

Homocidus | BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. 91 
the concolorous tegulae, flavous; metathorax rugose with the areola dis- 
tinctly delineated. Scutellum and rarely postscutellum stramineous. 
Abdomen with the three basal segments scabriculous and the second to 
third or fourth entirely, partly or usually apically testaceous-red ;_ basal 
segment subquadrate and basally glabrous, second with (form typ.) or 
without (var. céngu/a/us) a transverse impression, and, like the third, 
apically glabrous. Legs testaceous; coxae black with the anterior api- 
cally, and all the trochanters, flavescent; all the femora basally and the 
hind tarsi, together with extreme base and apex of their tibiae, infuscate. 
Length, 4—5 mm. 
This species superficially strongly resembles Bassus multicolor in its 
colouration, its sometimes more or less distinctly transimpressed second 
segment, entirely white scutellum and usually brightly cinctured abdomen ; 
the colouration of the hind tibiae, which are not at all white, readily dis- 
tinguishes it from that genus, however. The ¢ is also very like H. 06- 
scuripes, though distinctly stouter with the abdomen broader, the antenne 
beneath and scutellum pale, and the legs farless nigrescent. The second 
recurrent nervure is rarely entirely wanting. 
It is undoubtedly an uncommon species with us and has a limited dis- 
tribution in Sweden, France and Germany, whence Gravenhorst gives us 
the only inkling we have respecting its economy when he says that it has 
been taken near Helmstadt in August,among plants covered with Aphzdes, 
So uncommon is it that Bridgman erroneously recorded it as new to 
Britain (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1886, p. 364), at which time we may suppose he 
had been working Ichneumonidae for ten years, on the strength ofa male 
taken at Peckham in May; it is, however, mentioned by Desvignes (Cat. 
g1) as contained in his British collection in 1856. It is not found in May, 
but is apparently commonest during the first half of June, and sub- 
sequently only from the end of July to that of August. Greenings in 
August (Wilson Saunders), Guildford in August (Butler), Shere (Capron), 
Felden in Herts (Piffard), Buckenham Ferry, Norfolk, in August (Bridg- 
man), Botusfleming in Cornwall, Bugbrook in Northants and St. Albans 
(Marshall), Bickleigh, Plym Bridge and Yelverton, all in August (Big- 
nell). It has occurred to me sparingly by sweeping reeds and grasses in 
very marshy spots in June at Eaton near Norwich, Wicken Fen in Cambs., 
Gosfield in Essex, and later in the year on Angelica flowers at Tudden- 
ham Fen, Claydon bridge, Barnby Broad and the Henstead marshes, in 
Suffolk. 
3. obscuripes, Holmer. 
B. obscuripes, Holmgr. Sv. Ak. Handl. 1855, p. 369, ¢ ¢. B. rufocinctus, 
Desv. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1862, p. 215, ¢ ¢. Homoporus graculus, Morl. l.c. 1905. 
p. 426; Thoms. O. E. xiv. 1494, ¢ 2 (nec Grav.). 
Closely punctate, hardly shining and not very stout, with scutellum 
entirely black. Mouth and inner orbits always, clypeus and in @ a facial 
mark rarely, flavous. Mesonotum distinctly punctate, usually with a line, 
often preceded by a notaulal dot, before the stramineous tegulae and 
sometimes a mark below them, flavous; metathorax rugulose with the 
areola small, quadrate, entire and not very distinct. Scutellum immacu- 
late. Abdomen with the three basal segments scabriculously, the fourth 
distinctly, punctate ; segments two to four or five apically testaceous, dull 
red or obsoletely badious; anus of 9 sub-compressed. Legs nigrescent 
