iQig. Notes. 55 



struts. The cells and the wasps were both uncommonly small. I have 

 taken hundreds of wasps' nests, both underground and hanging, but never 

 saw such small wasps before. There was a queen among them, and she was 

 small in proportion. The nest was entirely constructed of the curtains and 

 hangings, which were a good deal chewed up and damaged in the process 

 (rather to their owner's annoyance). It was a good deal broken up in 

 getting it out, but some of the combs were entire and were very curious 

 and pretty. The colours and the material of the curtains were very plain 

 still, though they had been converted into papier mache, and they made a 

 sort of variegated pattern on the backs of the combs very difficult to 

 describe, but rather like the crown of an ornamental straw hat. However, 

 Dr. Scharff hopes to exhibit the nest in the National Museum, so that 

 visitors may see them for themselves. He consulted Mr. Halbert, who 

 says the wasps are certainly Vespa vulgaris, but uncommonly small. Mr. 

 Halbert has also looked up the literature on the subject of wasps' nests and 

 can find no reference to a similar case. 



G. H. Pentland. 



Black Hall, Drogheda. 



Argynnis ag^laia in Co. Waterford. 



The first time I saw Argynnis aglaia in this neighbourhood was in 

 1 901, when I captured four specimens, two male, and two female. I 

 think if specimens had occurred about here before that, I must have 

 seen them, for I have always been on the look-out for anything new 

 or uncommon. Since then the species has increased in numbers. I 

 have never seen Thecla hetulae near here : so we have a disappointing 

 record with regard to that species about Portlaw as compared with that 

 of Mr. Moffat at Bally hyland, Co. Wexford. Nor has Thecla rubi come 

 under my observation about here, although we are only about 20 miles 

 from Cappagh where it is noted by Kane as abundant. Thecla quercus 

 used to be found here pretty commonly some years ago, but I have not 

 noted it latterly. 



William W. Flemyng. 

 Coolfin, Portlaw. 



Glaucous Qull at Sandymount. 



Mr. Croker Barrington, a keen observer of birds, informs me that 

 he saw a Glaucous Gull at Sandymount, towards the end of January 

 last. This Gull is rarely seen in Ireland. 



George C. May. 



13 FHzwilliam Square, DubHn. 



