24 Linnean Society. [March 20, 



ence, they become some of the more active and perfect of insects. 

 They are nourished by suction, and either are attached singly to the 

 external surface of the bodies of their victims, or reside in the same 

 cells vpith them gregariously, or infest them internally, according to 

 their species. In the vs'hole of them, however, the general form of 

 body and of the digestive organs, at the earlier periods of growth, is 

 very similar, and the special development of each species is regulated 

 by the same laws. They cast their tegument at different periods of 

 growth like other larvae, a fact which Mr. Newport has observed in 

 Paniscus, although in the apodal larvae of Hymenoptera it has 

 heretofore escaped the observation of naturalists. Their digestive 

 apparatus at first is extremely simple, and has the form of a capa- 

 cious bag or sac, without any anal outlet. Consequently no faeces 

 are passed until the larvae have acquired their full growth and ceased 

 to feed. After this period of assimilation the digestive cavity begins 

 to assume a new condition. It becomes perforated at its base, and 

 an intestine and anal outlet are formed, and faeces are then passed. 

 One reason for this late completion of the alimentary canal seems to 

 be the necessity that the fluids of the insect preyed upon should be 

 preserved in a healthy state for the support of the parasite ; and 

 another, that the food of the victim should not be contaminated. But 

 when the parasites are full-grown the necessity for these conditions 

 ceases, and the intestinal portion of the digestive apparatus is deve- 

 loped. 



The following description of a new genus of Chalcididce found in 

 the cells of Anthophora was then given : — 



Genus Anthophorabia, Newp. 

 Fern. Caput thorace latius ; antenncB 6-articulatae, pilosae, articulis 2^° 

 3tio 4to 5toque subsequalibus, 6*° clavam elongato-ovalem efformante. 

 Thorax ahdomenque longitudine aequales. jilce vena mediana bifida. 

 Tarsi .5-articulati. Mas : AntenncB 4-articulatae, articulo basali ar- 

 cuato, magnopere dilatato, inferne excavato, 2"^° cylindrico, 3*'° magno 

 globoso, 4'° elongato-ovali. Oculi stemmatosi. Alee abbreviatae. 



Anthophorabia retusa {Fem.). ^neo-viridis, capite magno, oculis 

 compositis nigris, abdomine nitido ovali, alis magnis rotundatis, pedibus 

 flavescentibus. {Mas) flavus vel saturate ferrugineus, capite magno ro- 

 tundato ocello iitrinque uhIco tribusque in vertice instructo nigrescente, 

 pedibus robustis. — Long. lin. 1. 

 Mr. Newport found this species in abundance in the nests of An- 

 thophora at Richborough in Kent, while searching for the larvae of 

 Meloe in August 1831, 1832 and 1834. The larva is apodal, sub- 



