The vast number of species contained in Ichncumonida:^ to- 

 gether with the difficulty of seizing distinctive cliaracters, has 

 either caused this family to be totally neglected or but imper- 

 fectly understood in most countries, but in none more so than 

 in our own, where the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, with the 

 exception of the Tenthredoes and Bees, have entirely engaged 

 the attention of the entomologist till within the last few years ; 

 by which means not less than 600 species have been confused 

 under the title of Ichneumon, instead of taking advantage of 

 the improvements suggested by our neighbours, which, how- 

 ever imperfect, must form the basis for a more complete di- 

 vision and natural arrangement of this family. 



Had Fabricius, who first divided the Ichieumonidce into 

 genera, done it with that care and attention which so difficult 

 a task required, there is no doubt but Latreille would have 

 gone further than he has done into the investigation of them ; 

 but the Fabrician system is so perfectly artificial, that the 

 author of it himself could not follow it without making " con- 

 fusion worse confounded," as is evident from a slight view of 

 the genera in his last work. 



Difficult as the task is, and unequal as we must acknowledge 

 ourselves to perform it, we can only promise to lend our aid by 

 separating groups as opportunities may offer, thereby lessen- 

 ing the mass that at present is nearly unmanageable, which 

 will we hope enable those, who have better opportunities and 

 more leisure than ourselves for studying this family, to accom- 

 plish an undertaking so absolutely necessary to a knowledge 

 of the Hymenoptera. 



Alomya was first established by Panzer, and has been 

 adopted by Fallen: yet we are so imperfectly acquainted 

 with the sexes, that Jurine and Fallen are at issue respecting 

 them : there are, however, characters which are so evident, 

 that we can recognize the genus at first sight, viz. the com- 

 paratively short wings, the long and convex body, the very 

 short thighs and tibiae, the globose head, and the short and 

 curled antennae, composed of fewer joints than in most of the 

 genera. 



These insects do not appear to fly much ; they are generally 

 found running amongst moss and grass, for which purpose 

 their short and strong legs are well adapted. A. debellator has 

 been found in Norfolk. A. victor I found last summer near 

 Dunkeld ; its red petiole distinguishes it from the former in- 

 sect, which has a black one. We have 2 or 3 other species that 

 are unnamed. 



The plant figured, Tricntalis europcva (Chick weed Winter- 

 green,) was found at the same time. 



