HYMENOPTERA. ACULEATA. 207 



in this family, except in one genus, Miscophus, approach 

 closely in the female and become confluent in the male. 

 Most of the species are rare. Tachytes Pompiliformis 

 (PL VII. fig. 5) is a common insect hy the seaside and 

 in other sandy places. It may be known by the absence 

 of the hind stemmata, the place of which is in this genus 

 occupied by a tubercle. The insect is about J inch long, 

 black, excepting the fore half of the abdomen, which is of 

 a red brown ; the wings are darkish, and have one pointed 

 marginal, and three submarginal cells. The fore tarsi 

 are fringed with strong hairs, and the spines in the 

 middle and hind pair are strong. It preys upon various 

 insects, having been seen with Caterpillars, and by Mr. 

 Smith, with a small kind of Grasshopper, 



The sixth family, Nyssonida3, brings us among the 

 more wasp-like insects,* many of the species in this, and 

 the two remaining families being banded or spotted on 

 the abdomen, or abdomen and thorax with bright yellow. 

 Many, however, exhibit the same colouring as the pre- 

 ceding families. In the Nyssonid the head is large, 

 the mandibles are but slightly curved, not notched near 

 the base, the antennae are straight and threadlike, com- 

 posed of short joints, the eyes ovate. The legs are some- 

 what spinous, the fore-legs have one comb-like spine 

 on the tibise, and a corresponding notch opposite to this 

 in the tarsus. The genera all have three submarginal 

 cells in the fore-wings. The family contains five genera. 

 The first, Nysson, may be known by the stemmata being 

 (as is most common) in a triangle, and by the singular 

 form of the abdomen, the second ventral segment 

 abruptly forming an angle with the others ; the colours 



* In the preceding families but one yellow-banded species is found, 

 Sapyga clavicomis. 



