ON LEXrCOSPIS. 'US 



can be brought into action ; when, however, we consider the 

 extreme flexibiUty with which this organ in other insects is 

 endowed, by means of the muscles attached to its base, the 

 difficulty soon vanishes. A remarkable instance of this capa- 

 bility, of which I have often been witness, is recorded by 

 Mr. Haliday, in the 98th page of the second volume of this 

 Magazine, (No. VI.) From this account, it will moreover be 

 seen, that the abdominal segments themselves are capable of 

 great elongation, by means of the connecting membrane ; and 

 Jurine, who appears to have observed the motions of Leu- 

 cospis, states, that " leur ventre jouit, dans I'articulation du 

 premier et du second segment d'un mouvement particulier de 

 flexion menu de demirotation." It is, moreover, remarkable, 

 that in the largest individuals belonging to another extensive 

 family — the Cynipidce, the females (genus Ibalia) carry the 

 ovipositor in a similar situation, — these two genera being the 

 only instances of so singular a peculiarity, throughout the vast 

 order of Hymenoptera. A still further peculiarity exists also 

 in these two genera, which has hitherto been unnoticed (at 

 least in Leucospis) by entomologists; namely, the existence 

 of a minute spiracle at the base of the fifth segment of the 

 abdomen, in the females, on each side. Mr. Curtis is the 

 only author who has noticed it in both sexes of Ibalia, 

 (British Ent. PI. 22.) 



The wasp-like appearance of this genus, its folded wings, 

 and elongated, cordate lower lip, establish a connexion with 

 the Vespidce, which, however, may not perhaps be deemed 

 of a higher rank than one of mere analogical resemblance. 



The character derived from the femoral teeth, as will be 

 seen from my subsequent descriptions, can scarcely be con- 

 sidered sufficiently precise for the establishment of sectional 

 divisions in the genus. 



Leucospis gigas. Klug. Walk. 



Varietatem femince a celeberrimo Latreille accepi, e typo specifico, 

 (ut auctoribus predictis descripto) diversam, 1™°, maculis faciei 

 flavis per marginem totum canaliculse frontalis, utrinque cur- 

 rentibus usque ad antennarum insertionem ',^ — 2*^". femoribus 

 posticis interne piceo-nigris, apice flavis, externe flavis macula 



■^ It will be seen from Klug's character of L. grandis, that in this respect this 

 variety approaches that species. 



