508 METEOROLOGICAL REPORT, 1S71, BY THE 



soil from the woods. They were said to be a species of Pla- 

 norbis, had flat brown shells, and were very destructive. The 

 mining leaf insect (Phytomyra ilicis) has been very common, 

 causing the leaves to turn yellow in May. I expect the same 

 insect will be common in 1872, as I find most of the leaves have 

 been probed." 



Acklam. — Caterpillars on the gooseberry bushes on the 13th. 

 Bats flying about on the 19th. 



June.- — 



Acklam. — The ladybirds, which had been numerous, had dis- 

 appeared on the 23rd. 



July. — 



Acklam. — Both moths and caterpillars, numerous. 



August. — 



Wallington. — Wasps very numerous and destructive. Mr. 

 Hedley writes — " The wasps would, in a very short time, have 

 destroyed the whole crop of fruit, had not their nests been dili- 

 gently sought out and destroyed. No fewer than sixty-five 

 wasps' nests were found within half-a-mile of the garden. My 

 experience is that a fine clear day is the most suitable for seek- 

 ing and destroying the nests of these insects, and that a bottle 

 of coal tar is the most effectual weapon against them. From 

 this I pour into the nest as much of the liquid as it will take. 

 I find this method the most sure and ready means of killing the 

 insects, attended with the least labour and expense." 



Seaham Hall. — Night-jar seen on the 5th. Numerous red- 

 starts arrived on the 7th, waiting for their departure : they all 

 disappeared again towards the end of the month. 



Acklam. — The magpie moth more prevalent than usual at the 

 beginning of the month. Caterpillars very destructive to plants 

 of the cabbage tribe about the middle of the month. Large 

 flocks of starlings in full song about the 19th. Swarms of white 

 butterflies towards the end of the month. 



September. — 



Seaham Hall. — Young birds of the pied flycatcher arrived in 



