0BSERVATI0N3. 



157 



the only signs of approaching au- 

 tumnal migi-ation I have yet dis- 

 covered upon the shore. — S. P. Sa- 

 viLLE, King's Lynn, Norfolk. 



RipipJiorus paradoxus. — I have for- 

 tunately succeeded this summer in 

 obtaining both larvae and pup^e of 

 this insect. On opening a cell of 

 Vesjja vulgaris on Saturday morning 

 hist, I found a larva of the parasite 

 firmly adhering to the spun up larva 

 of the wasp, which before yesterday 

 (Monday) morning it entirely con- 

 sumed, with the exception of the 

 skin and mandibles, although it had 

 made comparatively little progress 

 in the work of destruction at the 

 time I opened the cell. From other 

 cells in the same nest I obtained 

 examples of the parasite in the pupa, 

 as well as in the perfect state. — S. 

 Stone, Brighthampton, August 23, 

 1864. 



Bee Keeping. — I am a strong ad- 

 vocate tor depriving bees of their 

 honey without injury to the swarm, 

 and I think some of your readers 

 may be glad to know my method, 

 which is extremely simple. I use 

 straw double-hives, which are very 

 inexpensive, and cool for the bees in 

 summer ; in the afternoon, about 

 four o'clock of a dull day in August, 

 I take the upper j^art of a hive, (put 

 a cork in the hole of communication) 

 and put it down in a cool place near 



the hive, in a few hours all the bees 

 leave it and return to the hive ; when 

 I cut out the comb, remove the cork, 

 and replace the top. This year has 

 been unfavourable for bees, I think 

 owing to the drought; the yield of 

 my hives is not half what it should 

 be. Hoping you may find space for 

 these lines in your interesting work. 

 --Cpiarles Henry Lane, Clifton, 

 August 23rd. 



Acherontia atropos. — A large male 

 specimen of this insect flew on board 

 last night and was captured by one 

 of the men; we were about thirty 

 miles out to sea at the time, off the 

 Start Point, and had been at sea for 

 two days, so I think it very probable 

 (hat this individual was crossing the 

 channel one way or the other and 

 our lights attracted it. It is now 

 on one of my setting boards, and 

 notwithstanding the rough handling 

 it has received is in pretty good 

 condition. The weather last night 

 was calm and fine. — G.F.Mathews, 

 H.M.S. Warrior, August 29th. 



List of Plants Seen about Hampton 



Court and the Neighbourhood, on 



August 6th, 1864. 



Nymphcea alba, ditch at Walton 

 Bridge. 



Nasturtium sylvestre, Walton, river 

 side. 



Reseda Luteola, near Walton and 

 Hampton Court. 



