2 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



paper on the Oxyura remained unknown to Thomson, whilst he 

 wrote on this subject," but the circumstance seems to have 

 given rise to little synonymy ; the latter redescribed the abundant 

 P. calcar, and possibly his 1'. buccatus is not distinct from 

 Haliday's P. eloiujatus. Their specific distinction may be owed 

 to Kieffer's habit of regarding everything as different till proved 

 identical even to the last pilus (in the broadest sense of the- 

 word !). The affinities of this subfamily are not at all with the 

 other Oxyura, but with the Polymorphi group of Braconidse, 

 wherein the Euphorids have equally peculiarly contracted radial 

 cell and the Liophronids very similar abdomen, with renexed 

 terebra. 



Nota. — There has been a recent attempt to sink the name 

 Proctotrypes (originally spelt "Proctotrupes,'' presumably because 

 the Germans possess no y) to Serphus. Science is the essence 

 of common sense ; consequently, to alter a name that has been 

 in universal use by scientists from the earliest times, the 

 particular name, moreover, by which an entire group of 

 Hymenopterous insects is known, in favour of one utterly un- 

 known, one that is so similar to Syrphus of Fabricius (which 

 antedates it) that in speech they are identical, to say nothing of 

 any doubt that may exist respecting the synonymy — such a 

 proceeding is, I have no hesitation in definitely stating, so far 

 from common sense as to border upon folly. Such a course- 

 shall never be accepted by me. 



Table of Genera. 



(6). 1. Metathorax scabrous, or, at least, with a central carina. 

 (5). 2. Mesothoracic notauli entirely wanting. 

 . (4). 3. All the tarsal joints and claw r s simple. 



Proctotrypes, Lativ 

 (3). 4. Anterior claws trifid, fifth joint explanate. 



Exallonyx, Forst. 

 (2). 5. Mesothoracic notauli deeply impressed Disogmus, Forst. 

 (1). 6. Metathorax smooth, with no central carina. 



Paeacodrus, Kieff. 



But for practical use, in a rough and ready way, I have found 

 the following conspectus sufficiently comprehensive : 



Metathorax rugose or scarbriculous throughout. 



Notauli deeply impressed ... 1. Disogmus. 

 Notauli wanting. 



Propleurse striate ; abdomen red . 3. "Serphus," Kieff. 

 Propleurae smooth ; abdomen black. 



Claws dentate ; onychii explanate 4. Exallonyx. 

 Claws simple ; onychii slender . 3. "Phcenoserphus," Kf. 

 Metanotum at least partly smooth, niti- 

 dulous 

 Metathorax with smooth discal area? . 2. "Cryptoserphus," Kf. 

 Metathorax entirely smooth throughout 5. Paracodrus. 



