87 



NETJROPTERA. 



reticulated also with delicate brownish nerves, its general colour a fine yellow, elegantly 

 barred with transverse streaks of brown ; it is from the coast of Coromandel." 



The natural history of the Myrmeleon-larva is curious, and has been traced in 

 some of the European kinds by Reaumur, Eoesel, and others, particularly in the M. 

 Formica-Leo of Geoffroy ; this creature, among other peculiarities, is furnished in the 

 front with a large pair of forceps, with which it takes its prey. It forms circular 

 cavities in the sand, and concealing itself in the centre with only the forceps above 

 the surface, catches the weaker or unwary insects that come within the verge of 

 its cell. 



Order. HYMENOPTERA, Linnceus. 



CHRYSIS IMPBRIALIS. 



Plate LVI. fig. 1. 



Section. Tubulifera, Latreille. 



Family. ChrysidiDjE, Leach. 



Genus. Chktsis, Linnaeus. 



Species. Chrysis Imperialis : " thoraee viridi, fascia oyanea ; abdomine antice cyaneo 

 violaceoque fasoiato, medio aureo, postioe rubro, quadri-dentato." — Donovan. 

 Long. Corp. -f una 

 Chrysis : with the thorax green, with a blue band ; anterior part of the abdomen 

 blue fasoiated with violet, golden in the middle, posterior end red, with four 

 teeth. Length of the body, f of an inch. 



Syn. Chrysis fasciata, Donovan, 1st edit, nee Chrysis fasciata, Fabr. Syst. Piez. p. 175. 



" This charming insect is from Tranquebar, where we have every reason to believe 

 it to be uncommonly rare. The species does not appear to be described by any 

 author, the only specimen we are acquainted with is in the cabinet of the Right Hon. 

 Sir J. Banks, Bart." — Donovan. 



This species must not be confounded with the Chrysis fasciata of Fabricius, a 



