154 FAMILY OYNIPID2B. 



family into three sections Gallicoles, Aphidivores, 

 and Figitides, but only defined them in general 

 terms. 



Walsh (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., ii, 1864, p. 468) 

 divided the family into two groups : 



66 Cynipidde. Venter visible nearly throughout its 

 entire length $ ? , more conspicuously so in ? , or if 

 retracted within the abdomen, leaving a gaping suture 

 below. The joint, which is apparently the last ven- 

 tral, and which for convenience I call in ? the ( ven- 

 tral valve/ very long, and forming in ? a sheath-like 

 receptacle, convex below, concave above, which is 

 occupied by the ovipositor. Sheaths of the ovipositor, 

 erected in repose either vertically or obliquely back- 

 wards and upwards, and strongly divaricate with the 

 6 ventral valve.' Dorsal joints of the abdomen free, 

 except in certain genera the suture between the second 

 and third dorsal, and probably in Ibalia the suture 

 between the sixth and seventh dorsal, which are con- 

 nate. Tip of the ? abdomen bluntly and widely 

 rounded or truncate. Tip of the <J abdomen angular 

 or subangularly rounded, and only when the terminal 

 segments are retracted, truncate, joints 4 7 being 

 each vertically narrower than the preceding one. 



" Habits, so far as known, gallivorous. 



" Figitidse. Yenter retracted within the abdomen, 

 with the suture below barely perceptible, entirely in- 

 ternal and invisible $ except a minute portion of its 

 tip, entirely so in $ except the tip of the terminal 

 point, which tip is horny, vertically flattened, and 

 acutely angular, and, in close conjunction with the 

 similarly shaped terminal dorsal joint forms an angular 

 horny borer. Concealed between the dorsal and ven- 

 tral pieces of this borer lie the ovipositor and its 

 sheaths. Sheaths of the ovipositor horizontally 

 porrect. Dorsal joint of the abdomen free, except the 

 suture between joints 2 and 3, which is connate. 

 Tip of the abdomen truncate, joints 4 7 being each 

 vertically nearly as wide as the preceding one, except 



