abdomen of same, 



showing ovipositor partly exserted ; c, same, with ovipositor 



entirely exserted ; d, f and. g, terminal segments of abdomen 



and parts of ovipositor still more enlarged (original). 



The connection between the base of the support (9) and 

 segments 7 and 8 is very intimate, the lines in the illustration 

 indicating the union of the plates appearing as scarcely per 

 ceptible sutures. The support (9) is deeply grooved beneath, 

 or rather consists of two plates, and the ovipositor proper (10) 

 closes into it like the blade of a knife. At the extreme base 

 of the support, and projecting slightly posteriorly, are the 

 hairy sheaths, and at the tip of the 8th segment are the minute 

 stylets found in most Hymenoptera. 



The ovipositor proper consists of the customary three parts, 

 viz : the superior channeled piece, (10) and two spiculae (n). 

 The base of former is enclosed by and quite firmly attached to 

 the apex of the support, with which it forms a sort of ball and 



