io6 



April, 



NOTES. 



FORGERS OF NATURE'S SIGNATURE. 



A few years ago we commented {I.N., vi., 82. 1896) on a case of 

 deliberate introduction of a rare Irish butterfly into a new locality, which 

 was liable to cause confusion in the study of the native distribution of 

 the species, and was on that account to be deplored. A large number of 

 bushes of the two native species of Buckthorn, Rhamnus catharticus and 

 R. Frangula, were imported from Chester and planted at Greenfield, Co. 

 Tipperary ; and 250 Goneptoyx rha?fmi, likewise from England, were 

 turned out on them. The introducer communicated an account of his 

 operations to the Entomologist (xxix., 363. 1896). The opening sentence 

 of his note runs as follows: — "I believe I am right in saying that this 

 butterfly does not occur in Ireland, neither do either kinds of buck- 

 thorn." Though the meaning of this sentence is somewhat obscured 

 by peculiarities of grammar, it clearly indicates a remarkable ignorance 

 on the writer's part of both the fauna and the flora of this country. 

 This, we believe, is at the root of the proceeding on which we comment. 

 Had Capt. Bagwell- Pure foy been aware of the remarkable restricted 

 range of G. rhamni in Ireland, extending along the west coast, from 

 Kerry to Mayo, and of the interest which the working out of this range 

 has given, and is giving to Irish entomologists, we feel sure that his 

 sportsman's instinct would have rebelled against any proceeding 

 tending to falsify the record, or throw dust in the eyes of his fellow- 

 naturalists But unfortunately the mischief is done : and still in ignor- 

 ance, no doubt, of the true bearings of the case, the proprietor of this 

 new Pandora's box gives a further and fuller account, in the Entomologist 

 for December last, of his alien colony and of its progress From this it 

 appears that, returning after five years' foreign service, he finds G. rhamni 

 still flourishing on the introduced Buckthorns, so that for over ten years 

 this foreign colony has continued. When we remember that its food- 

 plants, the two species of Rhamnus, both grow wild in Capt. Bagwell- 

 Purefoy's own county, and in many places in the West of Ireland, which 

 is the portion of the country which this butterfly naturally affects, it will 

 be seen that, as regards faunistic studies, the capture of specimens of 

 G. rhamni can no longer be received in evidence. Tares have been sown 

 with the crop, and, unfortunately, by no process can they be separated 

 from it. For evermore the suspicion of introduction will hover over all 

 records of this interesting inhabitant of our island. 



Let us not be misunderstood. Our remarks refer to the introduction 

 of animals— or plants — either known to occur, or likely to occur, in the 

 area into which they are introduced. Attempts to naturalize man)- 

 foreign animals or plants, though not to be commended from the 

 naturalist's point of view, are fraught with no so serious consequences — 

 though, in face of such examples as the Rabbit in Australia, and the 



