212 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Social Wasps,' and another on plate x. Mr. Eedle's speci- 

 mens closely resemble the latter: they are attached to the 

 common ling and heather so firmly that it would be next to 

 impossible to remove them without injury. This species has 

 the abdomen distinctly banded with black and yellow. I 

 commonly find this species of wasp at the blossoms of the 

 figwort (Scrophularia aquatica), and, by a singular coincidence, 

 the Tenthredo Scrophularias of Linneus, a species similarly 

 banded with black and yellow, and equally conspicuous, is 

 also confined to the same genus of plants, the larva feeding 

 on its leaves, the wasp on its nectar. Can the theory of 

 mimicry help us here ? Turning to Mr. Smith's * Catalogue 

 of Fossores,' I observe he says this wasp is very partial to 

 the flowers of Ballota nigra; a fact I have never noticed. — 

 Edward Neioman. 



H. J. H. — The hair-worm (Gordius aquaticus) is the adult, 

 and not the larval state, which is singularly unlike the speci- 

 men sent: it is very short, being described as -^—^ of an inch 

 in length. I cannot pretend to any knowledge of this from 

 personal observation. The female Gordius deposits her eggs 

 in the water in long strings. I have lately seen specimens of 

 this strange creature six inches in length, and not much 

 thicker than a horse-hair : indeed, country people have often 

 supposed, and asserted, these hair-worms to be horse- hairs, 

 which had fallen into the water, and so become animated. 

 When the rain came, after the late dry weather, I found these 

 Gordii on strawberry-leaves, currant-bushes, rose-bushes, &c. 

 very abundantly, tying themselves in most marvellous knots ; 

 and I have attempted in vain to explain that they did not 

 fall from the clouds. — Edward Newman. 



A. Hamilton. — In the 'Entomologist' (Entora. vii. 1.37) 

 I find mentioned the parasite of the owl, and having caught 

 a specimen this morning on a fern owl, I have great pleasure 

 in forwarding it to you : the shuflHing disappearance of the 

 creature, remarked by your correspondent, describes its 

 movements accurately. As I shall most likely have many 

 opportunities of searching owls, I should like to know if you 

 would like the specimens in spirit, or as I have sent the 

 present one. — A. Hamilton; 13, Park Street, Windsor, 

 August 18, 1874. 



[The insect is Ornithomyia avicularia : it seems a very 



