NEW WORKS OX ENTOMOLOGY. 139 



CATALOGUE OF BRITISH HYMENOPTERA in 



the Collection of the British Museum. By Frederick 



Smith, M.E.S. 



Part I. Apidae— Bees. 1855. Price 6s* 



John Bull is a singular individual ; he never can do anything in 

 a straightforward way. but is always making tremendous circles in 

 order to reach a spot immediately in front of him. If he wishes to 

 retire from parliament it cannot be done, unless he can obtain some 

 situation under the crown, when at once his seat is vacant. If he 

 wishes to retire from the East India Direction, why he has to sell 

 his stock and then he is no longer qualified. The volume before us 

 has induced these remarks, because it is not a Catalogue but a 

 Monograph, and as such probably the most useful work which has 

 yet been "printed by order of the Trustees" of the British Museum : 

 but then it could not be called a Monograph ; that would be too 

 straightforward for John, and so it is misnamed a Catalogue, and 

 everybody is requested to observe whenever the work is noticed, 

 that it is — 



" No Catalogue, no Catalogue, no Catalogue at all, 

 But a truly magnificent Monograph." 



This volume extends to 248 pages, 12mo., with 10 Plain Plates ; 

 it contains full descriptions of all the known species of British Bees, 

 with notices of their habits and economy. As samples of the pleasant 

 style and truth-seeking earnestness of the author, we quote the fol- 

 lowing passages, and the work abounds with many others of equal 

 interest. 



" The bees included in the genus Andrena may be truly said to 

 be the harbingers of spring, for on the first fine days of April males 

 will be found frequenting the catkins and the early flowers of spring. 

 My earliest date of their capture is March 4th, 1849, when I met 

 with Andrena bicolor and Gwynana, both sexes of each. 



" This genus is by far the most numerous in species of all the 

 genera of bees found in this country. We have about seventy 

 known species, and when the northern parts of the country are 

 assiduously searched, no doubt many more will be added. These 

 bees are all burrowers in the ground, some species preferring banks 



* Some difficulty is frequently experienced by country Entomologists 

 in obtaining the Museum Catalogues through a bookseller. E.Newman, 

 of 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, will be happy to execute orders 

 for any ; see classified list on Wrapper of Zoologist for January, 1856. 



I shall be happy to supply any Entomologist with this Catalogue of 

 Mr. Smith's on the receipt of 6s. in postage stamps. 



