54 



Field Notes, 



occurred on the same plant in Forge Valley. The clear yellow 

 face of this species easily distinguishes it from V . norvegica, 

 which is strongly and peculiarly marked with black on the 

 ch'peus. 



Vespa norvegica Fab. 



This wasp appears to be earlier than the other species. 

 I have several times seen the queens abroad in my garden on 

 sunny days in January. Last July the males were already 

 abroad in the flowers of Cow-parsnips near Hutton Buscel 

 Moor. I have not met with the males of any other species 

 before September. This wasp is particularly fond of the 

 flowers of the snowberry, and occurred on them in great num- 

 bers in the garden of a farmhouse on Seamer Moor. The 

 globular nests of this species have several times been formed in my 

 garden, in a gooseberry bush, in a pear tree, and under a seat. 



My quest after the smaller wasps has not been very suc- 

 cessful, as I can only record two species of Odynerus. 



Odyxerus parietum L. 



On flowers of Centaurea and Epilohium in my garden^ 

 plentiful. 



O. parietinus L. 



Also in my garden about pear trees and snowberry, less 

 common. 



BIRDS. 



White Starling- at Ripley. — An interesting- variety of the 

 Starling was obtained at Ripley in April last. The plumage 

 is quite white, the legs and bill light stone colour, and the eyes 

 black. — R. Fortune. 



Red Throated Diver at Qrassington. — In December last 

 a fine specimen of this species was obtained at Grassington, 

 near Skipton, on the River Wharfe. It measured 2 ft. 2 in. in 

 length, beak 2^ in., width (expanse of wing) 3 ft. 3 in., tarsus 

 3 in., weight 3 lbs. 9 oz. — Walter Wilson, Skipton-in-Craven, 

 January 4th, 1909. 



Fork Tailed Petrel near Doncaster, — I learn from Mr. W- 

 E. Cox, of Sandall Grange, Doncaster, that a Fork Tailed Petrel 

 was picked up on the high road by one of his men on Oct. 9tb. 

 It was kept alive for several days, being fed on fish and bread, 

 the latter a very unsuitable food. It is interesting- to have this 

 record coming so close to the Barnsley one. — R. Fortune. 



Natural's 



