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180. 24.3.49. cont. Grand Canal, Killeen to Clondalkin, Co. DU. cont. Quite good growth in the sheltered ditches & even along edge of canal Glyceria, Iris, &c, beginning to sprout. At 14 Clareville Rd. 2♀︎♀︎ Vespa vulgaris seen trying to get out of motor house at 12 noon where they had no doubt spent the winter; a worker ant (M. ruginodis) seen foraging in W. border for 1st time this year; a ♀︎ Bombus lucorum on Flowering Currant at 5 P.M. & a "brown" Bombus - which appeared to be B. agrorum seen to fly across garden a few minutes later. Carex stricta spikes a foot high & ♂︎ almost "in flower"; spikes on Carex montana also now showing. Many Honey Bees at Flowering Currant during the day. Daisy saw a Peacock Butterfly in garden in Kenilworth Park at 5 P.M. Filled up forms & sent cheque for road tax on Talbot car for quarter beginning today! 25th March 1949. Another almost perfect day after a foggy night and early morning, but haze lasted all day & so sun not so hot. E. breeze! In afternoon rode on bikes to Old Bawn & Marlfield & then home by Jobstown & Tallaght. Saw Stitchwort (Stellaria Holostea) & Cowslips in flower at Marlfield & several Bumble Bees - probably B. lucorum. In back garden at 5 P.M. saw 2♀︎♀︎ Bombus lucorum! 181. 26 March 1949. Dry, with E. wind & entirely cloudy, dull, all day. 27th March 1949. Morning quite dull with east wind as on 26th with short heavy shower at 11.30 & then gradually brighter till sun came out. Afternoon with considerable sunny periods. Took car out for first time this season (after 30th Sept. last!) & drove to Royal Canal W. of Leixlip, Co. KD. Left car at Deey Lock (= 13th lock) lock & bridge 1 mile W. of Louisa Bridge, & walked W. towards Pike Bridge & as canal very sheltered & sun out tried sweeping while Marcus Graham tried beating & George & Daisy went for a walk. I swept about 40 small hymenoptera as follows:- [9 mounted & these labelled on 29.3.1949!] Aspilota (Synaldis) spp. 2♂︎♂︎ = parvicornis? ♂︎, ant 22 & sp.? ♂︎, ant. 23. Dacnusa laevipectus v. tibialis miki, about 20 (♂︎ & ♀︎): none mtd. D. maculipes 2♂︎♂︎: not mtd. Aphidius spp. at least 12-15♂︎♂︎, & 1♀︎, - 5 mounted, as follows:- A. cf. pascuorum? 1♂︎, 1♀︎, ant. 18 & 17, legs +/- black! A. sp.? ♂︎, ant. 19, similar to last but larger, ant. stouter, &c. A. cf. dauci? 2♂︎♂︎, ant. 16 & 16/17, legs blackish. Monoctonus nervosus 2♂︎♂︎; ant. both 17 Saw also Bombus terrestris 1♀︎ at Salix; B. lucorum, B. agrorum ♀︎ at Dandelion; B. derhamellus ♀︎ at same; & George reported what he considered B. lapidarius ♀︎.