356 INSECTS OF ARCTIC NORTH AMERICA. 



ject for his genius as an accurate anatomist and recorder of 

 facts and reasonings on the insect economy. This gentleman 

 discovered persistent branchice in the imago or perfect state 

 of the Pteronarcys, and has recorded his discovery and quoted 

 some observations of Mr. Barnston's in a paper read at the 

 Linnasan Society. As Mr. Gray's Catalogues of the collections 

 in the British Museum, (mines of information to the reasoner 

 and writer on geographical distribution,) are published, it 

 will be seen how valuable are Mr. Barnston's and Sir John 

 Richardson's collections to our acquaintance with the articu- 

 lated animals of British North America, especially in its more 

 northerly parts. 



" I have mentioned that Kirby describes or alludes to only 

 thirty -two species of Hymenoptera in his 'Insects of North 

 America;' while Mr. Barnston in one spot found 192 distinct 

 species, exclusive of Chalcididce. "I subjoin a comparative 

 list of the families of Hymenoptera, the comparison being made 

 with the British species existing in the Museum collection at 

 the time of this record. Mr. B. and myself worked out the 

 Tenthredinidce ; my friend and coadjutor Mr. Frederick Smith, 

 an able hymenopterist, determined the other species ; so the 

 list may be deemed as correct as the circumstances will admit. 



" It must be borne in mind that our British collection of Hy- 

 menoptera has been accumulating for at least thirty years, was 

 a favourite part of Dr. Leach's collection, and has been made 

 over a wide and variegated country; while Mr. Barnston's 

 was formed in three months, on one spot and under almost 

 unheard-of disadvantages, counterbalanced, however, by an 

 enthusiasm not easily deterred by difficulties. 



