14 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. xviii. 



lately discovered fossil in Baltic amber. In the fossil genus, which 

 is unmistakably a Bethylid, the prothorax is unusually long, like that 

 of the Ampulicid Rhinopsis, and also bears a strong median longitu- 

 dinal sulcus similar to that of Rhinopsis. The wing venation is con- 

 siderably reduced (Fig. i), but less so than in any living genus of 

 the Bethylinje and can be readily derived from the type of Rhinopsis 

 by the suppression of the transverse cubital veins and the loss of the 

 second recurrent nervure. The head has the same lenticular form 

 and bears 13-jointed antennae. The form of the mesothorax is very 

 similar; it bears a second pair of lateral parapsidal furrows, and the 

 size, form and sculpture of the metathorax is almost identical. The 

 most striking difference is the absence of the well-developed abdom- 

 inal petiole of Rhinopsis and the thickening of the legs, both Bethy- 

 line characters. From a close study of these two genera I feel con- 

 vinced that the Bethylinse, typified by Epyris and its allies have been 

 derived from Ampulicidae quite similar to Rhinopsis, and this opin- 

 ion is further supported by the fact that the Ampulicidae appear to 

 be an old and archaic group. 



Another part of the family, represented most typically by the 

 genus Pristocera is, I think, also derived from an Ampulicid-like 

 form, for it also shows unmistakable similarities to Rhinopsis. In the 

 winged forms (males) of this group the loss of wing veins has pro- 

 ceeded a little farther than in the fossil genus above referred to; the 

 legs have been less modified, remaining slender, and the thorax, except 

 the prothoracic segment, is scarcely different from that of Rhinopsis. 

 The prothorax has been much shortened, and the head, instead of be- 

 coming more elongate, is thickened and quadrate in form. The abdo- 

 men is less modified, being subpetiolate. 



Probably the most easily defined and sharply circumscribed group 

 of the Bethylid series is the group variously regarded as a family or 

 subfamily, represented by Dryinns and its allies. The fore tarsi of 

 the females of this group are peculiarly modified into a chelate struc- 

 ture involving the terminal joint. This modification, which occurs 

 in nearly all the genera, is so extraordinary and characteristic that 

 it serves for their instant recognition. The form of the head and 

 thorax of the members of this group is also very different from that 

 of other Bethylids although the wings and abdomen are quite similar. 

 The legs in all genera have the cox?e and trochanters very elongate 



