1901.] 



291 



tarsi elongate, linear, straight; 2ii(l— 4.tli short; 5th still shorter; claws minute, 



incrassated at the base, without pectination, somewhat bristly at the base. Four 



posterior legs normal. Spurs 2, 2, 2, those of the fore tibite very short. Abdomen 



subsessile, longer than the thorax ; segment 



1 with a broad shallow channel throughout 



its length ; spiracles placed, as in Cryptus, 



behind tlie middle. Terebra somewhat shorter 



than the body, its valves broad, flattened. 



Male unknown. For the sake of brevity I 



omit some generalities as to form and_/acje*, 



which will easily be estimated from the 



figure. 



The above description was written 

 before I had examined Mr. Ashmead's 

 work. Upon comparing it subse- 

 quently with his description of Nyxeo- 

 philus, some slight discrepancies 

 appear, but not I think sufficient to 

 necessitate the formation of another 

 new genus. The NyxeopMlus of Ash- 

 mead, founded, I presume, upon 

 American types, has a second transverse carina on the metathorax, 

 and the spiracles oval ; while the spiracles of the 1st abdominal 

 segment are placed " at or a little before " the middle. Forster is 

 silent about these characters. The old genera before Forster were, 

 as is well known, vastly too comprehensive and indefinite ; those of 

 modern date often present the contrary detect of being too exclusive. 

 It frequently happens that a new species, respecting the natural affi- 

 nities of which there could be no doubt, cannot, for want of certain 

 technical characters, enter any of the artificial genera which crowd 

 the subject. The readiest way out of this difficulty is to make another 

 new genus, of course with only one species ; and so the evil goes on 

 increasing ad infinitum. 



Nyxeophilus coesicus, n. sp. 



Entirely black, except the fore legs, which are yellowish-brown, darker towards 

 the base and apex. Antennte with a white ring. Wings glaucous ; nervures dark 

 brown ; stigma narrowly lanceolate, elongate, blackish, with a minute whitish dot 

 at the base. Body hardly shining. Metathorax and hind coxse coriaceus, dull. 

 Length, 7'5 lines ; tei'cbra, 6 ; exp. of wings, 13 lines. 



I have no information of the history of this insect, nor of the 

 circuuistauces of its capture in this island. It has not been met with 

 a second time. The scarcity of Ichiieumonidce and Braconidce in 



