264 BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. [Mesos/efius. 



The hind femora apically above and the centre of their tibiae are rufes- 

 cent ; the c? hind tarsal joints two to four are white and its scutellar 

 carinae sometimes immaculate. 



This species is very distinct from the preceding in its densely and 

 very finely punctate abdomen, and glabrous, elongate post-petiole ; from 

 Af. transfuga, with which Marshall synonymized it, in the acute lateral 

 prominences at the base of the petiole which, however, are sub-obsolete in 

 the male, in the posteriorly narrower head, the sub-rugosely punctate frons, 

 short pronotal epomiae and the male's immaculate pronotum. It is quite 

 possible that M. transfuga, which occurs throughout Europe, may be 

 found with us, but more positive records are needed before introducing it, 

 although it is mentioned as British by Desvignes, in 1856. 



In any case the records of this species are extremely vague, and founded 

 solely upon Marshall's mention of it in his 1870 and 1872 Catalogues. It 

 occurs in July and is widely distributed on the Continent, but does hot 

 appear to have been yet bred. 



NEMATOPODIUS, Gravenhorst 



Gr. I. E. ii. 955 (1829). 



Head transverse and basally rounded ; eyes sub-orbiculate ; clypeus 

 distinctly discreted, convex and apically incised ; cheeks short and deeply 

 sulcate. Antennae slender, filiform with the joints gradually a little in- 

 crassate and pale-banded towards the obtuse apex. Thorax gibbous and 

 gradually contracted posteriorly ; mesopleural sulci strong ; metathorax 

 sub-declived and somewhat convex throughout, pubescent, strongly niti- 

 dulous, distinctly, sparsely and evenly punctate beyond the centrally 

 angulated basal costa ; spiracles circular and apophyses entirely wanting. 

 Scutellum triangular, hardly convex, apically obtuse. Abdomen narrow, 

 elongate, convex, glabrous and nitidulous ; basal segment linear, with 

 prominent spiracles ; second segment obsoletely punctate and, with the 

 remainder, parallel-sided or gradually dilated towards the anus ; terebra 

 shortly exserted with sub-spatulate valvulae. Legs slender, elongate, 

 with front coxae centrally obtusely denticulate and the hind tibiae sub- 

 intumescent. Wings narrow with areolet entire, small and sub-quadrate, 

 emitting recurrent nervure from near its apex. 



The position of this genus, which I am now able to confirm as British, 

 has never been satisfactorily decided. Gravenhorst wished to place it 

 between Cryptus and Eckthrus, but the areolet is quadrate. Taschenberg 

 says its conformation is similar to that of Ischni/s, and that it has nothing 

 in common with Mesostenus but the shape of the areolet. Subsequent 

 authors have nothing to add and, indeed, in our present artificial classifi- 

 cation no other position is open to it. I am strongly of opinion that it is 

 closely allied to Habrocryptus /ninuiorins, Fab., but the females of that 

 genus are of much stouter build, and the exserted terebra and mesopleural 

 sulci preclude it from Ischnns, as now understood. I can, moreover, recall 

 no genus with the front coxae similarly modified. We now possess both 

 the palaearctic species. 



