SECRETARY'S REPORT. 165 



(^cynips sifjiiifying a small piercing insect,) and comprising tlio 

 gall-making flies, are all injurious to vegetation. The Evaniidcc 

 of Leach, on the other hand, is composed of parasitic species, 

 insectivorous in their habits, and is to be classed among the 

 useful families. 



Pehcitius poljjcerdtor of Fabricius, is one of the most com- 

 mon of this family, and is found throughout the State. The 

 female is of a polished black ; the head and thorax punctured 

 roughly, elevated portions of the latter more finely so, almost 

 smooth ; thorax on the sides and beneath, with short silvery 

 hairs ; antenna) dusky black, except about two-thirds of the 

 ninth, and the whole of the tenth article, which are almost 

 white ; feet black with tawny hairs, tarsi somewhat fuscous, 

 hind femora much enlarged ; wings hyaline with fuscous 

 nerves, anterior pair smoky on the outer margin and tip ; 

 abdomen exceedingly long, composed of six cylindrical joints, 

 the first fusiform or spindle-shaped, the last, very short and 

 with a curved point at the apex, intermediate ones of nearly 

 equal size ; ovipositor concealed. It measures two inches and 

 a half or less in length ; wings expand about 1.20. The males 

 of this species are extremely rare in collections ; they resemble 

 the female in general appearance, but have a much shorter 

 abdomen. 



The family Ichneumdnidce of Leach, (so named from the little 

 animal called the ichneumon, which was fabled to enter the 

 throat of the crocodile and wage an intestine war on its huge 

 enemy,) is not only one of the most extensive groups, but also 

 one of the most beneficial and valuable to the cause of agri- 

 culture. It is distinguished " by having the abdomen attached 

 to the thorax at its hinder extremity, and between the base of 

 the posterior coxae, first joint of the legs, by which they are 

 attached to the body. The wings are veined, the anterior 

 pair always exhibiting perfect cells upon their disc, (middle 

 surface.) The ovipositor of the female is straight and often 

 exserted, (projecting beyond the tip of the abdomen ;) the 

 antenna; are always filiform (tiiread-like) or setaceous, (bristle- 

 shaped,) not elbowed, and composed of more than sixteen 

 joints," excepting in a few minute species, " and the pupa is 

 enclosed in a cocoon ; the body is long and narrow ; the head 

 is small and free ; the eyes more or less prominent and lateral. 



