28 PROCEEDINGS OF 80CTETIES. 



nary form, apeciraensof thelaciniate form of the plant, which is a true variety referable 

 to the class laciniatum ; and the sub- variety multi fidum exhibited in the barren branch, 

 which appears to be rather rare, thoni^h the same sub-variety is common enough in 

 the fruittul branches; and they illustrate well the danger ot founding a species on 

 character drawn from the mere circumscription or cutting of fronds. It is singular 

 to find so many varieties of form all crowded together in one small locality. 



The point of whether this plant is truly a plant parasite or not has engaged my 

 attention, and the only conclusion I can come to is, that there is no actual con- 

 nection or contact between it and the plants among which it is found ; which is the 

 more strange, as it is evident from the nature of the localities in which it grows, 

 and from the testimony of all the most successful cultivators of the plant, that it 

 will not subsist unless amongst grass. Mr. WoUaston, than whom 1 know of none 

 more competent to offer an opinion on any subject connected with the growth of 

 ferns, has told me that he finds that to keep the plant over the second year, it is 

 absolutely necessary to grow it in a tuft of grass, and yet that he has never, even 

 after the most searching examination, by washing out the soil from the roots of 

 plants, succeeded in tracing any connection between the plants ; so that this must, 

 I fear, be, for the present, classed among those botanical puzzles which have 

 baffled all our efforts for their unravelling. In conclusion, let me urge on every 

 botanist who has the chance of studying this plant to never let slip an opportunity 

 of doing so, for, owing to the short time of the year during which these obser- 

 vations can be prosecuted, one golden opportunity lost may never occur again. 



Mr. Andrews, Honorary Secretary, then read the following 



ON THE OCCURBENCE OF OONEPTEEVX RHAMNI AND THECLA BETUL^ IN KERRY. 



It is unnecessary to give any description of either of these beautiful species, as 

 they have both been frequently figured and described in many histories of British 

 lepidoptera. 



The first, the brimstone butterfly (G. Rhamni), is an insect abundant in 

 the southern counties in England, scarce in the midland, and not found in the 

 northern, or Scotland. It is not so easy to speak with certainty of its occurrence 

 in this country, as, unfortunately, there is a great dearth of records of entomolo- 

 gical research here. It may, however, be assumed to be a rare and extremely 

 local insect, and we find no record of its appearance in any quantity, or with any 

 regularity, which is rather remarkable, as, in the sister country, it is one of those 

 insects which, though local, when it does appear is found in numbers, and also 

 annually. Last year, however, in the month of August, in a secluded part of 

 Muckruss, Killarney, in one of those tortuous mountain paths screened from the 

 breeze, amidst the bright rays of an autumnal sun lighting up the sprays of the 

 buckthorn and honeysuckle, the brimstone butterfly might be seen in numbers 

 basking in the sun's glare, or gaily flitting around with their beautiful sulphur- 

 coloured wings. Occasionally, as though for the sake of the contrast, they would 

 alight on the blue flowers of the field scabious (Scabiosa succisa), and quietly 

 closing their wings, allow themselves to be captured, a habit very different from 

 that of the beautiful red admiral and peacock butterflies (Vanessa Atalanta and 

 lo,) with which it was in company, and which might be seen, on the other hand, 

 when alighting, open fully out their wings, as though proud of their gay colouring.* 

 The same habit is also seen in the painted lady (Cynthia cardui), whose favoiuite 

 plants are the yellow flowers of the ragwort (Senecio vulgaris). 



Near the same locality the brown hairstreak (Thecla betulae), a rare insect in 

 Ireland, a single specimen, was met with. The common gamma moth (Plusia 

 gamma) also made its appearance in great numbers in September last. During 

 the previous summer its larvae had proved very destructive to the peas and beans. 



Mr. Andrews illustrated his remarks by specimens of the insects referred to. 



Mr. E. Percival Wright, Secretary of the University Zoological Association, had 

 met Gonepteryx Rl^mni in the county Dublin. Although a scarce insect in 



