466 
[March 
Tgenuini) are separated as a distinct family from Flgitidse,^ with which 
preceding authors had united them, by the following characters :— 
(See Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. I, p. 48.) 
Cynipidae. Second-:'' abdominal segment longer than [any one of ?] the others 
(Hartig) or longer than half the length of the abdomen. (Rheinhardt.) 
Figitidae. Third-:'-abdominal segment longer than [any one of ?] the others 
( Hartig) or second segment shorter than half the length of the abdomen. 
(Rheinhardt.) 
The objections to this arrangement are manifold :— 
1st. As has been stated before, (p. 450,) in Ct/nipidse the terminal 
abdominal joints are telescopically drawn out in a manner which varies 
greatly in different specimens of the same species, so that in one speci¬ 
men the second joint shall occupy only in another full J of the whole 
abdomen, and thus one specimen shall appear, according to Rheinhardt. 
to belong to Figitidse and another to Cgnipklse. Moreover where is 
the length to be measured ? Dorsally or laterally ? In most species it 
makes a very great difference which way the measurement is taken. 
For example, in G. gallm tinctorise (Asia) joint 2 occupies about ^ of 
the dorsal length, but scarcely occupies 4 of the whole lateral surface. 
2 nd. In one genus, Aidax^ according to Dr. Rheinhardt himself, as 
quoted by Osten Sacken, {Proc. Eat. Soc. Phila. II, pp. 35, 37, 43,) 
the % has the abdominal joints 2 and 3 subequal, the other joints being 
short, whereas in the 9 joint 2 almost entirely covers the succeeding 
ones; so that here the % , according to Rheinhardt, belongs to Figi- 
tidse and the 9 fo Cgnipidse ! Again, in Amhlynotm ensiger n. sp.?, 
in the S joint 2 is dorsally nearly as long as 3, while in the 9 joint 2 is 
sdorsally scarce ^ as long as 3; showing a great sexual variation in what 
is assumed to be a family character. Observe that Aidax, as well as 
Amhlgnotus^ are inquilinous in their habits, at least in certain species, 
if not in all. 
3rd. In the genus BiastrojAius, according to Osten Sacken, the 2nd 
and 3rd abdominal joints are subequal, and DiaMroplius must there¬ 
fore, according to Dr. Rheinhardt’s definition, belong to Figitidsc. 
{Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. II, pp. 38-9.) Observe that this genus is a 
gall-making one. 
4th. Figites and Allotria have been long known to be true internal 
Counting the peduncle as the first segment. 
