I 



The species composing the genus Mgeria having been long con- 

 founded, I shall here endeavour to settle their names and synonyms 

 to the best of my ability, in which I have been much assisted by 

 Laspeyre's valuable Monograph upon the genus. 



1, jE. AsUiformis 1\ ; (Estriformis Kirby and Spence's Int. to 

 Ent. vol. 1. pi. 3. f. 2. (this species having opaque superior wings 

 will form a division). — 2. Spheciformis F. — 3. Ichneumoniformis 

 r. (tab. 53. Nob.) ; Vespiformis Haw. — 4. Vespiformis L. mas. : 

 Tenthrediniformis Hub. ; Cynipiformis Haw. fern. : (Estriformis 

 Haw. ; chrysorrhma Don. v. 4. t. 116. — 5. C/irysidiformis Vill., 

 Haw. — 6. TipuUformis L., Haw., Don. v. 2. t. 52. — 7. Formici- 

 formis Esper., Vill., Lasp., Haw. — 8. Mutillmformis Lasp. ; 

 CuUciformis Hub., Haw. ; zonata Don. v. 6. t. 195. — 9. Culici- 

 formis L., Lasp. ; Stomoxi/formis Hub. ? 



jEgeria Ichneumoniformis is one of the rarest of our British 

 species ; and it is a little singular that all the specimens I have 

 yet examined have been females. It appears to be attached to 

 tlie coast — Mr. Millard having taken one near Bristol. Mr. 

 Skrimshire took one at Creak near the coast of Norfolk 1823; 

 and the beginning of September of the same year I captured a 

 female resting upon a large mass of rock on the beach near 

 Hastings. Although there is no appearance of yellow hairs in 

 the beard of the abdomen in Laspeyre^s figures, he mentions a few 

 in his description ; — it is only in the most perfect specimens that 

 they are very evident : the yellow bands of the abdomen also in 

 wasted specimens become nearly white, and the orange legs yel- 

 low ; which will reconcile in a great measure the differences in 

 Eabricius's and other descriptions ; and there are evident proofs 

 throughout Laspej^re's accurate description of its being taken 

 from a faded and worn specimen. 



The most singular characters of our genus are the ocelli or 

 little eyes, which, although common to the orders Trichoptera, 

 Neuroptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera, one would not expect to 

 find amongst the Lepidoptera : it is to the accurate and learned 

 De Geer that we are indebted for this discovery. Savigny long 

 since proved an analogy between the Lepidoptera and the Tri- 

 choptera, from a resemblance in the form and situation of the 

 labrura and mandibles ; and in the ocelli we have another proof 

 of their affinity ; for not only are they placed very much in the 

 same situation, but they agree also in number, being only two ; 

 whereas in the other orders there are three, placed more or less 

 triangularly. 



The larvse have sixteen feet, are pale and fleshy ; they live upon 

 the bark, pith, and internal substance of trees, amongst which are 

 the poplar, willow, alder, and currant : the imago delights to fly 

 in the sunshine between the hours of nine and three during the 

 months of May, June, and July, at which time they are very 

 lively, and fly with wonderful velocity, alighting upon flowers from 

 which they extract honey. 



Erynginm maritimiim (Sea Eryngo, or Sea Holly) is figured. 



