Only two species of Hymenoptera were obtained—one a bee, Megachile, sp., the other being a few workers of a species of ant—Pheidole sexspinosa (Mayr). According to Mr. Woodford, "A leaf-cutting-bee of the genus Megachile was very common on all the [Gilbert] islands, making its nest under the thatch of the houses, and using portions of the leaves of Morinda citrifolia for the construction of its cells."^† My colleague, Mr. Hedley, informs me that Morinda citrifolia is common on the Island of Funafuti, but he did not notice that it was attacked by the leaf-cutting bees as reported by Mr. Woodford in the Gilberts. Nevertheless the leaves of Pandanus odoratissimus, a plant that is also common in the Gilberts, had the appearance of portions having been cut out of them apparently by some leaf-cutting insect.

Family Apidæ.
Genus Megachile, Latr.
Megachile hedleyi, sp. nov.

(Plate i., fig. 5.)

Long. 11 mm., lat. 4 mm.

Expanse of anterior wings—Long. 7 mm., lat. 3 mm.

Expanse of posterior wings Long. 5 mm., lat. 2 mm.

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Head, forehead, and cheeks black, clothed with cinerous pubescence; head closely and finely punctured; occilli prominent; antennæ black; labrum black, closely and finely punctured; ligula and mouth parts ferruginous. Thorax black, finely and closely punctured, sparingly clothed with cinerous pubescence. Abdomen cordate, dorsal surface black, segments fringed with short black hairs; anterior extremity sparingly furnished with short cinerous pubescence, and posterior extremity with black; sides clothed with ferruginous pubescence; ventral surface black, clothed with long reddish hairs, except at posterior extremity where the hairs are shorter and black. Breast black, finely and closely punctured; a few short cinerous hairs are distributed over its surface. Legs black; coxæ and underside of each ambulatory limb clothed with short cinerous hairs; underside of tibiæ and tarsi ferruginous. Wings dark fuscous; veins and nervures black.

Two specimens.

I have very great pleasure in dedicating this species to my esteemed friend and colleague, Mr, Charles Hedley.

Family Formicidæ.

Pheidole sexspinosa, Mayr Twelve specimens, all workers.

Dr. Gustav. Mayr described the ? and worker of this species in a paper entitled "Neue Formiciden,"^*and recorded it "Auf den Ellice-Inseln in grossen Ocean, vom Museum Godeffroy," To his description he appended a note which may be of interest to students, and of which the following is a translation:—

"The genus founded by Mr. Smith, and for which he proposed the name Pheidoxlacanthinus, would appear to suit the above species, but there is a difference in the structure of the antennas. The one named by Mr. Smith has eleven joints, while the antennæ of Pheidole sexspinosa has twelve joints."

In Mr. Hedley's memoranda I read the following:—" Several ants occurred in the area of sandy soil near the cultivation grounds, one with a metallic colour could inflict an unpleasant bite upon bare feet." Mr. Woodford says of the Gilbert Islands:—"Three or four species of small ants were common on all the islands, and the firewood taken on board at several places swarmed with them."^†