58 The Irish Naturalist. March, 



To compare this with an English midland count}^ Leicester- 

 shire, where practically every inch is under cultivation, we 

 find recorded — Coleoptera, 1,700 odd species ; Flora\ 825 

 Phanerogams, excluding 35 casuals. However, numbers are 

 made up for by the interesting forms which occur, and, 

 doubtless, when more thoroughly worked, many new species 

 will be recorded in all orders. 



Our party took all orders and a good number of plants, 

 although botany was not worked systematically. 



A number of the characteristic south-west plants were 

 noted. Pinguiada g} andiflora \\\ nearly every valley-. P. hisi- 

 tanica near Caherciveen. Saxijraga twibrosa very abundant 

 and variable. S. Geiun on mountains near Caragh Lake. 

 Etiphorbia hiberna abundant. On the sandhills at Rossbehy 

 we found the usual fauna and flora, including Etiphorbia 

 Paralias in abundance, but not the Sphinx^ which feeds on 

 it ; and Vicia angustifolia var. Bobartiiy Foster, with white 

 flowers, in several large patches. 



At Kenmare Statice ra?'ifolia was found, but Apion limonei, 

 which is found on 5*. Limojiitim^ did not occur, although 

 carefully worked for. Silene ina?-itif?ia was in the utmost 

 abundance, producing some good moths. Linaria viilgajis^ 

 near the road from Caragh to Glencar, is not recorded for 

 South Kerry. 



Amongst other plants just round us we noted Veronica 

 officiyialis, an exceedingly pale form, almost white ; Valerian- 

 ella olitoria, var. lasiocarpa; Orchis Mo rio, varying from the 

 palest pink to the deepest purple. 



The weather in June was most unfavourable for collecting 

 plants and insects ; the continued cold and wet for the first 

 fortnight almost rendered work impossible ; but later, when 

 we got a few hot days, we made up lost time. Our first week 

 we noticed Violets, Primroses, Bluebells, Hawthorn, Fox- 

 gloves, and Dog Roses, all in bloom together, and insects 

 were all late in appearing. 



The mountain roads, when fully warmed by the sun, were 

 most attractive to Coleoptera, but not before 11. 30. to 12 

 o'clock. The country round Caragh Lake, Glencar, and the 

 Macgillicuddy Reeks would well repay further work, but 



^ Flora of Leicestershire. Ttans. Leic. Lit, and Phil. Soc, 1886. 



