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41.
 
20.11.53, cont.

in Butterfield Avenue & after a couple of minutes I heard the hum of a Bombus high up amongst the branches & presently saw a ♀︎ which later came round to my side of the tree & enabled me to see its tail & know that it was a B. terrestris: it seemed to be searching for the flowers now nearly all gone & after some time flew off SE-wards.  Very pleased I rode home - 3.30 P.M.


22nd-24th Nov. 1953.

After two very dull days with cold, mist or drizzle, gale in evening of 21st, & heavy rain on evening of 23rd, the 24th was a most beautifully sunny day with light easterly breeze. In afternoon we walked from Rathfarnham bus past the Arbutus, but saw no Bumble Bees, to "Pussy's Lep" (S. of Templeogue Bridge), then to Cosgraves & back to Firhouse, where caught bus home. On roadway 1/2 mile S. of Templeogue Bridge picked up & examined a very large specimen of the slug Milax gracilis, with its clearly marked tripartite footsole like this [[image]].

Also saw a little further on a squashed frog in the middle of the road - just as one often sees them at spawning time.


42.

25th Nov. 1953.

A bright sunny day, after heavy rain on evening of 24th & then a cold starry night.

Sun very hot, but a keen S-SW. wind & cold in the shade. As yesterday took bus about 2.15 PM. to Rathfarnham & went along Butterfield Av. to the Arbutus tree at "Greenroyd" & after waiting a few minutes I heard a Bumble Bee high up in it & then one flew out & away over the small Pine trees to SW. in quite a different direction to any seen leaving the Arbutus before. It was very high up, but I got the impression it was smallish & its hum not as deep a note as that of the terrestris seen on 20th. As to its colour I could see none as it flew between me & the sunlight. This is a record late date for me seeing a Bombus!  

Continuing our walk to the egg-farm we crossed Templeogue Bridge & took the Tallaght road to Balrothery, crossed the Dodder by the footbridge to Firhouse & home by 3.30 bus from Bohernabreena, as yesterday. In the hollow just W. of Templeogue Bridge saw a dead frog in the gutter, in a place where many seen at spawning time, as there is a pool on N. side of the road-wall where they formerly bred.

While at same time yesterday there was a very large congregation of Rooks clamouring around the rookery at Firhouse, not a single Rook was there today, though the days were similar.