( 93 ) 



NOTES ON 



ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA, 



WITH 



A FEW HINTS ON 



CAPTURING AND PREPARING SPECIMENS FOR THE 

 CABINET. 



By Frederick Smith. 



Having been again requested to furnish an annual report 

 of the progress made during the past season, towards a per- 

 fect knowledge of the Hymenopterous Fauna of Great 

 Britain, I have much pleasure in recording some very satis- 

 factory results, emanating in part from outdoor research, 

 and in part from an increase of knowledge, acquired by a 

 study of the works of fellow labourers in the same fruitful 

 field. 



The success of the Entomologist at the close of any sea- 

 son's campaign, is by no means, at all times, commensurate 

 with the degree of activity and toil he may have brought to 

 bear towards the attainment of wished-for success; nor can 

 own the most experienced Entomologist always account 

 for the great amount of his success, or find any satisfactory 

 cause to which he can assign the destruction of the air-built 

 castles which his fancy had erected. 



The past is the twenty-first season of my collecting the 

 aculeate Hymenoptera ; I look back in vain to find its 



