XXVII. NEW ORIENTAL SEPSIN^. 

 Bv E. Brunetti. 



The Acalypterate sub-family Sepsinse recently received a 

 substantial addition to the number of its Eastern species by Herr 

 Meijere's publication of eight new ones, in addition to javanica, 

 a species he had established two years earlier. 



In the Indian Museum collection, this group is very liberally 

 represented, and I now give descriptions of a number of new 

 species therein contained, with notes on other known species and 

 such new localities as the material presents. After careful exam- 

 ination of over 500 specimens, representing nearly thirty species, 

 I find, as stated by Herr Meijere, that it is unsafe to rely too 

 much on certain characters as bases of classification. The usual 

 number of dorso-central bristles is four, but the front pair are 

 frequently reduced in size, or are absent ; in one specimen there 

 was a distinct fifth bristle. The spiny bristles on the abdominal 

 segments are also variable in size and, occasionally, in number. 

 Moreover, all the bristles, also the spines on the fore femora, are 

 very easily broken off, generall}^ leaving no trace of their presence. 

 In addition to the two conspicuous bristles on the scutellum, there 

 are often two other ver}^ small ones towards the sides of the 

 anterior part, and the presence of small additional bristles is not 

 at all rare. 



The two basal cells are in some species united by the absence 

 of the intermediate veinlet, but this character is not invariably 

 consistent, and in one specimen I found a supplementary veinlet 

 joining the third and fourth longitudinal veins, in a line with, 

 and apparently an extension of, the outer cross-vein. 



The extent of the greyish white dust on the sternopleurse is 

 also more or less variable, and in some species, with an otherwise 

 wholly black thorax, there is a tendency to a dark brown tinge 

 on the shoulders and along the sides. 



In studying the species herein recognised, I have con- 

 sidered all the above characters taken together, in preference to 

 relying on any particular one. I do not feel able to present a 

 satisfactory analytical table of species, but an approximate group- 

 ing for the present will, at least, give the affinities of my new 

 species. 



A. Wing with a distinct black spot near tip. 



B. Wing spot rather clearly cut, generally round or squarish. 



Two allied species form a first or cynipsea group ; these are 

 cynipsea, L., and modesta^ Meij. 



