ACULEATE UYMENOPTERA FROM MESOPOTAMIA. 817 



Mesopotamia by extending their range from Oriental centres of distribution, 

 and both these are quite likely to have been introduced into the country — 

 accidentally of course — by importation, in ships or otherwise. I have ventured 

 to describe a few forms as new, but only because, being unable to recognize 

 them in descriptions previously published, I could deal Avith them in no other 

 way without violating a principle, which I think is sound — viz. that it is better 

 to be the author of a " Synonym " than of a " Homonym." The former can 

 do no great harm, but the latter remains a perpetual cause of confusion to 

 future workers. Yet, no doubt, I must have some times committed both these 

 offences unwttingly, for though I have carefully studied such descriptions as 

 I could meet vnth — especially those of Morawitz in Hor. Ent. Soc. Ross., 

 Fedtschenko's Reise, etc., for Persian forms, and of Klug in Symb. Phys. for 

 Mesopotamian — I have not had access, unfortunately, to any of their " Types." 

 Nor have I had the advantage of such help as has been kindly given me on 

 previous occasions by many of my foreign correspondents, except in one case, — 

 Herr Alfken having been so good as to examine and give me his opinion about 

 several specimens of the C4enera Hykeus (=Proso2)is) and Halictus. Conse- 

 quently I have had to trust far more than pleases me to my own judgment in 

 deciding on determinations of insects that were new to me. I need hardly 

 say, that, besides my own collections made in Egv'pt, Syria, etc., I have also 

 studied Aidth a view to this paper the '• E. Saunders" and other collections in the 

 Natural History Museum ; but these unfortunately contain very few specimens 

 of either Transcaspian or Mesopotamian Aculeates, and even of these few most 

 are either nameless or named doubtfully, and perhaps in error. I should men- 

 tion, however, that some of Captain Buxton's earlier " sendings " reached me 

 while Mr. R. E. Turner was still working in the Museum, and that I was able 

 to obtain his valuable assistance in clearing up some of the questions about 

 which I was in doubt. 



I should have bee^i glad, if it had been possible, to make this paper more 

 attractive by adding to it something about the " topographical " characters 

 of the localities mentioned in it— something more than their bare names ! But 

 I understand that such subjects -nill be discussed in two* other papers now 

 being prepared for publication in this Journal, and that each will be accom- 

 panied by a Map, shewing the exact situation of such places in either of the 

 countries dealt with as are mentioned in these Lists. 



I have only to add that the Text-figures given in them to illustrate structural 

 details, except Fig. 4, were either drawn from the objects with a " Wollastou 

 Prism," or traced from their images thrown on the focussing screen of a Photo 

 micrographic Camera, so that, though I am no artist in draughtmanship, I believe 

 that they are correct as to measurements, etc., in proportion of course to their 

 various magnifications. 



List L Fossoees. 



L Apterogyna Olivieri, Latr.— 2 " desert near Amara " (M), " running 



rapidly on the bare earth," 8th September 

 1918. [Another $ "on Tamarisk" 14th 

 October 1918.— Captain Evans.j 



2. Mutilla (Ephutonma) Sanguinicollis, Kl.— 13 J J Amara (M), 28th May— 



2- 19th June, 16-24th Septem- 

 ber [Also 2 J J "at light " 

 at or near Amara (M) 6, 12th 

 August — Captain Evans]. 



* (1) Birds of N.-W- Persia by P. A. Buxton appe.ring in this number. 

 (2) Mam-nals of Mesopotamia by R. E. Cheesman, Vol. 27, No. 2, 



