1922.| Our Knowledge of the Indian Wasps and Bees. ae 
Insectorum, as are many other groups of the Hymenoptera ; 
but the articles are mostly written by foreign authors an 
their ideas on classification are very often not coincident with 
our own. In Bequaert’s monograph the name of the interest - 
ing genus Ischnogaster is changed to Stenogaster, but without 
comment. Mr. Rao and I have been able to prove that this 
change should be maintained. 
Families COLLETIDAE and APIDAE. 
Many Soe or groups of genera, of the bees are now 
given family rank. Numerous new species have 
scribed since 1897. and in a new edition of the “ Fauna ”’ the 
bees alone would probably number a 1,000 or more species, in 
contrast with the 295 recognised in Bingham’ s volume. It is 
impossible to mention here the many papers that have been 
published on the group. Mr. Aiyar has listed the literature 
fairly completely. The most work has been done by Professor 
Cockerell, who writes me that the chief difficulty in dealing 
with the Himalayan forms is their relationship with the species 
found in Turkestan and adjacent localities, the descriptions of 
which are published i in foreign languages, and the types them- 
selves are in most cases pat available, so, as Nurse found, 
there are uncomfortable possibilities of making synonyms. 
Important contributions to the subject have also been made 
by Strand, Friese, Nurse, Bingham, Cameron and Meade- 
j . Friese has monographed the leaf-cutting bees in 
Das Tierreich, 1911. 
In concluding this review I would like to avail myself 
of the opportunity publicly to express my thanks to our Presi- 
dent, Dr. N. Annandale, for the repeated favours I have 
received from him aad for his encouragement and advice in my 
zoological studies. To Dr. S. W. Kemp I am also indebted for 
much advice and criticism while the valuable help 1 have 
received roi my two friends Mr. H. Srinivasa Rao and Mr. 
Sydney Ribeiro must not pass unmentioned. I must also 
thank Professor T. D. A. Cockerell, Dr. J. Bequaert, Mr. R. 
E. eee Dr. H. Brauns, Mr. T. V. Ramakrishna Aiyar, and 
Mr. G. R. Dutt for the unfailing courtesy I have receiv 
their han ais in the course of my studies on the Hymenoptera, 
while for miscellaneous entomological favours I am indebte 
: particular to Mr. C. N. Barker of the Durban Museum and 
o Mr. T. Bainbrigge- Fletcher, the Imperial Entomologist. 
