26 The Irish Natutalist. [January, 



I proceeded to search for the beetle. No beetles were present, but a 

 curious-looking larva and some pupa-cases. I took all I could find and 

 forwarded the larvae to Mr. G. H. Carpenter at the Science and Art 

 Museum. In due time the pupae emerged and proved to be Cionus 

 hortulanus, Marsh. The larva is of very curious form; at first glance it 

 looks more like a small slug than the grub of an insect. The pupa-cases 

 are smooth, semi-transparent, and not unlike the large seed of the Scrophu- 

 laria. In August I met with some more beetle larvae and pupae, this time 

 in my own fields. On thistles I found both larvae and pupae of Cassu ia 

 viridis, F. They are very curious in appearance, both being fringed with 

 spines, which give them a thorny look. The larvae seem to carry their 

 excrementa on their backs, perhaps as a protection, for there was no 

 attempt at concealment, nor any protective resemblance. In the second 

 case I only succeeded in getting the pupae— these were of Hypcra 

 rumicis, L. I found them on a Dock plant, clustered together on the stem ; 

 the pupa-cases are of a rough kind of network and reddish in colour, 

 assimilating very closely to the colour of the stem and seeds of the 

 plant, and no doubt deriving protection from attack by this means. 



Wasps began to be very plentiful in August, and I took Vespa rufa, L,. 

 and V. syvestris, Scop. 



Bombus smithianus, White, was present but I did not take any of the 

 nests. Bombus vcnustus, Smith, is there also, for I took a $ in one of my 

 fields on Aug, 25. 



Sirex gigas has made its appearance in widely separated localities. I 



received three specimens all £, the first was captured at Acton House, 



the next came from Loughgall, and the third from Downpatrick. 



Evidently this undesirable addition to our insect fauna is making every 



effort to establish itself in this country. I should think the Royal 



Irish Constabulary might be now armed with butterfly nets for the 



capture of Sirex as well as lassoes for rabid dogs. The chase of Sirex 



would be quite as exciting and much less dangerous than that of 



Canisfureus. 



W. F.Johnson. 

 Poyntzpass. 



FISHES. 



Black Fish at Lough Swilly. 



On November 6, as I was leaving Ballymastocker strand a man (who 

 had been kindly directed to do so by Colonel Barton) ran after me with 

 a " strange fish." It was three feet long, black, and with a peculiar 

 dog-like snout and remarkable fins. Never having seen one like it I 

 brought it to book — that is to say, to " Yarrell," where it proved to be 

 the Black Fish (Centrolophus pompilus). This is a very rare fish, and its 

 great size for the species (it was perfectly fresh) is remarkable. " Couch 

 obtained specimens thirty-two inches long, but its size is generally 

 smaller " (CassclPs Nat. Hist.} I sent it immediately to the National 

 Museum, and Dr. Scharff, who has some smaller specimens from the 



