5^2 INSECTA. 



a mass, tlie anterior being very short and the two others united into one.* The wings are 

 crossed horizontally npon the body ; the abdomen mostly suspended to the liind part of the 

 thorax by a slender tlireail or ]icdunele ; the tarsi are 5-jointed, none of the joints being 

 bilobed. The borer or sting [Ijotli of uliieh are described in a note as being typically com- 

 posed on the same UKulel], are formed foi- the most part of three long and slender ineees, 

 two of which serve as a sheath to the third in those which have a borer, and of which the 

 upper has a groove at its under side to encase the two otiiers. 



M. Jnrine has found in the articulation [of the nerves] of the wings good auxiliary charac- 

 ters for the distinction of genera, making use of the presence or absence, number, form, and con- 

 nexion of the t\A"0 kind of cells situated near the external apex of tlie fore ^^■iugs, \\hicli be 

 terms radial [or marginal], and cubital [or submargmal] cells. Tlie middle of the fore mar- 

 gin of the wings has often a callous sjiot, termed the stigma, whence a nerve extemls which 

 runs to the tip of the wing, and forms with the fore-edge of the wing the radial cell, some- 

 times divided into two ; a second nervure also extends from the stigma, »hicli also extends to 

 the apex of the wing, leaving between it and the first-mentioned nerve a space occupied by the 

 cubital cells, of whicli the number varies from one to four. 



The Ilvmenojitera undergo a complete metamorphosis; the majority of their larv;c are 

 vermitorm, and are destitute of feet, such as those of the second and following fannies; those of 

 the iirst family have six hooked feet, and often from twelve to sixteen others, which are simply 

 membranous; the head in all is scaly, \vitli mandibles, maxiike, and a km er lip, .at the extre- 

 mity of which IS a spiiiiieret for the })assage of the silken matter of which the eocoon of the 

 ]ni])a is comjiosed. Some feed upon vegetable substances ; others, always footless, upon the 

 dead bodies of insects, in all their states of egg, larva, pupa, and imago. In order to sujiply 

 their \M.'akiiess. the fenialc sup[)orts them with ])ro\'isions, soinetlnies carr\ ing their food to 

 the nests which tlK'\' have pre[iared for them, often \\'ith sur]irising skill, and sometiiiies 

 by jilaciug their eggs in the bodies of larvic and pupie of insects, upon which tlieir young feed. 

 Other equally footless larva: of Ilymenuptera are fed on more elaborated animal and vegetable 

 food, and more constantly rencM ed. These are reared in common by individuals destitute of sex, 

 united in societies, charged exclusively with such works, and w hose labours and regime are the 

 theme of continual admiration. The Ilyinenoptera in the perfect state subsist almost exclu- 

 sively on tlo^ver^, and are eiunniouly most abundant in southern climates. The extent of their 

 existence, from their larth till their final change, is eouliiied to a year. 



[The natural classitieation of these insects has been but eoui]iaratively little attended to. 

 Various plans of arrangement, founded not (jnh' upon the struetuie of the imago, but also 

 upon its habits, and the peculiarities nf the jireparatorv states, have recently been proposed 

 by Saint Fargeau, Italdliom, Ilartig, Ilaliday, &c. I must however refer to the i?ud vol. of 

 my Jntrodi-fction lo F^uluiiKihgii for an investigation of these ariangemeuts. 



I divide tliis order nilii two scctlnns, [Tiokkrraxtia aiul .Vei'LEAT.v]. 



The tlist, that of the 'I'erehriiiiflii, is characterized by possessing a biirer in the females. 



1 di\ide the Terebrantia into two great families, [the Securif\'ra and Piiplvora~\. 



THE FIltST F.VMIkY OF THE II Y.MKNOrXERA,— 



Tui'; Si;cuR[FER\, — 



Is distinguished from the following by the sessile abdomen, of wliieh the base is luiiled to the thorax 

 by its entire width, and appears to be bnt a continuation uf it, without any proper motion. The 

 females have an o\iposiioi-, I'oi- the most |)ait lik(^ a saw, which is used not only in depositing the eggs, 

 hut also in preparing a jihire for their reception. The larvce have always six scaly feet, and often 



- In II noU I.nlrL'ill.^ a.Jo|ptR tlit.' llirnrv Ui;it thu iiirti.tlu.riix i.s a very 1 tlnit in the iietluiieulraeil Uyiiierioi.tern, llir jieiiunele is tlie seeend 

 ji.'Lrrnw Ketrnierit, and tliiii tiie iiiinl inirt uf theil.nrnx wineli )his i«n and ji.n liie Qrst aljdyniiinil ,^et;nieut. 

 spiraeles at Ibe aides, is hi reality tlie lirst abdominal set'ineiil, sn ' 



