January ijth, IQ02.] PROCEEDINGS. xxvii 



really an Australian species. The matter is of importance, 

 because the Thynnidae are a typical Australian family, and the 

 presence of a member of it in New Zealand would show some 

 affinity between the two localities. On the other hand, if 

 Rhagigaster \\?is been included in error it lessens the connection, 

 and would strengthen the opinion I have formed of the dis- 

 tinctness of the New Zealand fauna from that of Australia. The 

 matter is well worthy of the attention of New Zealand entomolo- 

 gists. The females of the Thynnid^ are apterous, the males only 

 being winged. 



There are one or two other species recorded in the "Novara 

 Reise " whose position as members of the New Zealand fauna 

 appears to me to be doubtful. Prosopis vichia Sichel, recorded 

 from Auckland and Tasmania, has not been found by anyone 

 recently in New Zealand ; and, as it belongs to a well-marked 

 Australian section of the genus, I consider it to be an accidental 

 introduction or an error in labelling on the part of the " Novara " 

 naturalists. 



The large Ichneumon, Lissopimpla scmipundata Kirby, is 

 clearly an Australian introduction. A recent introduction also 

 is the European ant, Fretiolepis longicortiis Fab. 



