HYMENOPTERA. 
421 
POMPILIDAS. 
Of tills family Taschenberg (Hym. Deutschl.) tabulates and 
describes all the German genera and species. The number of 
genera admitted is 7. 
Pogonius hircanm (Fab.). The oeconomy of this species as nidificating in 
bramble-stems is described by Giraud (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 4® s6r. vi. pp. 467- 
469). 
Pompilus nanus f Schenck, Berl. ent. Zeits. 1866^ p. 358, Danzig. 
Salius tccniatus (Ziegl.MS.), Taschenberg, Hym. Deutschl. p.211, Germany. 
CRABRONIDiE. 
Of this family Taschenberg (Hym. Deutschl.) tabulates and* 
describes all the German genera and species, the former num- 
bering 37. 
Giraud (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 4® s4r. vi. pp. 470-476) describes the oeconomy of 
various species of this family, which nidificate in bramble-stems (see p. 417). 
Crossocerus niger (St. Farg.) makes its nests in the burrows of Saperda 
pupillata in branches of Honeysuckle, and provisions them with flies of 
the genera Sargus and Chrysomyia, according to Goureau. Ann. Soc. Ent. 
4® s6r. tome vi. p. 174. 
Bemhex olivaeea exhibited by Smith and said to have been captured in 
Britain. Proc. Ent. Soc. 1866, p. viii. 
Packard (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. vi. p. 48 et seq.) indicates his 
views on the general classification &c. of the Crahronid <2 sensu 
stricto. He follows Dahlbom in dividing the group into 3 sub- 
families {Philanthinaif Crabronin(E, and Pemphredoninai)y which 
he regards as subparallel groups, although the last-mentioned 
one occupies the lowest position. Psen and Stigmus are regarded 
by him as degraded forms related to Cerceris and Crabro respec- 
tively, but at the same time as showing a plain relationship to 
the Larridce and Sphegida, thus in their affinities passing over 
the Nyssonidce, which in general stand in the closest relation- 
ship to the CrahromdcR. Referring to the variety of generic 
forms compared with the small number of the species of Pern- 
phredonina, the author considers that in some cases they may be 
regarded as mimetic forms in the sense attached to the term by 
Wallace, but that such groups must be looked upon as isolated 
forms, the connecting links of which have perished in meso- 
zoic times,^^ and also as comprehensive types ” out of which 
higher genera are elaborated. These 3 subfamilies are charac- 
terized at great length by the author, the character of the Phi- 
lanthinoi including a discussion of the peculiarities presented by 
the genera belonging to the other two groups : — 
The Philanthinai (p. 49) include the genera : — Philanthus^ with 16 species 
(tabidated on pp. 64-55), P. solivagus (Say) $ described p. 57 ; Eucerceris 
(Cress.), with 6 species (tab. p. 68) ; and Cerceris^ with 24 species, 1 new 
(tab. pp. 59-60). Of the Crahronince (p. 64) only 2 genera are here de- 
