12 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Ornithologists generally are of opinion that some score 

 of British birds are in great need of protection at all seasons, 

 and that such protection should apply also to their eggs. 

 Indeed, more than one measure has been promoted to effect 

 these desirable ends within the past few years ; and at the 

 present time such an one is under consideration, which is 

 only delayed because our authorities unfortunately differ as 

 to How this protection should be applied. It is greatly to 

 be hoped that such difficulties as these may be at once over- 

 come, and that the Great Skua may receive that protection 

 which all lovers of nature who are familiar with it in its 

 native haunts are most desirous should be afforded to it. 



A LIST OF THE MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA FOUND 

 IN THE PARISH OF ARDCLACH, NAIRN- 

 SHIRE. 



By R. THOMSON. 



THE parish of Ardclach occupies the south-eastern portion 

 of Nairnshire, and covers an area of about eighty square 

 miles. It is almost equally intersected by the river Find- 

 horn, along whose banks are to be found a rich and varied 

 growth of both mountain and lowland vegetation. The 

 surface generally overlies the geological formations of granite 

 and gneiss, and slopes towards the Moray Firth. The average 

 elevation is about six hundred feet; but, with a fewunimportant 

 exceptions it is, over all, well under a thousand. In addition 

 to a considerable extent of highly cultivated arable ground, 

 there are large tracts of moss, moor, and woodland. Along 

 the water-courses the margins are skirted with alder, birch, 

 and various species of willow, with here and there a few 

 clumps of bird-cherry. But the forest trees are chiefly Scots 

 fir, and larch, as well as a considerable sprinkling of oak, 

 ash, and elm. Hitherto, in the interests of science, this field 

 has seldom, if ever, been trodden by any practical entomologist. 

 The Rev. Dr. Gordon's " List of Lepidoptera found within the 

 Province of Moray," published in the " Zoologist " for August 

 I 86 1, theoretically included the southern portion of Nairn- 



