ein straight, parted by
about one-third of its length from the border and by much more than its
length from the praebrachial transverse; alulae cinereous; halteres
testaceous. Length of the body 5 lines; of the wings 10 lines.

Gen. TRYPETA, _Meigen_.

15. TRYPETA RORIPENNIS, n. s. _Foem._ Fusca; capite nigro, facie alba;
antennis nigris rufo-fasciatis; thorace vittis quatuor canis; abdominis
segmentis testaceo marginatis; pedibus nigris, tarsis halteribusque
testaceis; alis nigris, punctis plurimis albis.

_Female._ Brown. Head black; face white; antennae black, third joint red,
linear, rather long, black towards the tip; arista plumose; thorax with
four hoary stripes; abdominal segments with testaceous hind borders;
legs black, tarsi testaceous; wings black, with very numerous white
points, a few of which are rather larger than the others; discal
transverse vein straight, parted by less than its length from the
border, and by more than twice its length from the praebrachial
transverse; halteres testaceous. Length of the body 2 lines; of the
wings 4 lines.

Catalogue of Hymenopterous Insects collected by Mr. A. R. WALLACE at the
Islands of Aru and Key. By FREDERICK SMITH, Esq., Assistant in the
Zoological Department, British Museum. Communicated by W. W. SAUNDERS,
Esq., F.R.S., V.P.L.S.

[Read December 3rd, 1858.]

This Collection of Hymenoptera is the most important contribution which
has been made to the Aculeata through the exertions of Mr. Wallace; in
point of geographical distribution, it adds much to our knowledge. In
the Aru, Key, and neighbouring islands, we meet with the extreme range
of the Australian insect-fauna; and as might be expected, it is found
amongst the Vespidious Group, and in one or two instances in the
Formicidae. The latter, being frequently conveyed from one island to
another, can perhaps scarcely be considered indicative of natural
geographical distribution. Of the forty-six species of the Formicidous
Group, only six were previously known to science. Of the genus
_Podomyrma_ here established, one species only, from Adelaide, was
previously known; it is one of the most distinct and remarkable genera
in the family. The _Pompilidae_ are species of great beauty, some closely
resembling those of Australia in the banding and maculation of their
wings; amongst the _Vespidae_ will be found some of the most elegant and
beautiful forms in the whole of that protean family of Hymenoptera.