MASARIS. 11 



This insect, like the preceding, was discovered by Mr. Ridings. 

 I have a specimen of each of the three species here described 

 through Mr. Edvv. Norton 



Tribe ODYNERIN^. 1 



- (Solitary Wasps.) 



Nails of the tarsi unidentate. Clypeus never terminated by a 

 tooth ; mandibles long, prolonged in the form of a sharp beak, 

 or truncate, trenchant or dentate ; lip lengthened, often very long, 

 always quadrifid, its lateral lobes forming long prongs separated 

 even to its base and articulate. 



In general, each of the four divisions of the tongue has at its 

 extremity an opaque horny point; but in some cases these points 

 disappear, and the lobes become very long, linear and plumose 

 (Synagrix). 



Antennae scarcely clubbed, lengthened, simple in the ? ; ter- 

 minated in the % by a hook, or twisted spirally at the extremity, 

 or simple. Eyes strongly emarginate; thorax always wide 

 before ; metathorax not prolonged. 



The abdomen is quite variable, but the second segment is 

 always the largest ; those following are retractile, and can easily 

 be forced back into the second. 



The solitary wasps have not the habit of living in society, and 

 it is this characteristic which establishes the principal difference 

 between the Odynerinoeand Vespinse; for those distinctions which 

 are drawn from their organization are not of much consequence, 

 and can be reduced to the difference of claws, which in the soli- 

 tary wasps arc armed with one tooth, and arc simple among the 

 social. The solitary wasps have, in fact, more carnivorous in- 

 stincts. Although nourishing themselves by sucking flowers, they 

 attack very many larva), spiders or other animals, to provide food 

 for their offspring. Their larvffi arc carnivorous, although the per- 



1 Sec on page 2 unci 3 the table to aid in distinguishing the 0<h/n<ri>nr 

 and Vespina* 



