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188. 11th, 15th, 16th April 1949. All fine with very hot sun & little or no wind. Considerable growth in gardens - pears, apples, cherries blackcurrants, &c. all coming into flower, as well as mossy Saxifrages & sedges. 17th April 1949. Entirely hot sun till 3 P.M. then some clouds, but SE wind got up about 1.30 & spoiled collecting in afternoon. Left home in car, Daisy, George, Marcus Graham & myself & drove to Kill & then to Devonshire Bridge over Grand Canal, where left car; then walked W. along canal & cut across fields to the big deserted sandpit on railway line just N. of where it crosses canal near Sallins. In this sandpit on - - 192- I took a specimen of the Hemipteron Sehirus luctusus, but sun going behind cloud & wind very strong gave no chance of seeing more today. Lasius flavus, Myrmica laevinodis & scabrinodis & Andrena gwynana ♂︎, the only hymenoptera seen today. Did a little sweeping along N. edge of canal on way but wind too strong to expect much & all taken were: Atractodes cf tenebricosus? 1♂︎: not mtd. Phygadeuon ♂︎, ant. 22 = Aspilota nigrescens? ♂︎, ant 24. Dacnusa aphanta ♂︎, ant. 31, very dark legs. Dacnusa maculipes ♀︎, ant. 23. Aphidius sp. 10♂︎♂︎, dark legs: not mtd Monoctonus caricis 1♂︎, 2♀︎♀︎ : not mtd Proctos 2 = Lugocerus? ♂︎ & ♀︎ Graham swept a small sawfly beside canal near lock W. of bridge which he thinks is Fenella nigrita ♀︎ - Yes! AWS. 20.4.49. - a very early date [[marginalia]] Sand Martins seen on railway at sandpit. Willow Warblers everywhere; no Chiffchaffs. [[/marginalia]] 189. 17 Ap. '49, cont. Euphorbia hibernica in front garden in flower this morning (old patch) although only six inches high about 5 days ago. Orchis mascula in back garden: this plant with unspotted leaves brought from between Fair Head & Torr Head, Co. AN. in May 1913, has three flower spikes this year & the first flowers opened today. Korokia bush now smothered in flowers & scenting the whole garden this morning. 18th April. A fine dry, rather harsh, windy day, with much sun & some cloud. 19th April. Strong W. wind & drizzle for most of day but never wet anything except about 3.0-3.30 PM. In afternoon drove to White's Gate at W. end of Phoenix Park & walked to Furry Glen & back to car. Much growth of grass, &c. everywhere & would have made good sweeping had it not been wet. Maples & Sycamores & several Horse Chestnuts in flower, but only a few leaves here & there on beech. Hornbeam near boundary wall between White's & Knockmaroon Gates full of witches' brooms, & just coming into flower & leaf - a very curious sight at this stage. Saw pair of Jays as usual.