PREFACE 



THE object of this little book is to give in as 

 simple a form as possible a short account of 

 some of the British Wild Bees, Wasps, Ants, etc., 

 scientifically known as the Hymenoptem Acu- 

 leata. Of these the non-scientific public rarely 

 recognizes more than the Hive Bee, the Humble 

 Bee, the Wasp, and the Hornet, whereas there 

 are about 400 different kinds to be found in this 

 country, and they can be recognized by any one 

 who is disposed to make a special study of the 

 group. 



The author has not hesitated to make free 

 use of the experiences of others in regard to the 

 habits of the insects he describes, and he has 

 not thought it necessary in each case to make 

 separate acknowledgment of this. He takes 

 this opportunity of thanking Mr. H. Donis- 

 thorpe and Mr. F. W. L. Sladen for assistance 

 in the chapters on Ants and their Lodgers, 

 and Humble Bees, respectively. 



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