OF ACULEATE HYMENOPTEBA, 117 



one has also been described from Kamtscbatka ; fourteen species 

 are known from North America, and eight from Brazil and South 

 America. 



The social stingless genera of honey-gathering Bees, Ilellpona 

 and Trigona, are at present known as being principally South 

 American ; about sixty-seven species of tliese genera are recorded 

 from that locality. All tlie known species of Ilelipona are South 

 American. Of the genus Trigona one species is described from 

 Australia, and one from Ceylon. 



The genus Apis includes the Honey-Bees proper : the number 

 of known species previous to Mr. Wallace's discoveries was about 

 fifteen. The typical species has been conveyed to most parts of 

 the habitable globe ; but, judging according to our present know- 

 ledge of the range of species in a state of nature, their distribution 

 or geographical range appears to be limited. Apis mellijica, of 

 which Apis ligustica would appear to be only a climatal variety, 

 does not appear to range beyond the temperate regions of Europe. 

 Our knowledge of the exotic species is too limited at present to 

 enable us to add much information respecting them. 



In the sketch here attempted, it will be observed that we have 

 confined our remarks to the predominant genera, omitting none 

 that appeared important as bearing upon geographical distribution ; 

 we wiU now proceed to offer some remarks upon the various spe- 

 cies collected by Mr. Wallace in the Eastern Archipelago. 



In the introductory remarks, it will be observed that I have, in 

 some instances, said that the range of British species extends to 

 North America — Vespa rufa and V. vulgaris being examples of 

 this kind. I may here remark that such determinations have not 

 been based upon colour alone. It has been proved long ago that 

 the males of Vespa in different species have generative organs of 

 totally different forms ; and the constancy in form in each indi- 

 vidual species renders such forms unerring guides in their deter- 

 mination. I have had recourse to this test in the cases alluded to 

 above, and also in those of V. crahro of this country and V, cra- 

 hroniformis from China : I have not been able to obtain a male of 

 V. orientalis, but I expect it will prove to be a variety of V. crabro. 



The above conclusions lead me, in the next place, to notice a 

 very important circumstance to be regarded in the study of the 

 geographical distribution of species — the effect, namely, of climate 

 on their coloration. I have previously remarked upon the rich- 

 ness of colouring peculiar to Apis ligustica, or, perhaps more 

 correctly, to the form of A. mellijica so termed, and which 



