156 SHUCKARD ON THE 



Observations on the above. 



Asrrilus birtuttatiis was taken in the hollow to the left of the 

 main path through the wood. 



Elater prcetistuSf on the western edge of the wood. 



Molar chus ziinbellatarum was in the greatest profusion. 



/Egerla apiformis, bembeciformis, cynipiformis, myopcB- 

 formts, formiciformis, and vesp'iformis, Sesia fuciformis 

 and bombyliformis, and Polypogon derivalis, were taken in 

 the hollow. 



Acronycta ligustri, on the trunks of oaks. 



Several of the larvse of each of the following insects were 

 found full-fed on the 11th of July: — Notodonta perfusca, 

 Chaonia roboris, and Biston prodromarius. 



Art. XX. — Description of the Genera and Species of the 

 British Chrysididce. By W. E. Shuckard, M.E.S. 



It is not from having made any notable discoveries, or 

 additions to the already recorded indigenous species of these 

 exceedingly pretty insects, that I am prompted to bring 

 together the dispersed notices of them, but from a desire 

 that season after season shall not pass away without making 

 them more accessible to cabinets in general, by placing in the 

 hands of the remote collector the ready means to determine 

 his captures, and thereby stimulate him to further exertion. 



Latreille, in the second edition of the Regne Animal, makes 

 them the sixth tribe of the second family, viz. of the Hymen- 

 optera ptipivnra ; he had previously placed them preceding 

 the Oxyurites, in his Families Naturelles, but he here alters 

 their situation. I have not leisure at the present moment to 

 discuss the question, for this paper will be solely technical, 

 and I therefore leave them where he places them ; but they 

 form a very natural group, the essential character of which is, 

 an articulated ovipositor, each articulation of which is retractile 

 within the other, like the tubes of a telescope. Latreille says 

 they have a sting at the end of it. I know, from experience, 

 that it will fre({uently puncture and produce momentary pain, 



