( - 109, ) 
VII. On the habits and affinities of the Hymenopterous 
genus Scleroderma, with descriptions of new species. 
By Sir Srpney Surrx Saunpers, C.M.G. 
[Read November 8rd, 1880. ] 
At the last meeting of this Society I exhibited a series of 
specimens of a new species of Scleroderma, which had 
emerged from a compact mass of delicate white cocoons 
occupying a portion of the empty cell of a Raphiglossa— 
one of the solitary wasps—which had constructed its 
larval receptacles in a desiccated briar recently obtained 
from Epirus. These Scleroderme were developed in 
September last from ova of the previous year, the briar 
having been cut and forwarded in the preceding month 
of December; and, in relating the following particulars 
of their habits and economy, I avail myself of the 
occasion to offer some remarks on the affinities of 
the genus, which have long been the subject of con- 
troversy. 
The circumstance of finding this brood in such a 
locality would seem to indicate that the parent Sclero- 
derma must have deposited her ova in the caterpillars 
stored in this cell by the original constructor for her 
own progeny ; and that, in ike manner, those which are 
found in houses—bringing themselves disagreeably to 
notice by their stinging propensities—may find a suitable 
domicile in the cells of Odynert perforating the posts of 
verandahs, &e., and providing a similar nutriment for 
their larve. Mr. Haliday, however, took several speci- 
mens of both sexes of a Scleroderma in a chamber where 
Attagenus Pellio abounded in the mattrasses stuffed with 
the husks of Indian corn; and on another occasion he 
found a swarm of the former between the sheets of 
a bed upon the sofa of a house at Lucca, probably 
stuffed, as he conceived, with hair or wool infested by 
the latter. (Thes. Ent. Oxon., p.170; Hal. in litt.) 
The Scleroderme, found alive on the present occasion, 
were closely congregated about their cocoons, having 
probably remained unnoticed for several days; and 
prominent among them was one furnished with elongate 
TRANS. ENT. SOc. 1881.—pPaRT I. (APRIL.) 
