36 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



deposit. The larvae of these parasites do not always pass 

 through all their stages without let or hindrance, for just 

 as they make the first attack they in like manner are 

 attacked by other ichneumons, — the parasite of the cabbage 

 butterfly, whose cocoons look like a cluster of small 

 yellowisli comfits, and are to be found about palings or 

 nooks of gardens, is subject to such attacks from several 

 other Ichneicifionidce : this year (1877) I bred two species of 

 Hemiteles and one of Mesochorus from these cocoons. We 

 cannot but admire the instinct, as it is sometimes called, 

 which enables the ichneumon to detect such larvae as have 

 not already been attacked by parasites, and to teach it the 

 proper depth to deposit the eggs ; not to pierce so deep as to 

 kill it, still deep enough to prevent the egg being got rid of 

 when shedding the skin. Before concluding 1 would mention 

 the opposite sexes of two ichneumons 1 have taken, which 1 

 have not yet seen described. 



Exelastes calobatus, Gv., male, differs only from the female 

 in having three marks on the face; scutellum and the front 

 coxae yellow; the intermediate coxae and all the trochanters 

 red, the posterior one slightly tinged with black at the 

 articulations. Phylodietus scabriculus, Gr., I'emale, differs 

 only Irom the male in being a little larger, and in having a 

 narrow white ring in two joints of the antennae, about one- 

 third from the apex. 



In concluding this rambling paper I would say to lepi- 

 dopterists and others, who may breed these insects and 

 would save ihem, that they should always be killed with 

 sulphur; then if they are left for a day or two in a damp box 

 the legs and wings can be very easily displayed, although 

 they may not be regularly set. The larger ones are best 

 mounted half-way up rather long pins, with the wings 

 anywhere rather than over the back. It is better to gum the 

 smaller ones on paper or card, with a mixture of gums 

 tragacanth and arable ; the legs, wings and antennae should 

 be stretched out, at least on one side ; and as the mouth and 

 antennae beneath are important characteristic points, a small 

 hole should be made in the card, about one-sixteenth of an 

 inch in diameter, and the insect mounted with its mouth 

 over the hole : this will allow of these organs being easily 

 examined. 



Xdi-wirh, December ;J0, l<s;7. 



