588 BIOLOGV OF THE CHALCIDID-E — HOWARD. 



all orders, then we do longer wonder at their great numbers or at the 

 great variety exhibited among them. 



The family Chalcididce will, in my opinion, prove to be by far the 

 largest of the 40 odd families of Hymenoptera, with the Braconidce 

 second, the Ichneumonidce third, and the Proctotrypidw fourth, and 

 there is little doubt in my mind that the immense numbers of unde- 

 scribed species in three of these families will eventually place the Hyme- 

 noptera numerically above every other order of insects. 



