224 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
specimens is most interesting to watch. Aphides even on the 
beech hedges may be considered as quite destroyed for a season, 
and Diptera show a most marked diminution in numbers, entirely 
attributable, in my opinion and in that of several other observers 
here, to the wasps. In the summer of 1878 we also had the 
wasps in exceptional numbers; in the summer of 1879—if we 
can term such a season as last a ‘‘summer”—the finding of 
a wasp’s nest was a rare event. Is it possible that the female 
wasps can have laid dormant since the autumn of 1878 till this 
spring? I would be very unwilling to believe that so many 
females were reared last season as would produce such a crop of 
nests as we find this year. If we have no weather, or other cause 
that will check their increase, the next few weeks will be 
disastrous for fruit-growers and bee-keepers. As yet the wasps 
have refrained from injuring the small fruit, but we can hardly 
expect that they will be so forbearing when the large fruit ripens. 
Bee-keepers will require to be ou the alert to prevent plundered 
hives.—Rosr. Service; Corberry Nurseries, Maxwelltown, N.B. 
ABUNDANCE OF Wasps AND IcHNEUMONIDH.—I have not for 
many years seen such an abundance of wasps’ nests as there is 
this year. Those that I have destroyed were nests of Vespa 
vulgaris and V. germanica, which occur in about equal proportion. 
I was too late for V. rufa and VJ. sylvestris ; both are generally 
common in this neighbourhood. Coleopterists who want the rare 
Rhipipiphorus paradowus will now find it in the nests of V.vulgaris. 
I noticed one this morning when digging out a nest of that 
species. As an agriculturist Iam glad to see the extraordinary 
number of Ichneumcns. Every plant seems covered with them, 
searching for larvee. They will prove a great nuisance to breeders 
of insects, as three-fourths of the larvee I have collected were 
infested._-Hrenry Rerxs; Thruxton, August 20, 1880. 
SourH oF ScotnanpD EnromotoeicaAL Society. — We are 
pleased to see that a society béaring the above title was established 
at Galashiels last February. This society is, we believe, the only 
one of its kind existing in Scotland. Its members number about 
a score, and it has already held one exhibition of specimens 
relating to Entomology in connection with a horticultural society 
at Galashiels. We wish the venture every success. All informa- 
tion relating to it may be obtained from the Secretary, Mr. Joun 
CuapPpERrON, Bridge Street, Galashiels.—Eb. 
