Neglected as this extensive family has been, it is not to be 

 wondered at that we are but ill-acquainted with the affinities 

 and economy of many of the groups composing it : as every 

 fact is therefore rendered the more valuable, I have the 

 greater pleasure in presenting my readers with the present 

 species, which I captured in the New Forest about a mile to 

 the north of Lyndhurst. We were resting ourselves about 

 noon in the early part of September 1822, whilst the sun 

 shone very powerfully, when I observed one of these pretty 

 insects flying over the flat surface where a tree had been felled, 

 upon which it settled; and shortly after two others appeared. 

 They all hovered over the block and at intervals lighted upon 

 it, but I could not observe that the female deposited any eggs ; 

 and knowing it to be a rare insect, new to Britain, I was fear- 

 ful of losing it, which prevented me from further observing 

 its operations. I consider myself most fortunate in capturing 

 both sexes, as the males of this family are very seldom known; 

 and Panzer having only figured the female, the male is here 

 represented in preference, and the body of the female is given 

 at the bottom of the plate. 



Latreille's genus Ichneumon, comprising most of the genera 

 into which Fabricius had divided it (although very imper- 

 fectly), must be considered as a family, since it is impossible 

 to include insects in the same genus so widely different as 

 Peltastes (plate 4.) and our present subject, Bassus ; and 

 although the long exserted ovipositor gives it the appearance 

 of a Pimpla, it will be found to be much more nearly allied 

 to Microgaster and Agathis. 



There are probably about 15 British species in our cabinets 

 allied to that figured, but I think only 4< or 5 of them per- 

 fectly agree with our type, and I believe none of their names 

 have yet been ascertained. 



Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry), growing in abundance 

 where the insect was taken, has been selected for the plate. 



