i9oi. Notes. 203 



Abundance of Vanessa io in 1901. 



The many references to the Peacock Butterfly in the current volume 

 of the Irish Naturalist, pointing to its local or relative abundance, or to 

 its appearance in places where it was hitherto rarely or never seeu, show 

 that some of the seasonable conditions which favour insect development 

 must have lately affected this interesting species. 



Round Sligo, between July 18th and 22nd, I noticed it in great 

 numbers, in fact it was there by far the commonest of the coloured 

 butterflies. Likewise about Ivinierick, early in August I saw it 

 frequently ; and in Co. Kerry, along the Feale at Ballinruddery, and in 

 the woods of the Knight of Kerry's demesne. 



At the latter place the Silver-washed and Greasy Fritillaries were also 



numerous, but for every single example of these species there were at 



least half-a-dozen Peacocks. 



H. G. CuTHBER'f. 

 Dublin. 



Sirex gigas, L., in Co. Down. 



I captured a fine female example of the above large Saw Fly on the 

 20th inst, at rest on the trunk of a felled fir-tree in Clandeboye demesne 

 near Bangor. I was greatly surprised to meet with this extraordinary 

 insect, which is, I believe, of rare occurrence in Ireland. 



L,. H. Bonaparte Wyse. 

 Bangor. 



[S. gigas can hardly now be considered a rare insect in Ireland. EVery 

 summer several specimens came to the Dublin Museum from all parts of 

 the country. — G. H. C. 



Habits of Humble Bees. 



My little son has read with delight Mr. Burbidge's note in the Irish 

 Naturalist for September, on the behaviour of two bees. He wishes me 

 to write and ask — 



1st. Why Mr. Burbidge calls them Humble bees and not Bumble 

 bees ? 



2nd. Why should a queen bee that was already wet and chilled 

 require more cold water ? 



3rd. Why did the worker bee fight viciously with the queen to whose 

 wants it was so assiduously attending a moment previously ? 



4th. What did the worker bee " fetch " the water in ? 



James R. Fitzgerald. 

 High-street, Clones. 



