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NOTES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA OF 

 THE WEST OF SCOTLAND AND FIFESHIRE. 



BY JOHN GRAY, ESQ. 



As a field of interesting research, Scotland undoubtedly possesses many 

 enticing features for the naturalist. The diversified natui'e of the country, with 

 its rocky heights, sequestei-ed glens, and moorland districts, in common with 

 its shores and fertile friths, presents an appearance of no common interest, 

 and oifers abundant scope for the labours and investigations of geologist, 

 botanist, and zoologist, alike. Perhaps no part of the country excels the West 

 of Scotland, in this respect, which, with the fertile shores and islands of the 

 Frith of Clyde, has been long known to all classes of naturalists, for the 

 richness and beauty of its marine, and other pi'oductions; adding, as it has 

 done, many rarities to our lists of native feuna. Its entomological features 

 alone, in common with those of Scotland genei'ally, do not seem to have 

 hitherto* engaged much attention on the part of writers on that subject; 

 possessing, though it does, many species which have been generally represented 

 as occurring in more southern districts. 



This partiality in recording English localities may be, in part, attributed to 

 the much greater abundance of insect life in the balmier south ; this indeed appears 

 to be sufficiently obvious in many instances of rare Scottish species, that occur 

 in considerable plenty throughout many of the English districts. Sometimes, 

 however, the reverse is the case; though, even then, it is not uncommon to 

 find their northern distribution entirely omitted, or, quietly described as 'widely 

 dispersed.' 



Another reason seems to be that apparent apathy, perhaps not unmingled 

 with petty jealousy, on the part of Scottish entomologists towards the working 

 out of a general catalogue of northern species, which has called forth 

 upon them such a curiously presumptive statement, from the pen of a recent 

 writer on the subject — an unconcern which they evince in not making their 

 captures more generally known, in a connected form, by recording "them in 

 the pages of a journal, the conductor of which seems to consider an 'enter- 

 prising Enghshman' as the best qualified party for investigating the natural 

 history of Scotland. 



It must be borne in mind, too. that this department of natural history, 

 perhaps more than any other, abounds in mere collectors — those whose sole 

 delight appears to consist in the acquisition of beautiful objects, whilst their 

 economy and habits seem to present to them but slight grounds of interest. 



With a view, then, to illustrate, in however partial a manner, the 

 entomological features of Scotland, we have been induced to put together the 

 following notes on the Western and Fifeshire Lepidoptera; in the hope that 

 it may tend towards a more ' accurate knowledge of Scottish productions, and 

 pi-event species which have be(!n taken elsewhere long before, from being styled 

 'new to Scotland,' in the proceedings of local societies, by those members who 



