Section IV., 1899. 169 ] Tranp. R. S. C. 



Ylir. — Catalogue of Canadian Proctotrypidœ. 

 By W. Hague Harrington. 



(Read 25th May, 1899.) 



The insect fauna of Canada is rich in species, and worthy of 

 investigation both from its scientific and economic importance. In the 

 past, that consideration has not been given to it that it abundantly 

 deserves, but in recent years the ever-swelling tide of interest in insect 

 life, rising in the United States, has in some measure overflowed the 

 national boundaries and stimvdated research in Canada. It must not, 

 however, be inferred that Canadians have altogether overlooked this 

 branch of natural history, for the Entomological Society of Ontario, the 

 second oldest entomological society in America, has for thirty-five years 

 earnestly endeavoured to qtiicken an interest in our insects, and to 

 develop a knowledge of their forms and habits. The workers, however, 

 have always been few in number in proportion to the enormous territory 

 to be exploited, and extensive districts exist in which no collector has 

 ever resided or even visited. 



The attention and time of some of our most enthusiastic and skilful 

 entomologists have also, necessarily, been in part devoted to the economic 

 phases of insect manifestations, as the connection of the Entomological 

 Society with the Agricultural Department of Ontario requires the pre- 

 paration of annual reports adapted to the needs of the farmer and 

 fruit-grower. 



Naturally, under these restrictions, there has been a tendency to 

 collect only in the orders of which the species might be' most readilj^ 

 exchanged and determined, or which were markedly injurious to plant- 

 life. Hence the lepidoptera, on account of their greater beauty, and the 

 coleoptera, because they can be so easily collected and preserved, have 

 largely monopolized attention, and their members are most fully known 

 in cabinets and in literature. Yet even in these orders there are still 

 many rare and new foi'ms to i-eward the assiduous and skilful collector, 

 even in the districts longest settled and most carefully investigated. ■ 



Of the other orders our knowledge is relatively meagre, and many 

 fertile fields await those who may seek to garner their treasures. This 

 is very markedly the case as regai'ds the hymenoptera, an order exti'emely 

 prolific in species and wonderfully interesting from the diversified struc- 

 ture and remarkable habits of the multitude of forms that compose it. 



The great number of species of hymenoptera which inhabit our wide 

 Dominion is indicated by the annexed catalogue of a comparatively small 

 section of the order. Not fully indicated, however, as, although nomin- 



