THE 1CHNEUMONIDES. 18,5 



knobbed antenna?, the eyes are reniform, and the wings 

 ibid longitudinally : this latter character is lost in Ce- 

 ramius; and in a species we possess from New Holland, 

 the eyes become ovate : and in the genus Paragia Shkd., 

 which is so like a true Vespa as to be easily mistaken 

 for one until closely examined, the wings are never 

 folded^ and the eyes are ovate ; but it has the glandular 

 tongue, peculiar prothorax, and pulvillulated under 

 side of the tarsal joints, found in Vespa; whence we have 

 inferred that it may possibly be the representative of Vespa 

 in New Holland. But, if social, the communities will 

 scarcely be large, as but two specimens, each a distinct 

 species, have yet come under our observation; the second 

 differing from the first, formerly described, in being 

 spotted with white. 



(lb'0.) The ICHNEUMONIDES constitute the next group 

 of the circle of the Hymenoptera. These, as we before 

 remarked, are all parasites, and they form the most nu- 

 merous division of the order. Amongst them we observe, 

 in their lower divisions, a departure from the typical 

 neuration of the wings; these organs in many becoming 

 entirely destitute of those distinguishing characters. 

 Among the Chalcidites we also detect a further depar- 

 ture from the normal, and all but universal, pentamerous 

 structure in the tarsi of the Hymenoptera. This group 

 offers, besides, considerable differences of form, the most 

 conspicuous peculiarities of which we shall notice, as it 

 evinces itself in the larger divisions. The tribe of Ich- 

 neumones are distinguished from all the rest by the con- 

 fluence of the second discoidal and first submarginal 

 cells of the superior wings ; and where there is an in- 

 tervenient submarginal cell, by that being very small : 

 they also have always two recurrent nerves, and they 

 present varieties of form which we will rapidly survey. 

 1st. The IchneumonidcR proper have the body elongate, 

 ovate, and depressed ; with the ovipositor, which in the 

 whole of this group supplants the sting, not, or scarcely, 

 exserted. It is in this family that the splendid exotic 

 Joppa occurs, which in one sex has the antennae sud- 



