iiRis. 205 



Genus LIRIS. 



Lirig, Fabr. Syst. Pi'ez, p. 227 (1804). 

 Tachytes, Lepel. Ei/m. \i\, p. 239 (1845). 



Type, L. aurata, Fabr. 

 Range. Both hemispheres. 



Pig. 47. — Liris ducalis, 5 . }. 



Head a little wider than the thorax ; mandibles with no excision 

 on their outer margins, the inner margin bidentate close to the 

 base; face more or less richly pubescent; the convergence of 

 the eyes as in the genus Notogonia ; the front puckered along 

 the inner orbits and broadly furrowed ; ocelli — the anterior 

 ocellus round, of ordinary form, complete, the hinder two 

 lengthened, flat, hardly observable, and lying considerably to the 

 rear of the anterior one ; the pronotum depressed beneath the 

 level of the mesonotura, its posterior margin not transverse, but 

 coming to a point in the middle ; wings — fore ^^^ng with one radial 

 and three cubital cells, of the same form and shape as those 

 in the genus Larra ; legs, on the whole, a little longer than in 

 Larra, and nearly as long as in Notogonia ; the armature of the 

 legs in general well-developed ; intermediate tibise with one apical 

 spur ; claws lengthened ; the median segment and the 2nd ventral 

 segment similar to those of Larra ; the anal segment with a 

 pygidial area covered with short stiff pubescence. 



These insects, like most of the allies of Larra, make their 

 nest-holes in the ground, providing as food for their future 

 brood Orthopterous insects of various kinds. L. aurata may, 

 like Notogonia suhtcssellata, commonly be seen struggling with a 

 paralyzed cricket three or four times its own weight and size. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Winers dark fuscous, suflFused more or less 

 with a purple effulgence. 

 a'. Kobustly, stoutly made, of compara- 

 tively largje size. L. 24-30 mm L. ducalis, p. 207. 



