Page:VCH Essex 1.djvu/150

 A HISTORY OF ESSEX Proctotrupidce are still smaller and of soberer hues. They also appear to be largely parasitic, but with regard to the transformations of many of them more seems to be at present conjectured than is actually known. Of course it is quite impossible to deal adequately with this impor- tant class of insects in a few brief paragraphs, and unfortunately we have at present no reliable monograph on any of its component sections. Much was done among the Ghalcidida, etc., by the late Mr. Francis Walker at Wanstead, who left behind him voluminous notes, which are now in Mr. Fitch's possession ; but they require very careful revision before publication. Many pages could have been filled with Walker's names, but a mere list of names where no intelligible and reliable pub- lished accounts and descriptions exist would be .worse than useless. Mr. Fitch, in conjunction with the late Mr. Bridgman, commenced a series of valuable outline descriptions of the Ichneumonida in the Entom- ologist for February, 1880, and continued them at intervals for several years, but unfortunately circumstances for a time prevented their com- pletion. It is to be hoped that Mr. Fitch, who is still our leading British authority on the Entomophaga, and who is abundantly supplied with material and well equipped for the task in every way, will at no distant date be able to resume his labours, and obtain for this branch of British Entomology the high position which a few years ago it seemed so likely to take, and which of late it has appeared in such imminent danger of losing. In the following list of Ichneumonidce the species marked M. have only been identified from the Maldon district by Mr. Fitch. The others have all been obtained near Colchester, many being common to both districts. For the incompleted list of Braconidee Mr. Fitch is solely responsible. A LIST OF THE ENTOMOPHAGOUS HYMENOPTERA OCCURRING IN THE COUNTY CHRYSIDIDJE Cleptes, Latr. semiauratus, L. nitidulus, Fabr. Btnfleet (Billups) Homalus, Pz. auratus, L. caeruleus, Dahlb. Hedychrum, Latr. lucidulum, Fabr. ardens, Curtis Chrysis, L. ignita, L. viridula, L. cyanea, L. PUPIVORA. ICHNEUMONID^: ICHNEUMONIDES Chasmodes, Wesm. motatorius, Fabr. Ichneumon, L. ICHNEUMONIDES (continued) Ichneumon bilineatus, Gmel. sinister, Wesm. leucocerus, Gr. lineator, Fabr. impressor, Zett. derasus, Wesm. castaneiventris, Gr. fuscipes, Gmel. M. periscelis, Wesm. pistorius, Gr. trilineatus, Gmel. multiannulatus, Gr. molitorius, L. tempestivus, Holmgr. M. vaginatorius, L. xanthorius, Ffirst confusorius, Gr. suspiciosus, Holmgr. gracilentus, Wesm. M. 112