708 MR. E. A. ELLIOTT ON THE 



them to be nearest to the Evaniidse, especially the Aulacinse, 

 which have similar habits. Evidence of this is adduced from the 

 general form and the mode of insertion of the antennae, the 

 tendency of the posterior margin of the head to become collar- 

 like, the strong pleural sulcus for the reception of the middle 

 legs, and possibly also the tendency of the neuration of the wings 

 to become more simple. The special character of the five frontal 

 tubercles occurs in the same manner in the Oryssini, and Koman 

 would place the Stephanidse as the lowest member of the great 

 gToup of Ichneumonidag, between the Evaniidee and Aculeata. 



For convenience, especially as an aid to identification, I accept 

 Enderlein's subfamilies, with the addition of Neostephanus 

 Kieffer, while admitting the possibilitj'- of transition forms. 



Morley (Entom. 1917, p. 106) has drawn attention to the 

 analogy of their sti^ucture with that of the Pimplid tribe Xorides, 

 to which Lamarck actually ascribed Stepkanus serrator under the 

 name of Xorides coronator. 



General Description. 



The head is large and globose, with five frontal tubercles 

 surrounding the anterior ocellus, from which the family takes 

 its name (Greek : Stephanos, a crown or wreath). The anteiior 

 tubercle is frequently larger than the rest, very rarely obsolete; 

 the posterior pair are almost invariably smaller than the others, 

 and have been quite overlooked by some authors, who describe 

 species as trituberculate only. 



The powerful mandibles protrude rectangularly, are externally 

 bfisally angular, anteriorly compressed, pointed and bent down- 

 wards like the beak of a parrot, with long grey to golden 

 pubescence beneath. The maxillary palpi are long, slender, and 

 five-jointed ; basal joint short, second twice as long as fii^st, the 

 others of about equal length. The labial palpi are short and 

 four-jointed ; the three basal joints clavate, the apical cylindrical 

 and longer. The eyes are large and roundish elliptical. Straight 

 lines joining the ocelli would form an equilateral triangle with the 

 base behind ; the posterior ocelli are close to the interior margin 

 of the eyes. The .30-40- jointed antennae are placed very low 

 down, the face being very short, cheeks normally as long as scape, 

 and the frons proportionately large. Temples usually smooth 

 and shining. The scape is incrassate, and the other joints, 

 especially towards the middle, indistinctly discreted, gradually 

 shorter and more slender towai'ds the apex, distinctly pubescent 

 except the basal ones ; second flagellar joint normally twice as 

 long as first; third as long as first and second together. 



The frons is more or less coarsely arcuately, transversely, or 

 irregularly striate ; the occiput has usually several transcarinse 

 close to the posterior tubercles, posteriorly often transversely 

 rugose and latei'ally irregularly punctate rugose. Temples 



