192 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
narrowed into a peduncle. In the early works of Latreille, some of 
the genera arranged in this subfamily in the generic synopsis were 
placed with the Nyssonidz and Larride ; the chief difference between 
the two families, given in the Considérations Générales, being the large 
size of the head in the Crabronides. In thus uniting them with the 
other Crabronides, I follow the arrangement of the Régne Animal. 
The species of this family are varied in their economy, the same 
genus occasionally comprising species which are apparently parasites, 
as well as others which form their own nests; at least if we regard the 
armature of the legs as indicative of these habits. Such, for instance, 
is the case in the typical genus Crabro, which St. Fargeau has sepa- 
rated into eleven genera, founded primarily upon the presenee or 
absence of ciliz in the fore-legs of the females. Other characters 
have also been selected, which certainly appear too trivial, even in 
some cases separating the sexes of the same insect, as suggested 
by Mr. Shuckard (Hssay, p. 121. and 142.). This genus comprises 
some singular modifications of form, especially in the males, some of 
which have only 12 joints in the antenne (fig. 81. 9.), offering a re- 
markable exception to the characters of the Aculeate division. St. 
Fargeau is evidently correct in regarding these individuals as males 
with anomalous antenne rather than as females with 7-jointed ab- 
domens (fig. 81. 10.), as they were considered by Vander Linden. 
Crabro lapidarius, fossorius Z., vagus Linn. (fig. 81. 1.), and others 
forming St. Fargeau’s genus Solenius, exhibit this peculiarity, several 
of the joints being notched beneath in the males, as well as C. Phi- 
lanthoides Panz. (subterraneus Fab.), C. alatus Panz., and others 
forming the genus Ceratocolus S¢. F., in which they are entire, as 
they are also in C. (Thyreus S¢. Ff.) vexillatus Pz., in which the 
identity of the male sex is proved by the fore-legs. St. Fargeau 
asserts the same of C. tibialis Fab., Pz.; but this is inaccurate, the 
male antennz (although very irregular and notched) being decidedly 
12-jointed (fig. 81. 14., and see my Observations in Trans. Ent. Soc. 
vol. i. p. 204. tab. 22.). Mr. Curtis described the labium as varying 
considerably in the two sexes, being very short in the females, but as 
long as the palpi, and subcylindrical in the males. In recent specimens, 
however, which I have dissected of C. cribrarius and vagus, the Jabium 
of the females (fig. 81. 7.) is longer than the palpi, dilated at the tip, 
and furnished on each side at the base with a minute lacinia, at least 
in the latter (fig. 81.11.). This genus is further remarkable for 
