100 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ' 
—that is, the middle segments red, and sometimes the base also ; 
apex black, marked with white; those segments thus marked 
are generally the 5th to 7th, 6th and 7th, and sometimes only 
the 7th. The antenne of the females have nearly always a white 
ring, sometimes between the base and the white ring it is red, 
then it is known as tricoloured. Looking at these deviations, it 
is quite impossible to note all the variations in such a table as 
we contemplate giving. These will, as far as possible, be pointed 
out by italicised letters in brackets; thus (hk) means that the 
marks on the face vary, (t) the thorax, (s) scutellum black or 
vice versa ; (l) the legs; and (a) the abdomen; slight variation 
will not be noted. The figures after the name denote the length 
in English lines, one-twelfth of an inch, and the figures before 
to the number of the species in Mr. Marshall’s second catalogue, 
which, as has been said, is taken as our guide throughout. To 
that one must refer for the authority of the names and the 
synonymy of the species, which is often much involved. We 
shall take them in the divisions of Gravenhorst, namely, by 
colour, as this appears the more convenient method, and then 
subdivide them by the best means in our power. sometimes by 
colour and sometimes by structure. As the two sexes often vary 
much, each will be taken separately. The numerous species of 
the Ichneumones oxrypygi and amblypygi are so much alike that in 
some cases the student will find it needful to refer to Gravenhorst, 
Wesmael, Holmgren, Tischbein, Brischke, or other authority, in 
order to be quite certain. Many of the generic and specific 
characteristics being taken from the underneath part of the insects 
in this family, examination will be greatly facilitated by pinning 
instead of carding them. Some half-dozen species of Ichneumonide 
are amongst our commonest Ichneumons, but others are seldom 
met with. Occasionally they may be captured at flowers, espe- 
cially those of Pastinaca sativa and Angelica sylvestris, but they 
are mostly very lethargic in their habits, and when found at 
large are altogether averse to taking flight. The females of 
many species hybernate, and may often be found in some 
numbers under moss or the loose bark of trees. We believe 
that all the Ichneumonidz are exclusively lepidopterous parasites. 
Ratzburg has, however, recorded four exceptions, but these all 
need confirmation. All the species are solitary in their parasitism ; 
this will be fully treated of under the different genera. 
