SAW-FLIES. 297 



several pieces, winch in many instances is modified into a 

 poison-l)earing sting-. The pupa is quiescent, and the larva 

 is both quiescent and without feet, except in one group, that of 

 the Saw-flies. 



In all books that treat scientifically of the Hymenoptera, a 

 vast amount of technical language will be found. Many of the 

 words, such as those which express the general divisions of the 

 body, the parts of the mouth, the anatomy of the limbs, &c., 

 are the same as those which we have already learned when 

 treating of Beetles. But, in this order of insects, very great 

 stress is laid upon sundry portions of organisation which are 

 but little considered !i' the Coleoptera, and therefore I have 

 given a chart-drawing of a hornet, similar to that of the Stag- 

 beetle on page 9. I strongly advise the young entomologist 

 to take a hornet, or even a Avasp, and make out all the parts 

 by means of this diagram, and he will find that if he colours 

 the diagram he will fix it more firmly in his memory. The 

 colouring should be taken from the insect itself. 



According to Mr. Westwood's system, the Hymenoptera. are 

 divided into two great sections, namely, the Terebrantia, or 

 Borers, and the Aculeata, or Sting-bearers. We will proceed 

 with these sections in order. The first subsection is called 

 Serrifera, or Saw-bearers, in which the abdomen is attached to 

 the thorax by the whole of its diameter, and the larvae feed 

 upon vegetable substances, and have a well-developed moutli 

 furnished with mandibles. This subsection includes the whole 

 of the Saw-flies and Gall-flies. 



We will begin with the insects which are so well known as 

 Saw-flies, and are scientifically termed Tenthredinidge. This 

 word is a very old one, being used by Aristotle in his ' History 

 of Animals ' to signify some kind of bee or wasp. It is formed 

 from a Grreek word signifying to gnaw or nibble. The names 

 Andrena, Pemphredon, &c., are derived from the same source. 

 In these insects, the wings are large, Avith many ' complete ' 

 cells, i.e. cells closed on every side by nervures, and having a 

 large stigma or spot. The abdomen has no footstalk, and is 

 furnished in the females with tlie extraordinary apparatus 

 wliich has gained for the group of Hymenoptera tlie popular 

 and appropriate name of Saw-flies 



