NOTES ON HYMENOPTERA. 53 



observes that he has not seen a single specimen of B. senilis, 

 B. fragram, B. sylvaruu}, B. DerhameUus or B. Scrim- 

 shiranus. I received a fine series of B. Smithianus, from 

 Shetland, collected by Mr. Adam White, this being a moss- 

 building bee. 



Wasps. — These insects have ajDpeared in great abundance 

 in some parts of the country ; Mr. Perkins, in the Trans- 

 actions of Tyneside Naturalists Field Club, remarks on their 

 superabundance at Gibside, as also does Mr. Bold, who 

 adds, '^ Vespa yiorveglca was the predominant species. Their 

 nests mio;ht be noticed in especial abundance by the road- 

 sides leading from the railway station to Naworth Castle. 

 The same species had colonized the gardens, using the 

 branches of the goosberry-bushes on which to suspend their 

 nests." The ground wasps were in equal abundance. 



It will be remembered that the almost unprecedented wet 

 season of 1860 in the west of England proved so destructive 

 to wasps that during the following season, in many districts, 

 the remark was common, "I did not see a single wasp;" 

 but in Scotland the summer was fine, and wasps abund- 

 ant. In the course of a few years, what with the increase 

 obtained through the few communities that survived that 

 disastrous season, and the tide of immigration southward, 

 wasps will again h^ found generally abundant. 



I found many nests during September last, in deserted 

 stone-quarries in Yorkshire, particularly such as were situ- 

 ated in elevated situations ; I noticed only two species, Vespa 

 vulgaris and Vespa Gennanica; I did not observe a single 

 individual of V. nifa, V. norvegica or V. arhorea. 



In the situations I have alluded to, wasps are fond of con- 

 structing their nests under large stones ; these prove, no 

 doubt, a secure shelter from wet, nothing being in my 



