172 ZOOLOGY. 
doptera, but attack Coleoptera, Diptera, and probably members of all the 
orders. Among the Hemiptera, the Aphides are extensively destroyed by 
minute Jehneumons. In some cases a parasitic Hymenopter is itself 
attacked by a smaller member of the same order. The eggs of insects and 
spiders are similarly attacked, and spiders also. These insects are very 
active, flying and running about in a restless manner, and vibrating the 
antenne as if excited. In their perfect state they are found upon flowers. 
They are generally black or red colored, varied with white or red, the 
middle of the antennee being often white. 
fam. 6. Chalcidide (gl. 79, figs. 84, 35). This is an extensive family 
mostly of minute parasitic insects, many of which have bright or metallic 
colors. In some forms the hinder femora are very thick, in some the 
antennee of the male are branched, and in Lewcospis (jig. 28), the ovi- 
positor of the female, when unemployed, is turned up along the dorsum. 
fam. 7. Proctotrupide. This family contains minute species, with 
habits like the two preceding families. Some of them are so small, that a 
number of them may be parasitic in a single egg of a butterfly. 
Fam. 8. Chrysidide (Chrysis, pl. 79, jigs. 24, 26). This is a family of 
small, oblong-bodied, brilliant, metallic-colored insects, which have the 
power of rolling themselves into a ball, or at least of applying the venter 
to the thorax beneath. The abdomen is attached by a short peduncle, its 
extremity has a tubular exsertile ovipositor, which is moved like the joints 
of a telescope, and the termination is a sharp point. They are very active, 
and may often be seen during hot weather upon fences or dry sand, vibrat- 
ing their antennee and moving about. Westwood thinks the egg is deposited 
upon the food intended for the larve of other species, and of which it 
deprives the proper owner. 
Lam. 9. Crabronide (Crabro, jig. 29). In this, the first family of the 
Aculeata, the head is large and quadrate, the antennz short, the feet 
slender, the anterior tibia with a pectinated spur, and the abdomen of the 
female provided with a sting. The general color is some dark tint 
varied with yellow spots. The adults frequent flowers, but feed their 
young with insects. They gnaw holes in wood, in which they lay 
their eggs, and a stock of provisions consisting of other larvee or adult 
insects; and we have on two occasions found dead branches of trees 
(bored probably by members of this family) filled with Diptera, a single 
species of the latter being taken in each case. The insects taken for the 
food of the young are not killed entirely, but rendered torpid, so that they 
may not decay before they are wanted. When the store is complete the 
aperture is closed. 
Fam.10. Larride. This is a small family allied to the preceding; the 
labrum is hidden, and the mandibles have a notch near the external base. 
Fam. 11. Bembecide. This is the smallest family in the order. The 
mandibles are pointed, have an internal tooth, and the labrum is exserted. 
It contains the genera Bembex, Monedula, and Stizus. These insects lay up 
a store of insects in the ground for their young. Some of the species of 
Stizus are considerably larger than hornets; of black or dark colors, 
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