106 tM*y' 



adopting, with exceptional precocity, the more advanced method, had 

 completely transformed a minute unexpanded leaf into a " pea-pod." 

 Other individuals had selected, on the upper-side of the leaf, two 

 corresponding strips across the middle, one on either side of the 

 midrib, and, after spinning their edges closely together, were living 

 between them, the apical and basal ends of the leaf being left free. 

 All were feeding on the substance of the leaf inside or just outside 

 their chambers, either gnawing away its surface, or eating small holes 

 right through it, and ejecting the pellets of black frass from the ends 

 of their chambers. It should be added that in young larvae the skin 

 shows a decided gloss which is absent in the case of more mature 

 individuals.— E. E. B. : January 2Srd, 1906. 



NOTES ON THE HYMENOPTEROUS GENVS-^RACON, Fab. 

 BY CLAUDE MORLEY, F.E.S., &c. 



Excepting a few local lists ot localities, we have heard little of 

 this very distinct genus since the publication by the Entomological 

 Society of the Urst part of Kev. T. A. Marshall's " Monograph of 

 British Braconidce " in 1885 ; and his revision and extension of the 

 genus in Andre's " Specif s des Kymenopteres d'Europe " in 1887 

 appears to have attracted still less attention. It may, therefore, be 

 of interest to present some notes upon its species, with the hope that 

 this sadly neglected, though economically most important, branch of 

 British Entomology may yet receive its fair share of attention. 'J"o 

 this end it may be of use to present a concise table (drawn from the 

 latest source) of our indigenous species : — 

 (52) 1 Abdomen at least basally rugose dorsally. 

 (19) 2 Fourth segment not smootlier than the preceding. 

 (10) 3 Suture of the 2nd- 3rd segments centrally sinuate. 



(7) 4 Stigma of the wing flavous. 



(6) 5 Abdomen punctate and not striolate 1. pectoralis,We»m. 



(5) 6 Abdomen striolate and not punctate 3. en^throstictus, Msirsh.. 



(4) 7 Stigma of the wing lufuscate. 



(y) 8 Abdomen entirely testaceous 2. Ixtus, Wesm. 



(8) 9 Abdomen centrally black 4. minutator, Fab. 



(3) 10 Suture of the 2nd — 3rd segments straight. 



(18) 11 Second abcissa of radius not shorter than 1st transverse cubital nervure. 



(15) 12 Metanotum centrally carinate throughout. 



(14) 13 Head, thorax, and coxae partly testaceous 5. fulvipes^ Nees. 



(13) 14 Head, thorax, and coxae black 6. lonfficollis, Wesm, 



