194 MESSRS, T. BLACKBURN AND P. CAMERON ON THE 



suggesting closer relationships than can be affirmed with 

 certainty to exist. 



DESOEIPTION OF THE FIGUEES. 



Fig. I . Internal surface of one half of the cone : enlarged two diameters. 

 a. Part of the axis of the cone. 

 h, c. Carpellary scales. 

 b', c', the upper; b", c", the lower tissues of these scales. 



d. The seeds in situ. 



e. The testa of the seed. 



/. The nu cellar membrane of the seed. 



ff. The embryo-sac. 



k. The wing of the seed. 



Fig. 2. Transverse section of portions of two carpellary scales, enlarged six 

 diameters, the lower bearing two ovules, as seen in a tangential 

 section of the exterior of the cone. The reference letters as above. 

 i. Portion of a seed belonging to a collateral carpellary scale. 



XIV. On the Hymenoptera of the Hawaiian Islands. 

 By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B.A., and P. Cameron. 



Read before the Microscopical and Natural-History Section, 

 January i8th, 1886. 



The investigation of the natural history of oceanic 

 islands is now rightly regarded as a subject of great 

 interest and importance. Not only do their fauna and 

 flora throw much light on the manner in which species 

 have been distributed over the globe, but many of the 

 species themselves are, from the peculiarities of their 

 structure, of extreme value in throwing light on the origin 

 of species. The natural history of oceanic islands ought, 

 furthermore^ to be seriously investigated without delay; 

 for there is not the slightest doubt that the introduction 



