1 66 



TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



The principal divisions of the Hymenopteva are readily dis- 

 tinguished by characteristic species, so that their classification 

 is comparatively simple, and some remarkable habits which are 

 prevalent amongst some peculiarly constructed kinds appear to 

 have definite relations with their metamorphosis. 



THE HYMENOPTERA WITH OVIPOSITORS. 



{Tenthredinidce and Siricidcr!) 



The celebrated entomologist Latreille distinguished the Hy- 

 mcnoptcra which had the abdomen attached to the rest of the 



THE OVIPOSITOR OF THE Hylolcma rosea. 



body by its entire width from those \\hich had a slender, waist- 

 like junction. This distinction, although not very important, is 

 very handy. The species with thick waists are collected into two 

 families, one very numerous in species and the other much less 

 so. The principal, or first family, is that of the saw-flics, or 

 TcntJircdinidcc, and the other the Siricidcc. 



The saw-flies are common everywhere, and are to be seen 

 and watched whilst they fly, work, and crawl about in nearly 

 every garden and wood. Once seen, the peculiar habits and 

 odd manners of these active flies are never forgotten. Their 

 body is short and compact, their mandibles are long, flat, and 

 cutting, the jaws are short, feeble, and furnished with six-jointed 

 palpi, and the antennae are either thread-shaped or are thick 

 at the end or branched. The TcntJircdinidcc are particularly 



