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67. 5.5.53, cont. Talbotstown, Co. WI., cont. The following insects swept along old avenue W. of Talbotstown Ho. & S. of Brittas River. Pachynematus obductus ♀︎ Centeterus sp. ♀︎ Hemiteles 5♂︎♂︎, various spp. Homocidus obscuripes ♂︎ & Promethes laticarpus ♂︎. Bracon sp.? ♂︎ ant. 32, tergite 2 rugulose, t.3 +/- smooth. B. cf. osculator ♀︎ ant. 26 but propodeum not smooth! Oncophanes lanceolator 1 minute ♂︎, ant. 23. Apanteles pallipes group 3: none mtd. Aspilota (Synaldis) concolor ♂︎, very wide head! Not mtd. Dacusa areolaris 7 & 3 others = D. confinis ♀︎, ant. 23: an early date? D. cf. aphanta, dark var.? 2♂︎♂︎, ant. 28 & 30, legs very dark & wings distinctly so! Aphidius spp. 9 small ♂︎♂︎: not mtd. Proctos. 10: none mtd. Chalcids 3: not mtd. Cynipids 7: none mtd. Jumping beetle = Phyllotreta sinuata? 5.5.53 On this day Robert Lloyd Praeger died in a nursing home in Belfast, following a "small operation" the previous week, in his 88th year. At a meeting of the R.I. Acad Fauna & Flora Committee — of which he was an original member — I was requested to write an 68. appreciation of him as a naturalist for the Irish Times. This I delivered to Dr. A. Farrington at R.I.A. on the morning of the 8th May for his opinion & revision. It appeared in the Irish Times the following day with the usual disgusting sub-headings of the modern press. 8th May 1953. Still dry, but like 7th, mainly cloudy & therefore not so hot as the previous days. In afternoon drove to Ballinascorney, ca. 1,000 feet, where swept in pine plantation for half and hour & then walked up the lane on to Knocknavea & above Tumoling Pool & back to car. Saw first Small Copper Butterfly of the season. In the plantation at Ballinascorney House swept the following insects: Co. DU.:- [only 3 mtd. & these labelled 10.5.53.] Sawfly. Lygaeonematus laricis 2♂︎♂︎:- 1 on larch & 1 on birch! Not mtd. Ichs.: - Cryptinids 4♂︎♂︎, 2♀︎♀︎ (Phygadeuon or Hemiteles) none mtd. Perilissus cf. maculatus Bridgman?? Ant. 29. Stenomacrus ♂︎, with areolet; ant. 26 Campoplegid ♂︎: not mtd. Aspilota sp. 1♂︎, 1♀︎: not mtd. Aphidiids 3♂︎♂︎: not mtd. Hover Fly 1 = Weevil 1: not mtd.