Hecabolus is evidently nearly allied to Spathius, in which 

 group it is included in the Guide, but the shorter and stouter 

 antennae and the absence of the petiole to the abdomen dis- 

 tinguish it from the latter genus; the male is also characterized 

 in a very remarkable manner, having a stigma on the costa 

 near to the base of the inferior wings, similar in substance and 

 colour to those in the upper wings, and filling one of the cells, 

 which is open in the other sex. 



Many years since I discovered a female of this curious 

 insect in Norfolk, and afterwards both sexes on a post very 

 much perforated by insects in a Garden at Fulham; they were 

 entering the holes with Heriades (1 believe), Pemphredon, 

 Crabro, Ptilinus, &c. 



I am also indebted to the Rev. G. T. Rudd for specimens 

 which he found on an old ash post in Yorkshire. He states 

 to me in his letter that they were confined to one spot and 

 post, and were evidently parasitic on the genus Ptilinus, and 

 he has lately informed me that he discovered dead specimens 

 of the Hecabolus in the pupae-cases (which they completely 

 filled) of Ptilinus pecihiicotfus, and also the CheirojmcJms qua- 

 drum {Cleonymus maculipeimis of this work, folio 194.) in pro- 

 fusion in the pupas-cases of Hyle sinus Fraxini, thereby con- 

 firming the remarks made by Mr. Cooper in the Entomolo- 

 gical Magazine. 



For specimens of the rare plant figured. Daphne Mezereum 

 (The Mezereon), I am indebted to J. C. Dale, Esq., who pro- 

 cured them the beginning of last April from Cranbourn Chase, 

 Dorsetshire. 



