new or little known British Hymenoptera. Ill 



An undcscribed species indicated (/. c), vmder the name 

 of biusta, is given as the type, no mention being made 

 of ediogaster. 



By Dalilbom (Onychia och Callaspidia, 1842, p. 5), 

 Onychia was used generically for the reception oi Evania 

 ediogaster and two other species, while another genus, 

 Callaspidia, was created for the reception of the Figites 

 notata, Fonsc. Giraud (Verh. z. b. ges. Wien, 1860, 

 p. 156) followed Dahlbom in his definition of the genera, 

 Avhile he formed also another genus, Omalaspis, for his 

 O. noricus. lieinhard (B. E. Z. 1860, p. 238) reversed 

 this, using Onychia for notata, &c., Avhile the name of 

 Aspicera, Dbm., was used for ediogaster, Giraud (/. c.) 

 himself having suggested either this, or the sinking of 

 Aspicera, and the using of his own name Bellona, in 

 preference. All this confusion was caused by ediogaster 

 having been given as the type in the earlier indications 

 of the genus ; nor is it certain that the manner in which 

 the names are used by Reinhard (and he is followed by 

 Thomson and Foerster) can be considered correct. For 

 it is clear that the description given by Westwood cannot 

 apply to the species of Onychia as restricted by these 

 authors. According to the Rev. T. A. Marshall (Ent. 

 Ann. 1874, p. 120), Onychiabiusta is an Omalaspis, a fact 

 rendered clear from the description, as well as from an 

 examination of the insect. Onychia then should be 

 retained for noricus, Gir., niger, Htg. and hiusta, W., 

 while the Onychia, Beinh., Thoms., would require to be 

 renamed. 



However, I do not see that much good would be done 

 by noAv acting in this way, the more especially as Onychia 

 has been employed for so many years in its present mean- 

 ing. Obviously, too, Avhen a monographer splits up a 

 genus into several, he has the right to use his own dis- 

 cretion as to for what species he will retain the original 

 name, and what for the new genera. Moreover, Ave have 

 seen that in the first indication of the genus a type Avas 

 given Avith AA'hich the generic description did not agree, 

 Avhile the last type Avas not and still remains undcscribed. 



The three genera may be briefly characterized as fol- 

 loAvs : — 



A. Scutellum ending in a sharp spine .. .. .. Aitpicera. 



B. Scutellum truncated. 



Abdominal petiole short .. .. .. .. Omahtxpix. 



Alidominal petiole long .. .. .. .. Onychia. 



