420 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
Jeffries Wyman (Proc. Amer. Acad. vii. pp. 08-83) discusses the ques- 
tion of the irregularities in the structure of the comb of the Hive-Bee, and 
especially in the different diameters of the cells. The author comes to the 
conclusion that the irregularities are irregularities of construction. His 
paper is illustrated with figures of portions of comb and tables of cell- 
measurements. 
Some remarks on the swarming of Bees by Layard and Tegetmeier. 
Proc. Ent. Soc. 1866, pp. xii-xiii. 
Girard notices the supposed evidence of Insect rationality furnished by the 
Bomhi cutting through the corollas of tubular flowers to get at their nec- 
taries, but considers it to be invalidated by the fact that the solitary Xylocopce 
adopt the same course. Bull. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1865, p. Ixvi. 
n. Weijendergii records the occurrence of two species of Bsithyrus (P. 
harhutellus, Kirby, and P. nemorumy Fab.) in a separate nest containing 
nearly empty cells of two sizes. The nest was at a distance of four metres 
from one of Bombus hypnorum, and was in communication with it under- 
ground. Tijdschr. voor Ent. 1866, pp. 95-96. 
Triyona rnosquito. Smith (Ent. Trans. 3rd ser. v. pp. 324-326) describes the 
female and worker of this species from specimens sent from Brazil by Peckolt. 
The gravid female has the abdomen enormously dilated ; and hence Smith con- 
cludes that a single queen may supply the necessary eggs even for the largest 
communities of this species. Smith also remarks upon the occurrence of in- 
dividuals of T. I'ujiarus of all shades of colour, and describes the cf of T. ha- 
salis (1. c. p. 326). 
Giraud (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 4® s^r. vi. pp. 447-462 and 494) describes the 
oeconomy of various species of this family inhabiting the stems of the bramble 
(see p. 417). . 
(Ediscelisy g. n., Philippi, Stett. ent. Zeit. 1866, p. 109. Bather elongate ; 
antennae long, filiform ; mandibles bidentate ; tongue elongate, bipartite at 
apex ; radial cell slightly constricted, 2 cubital cells, recurrent vein 1 join- 
ing the vein between the two cells, 2 terminating within the outer angle of 
the second ; abdomen with the sutures constricted ; hind femora very thick, 
hind tibiae triangular. Sp. (E. vernalisy sp. n., Phil. 1. c. p. 110, taf. 2. fig. 3, 
and CE. minor, Phil, ibid.. Chili (probably parasitic). 
Nbmioides, g. n., Schenck, Berl. ent. Zeits. 1866, p. 333. Allied to Nomia, 
but differing in the wing-scales, in the hind legs of the , and in habit. Sp. 
Andrena pulchella (Jur.). 
HalicUts tmicolor, sp. n., Motschulsky, Bull. Soc. Nat. Mosc. xxxix. 1. p. 183, 
Japan. 
Vespidjs. 
Of this family Taschenberg (Hym. Deutschl.) tabulates 7 
genera as occurring in Germany. The species are very imper- 
fectly indicated. 
The oeconomy . of 3 species of Odynerus inhabiting dry bramble-twigs is 
described by Giraud (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 4® s6r. vi. pp. 463-466). See p. 417. 
The habits of Polyhia pygmcea (Sauss.) are noticed by Smith, Ent. Trans. 
3rd ser. v. p. 324. 
Smith notices the characters of wasps’-nests produced by workers alone. 
Proc. Ent. Soc. 1866, p. vi. 
