150 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
pupa of Pimpla instigator) bears a great resemblance to the 
imago, except in having the limbs laid along the breast. In 
those species with an elongated ovipositor, it is curved backwards, 
and laid along the back, sometimes extending to the head (De Geer, 
Mém. tom. ii. tab. 29. f. 6, '7.). M. Boudoir has made some curious 
observations of the different situation of the male and female pupe 
of a species of Cryptus within the cocoon of Bombyx quercts 
(Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, 1836, p. 358.) In the genus Chelonus, the 
female, according to Dufour (as cited by Haliday, Ent. Mag. vol. v. 
p- 213.), produces her young, not in the state of eggs, but of adult 
pupe. The larva of Chelonus (Rhitigaster) irrorator, however, ac- 
cording to De Geer, is parasitic upon that of Noctua Psi. (Wesmael 
says “noctuelle pyramidale ” incorrectly.) 
The perfect insects are found flying amongst trees and plants, 
and especially frequenting the heads of umbelliferous flowers, whence 
they derive a great portion of their nourishment, which consists 
merely of the nectar of those flowers * (Fabricius, Gen. Ins. p. 114. ; 
Gravenhorst, /ehn. Europ. vol.i. p.95.). I have observed that they 
are very fond of licking the leaves of plants besmeared with honey 
dew. Some species whose females are furnished with a very long 
ovipositor, are found on the trunks of trees, stumps of wood, &c., 
evidently searching for the lignivorous larvee, in which they deposit 
their eggs; whereas those which have short ovipositors seek external- 
feeding larve for the reception of their eggs. From the circumstance 
that these insects in the perfect state are not ordinarily observed prey- 
ing upon other insects, it may be inferred that the accounts recorded 
in the old authors of their voracious propensities, applied to some 
species of Sphegide rather than of Ichneumonidz. When taken in 
the fingers, they immediately disengage their terebra from its sheath, 
and attempt to sting, causing a painful irritation for the moment, if 
they puncture a tender part, but which so quickly passes away, that it 
is evident no very powerful poison can be introduced into the wound. 
They fly with considerable agility ; and I have noticed that some of 
the smaller species during flight deflex the extremity of their an- 
tenn. Some of these insects when handled emit a powerful, and by 
no means pleasant scent. M. Wesmael has described a remarkable 
Gynandromorphous specimen, having the head and thorax, with the 
* KE. W. Lewis observed Pimpla stereorator devour a leaf-rolling caterpillar of the 
lilac, which it had the instinet to dislodge by pricking the roll of the leaf with its 
ovipositor. (Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. vi. p. 414.) 
