SAW-FLIES. 297 



several pieces, which in many instances is modified into a 

 poison-hearing sting. The pupa is quiescent, and the larva 

 is both quiescent and without feet, except in one group, that of 

 the Saw-flies. 



In all books that treat scientifically of the Hymenoptera, a 

 vast amount of technical language will be found. INIany of the 

 words, such as those which express the general divisions of the 

 body, the parts of the mouth, the anatomy of the limbs, &c., 

 are tjie same as those which we have already learned when 

 treating of Beetles. But, in this order of insects, very great 

 stress is laid upon sundry portions of organisation which are 

 but little considered in the Coleoptera, and therefore I have 

 given a chart-drawing of a hornet, similar to that of the Stag- 

 beetle on page 9. I strongly advise the young entomologist 

 to take a hornet, or even a wasp, and make out all the parts 

 by means of this diagram, and he will find that if he colours 

 the diagram he will fix it more firmly in liis memory. The 

 coloiu-ing should be taken from the insect itself. 



According to Mr. Westwood's system, the Hymenoptera are 

 divided into two great sections, namely, the Terebrantia, or 

 Borers, and the Aculeata, or Sting-bearers. We will proceed 

 with these sections in order. Tlie first subsection is called 

 Serrifera, or Saw-bearers, in which the abdomen is attached to 

 the thorax by the whole of its diameter, and the larva3 feed 

 upon vegetable substances, and have a well-developed mouth 

 furnished with mandibles. This subsection includes the whole 

 of the Saw-flies and Gall-flies. 



We will beo-in with the insects which are so well known as 

 Saw-flies, and are scientifically termed TenthredinidoB. This 

 word is a very old one, being used by Aristotle in his ' History 

 of Animals ' to signify some kind of bee or wasp. It is formed 

 from a Greek word signifying to gnaw or nibble. The names 

 Andrena, Pemphredon, &o., are derived from the same source. 

 In these insects, the wings are large, with many 'complete' 

 cells, i.e. cells closed on every side by nervures, and having a 

 large stigma or spot. Tlie abdomen has no footstalk, and is 

 furni^hed in the females with tlie extraordinary apparatus 

 wliieh has gained for the group of Hymenoptera the popular 

 and appropriate name of Saw-flies 



