
SIREX GIGAS, LINN., IN BUTE AND ARRAN. 187 
Occurrence of Sirex gigas, Linn., in Bute and Arran. 
By J. Battantyne, Rothesay. 
[Read 26th October, 1897.] 
Axpout three years ago my attention was first called to the 
presence of Sirex gigas, Linn., the Giant Sawfly, in Bute and 
Arran, as a female of this species had been caught in the Rothesay 
Sawmill, and given tome. A year later other two females were 
caught in the sawmill, and these I also got. 
Last July, while a lighter was discharging Bright Spruce deals 
at Rothesay, which were part of a cargo brought from Quebec by 
the ship “Heathfield,” a female was caught at the harbour 
on the deals. The insect is in every respect similar to those 
which have been caught in the sawmill or reared by myself. 
There is every reason to believe that it had emerged from the 
Quebec deals, as some of them had holes as if the larve had been 
living in the timber. This wood is similar to Scotch Fir, but 
a little more spongy. 
When I received the second pair of flies from the sawmill, two 
years ago, I determined to obtain all the information I could 
regarding them. In this connection I am deeply indebted to Mr. 
Thomas Falconer, of the Rothesay Sawmills, who has been unre- 
mitting in his efforts to secure specimens and obtain information 
for me from woodmen and foresters employed in the woods of 
Bute, Arran, and Ormidale. - As a result of these inquiries, it has 
been ascertained that Sirex gigas, Linn., has been known for the last 
twenty-five years at least, to quite a number of men employed in 
connection with the sawmill. For example, James Macfarlane says 
he has often seen the fly when cutting trees. The first time he 
observed it was about twenty-five years ago at Ormidale, Loch 
