HYMENOPTERA. — CRABRONIDE. 191 

vagus; 2—10. details of ditto, 2. the head seen in front), and nearly 
square when viewed from above, and sometimes broader than the 
thorax ; the upper lip is generally transverse, small, and but slightly 
prominent (jig. 81. 3.); the mandibles have the outer margin but 
slightly curved, and not with a deep incision on the outside near 
the base, as in the Larridz: they are narrow, and vary in the number 
of their terminal teeth (jig. 81. 4. 5.), being sometimes entire; the 
maxille (fig. 81.6.) and labium (fig. 81. 7.) do not unite to form 
an elongated snout; the antenne (fig. 81.8. 9 9. g; 13. gf ditto of 
Crabro cribrarius, 14. 9 Crabro tibialis) are straight, or somewhat 
elbowed, often gradually incrassated, the joints being short and 
closely united together. The collar is less elevated than the me- 
sothorax, and very short, its sides not extending to the base of the 
wings. The legs are of moderate length; the anterior tibiae have a di- 
lated spur, pectinated on the inside; and the basal joint of the fore 
tarsi has a corresponding notch, which is ciliated. The abdomen is 
of variable form, being in some species attached to the thorax by 
means of a long peduncle. The number of the submarginal cells 
varies from one to four. 
This family is of considerable extent, and comprises insects of 
moderate size, often closely resembling wasps in their appearance and 
colouring, and of great activity ; they are especially fond of settling 
on the broad leaves of plants exposed to the sun. 
This family may be divided into two subfamilies, the Crabronides 
and Nyssonides. In the former the head is large and square; the an- 
tenn often thickened at the tips; the abdomen either oval or elliptic, 
being largest in the centre, but sometimes it is clavate, the base being 
