4 Cameron, Hymenoptera.from Grey mouth. 



obscurus Sm. in Tasmania, Frosopis vicina Sichel in 

 Tasmania, and the Ichneumon " Rhyssa " semipiincta 

 Kirby, which seems to be a common Australian species. 



Of the Aculeates, the Bees and PompilidcB are the 

 most numerous in species. The latter appear to be, 

 judging from the collecting of Mr. Helms, the most 

 numerous in individuals, as they are the most striking in 

 size, form, and coloration. Their great abundance would 

 seem to indicate a rich and varied arachnid Fauna ; for 

 the Poinpilidce store their nests with spiders. Next to 

 the Poinpilidce, the family most numerous in species is 

 the Larridce, which prey on Orthoptera. Among the 

 parasitic forms the genus Zf/^;^^^/^^/? possesses the greatest 

 number of species, some of which are very large and 

 handsome creatures. 



Although, of course, there can be no genetic relation- 

 ship between the Hymenopterous Fauna of New Zealand 

 and the Hawaiian Islands, yet a comparison between the 

 two brings out some very interesting features. Pison is 

 not a large genus, but it is very widely spread over the 

 globe. It is not uncommon in Australia, is represented 

 in the Malay Archipelago, by one species in Tahiti, and by 

 two in Hawaii. Prosopis, a bee genus, has twelve species 

 in Hawaii, as against seven in New Zealand, it is common 

 in Australia and is of almost world-wide distribution. 

 The LarridcB are fairly well represented in New Zealand, 

 but are quite absent from Hawaii. The Crabronidce again 

 are much more numerous in the last mentioned locality- 

 ten species as against four in New Zealand, the two latter 

 belonging to a group {Rhopalum) not found in Hawaii 

 at all. It is, however, in the dominant group in each of the 

 localities where we find the most remarkable distinction. 

 The characteristic family in New Zealand is the Pom- 

 pilidcBy in Hawaii the Vespidce, neither being represented 

 in the other islands ; both families, moreover, being common 



