the fig -insects of Ceylon. 377 



being, as appears to me, identical with Dr. Mayer's 

 Ichneumon ficarius (female), and which, with its details, 

 is represented in the figures accompanying this notice 

 (Plate XVI., figs. 1 — 1/). This female measures 2£ mm 

 in length, the ovipositor, with its basal tubular sheath, 

 being about 4 mm. long. It is of a rich shining orange 

 colour, with the club of the antennae dark brown. The 

 mandibles are terminated by two teeth, the inner one 

 rather oblong, the other (apical) one acute and trigonate. 

 The palpi are distinct, the maxillary 4-jointed, the labial 

 2-jointed. This is an important character, since the 

 male, as shown in Plate X., fig. 78, of this volume, is 

 also palpigerous, thus proving that in this species at 

 least both sexes have the lower parts of the mouth 

 (maxilla? and labium), furnished with palpi. The thorax 

 is compact and oval, the legs moderately long, of the 

 normal form, the thighs not thickened, the tarsi dis- 

 tinctly 5-jointed. The abdomen has the basal portion 

 oval, with two dark spots on the upper side beyond the 

 middle ; the penultimate joint is formed into a long 

 slender cylinder, equal in length to the basal portion of 

 the abdomen, furnished on each side with strong setae ; 

 this is followed by another segment channelled beneath, 

 as is the preceding joint. The ovipositor itself is 

 extremely slender and curved, and arises within the base 

 of a deflexed scale on the middle of the under side of 

 the abdomen. The central portion of the ovipositor 

 is defended by two demi-sheaths, which are marked 

 throughout their whole length by small dark spots, from 

 each of which a strong bristle is produced ; these demi- 

 sheaths are thickened at their tips, and their upper edge 

 seems thickened by a slender back-piece. The joints of 

 the antennae beyond the annuli are marked with longi- 

 tudinal impressed lines, which in some species of Chal- 

 cididce seem to be represented by rows of setae. 



If this Ceylonese insect should prove to be absolutely 

 identical with that described by Dr. Mayer, it will be 

 proper to retain for it the specific name of ficarius, but, 

 in default of the means of establishing this identity for 

 want of specimens of the insect described by Dr. Mayer, 

 I prefer to retain the specific name I bestowed on the 

 male, 4-setosa. The question of the generic name of 

 this insect is also beset with difficulty. If we are correct 

 in regarding the two insects, figured in my Plate VI., 

 figs. 36, 37, as legitimate partners, with the generic name 



