120 Eev. T. A. Marshall's monograph of 



The synonymy of this species is embarrassing, and 

 perhaps can never be quite cleared up. More species 

 than one seem to be contained under the name ocidator 

 of authors, and it is useless now to enquire whether 

 Fabricius, Olivier, Panzer, and Latreille had all the 

 same insect in view. It appears, however, that Nees 

 was right in regarding his own C. oculatus as distinct 

 from Cynips inanita, L. C. ocidator, Wesm., is identical 

 with Cynips inanita, L., and different from C. oculatus, 

 Nees. This conclusion, attained after much puzzling, 

 obliges me to unite Cynips inanita, L., with C. ocidator, 

 Wesm., and to restore the Linnean name. The insect 

 rej)resenting Cynip)s inanita in the Linnean cabinet has 

 been carefully examined by Fitch, and there is every 

 reason to believe it to be the common C. ocidator, Wesm. 

 It is a female with the terebra slightly exserted, which 

 is nothing remarkable. The legs are rufous, only the 

 hind tibiffi black at the apex. The Linnean diagnosis 

 has the words " pedibus ferrugineis " ; the further de- 

 scription adds "pedes ferruginei exceptis tibiis nigris," 

 where " tibiis " is due to some inadvertence, or perhaps 

 the word " apice " is omitted. Wesmael, delighting 

 over much in subtleties, having erroneously assumed his 

 own ocidator to be the oculatus, Nees, was bound to 

 follow that writer in regarding inanitus, Nees, as distinct. 

 He endeavours to establish the distinctness of inanitus 

 on two grounds only : (1) the terebra projects beyond the 

 anus ; (2) the abdomen seems a little broader, and some- 

 what more rounded at the sides and posteriorly. The 

 first difference is merely due to the temporary position 

 of the organ, and may happen in the case of any female 

 Chelonus. The second is vague and inappreciable, when 

 we consider that the individuals of a species are not 

 cast in a mould. These differences moreover belong 

 only to the females, no attempt being made to discrimi- 

 nate the males. There are several English specimens 

 which will pass for C. inanitus, Wesm., ? . I believe 

 them to be nothing but fine examples of ocidator, Wesm., 

 having the abdominal spots, and killed at a time when 

 the genital apparatus was in a state of tension. One 

 such female was taken by Billups at Walmer; others 

 by Sharp and Fitch ; and by me at Niton, Isle of 

 Wight. 



For C. oculatus, Nees, Mon., i., 290, see C. carhonator, 

 sp. 4, infra. 



