INTRODUCTION. 



In this Volume twelve Families of the section Fossores of the Hymenoptera Aculeata 

 are dealt with — Sphegidae, Ampulicidae, Larridae, Nyssonidae, Bembicidae, Philanthidae, 

 Mimesidae, Pemphredonidae, Crabronidae, Pompilidae, Scoliidae, and Mutillidae. It was 

 commenced by Mr. Cameron in 1888 and concluded in 1896, a short Supplement 

 having been added last year. Mr. H. H. Smith's earlier collections of Fossores from 

 Mexico, as well as those made in Yucatan by Mr. Gaumer, were fortunately received 

 in time to be included, the additions subsequently sent not being very numerous. 

 Hence, a much more varied material was available for study compared with what we 

 had for Volume I. at the time of publication, and probably our enumeration in this 

 case is relatively more complete. 



It is to be regretted that so many of the previously described Mexican Mutillidae 

 remain unrepresented or unidentified in our collection, and the same remark applies 

 with still greater force to the Ichneumonidee, dealt with in Volume I. 



Altogether 711 species are enumerated, of which 391 are treated as new, the total 

 number for each Family being as follows : — Sphegidse, sixty-seven, with thirty-seven 

 new; Ampulicidae, two, with one new; Larridse, fifty-two, with thirty-nine new; 

 Nyssonidae, thirty-two, with twelve new; Bembicidae, twenty-six, with two new; 

 Philanthidae, fifty-four, with twenty-eight new; Mimesidae, eight, all new; Pemphre- 

 donidae, three ; Crabronidae, twenty-four, with twenty-two new ; Pompilidae, 163, with 

 seventy-eight new ; Scoliidae, fifty-nine, with twenty-seven new ; Mutillidae, 221, 

 with 137 new. 



Ed. 



August 1900. 



