86 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



hive, according to Mr. F. Smith, containing more than one female. 

 The ordinary hive bee (Apis mellificaj is not indigenous, but the 

 progeny of swarms, which have escaped from captivity, are often 

 found in a wild state, living in hollow trees or logs in the 

 most remote parts of the bush. The carpenter bees (Xylocopa 

 &c.) make their nests in wooden posts or tree trunks. Lestes 

 bombylmis, Fabr., a beautiful native species, usually makes its nest 

 in the stems of the grass-tree {Xanthorrhcea). Many kinds 

 of Vespidce, or wasps, both social and solitary, are found 

 in Australia. The Mutillidce, a family in which the sexes 

 dilFer greatly from each other in many important respects, the 

 females often being wingless, is largely represented, the most 

 important genera being Thynnus and Scolia. The Formicidce, 

 a family containing the various species of ants, are exceedingly 

 numerous, and display great diversity in their habits ; we 

 have representatives of nearly all the groups, including the 

 remarkable honey-ants, of which, besides the ordinary type of 

 worker, there is a singular form with inflated body, whose sole duty 

 appears to be the secretion of a peculiar kind of honey. The 

 ChrysididcB, or so-called golden- wasps, the Ichneuinonidce, or 

 ' insect-eaters," the Froctotriqndce, the ChalcididcE, and the Cyni- 

 pidce, or Gall-flies, are all abundant. The Tenthredhiidce, or 

 Saw-flies, include the brightly-coloured species of the genus Perga, 

 a characteristic Australian group. 



Neuroptera (Dragon-flies, Caddis-flies, May-flies, &c.) have 

 ample, thin, net-veined wings, both pairs nearly equal in size, 

 the mouth-parts free, the mandibles well developed, and the 

 abdomen long and slender. The transformations are sometimes 

 complete (true Keuroptera), sometimes incomplete (Pseudo- 

 Neuroptera). The Myrmeleontidm, or Ant-lions, are, perhaps, 

 the most interesting forms of this order. The Ascalaph% 

 Ilemerobiidce, or Lace-wings, and the curious family Manti- 

 spidcBy are also well-known forms. The Panorpidce, represented 

 by Bittaciis^ &c., and the Trichoptera, or Caddis-flies, are well 

 represented ; to the latter group an interesting addition has 

 recently been made in the shape of a marine species, supposed 

 to belong to the genus Phalanisus, which lives in rock-pools 

 between tide marks in Port Jackson. The Termitidce, or White- 

 ants, so well-known for their destructive habits, the EpTiemeridce, 



