OF WASHINGTON. 231 



Before describing these two species which may be known as 

 Pelecinella ivestwoodi and Pelecinella hoivardi a few re 

 marks in regard to the peculiar characteristics of the genus and 

 its proper position among the family Chalcididaa will be apropos. 



Westwood, in his characterization of the genus, stated its 

 affinities were with Callimome, an old name for the modern 

 genus Syntomaspis, belonging to the subfamily Torymince ; but 

 in his Thesaurus he has placed it with his subfamily Perilam- 

 pides. Prof. Westwood w r as probably influenced into assigning it 

 an affinity with the ToryminaB from a fancied resemblance due to 

 the very short subsessile stigmal vein, and by the long ovipositor, 

 characteristics more particularly found associated with members 

 belonging to this group ; but why he finally placed it with the 

 Perilampides I cannot imagine, unless it is on account of the shape 

 of the head, the head having a deep antenna! emargination, and 

 the coarse sculpture of the head and thorax. 



A careful study of the two species exhibited tonight convinces 

 me, how r ever, that the genus has not the slightest affinity with 

 either the Torymince or the Perilampina, but, on the contrary, 

 all its affinities are with the subfamilies Cleonymince and the 

 Eupelmince, and I believe it forms a connecting link between 

 these two subfamilies, but with characteristics sufficiently well 

 marked to warrant us in elevating the genus into a distinct sub 

 family, intermediate between the two aforementioned groups. 



It differs from all genera in the CleonyminaB by the very slen 

 der legs, which increase successively rapidly in length and size ; 

 so that the hind pair are more than twice longer than the anterior 

 pair ; by the anterior and posterior coxae being very long ; by 

 the very short subsessile stigmal vein ; and by the long petiolated, 

 strongly compressed sword-shaped abdomen. 



It differs from all genera in the Eupelmince by venation ; by 

 the shape and structure of the abdomen and thorax, the meso- 

 pleura having a long femoral furrow ; by the proportionate 

 length of the legs, and in having the middle tibial spur small and 

 their tarsi not dilated ; and by the two broad claspers at the base 

 of the ovipositor. 



In the Eupelminae two genera, Polymoria Forster and Meta- 

 pelma Westw. , have the tarsi of the middle legs slender, not dilated, 

 but the tibial spurs are large, and, besides, both have the large, 

 non-impressed mesopleura and the characteristic mesonotum of 

 the Kupelminae, and their position cannot be mistaken. 



The groups showing the closest affinities with the Cleonyminae 

 may therefore be arranged in the following order : 



Subfamily Chalcedectinae = Polychrominae. 

 Subfamily Cleonyminse. 



