1924. Stelfox — Irish Hymenoptera Aculeata. 23 



by him at Kilkenny on 9th August, 1923, Possibly therefore some 

 of Freke's or Cuthbert's records are referable to this species — and 

 not to B. derhamellus as suggested to me by Mr. C. B. Moffat* — 

 more especially so as I find that Cuthbert records^ both species as 

 occurring in the Ballybunion district, Co. Kerry. 



B. derhamellus K. — Frequent in Cos. Dublin and Wicklow, and particularly 

 common in Glenasmole. 



The parasitic species of the genus Psithyrus do not seem to have been 

 well known to either Freke or Cuthbert, to judge b}- their records. 

 I find, however, that the four species, P. rupestris, P. distinctus (no 

 doubt the vestalis of Freke's list), P. barbutellus and P. campestris 

 are very common in the Dublin district. P. quadricolor I have 

 only taken in the mountains — the headquarters of its host Bombus 

 jonellus — while I only know of the real P. vestalis as Irish from the 

 female taken by Mr. Pack-Beresford in Co. Carlow,^" and another 

 captured near Killurin, Co. Wexford, in 1922 b}^ Mr. J. G. Rhynehart. 



National Museum. 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 



December 19. — Mr. H. A. Lafferty exhibited specimens of " broken 

 seedlings " of Trefoil found in the germinating dishes during a germination 

 test of a sample of this seed. He suggested that, in some cases at least, 

 the fracture of the hypocotyl appeared to develop as a result of the great 

 pressure necessary to rupture the seed-coat. 



January 9. — D. McArdle showed the deep purple-red capsule, 

 peristome with bright red lid, leaves, etc., of Bryum airopuypuveum, a 

 very distinct moss, differing from its nearest allies in the abruptly ending 

 neck, not tapering from the seta to the capsule as in other species. The 

 capsule is pendulous, small, thick and short, less than one line long. 

 The specimens were collected at the Kilrock quarries, Howth. 



W. F. GuNN exhibited a number of slides mounted by himself, in order 

 to demonstrate the utility of Judson's enamel as a medium lor the 

 finishing ring. This preparation is easily worked, runs freely, dries 

 quickly, and is sufficiently hard without being brittle. It ran also be 

 procured in conveniently small tins and in a variety of colours, so that 

 if desired a distinct colour may be used readily to distinguish one group 

 of objects from another. 



* See Irish Nat., vol. xxxi., p, 10. ^ Ibid., vol. vii., p. 65. 



*° Recorded by Sladen in " The Humble Bee," 191 2, p. 209. 



