M–type Vega–like Stars

We carried out a search for M–type Vega–like stars by correlating the IRAS Faint Source Catalog with Hipparcos selected M–type stars. Three stars with apparent IRAS 25 μm excess emission are shown instead to be non–IR–excess stars from ground–based 11.7 and 17.9 μm photometry. Two stars previously suggested to have Vega–like mid–IR excess are also shown to be non–excess stars. These results imply that other suggested mid–IR excess stars in the literature may also be false excess stars. Detection threshold bias is apparently responsible for these bogus IR excesses. Sixty micron excess emission from a previously known M–type Vega–like star (GJ 803) is identified again. Subject headings: (stars:) planetary systems: proroplanetary disks — (stars:) circumstellar matter — stars: late–type — stars: individual (GJ 803)