PKEFACE. 



The First Part of the ' Catalogue of British Hymenoptera,' pre- 

 pared by Mr. Frederick Smith, and published by order of the 

 Trustees in the year 1855, contained an account of all the species 

 of British Bees then known, with notes on their distribution and 

 habits. Since that time the interest felt for the insects of this 

 family has continued, and consequently many important additions 

 to our knowledge of the species and their economy have been made, 

 so that the issue of a second edition of this part in the form of 

 a separate volume seems to be fully justified. 



ALBERT GUNTHER, 



Keeper of the Department of Zoology. 



British Museum, 

 Dec. 1876. 



