SIREX GIGAS, LINN., IN BUTE AND ARRAN. 187 



Occurrence of Sirex gig'as, Linn., in Bute and Arran. 



By J. Ballantyne, Eotliesay. 



[Read 26th October, 1897.] 



About three years ago my attention was first called to the 

 presence of Sirex gigas, Linn., the Giant Sawfly, in Bute and 

 Arran, as a female of this species had been caught in the Kothesay 

 Sawmill, and given to me. A vear later other two females were 

 caught in the sawmill, and these I also got. 



Last July, while a lighter was discharging Bright Spruce deals 

 at Rothesay, which were part of a cargo brought from Quebec by 

 the ship " Heathfield," a female was caught at the harbour 

 on the deals. The insect is in every respect similar to those 

 which have been caught in the sawmill or reared by myself. 

 There is every reason to believe that it had emerged from the 

 Quebec deals, as some of them had holes as if the larvae had been 

 living in the timber. This wood is similar to Scotch Fir, but 

 a little more spongy. 



When I received the second pair of flies from the sawmill, two 

 vears ajjo, I determined to obtain all the information I could 

 regarding them. In this connection I am deeply indebted to Mr. 

 Thomas Falconer, of the Bothesay Sawmills, who has been unre- 

 mitting in his efibrts to secure specimens and obtain information 

 for me from woodmen and foresters employed in the woods of 

 Bute, Arran, and Ormidale. As a result of these inquiries, it has 

 been ascertained that Sirex gigas, Linn., has been known for the last 

 twenty-five years at least, to quite a number of men employed in 

 connection with the sa^\Tnill. For example, James Macfarlane says 

 he has often seen the fly when cutting trees. The first time he 

 observed it was about twenty-five years ago at Ormidale, Loch 



