A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



Proctotrupidce are still smaller and of soberer hues. They also appear to 

 be largely parasitic, but with regard to the transformations of many of 

 them more seems to be at present conjectured than is actually known. 



Of course it is quite impossible to deal adequately with this impor- 

 tant class of insects in a few brief paragraphs, and unfortunately we have 

 at present no reliable monograph on any of its component sections. 

 Much was done among the Ghalcidida, etc., by the late Mr. Francis 

 Walker at Wanstead, who left behind him voluminous notes, which are 

 now in Mr. Fitch's possession ; but they require very careful revision 

 before publication. Many pages could have been filled with Walker's 

 names, but a mere list of names where no intelligible and reliable pub- 

 lished accounts and descriptions exist would be .worse than useless. 

 Mr. Fitch, in conjunction with the late Mr. Bridgman, commenced a 

 series of valuable outline descriptions of the Ichneumonida in the Entom- 

 ologist for February, 1880, and continued them at intervals for several 

 years, but unfortunately circumstances for a time prevented their com- 

 pletion. It is to be hoped that Mr. Fitch, who is still our leading 

 British authority on the Entomophaga, and who is abundantly supplied 

 with material and well equipped for the task in every way, will at no 

 distant date be able to resume his labours, and obtain for this branch of 

 British Entomology the high position which a few years ago it seemed 

 so likely to take, and which of late it has appeared in such imminent 

 danger of losing. 



In the following list of Ichneumonidce the species marked M. have 

 only been identified from the Maldon district by Mr. Fitch. The others 

 have all been obtained near Colchester, many being common to both 

 districts. For the incompleted list of Braconidee Mr. Fitch is solely 

 responsible. 



A LIST OF THE ENTOMOPHAGOUS HYMENOPTERA OCCURRING IN 



THE COUNTY 



CHRYSIDIDJE 

 Cleptes, Latr. 



semiauratus, L. 



nitidulus, Fabr. Btnfleet (Billups) 

 Homalus, Pz. 



auratus, L. 



caeruleus, Dahlb. 

 Hedychrum, Latr. 



lucidulum, Fabr. 



ardens, Curtis 

 Chrysis, L. 



ignita, L. 



viridula, L. 



cyanea, L. 



PUPIVORA. ICHNEUMONID^: 



ICHNEUMONIDES 



Chasmodes, Wesm. 



motatorius, Fabr. 

 Ichneumon, L. 



ICHNEUMONIDES (continued) 

 Ichneumon bilineatus, Gmel. 



sinister, Wesm. 



leucocerus, Gr. 



lineator, Fabr. 



impressor, Zett. 



derasus, Wesm. 



castaneiventris, Gr. 



fuscipes, Gmel. M. 



periscelis, Wesm. 



pistorius, Gr. 



trilineatus, Gmel. 



multiannulatus, Gr. 



molitorius, L. 



tempestivus, Holmgr. M. 



vaginatorius, L. 



xanthorius, Ffirst 



confusorius, Gr. 



suspiciosus, Holmgr. 



gracilentus, Wesm. M. 



112 



