382 THE REY. F. A. WALKER, D.D., F.L.S., ON 
presented no appreciable difference, and their specific 
identity was proved by the genital organs being alike in all 
cases, whereas those of the Asiatic V. orientalis differed 
considerably.” 
“ Proceedings of the Entomological Society. March 6th to 
April 8rd, 1871. 
‘Hornet barking an Ash Branch.—Mr. Smith exhibited 
portions of two small branches of ash, from which the bark 
had been neatly removed all round. He had received them 
from Mr. J. Hellins, of Exeter, accompanied by a note, in 
which Mr. Hellins stated that one day last summer he had 
observed a hornet busily engaged in remoying the bark from 
these branches. Mr. Smith could not believe that the 
hornet was providing building materials for its nest, as he 
had invariably found this to be composed of friable paper, 
apparently formed from dead or decayed wood. Upon 
referring to Réaumur’s J/émoires, he found that that keen 
observer had recorded a precisely similar circumstance, and 
he (Mr, Smith) was inclined to think the insect was 
endeavouring to extract the sap, from the inner wood, as 
food. 
“The Hornet gnawing the Smooth Bark of Elm.—During 
the dry, hot weather in August and September, 1870, 
I frequently noticed hornets gnawing the young and 
smooth bark from wood of eight or nme years’ growth of a 
variety of Ulmus campestris or U. montana. So busily were 
they engaged that they would allow me to draw the branch 
sufficiently near to minutely watch their operations, but in 
no instance could I see that they carried on their work 
systematically, or removed the bark in circles; they only 
appeared to cut it with their mandibles to suck out the 
sap.—HENRY REEKS.” 
“ Karly Appearances, 1897, 
“Throughout the past month (February) the weather, as 
far as this part of the country is concerned, has been remark- 
ably mild and light. On one especially hght day a fine 
V. crabro (female) was noticed flying around a window, 
evidently enjoying its winter's flight—Avueustus D. Iums, 
‘Linthurst,’ Oxford Road, Moseley, Worcestershire, March 
Aine tS Oise 
