distribution of the nervures of the wings, Jurine 

 remarks, they present more remarkable anoma- 

 lies, than are to be found in any other hyme- 

 nopterous insects; "it would seem that nature, 

 in circumscribing the extent of the cubital cel- 

 lules, has amused herself with varying them in 

 several respects of manner and form, supplying 

 to one part what she retrenches from another." 

 Latreille has availed himself of these anomalies, 

 to form divisions of the numerous species of this 

 genus. This author gives the following account 

 of the species : Many of them are of a large size, 

 and inhabit warm and temperate climates exclu- 

 sively. In Europe, the larger species begin to 

 appear about the forty-third degree of latitude. 

 Their metamorphosis is unknown, but Mr. La- 

 treille supposes that their larvae are parasitical, 

 from the circumstance of his not having seen 

 the parents transport larvae, spiders, &c. to feed 

 their young. They frequent arid, sandy places, 

 and feed on the contents of the nectary of 

 flowers. 



PLATE XXIX. 



