166 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
and other early authors, we find various species of this family described, 
and their economy detailed ; but, generally, the species are so vaguely 
described, that it is impossible to determine them with precision. 
Geoffroy first proposed the genus Cynips (distinguished from the 
Gall Flies, or Diplolepis) for the reception of the smaller species with 
simple legs; and Swederus subsequently, in the Swedish Transactions» 
1784, established another genus under the name of Pteromalus. 
Latreille and Illiger added to these genera; but it is to Spinola that 
we are indebted for the first attempts at a more perfect arrangement. 
More recently, Dalman and Boheman in Sweden, Fonscolombe in 
France, Nees Von Esenbeck and Bouché in Germany, and Walker, 
Curtis, Haliday, and myself in England, have devoted much attention 
to these minute tribes; Mr. Walker having described nearly 1200 
British species. 
Spinola employed as his chief characters for the distribution of this 
family into sections, first, the number of joints of the antenne, and 
secondly, the form and mode of attachment of the abdomen ; both of 
which, it must be admitted, are characters of too slight value. Dalman 
adopted the form of the antenna, legs, and veining of the wings ; 
whilst Latreille employed those of the form of the hind legs, collar, and 
mandibles. Mr. Walker, on the other hand, by attaching too great im- 
portance to the form of the stigma and its branch, and the form of the 
abdomen and its attachment to the thorax, has formed a number of 
families, such as the Torymide, Miscogasteridz, Ormoceride, Cleony- 
mide, &c., which I have not thought it necessary to retain. With 
the exception of a few genera, osculant and anomalous, the family, 
after the removal of Scelio, Teleas, &c., which evidently belong to the 
Proctotrupidz, is naturally divisible in the following manner : — 
1. Collar transverse quadrate. 
A. Hind femora inerassated. (Subfam. i. Chalcides.) 
B. Hind femora simple. (2. Eurytomides. ) 
2, Collar less evident, more or lees narrowed in front. 
A. Antennz with more than eight joints. 
a. Middle legs simple. (3. Pteromalides. ) 
b. Middle legs strongly spurred. (4. Encyrtides. ) 
B. Antenne with not more than eight joints; tarsi with less than five joints. 
(5. Eulophides. ) 
These subfamilies are connected together by many very interesting 
links; as, for instance, Pleuropachus costalis, Tetracnemus diversi- 
cornis, and several other genera which I have described, form various 
