• ', 1 NOTES ON CHALCIDTJB. 



the length of the sixth joint. Prothorax quadrate, as long as hroad. 

 Mesothorax rather small ; scutum shorter than the prothorax ; sutures 

 of the parapsides distinct: scutellum rather small. Metathorax 

 short, abruptly slanting. Petiole slender, cylindrical, longer than 

 the metathorax, shorter than the ahdomen, which is elliptical, smooth 

 and shining Legs moderately long and stout; femora slightly 

 incrassated ; fore femora minutely dentate beneath towards the base ; 

 tarsi 5-jointed. Wings moderately broad. Fore wings with a large 

 stigma adjoining the ulna ; humerus more than half the length of the 

 wing ; ulna about one-sixth of the length of the humerus ; radius 

 very short ; cubitus descending obliquely to the disk, shorter than 

 the ulna. 



Female. — Antennae 10-jointed, subclavate. Petiole short. Abdo- 

 men much compressed, shorter and very much narrower than the 

 thorax, with four distinct segments. Oviduct extending very little 

 beyond the tip of the abdomen. 



S. megastigmoides. Mas. — Lutea ; oculi fulvi ; antennae apice 

 nigra? ; abdomen nigro uniplagiatum ; alae cinereae, veuis stigmateque 

 fulvis. 



Male. — Luteous, shining, nearly smooth. Eyes tawny. Ocelli 

 black. Club of the autennae black. A black patch on the disk of 

 the abdomen. Wings cinereous ; veins tawny. Fore wings with a 

 very large tawny stigma adjoining the ulna. Length of the body 

 If — 2 lines. 



S. decatomoides. Mas et fmm. — Pallide lutea, nonnuuquam 

 fusco maculatum ; abdomen fcem. nonnunquam fuscum ; alee diaphanae, 

 venis pallide luteis stigmate nigro. Var. (3. — Alae auticae fusco uui- 

 maculatae. 



Male and female. — Pale luteous, occasionally with a brown spot on 

 each segment of the thorax. Wings pellucid ; veins pale luteous ; 

 stigma blackish or black. Var. j3. — A brown spot adjoining the 

 stigma in the disk of the wing. Length of the body 1£ — If line. 



The latter species seems to be very abuudant ; both were found by 

 Sir W. Elliot in figs. 



The Agaonidae occur in the Mediterranean region, where they have 

 been used in ancient time and in modern time for caprifiration, a 

 process which has been described by various writers. Two of these 

 species have been named lilastopbaga Sycomori and Sycophaga 

 crassipes : the latter has a long oviduct, aud therein resembles 

 Idarnes. 



Agaon paradoxum represents this family in Sierra Leone ; it and 



