219 | (February, 
Review, 
A Catanocur or British HyMenoprera ACULEATA, compiled by FREDERICK 
Smirn, Assistant in the Zoological Department of the British Museum. Published 
by the Entomological Society of London. 
“ Trritabis crabrones.”—Plant., Amph. 542. 
In 1829, James Francis Stephens produced his “ Systematic Catalogue,” and 
was able, within the limits of a moderately-sized volume, to present a conspectus 
of all the insects then known to inhabit Britain. The progress of Entomology, 
however, during the last 40 years has been such, and the number of species 
described has multiplied so rapidly, that no Entomologist of the present day would 
venture to compile a General Catalogue of our native insects ; and, in truth, those 
who study British insects as a whole, or do more than devote themselves to a 
single Order, or even a small fragment of an Order, may well be counted on the 
fingers. When, therefore, some four years ago, the preparation of a List of 
British Insects was undertaken by the Entomological Society, it was felt that the 
combined labour of numerous persons was necessary to accomplish such a work, 
whilst financial considerations rendered it compulsory that the publication should 
be spread over a considerable time. It was therefore resolved that the different 
Orders should be issued separately, but as nearly as might be on a uniform plan, 
so as ultimately to form a homogeneous whole. 
The first instalment, containing the Order Neuroptera in the Linnean sense, in 
which 323 species are enumerated, appeared in May, 1870. The second instalment, 
issued in November last, contains the Aculeate Hymenoptera, and of these 378 
species are indicated as indigenous. For years past, Mr. Fredk. Smith has been 
known as our chief worker among ants and bees; and the mention of his name as 
the compiler will be sufficient, without any formal enlogium, to satisfy all that 
the preparation of this List could not have been entrusted to more competent 
hands. 
It is easy to raise a laugh at the expense of the man who spends time and 
labour in poring over old and vague descriptions to unravel complications of 
synonymy, and in the end produces what, to the uninitiated, appears a chaos of 
confusion, as unintelligible as a cuneiform inscription. But, so far from deriding the 
compiler as a drudge whose work can be performed by any patient animal, I main- 
tain that, to compile a Catalogue as it ought to be compiled, the very best man is 
required—and (as Job’s comforter, I may add) the better he does it, the sooner 
will his work become obsolete. For, though these Catalogues have an enduring 
value, as permanent records of the state of knowledge at the particular time, their 
chief importance consists in the impetus which they undoubtedly give to the study 
of the particular group; and the greater the impetus, the more rapid is their 
Supersession.* 
Mr. Smith sub-divides the Aculeata into four groups ; Heterogyna, containing 
4 families, 12 genera, and 35 species ; Fossores (? Fossoria), containing 8 families, 
*Mr. Smith has already rendered this Catalogue incomplete, by deseribing two new species 
of bees, Prosopis rupestris (Ent Ann. 1872, p. 103), and Andrena pretexta (lib. cit. p. 106). The 
latter, however, is only doubtfully distinct from 4. pilipes, with which it was taken in company ; 
surely it would have been better to await the capture of at least a second Specimen, before nam- 
ing it ‘ provisionally.”—J. W. D, 
