264 THE entomologist's record. 



in the wood of trees. The two species, unlike the Phyllophaija, which 

 feed upon and deposit their eggs in the softer portion of plants, cannot 

 withdraw their ovipositors into the ahdomen, but they project in a 

 most conspicuous manner, obtaining for these with country people 

 the name of tail-wasps. The ovipositors consist of two double-jointed 

 plates, the second joint of each being prolonged so as to form a sheath, 

 within which are three bristle-like organs, the upper being the largest, 

 and channelled for the reception of the two others, which together 

 form an expansible tube for the passage of the egg. These three 

 bristles are serrated. The larvae have only the six thoracic legs, 

 amply sufficient for their mode of life, in the burrows of the wood. 

 Their jaws are remarkably powerful, instances being known, notably 

 during the Crimean war, of their having gnawed through solid lead. 

 .S'. /////(/s is frequently found in this country ; S.jurencus much more rarely. 

 There is a marked difference between them. The female .S. ifii/as has 

 the thorax, base of the abdomen on the underside, and a broad band 

 around it, of deep black. The rest of the body and the sides of the head 

 are yellow. The thighs of the hind-legs and the bases of the others 

 are also black, but the rest of the legs and the antenntB are yellow. 

 The abdomen is terminated by a straight pointed tail, about five 

 times as long as its diameter, with the ovipositor beneath, and 

 projecting beyond it about an equal distance. The male is considerably 

 smaller, and is black, with a broad yellow ring (4 segments) around 

 its middle. The hind-legs are black, very strongly developed, with 

 yellow joints. The other legs are yellow. The antennae are black. 

 The abdomen is terminated by a short, flat, broad, V-shaped tail. The 

 wings are much paler than those of the female, which are a deep gold 

 bronze. N. jaroims (female), is easily distinguished by its 

 deep metallic blue body. It has yellow legs, and its pointed 

 abdomen closely resembles that of the male S. gujas, the 

 ovipositor being like that of S. t/inas female. It is rarely recorded. 

 Occasionally, it has obtained a footing for a short period in England, 

 as one of the members, Mr. Drane, has taken it frequently when a 

 boy. It does not appear to thrive. S. (fi(/as, on the contrary, is very 

 frequently captured, and a log of pine cut down at Southerndown 

 was recently exhibited, which was honey-combed by this species. 

 The writer suggested a use for the horny tail. Every entomologist 

 has witnessed the crane-fly ovipositing, standing upright on her hind 

 legs, and probing with her tail until a suitable place is found, and 

 then pausing a second to lay her egg. He believed observation of the 

 Sirices would reveal a similar process. The ovipositor he assumed to 

 be capable (its unique attachment to the middle of the abdomen 

 favouring the idea) of being bent forward by its hinge-like joint 

 towards the thorax. Being thus out of the way, the horn is brought 

 into requisition by the insect standing upon its hind legs, holding on 

 by its splendid claws, and feeling with it for a suitable crevice or soft 

 place in the trunk. When that is discovered the ovipositor is brought 

 back into position, the jointed plates turn aside to right and left, 

 and the boring proper completed, with the united and flexible triple- 

 edged saw, the insect now standing on all its legs. The tube is then 

 expanded by the loosening of its component parts and the egg deposited. 

 The hope was expressed that the members would endeavour, if the 

 opportunity occurred, to confirm this suggestion or otherwise. 



