INTRODUCTORY PAPERS ON ICHNEUMONIDiE. 125 



It is hoped that the figures on the accompanying plate will lead 

 to their better identification. Plate ii., fig. 19, represents the 

 egg; fig. 16, a larva of D. vinula, with the eggs in situ on the 

 third and fourth segments, the attenuated foot-stalk being 

 inserted into the larva- skin ; fig. 18 shows the parasitic larva 

 feeding externally; fig. 17 represents the full-grown Paniscus 

 larva, also the head enlarged ; fig. 20 shows the cylindrical black 

 Paniscus cocoons inside the Dicranura cocoons, — these are 

 frequently spun so closely together that their sides become 

 angulated, like the cells in a wasp's nest ; these are mostly four 

 to six in number ; fig. 20 shows other cocoons of a lighter colour 

 and more silky texture, — they vary much in both these respects. 

 The cocoon of Limneria rufa, referred to by Mr. Bignell at 

 Emtom. xvi. 69, is figured on plate ii., fig. 1, but the encircling 

 skin of the young B. quercus larva is not shown. Mr. Bignell has 

 described the jumping cocoons of Limneria kriechbaumeri (Entom. 

 xv. 215); also the double-banded cocoons of Casinaria vidua, 

 which is a frequent parasite of Abraxas grossulariata, at Entom. 

 xiii. 246, now figured on Plate ii., fig. 11. A beautiful pendulous 

 cocoon of a Limneria, bred from a young larva of T. stabilis by 

 Mrs. Henry Jenkyns, is figured on Plate ii., fig. 27. At the 

 meeting of the Entomological Society of London, on January 7th, 

 1839, a similar cocoon was exhibited, together with the Campoplex ? 

 bred, and which had remained in the cocoon for eighteen 

 months. The curious cocoonecl larva-skins of Gonepteryx rhamni 

 by Limneria vulgaris (see Plate ii., fig. 15) and of Nola albidalis 

 by Limneria fitchii (see Plate ii., fig. 25), with the other references 

 to the Plate, must be noticed later. Reaumur's observations on 

 the pendulous and saltatory Campoplex cocoons surrounding the 

 nests of Cnethocampa processionea is thus amply verified, although 

 the parasitic species is not yet identified : see the interesting 

 discussion at the Entomological Society (Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., 

 n. s., iii., pp. 27, 34, 35). The species exhibited by Mr. Curtis, 

 " allied to C. majalis, Grav.," was not unlikely L. kriechbaumeri. 



The Ophionidse contain many of our commonest Ichneumons. 

 The species of Paniscus are commonly seen throughout the 

 summer, careering along a ditch with its heavy and somewhat 

 lazy flight, resting on some leaf for a few seconds every few 

 yards. The two common species of Ophion are not infrequent 

 visitors at light, and their loud and incessant buzzing is sure to 



