4 MAXDIBULATA. — HYMEKOPTKRA. 



in a few resembling a sting, and valvnlar ; vagina bivalve, received in a canal 

 at the lower apex of the body, the valves compressed ; in some lamelliform, 

 in others elongate-cylindric, setaceous, filiform. 



These insects, as also proposed by Latreille, may be further sub- 

 divided into — - 



A. Abdomen united to the thorax, along its whole breadth, without any 

 distinct peduncle : and 

 B. Abdorrien united to the thorax by a distinct peduncle. 

 The subdivision A. embraces two families, viz. — 



Family I.— TENTHRIDINIDiE, Leach. 



Wings with the marginal areolets complete : mandibles moi'e or less long, 

 terminated with teeth : labium with three laminse : maxillary palpi with 6 

 joints, labial with 4 : ovipositor composed of two serrated leaves, rarely 

 exserted: antennas \Sir\ovLS. 



The insects of which this interesting family — which is rather 

 extensive — is composed vary considerably in habit amongst them- 

 selves; I shall, therefore, in order to facilitate their investigation, 

 subdivide them into the groups proposed by Leach, in the 3rd vol, 

 of the Zoological Miscellany, abridging the external characters there 

 given, as they appear well calculated to disunite the various groups 

 into which they seem naturally divisible. A considerable variation 

 exists in the number of legs of the larvae — some possessing only the 

 6 true legs, while others have from 2 to 18 prolegs : in the early stage 

 many of them are armed throughout their body with spines, while 

 others are destitute of armature : in general, they resemble the larvae 

 of Lepidoptera, being fleshy, but gradually taper from the head, 

 which is distinct and scaly ; they curl up when disturbed, and feed 

 upon living vegetable substances, some few forming galls : again, 

 some species are gregarious, and others solitary. 



The females are furnished with a serrated ovipositor, which they 

 employ in forming chinks, wherein to deposit their eggs— thence 

 called Saw-Jlies. The following are the British genera : — 



Labrum distinctum, 



AntenncB breves, clavatje, 5-8 articulate. 

 Cakaria obtusa, apice antlio instructa. 



AntenncB articulis ante clavam 5 ; 



c/am subsolida 2-articulata : . . 1. CiMBEX. 



3-articulata : . . 2. Triciiiosobia, 



articulis ante clavam 4 ; 



