NATURAL HISTORY; igs © 
GENUS IV. 
CHARACTER: 
PP we mouth has jaws, without any tongue. The 
horns contain more than thirty joints ; and the abdo- 
men is generally joined te the body by a pedicle. ihe 
iting is inclofed in a cylindrycal theath, compofed o3 
two valves. 

Cetteneer oe 
ICHNEUMCN. 
One diftinguifhing and flriking character of thefe 
fpecies of flies is, the almoft continual agitation of 
their antennz#. -The name of ichneumon has been 
applied to them, from the fervice they do us, by de- 
ftroying caterpillars, plant lice, and other infects 3 
as the ithneumon and mangouitte dettroy the croco- 
dile. The variety to be found in the {pecies of ‘Ich- 
neumons is prodigious among the fmaller fpecies. 
The males perform their courtfhips in the mott pai- 
fionate and,gallant manner. ‘J he pofterior part of the 
temales is arméd with a wimble, vifible in fome {pe- 
cies, no ways difcoverable in others ; and that inftrus. | 
ment, though fo fine, is able to: penetrate through 
mortar and plafter. 1 he ftructure of it is more ea- 
fily feen in the long wimbled fly The food of the 
family to be produced by this fly, is the larva of 
wafps or maton bees; for it no fooner perceives one 
of thofe neits, than it fixes on it with its wimble, and 
bores through the mortar of which itis built. Whe 

