22 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[January 



To this end, therefore, the following preliminary list of the 

 Hymenoptera-Aculeata of Lancashire and Cheshire has been put 

 together. It is hoped that such a list as the present will moreover be 

 of use to our local workers in the order, and form a rallying point, as 

 it were, and a basis, upon which much valuable information will in 

 future be built up. 



The writer is greatly indebted to the following observers, whose 

 notes, most kindly given, have made the compilation of this paper 

 possible. The initials opposite to the names will be used in the list 

 as a reference to the recorder of the particular observation noted, viz : 



Miss E. C. Tomlin, Chester, E.C.T. 



Mr. J. T. Green, Oxton, Birkenhead, J.T.G. 

 -Mr. J. Ray Hardy, Manchester, J.R.H. 



Rev. H. H. Higgins. M.A., Liverpool, H.H.H. 



Mr. R. Newstead, F.E.S., Chester, R.N. 



and the writer, W.G. 



The valuable published records of the late Mr. Benjamin Cooke, 

 of Southport, (B.C.), have also been made use of.f 



The difficulty of naming obscure species correctly is often great; 

 the Cheshire collectors, however, have had the kind and generous 

 assistance of Mr. Edward Saunders, F.L.S., F.E.S., in this matter, 

 which is hereby gratefully acknowledged. 



In order to make the present list of more interest to readers of the 

 " British Naturalist" generally, and to afford some slight information 

 on the subject to many, who, it is hoped, may henceforward intend to 

 pay some attention to the Hymenoptera, a very brief resume of the 

 habits of each family is included in the following notes on the species 

 hitherto observed in the above-mentioned district. 



PK^DONES, 



Comprising the Ants, both social and solitary, and the rapacious animal- 

 feeding Wasps. 



HETEROGYNA. 



The Social Ants, dwellers in large communities and constructing 

 elaborate nests; sexes three — male, female, and neuter. 



*List of AnthophilcB of Manchester district, published in British Association 



Handbook for 1887. 



f List of species pubHshed in " Naturahst," December, 1879 and January, 1880. 



