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V. The Aculeate Hymenoptera of Barrackpore, Bengal. 

 By George Alexander James Rothney, F.E.S. 



[Read March 4th, 1903.] 



As it is a somewhat uncommon feature for a definite 

 limited area within the tropics to be worked continuously 

 for a number of years, I have ventured to hope that a 

 thoroughly re^Dresentative list of the Aculeate Hyriie7ioptera 

 collected by me inthecantonment of Barrackpore may prove 

 of some interest to the Society, as this order has of late 

 become so much more popular, and the Indian and Far 

 Eastern fauna in particular has attracted an unusual amount 

 of attention. 



My list represents the result of steady collecting from 

 1872 to 188G, and a flying visit in 1893. " 



Barrackpore, Bengal, is situated on the east bank of the 

 Hooghly; lat. 22' 40' 80", long. 88' 22' 45" and 88' 

 30'. Area, forty-two square miles, and about sixteen miles 

 north of Calcutta. It is practically contained within a 

 bend of the river, and includes Monirampore, Pulta, Isclia- 

 pur Park, Tittaghur, Neilgunge, but above all the beautiful 

 Barrackpore Park, one of the most charming spots in Lower 

 Bengal, and one which offers many attractions to the 

 entomologist. 



There are practically three seasons in the year — the 

 "cold weather" lasting from the end of October to the 

 beoinninof of March, the " hot weather " from the middle 

 of March to the middle of June, when the " rains ' set m 

 and last till October. Very few Hymenoptera (except ants) 

 are about in the cold season. The hot and rainy seasons 

 are the best for the collector, and the choicest time of all, 

 a bright little interval in October, just as the rains are 

 clearing up, and before the mornings and evenings show 

 siofns of the comino; cold weather. The sun then shines 

 out with beautiful brightness but without the severity of 

 the hot weather, vegetation is unsoiled by dust, and there 

 is everywhere a splendid burst and buzz of insect life. 



The most attractive spots for collecting are undoubtedly 

 Barrackpore Park and the jungly ground round the Pulta 

 powder magazine, for curiously, Ischapur Park and Sam- 

 nagar (with its extensive earthworks, the ruins of an old 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1903. — PART I. ( APRIL) 



