Polyblastus | BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. 295 

synonymous. I have a small female of less than 5 mm. with only the in- 
cisures of the znd and 3rd segments obscurely rufescent. 
This species occurs throughout probably the whole palaearctic region 
and is recorded from the Continent in grassy places on umbells from May 
to July; Davis (/.c.) says it has also been found in Montana, Colorado 
and Nevada. In Britain it is by far the commonest of a somewhat rare 
genus and I have constantly taken it by sweeping in marshes, sometimes 
after dusk ; it is abroad from 26th May to 7th October and about mid- 
summer may frequently be seen sucking the flower-tables of Heracleum 
sphondylium, later resorting to those of Angelica sylvestris, upon which it 
continues to occur as long as any flower remains alive in the autumn, 
though it is not known to hibernate. Our first record is of those sent by 
Hope to Gravenhorst from Netley in Shropshire in 1829; in 1832 
Haliday wrote (Curt. B. E. fol. 399) that they “ occur in August and Sep- 
tember on Willows and Ragwort” in Ireland. Stephens, in whose col- 
lection is a male labelled ‘‘ s/rodillel/a,” considered it not very uncommon 
near London and in the New Forest; and I have records from Nunton in 
Wilts and Cornworthy (Marshall coll.) ; common at Glanvilles Wootton 
(Dale) ; common in Norfolk (Bridg.) ; Plymouth and Bickleigh (Bignell) ; 
Shere (Capron); Felden in Herts (Piffard); Guestling near Hastings 
(Bloomfield); Kings Lynn (Atmore) ; Hunstanton and Heacham in Nor- 
folk (Elliott). It has occurred.to me at Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight, at 
Kirtling and Chippenham Fen in Cambs., at Denny Wood and Matley Bog 
in New Forest; and in Suffolk at Ipswich, Henstead, Claydon, Barnby 
Broad, Foxhall, Tuddenham Fen, Farnham, Nacton, Barton Mills, Brandon. 
The var. Stenhammari has only been recorded from Sweden; there are 
two in coll. Marshall from Bishops Teignton and Freshwater in Isle of 
Wight on gth June; and Bridgman says Atmore took a doubtful in- 
dividual at Lynn in Norfolk. 
6. cothurnatus, Grav. 
Tryphon cothurnatus, Gr. I. E. ii. 285, 2. Polyblastus Drewsent, Schidd, 
Guér. Mag. 1839, p. 15, pl. viii, fig. 1, ¢; Nat. Tidskr. 1847, p.98. P. cothur- 
natus, Holmgr. Sv. Ak. Handl. 1854, p.74; lib. cit. 1855, p. 205; Brisch. Phys. 
Ges. Konig. 1871, p.92; Schr. Nat. Ges. Danz. 1878, p.97, ¢. 
A shining, pubescent, black species with the mouth, antennae apically 
beneath, centre of abdomen, femora and anterior tibiae and their tarsi, 
red. Clypeus impressed before its apex; face with griseous pilosity. 
Metathorax somewhat short, with five very distinct upper areae ; petiolar 
area large, subvertical and transversely rugose. Scutellum not pyramidal. 
Basal segment not petiolate, margined, with distinct carinae ; second and 
third segments transverse and red, with apex of first often concolorous ; 
terebra short, black and subexserted. Hind legs slender and black with 
only their femora, from base nearly to apex, red; apical joint of hind 
tarsi hardly double length of penultimate. Areolet irregularly sub- 
petiolate; stigma and tegulae nigrescent, radix stramineous; radial 
nervure apically nearly straight; nervellus intercepted in its centre. 
Length, 7—8 mm. 6 unknown. 
This species is similar to P. varitfarsus, especially in the structure of 
the basal segment, but differs in its tumidous head, stouter thorax and 
entirely black hind tibiae and tarsi. Pfankuch tells us that the type is 
