259 



NOTES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA 

 OF THE WEST OP SCOTLAND AND FIFESHIRE. 



BY JQHX GEAY, ESQ. 

 ( Concluclod from joage 15.) 



In giving a few additional remarks on the entomological fauna of this 

 portion of our island, we have been enabled to introduce a few species which 

 have recently come under our observation; the occurrence of which plainly 

 indicates the existence of other interesting kinds^ which have but to be care- 

 fully sought after, ere they become recognised denizens of the west* a field 

 of inquiry in which our aim has been to act as a sort of pioneer, and incite 

 others to more extended researches. 



We have been much gratified at noticing in these pages, since the publica- 

 tion of our last notes, a paper on the Lepidoptera of Midlothian, by Messrs, 

 Lowe and Logan — we only wish the geographical limits had been more 

 extended; however we hope it is merely a precursor of many such local lists 

 towards the elucidation of the geographical distribution of our insect faima. 

 The species enumerated in our own notes, with few exceptions, are such 

 as have fallen under our notice in the various localities mentioned, oftimcs 

 when engaged in other branches of this delightful science. In depending 

 however, too much upon information conveyed to us we are afraid that the 

 insertion of Melitcea Ginxia in a former paper, was a mistake; the remarks 

 on that species we have now reason to suspect apply to M. Aiiemis. In our 

 last paper the notice of Crambus radiellus must also be deleted, as we find, 

 on comparing a series of specimens recently sent us for examination, that they 

 quite agree with the description of Plialcena margariteJla in ^'Fabricius' Mant: 

 ins., ii., 243. 



Many varieties of the smaller Lepidoptera have occurred in the course of 

 our rambles, which we hesitate to introduce into such a paper as this; chiefly 

 on account of our unwillingness to attach much importance to those trivial 

 differences and airy distinctions, which some entomologists delight to elevate 

 into the rank of specific characters. 



Amongst the Diurna, the most interesting addition we have to make, is 

 Golias Edusa, a specimen of which was sent us for examination captured near 

 Largs, about the middle of September last. It was a male, and from its 

 freshness and beauty of colour, had evidently newly emerged from the pupa state. 



Hipparcliia cassiope occurs in several localities on the highland mountains 

 of the West coast. 



This past summer seems to have been a most propitious one for our native 

 butterflies; the commonest kinds teemed everywhere in surpassing abundance. 

 Vanessa Atcdanta occurred throughout the district in a profusion we never 

 before witnessed: the striking appearance of the insect on the wing attracting 

 the notice of many careless observers. IlipparcMa Blandina, too, appeared 

 in the highland districts along the Frith of Clyde literally in thousands; W- i-st 



