Xy/ophurus.] BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. 327 



elongate ; notauli deeply impressed. Abdomen of $ oblong-ovate and as 

 broad as thorax, of S narrow and sub-linear ; black, with three or four 

 basal segments, except sometimes base of first, red, and the fifth often 

 basally castaneous; post-petiole quadrate, irregularly punctate, sub-glabrous 

 and sub-foveate between the carinae, gradually explanate apically ; terebra 

 as long as abdomen, spicula ferrugineous, sheaths black, with a[)ices white 

 or rufescent. Legs slender, red or castaneous, with coxae and trochanters, 

 and the hind tarsi, brunneous ; 9 with front tibiae strongly intumescenl. 

 ^Vings of c? hyaline, of $ somewhat clouded, with apex and a short fascia 

 beneath stigma darker ; radix and tegulae black ; areolet pentagonal ; 

 nervellus in (J (Brischke says) intercepted in centre. Length, 14 mm. 



Thomson mentions a variety in which the petiolar area is complete. 



The type of Desvignes' species in the British Museum is nothing but a 

 $ of the present species, and is labelled, " iiimidus, D." His description 

 should be amended : — The black segments are not apically red ; the three 

 basal segments are red ; flagellar joints six to nine are entirely white, and 

 the wings are but very slightly clouded below the stigma. 



Bridgnian records this species as new to Britain, though it was known 

 under a distinct name to Desvignes, and is probably not uncommon, from 

 Walmer, early in August, 1886 (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1887, p. 379), and 

 remarks that the specimen is in his collection. Mr. Albert Piffard has 

 recently taken this insect at Felden in Herts. On the Continent it is 

 common in the northern and central countries. 



NYXEOPHILUS, Forster. 

 Forst. Verb. pr. Rheinl. 186S, p. 187 (nee Thorns. Ann. Soc. Fr. 18S5, p. 18). 



Head sub-quadrate, as broad as thorax ; clypeus very small, Antennae 

 slender, filiform. Alesonotum centrally depressed, notauli deeply im- 

 pressed and basally foveate ; metathorax with only one (apical) costa 

 above the short petiolar area and with the basal area sub - triangular ; 

 spiracles elongate-oval, mesosternum distinctly sulcate laterally. Abdo- 

 men sub-petiolate, elongate ; petiolar carinae distinct nearly to apex, its 

 spiracles situated slightly before the centre ; gastrocaeli small and oblique, 

 terebra only a little shorter than the whole body. Front legs short, their 

 femora curved, apically compresso-dilated and attenuate, their tibiae in $ 

 slightly incrassate, in 9 strongly intumescent with the base and towards 

 the apex constricted. Areolet large, pentagonal ; nervelet distinct, ner- 

 vellus not intercepted below the centre. 



Forster's short synopsis of genera has led to much confusion, and it 

 were, I think, better if authors had ignored it in nomenclature, especially 

 as no types are instanced. Thomson (Inc. cit.) referred species which are 

 considered to appertain to Kaltenlnuhia to this genus, and Schmicdeknerht 

 (Opusc. Ichn. 495) says Nyxeophilus is very probably Thomson's J/op/o- 

 cryptus. As to its most natural position, if. my pajjer in the E. M. ^L 

 1902, p. 174, where it is found, like Xy/opfiurus, to be connected with 

 H\\i^rocryptus. I am by no means satisfied that N. Corsicns is not knijwn 

 on the Continent under another designation. 



