t909. Notes' 203 



NOTES. 



BOTANY. 

 Truffles in Co. Kildare. 



My gardener dug up two Truffles here in my garden in June. To make 

 sure, I forwarded them to Kevr, and I was informed that they were speci- 

 mens of " l^iibcr acstivum, Vitt. (our best edible truffle.)" I had not 

 previously heard of Truffles being found in Ireland, believmg that the}- 

 only grew on chalk soil and under beeches. Where these were found 

 here was on limestone soil running into gravel, and on the edge of a 

 garden walk. 



On getting the Kew report I wrote to Mr. R. M. Barrington, of Fas- 

 saroe, Bray, who tells me that Truffles have been found in Limerick and 

 Galway, but are " certainly anything but common " in Ireland, and 

 suggesting my writing and reporting the find. I shall be glad to know 

 if there is a likelihood of more being found in the same spot. 



Egerton Hammond. 

 Ballytore, Co. Kildare. 



Campylopus brevipilus in Fruit. 



In i\\Q /ounial of Botany for April Mr. H. N. Dixon records the finding 

 in fruit, by Mr. J. Hunter, at Ballyliffin, Co. Donegal, of this moss ; there 

 is only one previous record (from Norway) of the fruit having been 

 obtained. 



Do Rabbits eat Arum maculatum? 



In my shrubberies are many plants of this species, and of J. italicuin. 

 I have never noticed any part of the plant to be eaten that is above 

 ground, but in the winter the tubers, especially if near the surface, are 

 scratched bare and eaten. I have always supposed this was done by 

 rabbits or pheasants. Certainly something eats them, 



Spencer H, Bickham. 

 Underdown, Ledbury. 



I have noted with interest the query raised by Mr. Barrington in the 

 last issue of the Irish Naturalist as to fragments of the Wild Arum being 

 found, and also the interesting comments by Dr. Pethybridge regarding 

 the poisonous nature of this plant. My object in writing upon this 

 subject is to record the fact that I have recently observed the adult Oil 

 Beetle {Melde violaceus) feeding ravenously upon the leaves of ^;7^w macu- 

 latum^ and an entomological friend who hunts for Lepidoptera informs 

 me that some kinds of larvae also feed upon the leaves. I have found 

 primrose blossoms nipped off in pieces in the spring, and often wondered 

 who were the culprits. Can readers of this Journal throw any light 

 upon the matter ? 



W. Percivai. Wkstei.1.. 



Letch worth, Herts. 



