204 Mr. A. Murray on the History of 
which I call Macleayius britannicus after the Mare Britannicum 
of the ancient geographers. I think I have proved that M. 
Van Beneden's theory of geographical distribution of whales 
is entirely unsupported by facts. 
XVIII.— Conclusion of the History of the Wasp and Rhipi- 
phorus paradoxus, with Description and Figure of the Grub 
of the latter. By ANDREW Murray, F.L.5. 
[Plate XIV. ] 
WHEN I bade adieu to this subject some months ago, I did 
so with the promise that, if further investigations by myse 
or others should show that I was mistaken in the views 1 had 
taken up, I should readily and handsomely acknowledge my 
error 
I have now to redeem my promise; and notwithstanding 
the natural reluctance which every one feels to acknowledge 
that they have been mistaken, I make the acknowledgment 
with pleasure, because it enables me to do an act of justice to 
one, the accuracy of whose observations I had impugned, an 
to withdraw any doubt I had expressed as to their reliability. 
Not that I ever in the remotest degree felt or expressed any 
doubt as to the genuineness of his observations; but one may 
be a very truthful and yet a very inaccurate observer; and 
this was what I had supposed Mr. Stone to be, and what 
am happy now to be able to say was a very unjust supposi- 
tion. Another alleviation to the wound which my amour 
propre may be supposed to have received, is the satisfaction 
of having, as I think, cleared up ifmot all the unknown an 
doubtful points in the history of the insect, at least those which 
last year prevented the question of parasitism being brought 
to a definite conclusion. 
rva. 
which I did see in the doubly tenanted cells which I de- 
scribed in my first paper on the subject, I mistook for imma- 
ture pupe; and when Mr. Smith showed me Mr. Stone’s 
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