1917.] 17 



strono-iy in evidence, larvae from quite small to fully grown being abundant. 

 I was informed that the previous winter had been a severe one, snowstornjs 

 commencing in November, and the weather continuing with more or less severity 

 until about Easter, finishing with a late spring ; here on the coast, where we 

 had a mild, open Avinter, with very little frost, only one or two hibernated 

 specimens were seen flying about the garden in the spring, but not a single 

 larva was observed during the summer. I am qu.ite in agreement with Dr. Chap- 

 man, and have long held the opinion that severe winters with plenty of frost are 

 preservative of insect life by ensuring complete hibernation and preventing the 

 waste of vitality occurring in mild open winters by the insects, especially larvae, 

 coming out of hibernation upon mild siinny days, wasting their strength, and 

 moreover running the risk of being gobbled up by hungry birds. — J. Gardnek, 

 Laurel Lodge, Hart, West Hartlepool : October 23rd, 1916. 



A note on Vespa sylvestris. — During the past summer I received a good- 

 sized nest (measuring about eight inches in diameter) of this wasp, which had 

 been constructed in an empty beehive — probably a rather unusual sitiiation - 

 at Newnham, Cambridge. The base was attached by a number of papery walls 

 and pillars to a flat board from which the nest hung. Between July 24th, when 

 it was brought to the Museum, and August 21st, 58 males and 191 qvieens, but 

 not a single worker, emerged from the nest. By August 17th emergences had 

 become very few, and August 21st was the last day on which any occurred. 

 These figures may have some interest as indicating the number of males and 

 queens produced by a colony, but I do not think they represent the full amount, 

 as emergence of those forms had probably already begun before the nest was 

 brought in. — Hugh Scott, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge : Novem- 

 ber 29th, 1916. 



Two interestirig ants in Essex. — Whilst searching for Coleoptcra at Billericay, 

 Essex, on October 8th, 1916, I discovered a colony of the rather scarce ant, 

 Leptothorax nylanderi Forst., under the bark of a fence alongside the railway. 

 The particular post chosen by the ants was in a state of decay, owing to the 

 repeated attacks of Coleoptera, chiefly the Anobiid Ptilinus pectinicornis and the 

 Longicorn Chjtus arietis. The ants had chosen the base of the post, utilising 

 the disused burrows of the latter beetle for their nest, having increased the 

 size by tunnels evidently of their own make. Of the insects visible on removing 

 the bark, the majority were winged females, only one deillated female and one 

 winged male being seen. Not knowing that my captures were of interest, I 

 only selected three specimens for preservation, and these are now deposited in 

 the collection of the British Museum (Natiu-al History). On revisiting the 

 place a fortnight later, I found no anta at all. Evidently the disturbance, 

 together with their exposure to rather severe weather, had caused them to 

 desert their nest. This species has previously been recorded from Essex, from 

 Ardleigh, in the Colchester district. 



The other species whose capture I wish to record, is tlie little Formicoxenus 

 nitiduhts Nyl., two examples of which were found at Hockley, Essex, on 



