NOTES ON THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA. 29 



degree to many other insects, and possessing a development 

 in other respects unsurpassed by any of the tribe. 



Possessed of the above qualifications, we cannot hesitate 

 to place the Hymcnoptera in the highest rank of the orders of 

 insects; such being the case, it is somewhat surprising, that 

 so few Entomologists avail themselves of the opportunity of 

 studying the most attractive pages in the book of nature, and 

 of tracing out themselves, histories equally marvellous as 

 those which Reaumur and others have so graphically de- 

 scribed. 



During the past season, the minds of Entomologists have 

 been powerfully directed to a most important subject, con- 

 nected as it were with the very foundation of the science ; 

 namely, that of specific distinctions and their variations. 

 The masterly work upon this subject by Mr. Wollaston 

 has directed our attention specially to the inquiry, and it 

 appears to us that a few parallels to some of the instances 

 recorded by Mr. Wollaston, of the effect of climate upon 

 particular species, may neither be out of place, nor unin- 

 teresting in the pages of an Annual. 



In 1853, we recorded an opinion, that the Halictus 

 Jlavipes was found throughout Europe, in Nova Scotia, in 

 Ohio, and in North America. To the geographical range of 

 this species, we appended a note, to the efFect that '• the spe- 

 cimens from America are larger than any yet observed from 

 other localities, but that in other respects, no difference could 

 be detected ; the sculpture of the metathorax and the neu- 

 ration of the wings being the same. The Halictus paral- 

 lels of Say is certainly the representative of the H. rub/- 

 cundus of Europe, if indeed it be not the same species, 

 slightly altered by climatal influences. The Andrenapilipes 

 of this country, I consider to be identical with specimens from 

 North Africa j and we possess specimens of Andrena Clark" 



