Hab. Trawling-ground, Plymouth, common; Moray Frith, Scotland.
This species unites G. Andrewsii with G. nexa, and, I think, has often been mistaken for the young of the latter; but G. nexa, so far as my experience goes, is a species peculiar to the north of England, whereas G. dispersa, I anticipate, will be found to be the most universally dispersed, in deep water, of any of the species known. It can always be detected from G. nexa by the form of the hand and the manner in which the fingers impinge: in G. nexa the hand is broad towards the extremity, and the fingers meet only at the apex; in G. dispersa the hand gradually narrows to the apex, and the fingers meet each other through their whole length, the inner margin of the finger being finely serrated, the thumb not.
It also may be distinguished from G. Andrewsii by the breadth of the hands, which are narrow and round in G. Andrewsii, and moderately broad and flat in G. dispersa.
By an examination of the texture of the integument under a magnifying power of low degree, the surface of G. dispersa will be seen distinctly to differ from that of any of the others; it is covered with flat scales, fringed with short cilia. The length of the animal, including the arms, is about 2¼ inches.
Catalogue of Hymenopterous Insects collected at Celebes by Mr. A. R. Wallace. By Frederick Smith, Esq., Assistant in the Zoological Department, British Museum. Communicated by W. W. Saunders, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S.
[Read April 15th, 1858.]
This collection of the Hymenoptera of Celebes is specially interesting, as adding greatly to our knowledge of the geographical range of many well-known species, while the additions made to the Fossorial group contain many of great beauty and rarity. A new species belonging to the tribe of Solitary Wasps, Odynerus clavicornis, is perhaps the most interesting insect in the collection; this Wasp has clavate antennæ, the flagellum being broadly dilated towards the apex, convex above and concave beneath. I am not acquainted with any other insect belonging to the Vespidious group which exhibits such an anomaly.
Fam. ANDRENIDÆ, Leach.
Gen. Sphecodes, Latr.