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HYMENOPTERA. 



Notes on Hymenoptera. 

 By Frederick Smith. 



Two years have elapsed since I contributed a few notes on 

 British Hymenoptera to the ^'Entomologist's Annual," and 

 within my experience, no two seasons will parallel their un- 

 productiveness of novelty, or the scarcity of Hymenopterous 

 insects generally. 



I have no species new to the British list to chronicle, and 

 but very few captures of rarities to enumerate. The general 

 scarcity of Aculeata, during the past season, can, I think, 

 be readily accounted for ; quite in early spring we had an 

 interval of hot summer-like weather, when spring bees ap- 

 peared in considerable numbers ; more so, indeed, than I 

 have observed them to do for some years past; in fact, a 

 recurrence of a glorious season, such as we enjoyed some 

 twelve or fourteen years ago, appeared to be opening upon 

 us ; alas ! our expectations were speedily doomed to disap- 

 pointment; winter, as it were, stepped back to give us a 

 parting greeting, and again chilled us with a salute of frost 

 and snow. The hot weather that preceded this unwelcome 

 return had roused the insect world, vast numbers had come 

 forth, probably most of those which had passed the winter 

 in torpidity, in their perfect condition; others that had, 

 during that inclement period, remained in the larva state, 



1868. G 



