i897'] Notes, 251 



Eptpactis latlfolla In Co. Dublin. 



Mr. Joseph Meade sends a fresh specimen of this Orchid collected at 

 Old Connaught. In his " Orchids of County Dublin " {I.N., iv., p. 195, 

 1895,) Mr. Colgan quotes Ballybetagh as the only reliable habitat for the 

 plant in the county. 



R. L1.OYD Praeger. 



ZOOTvOGY. 



INSECTS. 



Bites of Telcphorl. 



In the March number of this journal, p. 86, Rev. W. F. Johnson, under 

 " Insect Folk-lore," mentions the popular idea in certain rural districts 

 that Telephorus fulvus is capable of inflicting a " very sore bite." I have 

 never been bitten by this species, but some years ago, when collecting 

 beetles in Co. Meath, I was rather sharply bitten by a specimen of 

 Telephorus pelhicidus. The insect succeeded in nipping me several times at 

 the base of the second finger, drawing blood. And I remember well 

 that its pointed mandibles were as sharp as needles. I am led by this 

 experience to think there is some good foundation for the rural idea. 



H. G. CUTHBERT. 



Abundance of Vespa austrlaca, Panz. 



For several weeks in July (July ist to 20th) I have noticed an unusual 

 abundance here (Blackrock, Co. Dublin) of these wasps. I captured ten 

 specimens in the garden, hovering about the bee-hives. All are females, 

 the males being unknown, or unrecognized, so far, in the British Isles. 

 Vespa rufa, L., a wasp closely resembling austriaca, I have taken with it 

 also in some numbers. In my past experience as a collector I have 

 found V. rufa a very scarce species here. 



H. G. CUTHBERT. 



Scarcity of Wasps at Bray.. 



We have no wasps this summer, only two of this year's brood having 

 been seen. There are none in the garden where the gooseberry bushes 

 are usually swarming with them during August. Such a complete dis- 

 appearance is very remarkable, I never remember anything like it before. 

 The gardener killed 233 queens in May and June, but I hardly think this 

 is the reason, because a large number (but not quite so many) have been 

 destroyed other years. 



It will be interesting to know whether a similar scarcity has been 

 noticed in other parts of Ireland. 



Richard M. Harrington. 



