Perilampus, a genus containing several European species, 

 was separated from Cynips and established by Latreille in his 

 Genera Crustaceorum. The wings of the Cijnipsidce seldom 

 furnish generic characters ; and in many other tribes of Hy- 

 menoptera, their structure is not available for separating small 

 groups, they consequently become rather characteristic of fa- 

 milies or of tribes ; and this led Jurine (whose system was built 

 upon their conformation) into the error of uniting the Fabri- 

 cian genera of Ichneumonidce^ and considering that vast group 

 as a genus. The same system compelled him to sink many ex- 

 cellent genera amongst the bees, and prevented him from admit- 

 ting of any material division in the Cynipsidce or Diplolepidce. 

 The antennae however, when carefully examined, will supply 

 the deficiency by furnishing the best generic characters for ge- 

 neral use ; for although we believe that the trophi are of the 

 first importance, it is not possible for the student to examine 

 those parts in every specimen ; and characters obtained from 

 more convenient parts will enable him to decide upon affinities 

 after a genus is firmlj^ established by dissection. At present 

 we shall not enter into the merits of our genus : it may not 

 be amiss, however, to remark, that the singular manner in 

 which the labrum is produced into spines, and the same dispo- 

 sition in the terminal joint of the maxillary palpi, have not 

 been before noticed. 



The metallic hue of the bodies render the Perilampi striking 

 and beautiful objects, although inferior in splendour to their 

 neighbours. They are parasitic, feeding in the larva state 

 upon caterpillars, and forming an oval cocoon, which Reaumur 

 represents suspended from a branch by a thread. 



The species figured not agreeing with Fabricius's descrip- 

 tion of Cynips t-iificornis^ which is said to have a black head 

 and thorax, nor with Panzer's Chalcis molacea^ which has the 

 4 anterior legs entirely ochraceous, we have considered it as 

 a nondescript, and called it P. pallipes, from its pale feet. 

 Mr. Bainbridge took a male at Darent; and the female figured 

 was taken off an umbelliferous plant by Mr. Joseph Standish 

 at Dover the end of last July. 



The pretty plant in the plate, Antirrhinum spiirmm (Round- 

 leaved Fluellin), was gathered upon the heights at Dover. 



