CEPHIDJ1. 113 



shoots. Some of the species (especially the latter two) 

 are injurious to the plants on which they feed, and 

 frequently do very great damage. 



The systematic position of the Cephidse has been 

 much discussed. By Linne, Fabricius, Klug, and some 

 of the older authors, they were relegated to the Siri- 

 cidas, and this is also the position assigned to them by 

 Hartig ; by Curtis, Westwood and Thomson, they are 

 placed with the Tenthredinidae, while Foerster and 

 Andre regard them as forming a distinct family. So 

 far as the form of the larvae goes it affords no note- 

 worthy clue as to what family Cephus belongs, for it 

 does not differ essentially from that of Lyda or Sir ex. 

 but in habits the larvae approaches nearer to the latter. 

 Cephus agrees with Lyda and differs from the Siricidae 

 in having spines on the tibiae. The form of the ovi- 

 positor is intermediate between the saw-flies and 

 Xiphydria. The form of the labium agrees best as a 

 whole with the saw-flies ; but inasmuch as some saw- 

 flies, e. g. Lophyroides, Camptobrium, have the labium 

 entire, and the palpi from one to three- jointed, not 

 much reliance can be placed on this point. The un- 

 doubted points of resemblance between Cephus and the 

 Tenthredinidse are 



(1) In the body being soft in texture. 



(2) In the middle lobe of the mesonotum not reach- 

 ing to the scutellum, and not being separated from it 

 by a transverse line. 



It agrees with the Siricidas, and differs from the 

 saw-flies in 



(1) The anterior tibiae having only one spur. 



(2) In the greatly elongated prothorax. 



VOL. III. 



