38 



among rushes, long grass, and trees on the banks 

 of rivers ; towards evening, many of the species 

 assemble in vast numbers and sport in the air. 

 As they are liable to injure themselves if put 

 loose into separate boxes, it is best at once to 

 secure them by passing a pin through the tho- 

 rax ; and they will soon die if a little camphor 

 be kept in the collecting box. We know of but 

 few exotic species ; they must, however, be 

 numerous, as they are the principal food of 

 fishes ; yet they seem to have been neglected 

 on account of their plain appearance, and to 

 have been completely eclipsed by the more 

 splendid insects ; they are, notwithstanding, ex- 

 tremely interesting to the Entomologist, and 

 will, it is hoped, be diligently sought after by 

 the Collector. 



Order 9. HYMENOPTERA. Wings four, mem- 

 branaceous, the hinder ones always smallest ; 

 the pterigostia do not decussate each other, or 

 resemble net- work : mouth with mandibles, max- 

 illse, and lip. [PL III, fig. 1.] 



The Tenthredo or Saw-fly, Ichneumon Rv- 

 by-tail, Bees, Wasps, Ants, and Gall-flies, are 

 the principal insects of this order. TheTenthre- 

 dines and Ichneumons inhabit trees and shrubs; 

 the former have a sluggish flight, the latter are 



