174 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



two sulci, which are curved in front and abbreviated behind ; scutellum transverse-subqua- 

 drate, smooth, the arched basal suture dividing it from the short axillae (which are nearly 

 confluent in the middle), and the straight posterior one, crenate ; scutellum of metathorax 

 transverse-linear, punctured ; the rest of metathorax coarsely punctured, the apex trun- 

 cated, with the angles a little prominent ; the pleurae rugose-punctate, but smooth under 

 the wings. Legs ferruginous, coxae darker. Femora stout, subclavate. Fore tibiae 

 clavate ; the spur curved, nearly as long as metatarsus, the tip incised, the inner point 

 longer. Fore tarsus a little longer than the tibia; metatarsus as long as the following 

 three joints together, curved; the strigil dense, gradually diminishing to the end of the 

 joint; the following three joints subovate, gradually shortened; the last joint (with the 

 simple curved claws) as long as the first. Posterior tibia straight, slightly clavate. 

 Tarsus about as long as tibia, ratio of joints 5, 1, 2, 3, 4. Squamulae ample. Wings 

 pubescent, narrow, with a simple vein at the base, soon becoming obsolete ; under this, 

 in the fore wing, is a narrow triangular space, marked out by cloudy lines ; in the outer 

 region of the wing is an insulated longitudinal glabrous streak or spurious vein, placed 

 rather nearest to the hinder margin. Lower wings very narrow, with three hamuli. 

 Abdomen nearly as long and broad as thorax, spatulate, moderately convex, of six seg- 

 ments. Petiole rather longer than broad, rugose-punctate, with some longitudinal ele- 

 vated lines, the base truncated, with a definite annular edge ; the apex rounded, attenu- 

 ated, received in a deep excavation of the following segment ; rest of abdomen obovate; the 

 third, fourth, and fifth segments very short, linear- transverse; the last semicircular, ending 

 with a short deflected tube, composed of the exserted part of the valvulae enclosing the 

 ovipositor, the perforated apex of this surrounded with a whorl of fine hairs ; under side 

 of abdomen with some scattered hairs; the second segment with a faint oval fovea at each 

 side of the base. 



The ovipositor is retracted, except the little terminal tube, mentioned in the descrip- 

 tion already, but the parts clearly developed ; the valvulae linear, the exserted apex co- 

 loured, a little dilated, rounded, fringed with radiating hairs ; the calamus tapering to a 

 point, half as long as the spicula, which are strongly recurved inwardly. The ovaries 

 form each an oblate spheroid, entirely covered with regular small protuberances, as if 

 they were composed of an agglomeration of globular cells ; the separate oviducts, in the 

 short axis of the ovary, of considerable volume, and nearly as long as the transverse dia- 

 meter of the ovary, united into a short common excretory canal. No seminal receptacle 

 discovered. The alimentary canal presents nothing very peculiar ; as usual in this family, 

 it is short in proportion to the diameter ; in both the specimens examined there appears 

 to be a malformation of the Malpighian vessels, so that I could not determine the number 

 of them with absolute certainty, but I suppose it to be five. 



When the ovaries were crushed, a multitude of oblong-oval, nucleated vesicles 

 (or eggs?) escaped, all apparently in an equal stage of development, and completely de- 

 tached. The form of the ovaries themselves is without a parallel among the rest of the 

 Hymenoptera, as far as I know. The most anomalous structure among these is that of 

 Chelonus, as described and figured by Dufour (Anatomie des Orthopteres, &c.) ; but 

 this has no resemblance to the structure observed in Labolips. The absence of a seminal 

 receptacle in this insect, if the observation could be depended on as exact, would be the 

 more singular, as this appendage is found in form even in the agamous Cynipid^e. 



Pound not uncommon, in autumn (but females only), in a field laid 

 down in grass after a corn crop. The exact locality, a field adjoining 

 the rere of the kitchen-garden of a country house called Clifden, in the 

 townland of Knocknagoney, between Belfast and Holywood, and about 

 a quarter of a mile from the main road between these towns, along a 

 by-road leading up to Knocknagoney National School-house. I have 

 not met with the species elsewhere, nor seen it in any other collection, 

 except as derived from the same source; neither was it previously 

 known to any of the correspondents to whom I have communicated spe- 

 cimens. 



