ii6 The Irish Naturalist. [June 



o 



inland region between Antrim and Galwa}' does not lend 

 itself to the acceptance of this theory of dispersal. It would, 

 therefore, seem probable that some of the extensive sand-hills 

 on the coast-line of Derry, Donegal, and Sligo will be found 

 to preserv^e occasional settlements of this Nyssia, by which the 

 primeval route of the migrating host maybe indicated. It is, 

 however, so extremely local in its habits, that an entomologist 

 who is acquainted with its life- history, finds it difficult to 

 conceive how the race could wander even the length of one 

 county in thousands of 3^ears. An interesting accidental find 

 in the hotel b}^ Mr. Dillon, was a late specimen of Cheiniatobia 

 boreata, a moth little known in Ireland. A few lepidopterous 

 lar\^£e of no importance were seen ; also cocoons of Saturnia 

 pavonia among the heather. So far as the cliffs were con- 

 cerned, no trace was met of Silcnc maritima, the food- plant 

 of various species of Dianthxccia;, of whose existence, there- 

 fore, no indications could be observed ; though several are 

 usually found along the western coast-line. But the large 

 area of Empetriim nigrum, on Minawn and Slievemore, 

 accompanied by other alpine plants, suggest that a search 

 in summer for the imago, or for the pupae by an expert, 

 might be rewarded by the discover}^ of Pachnobia hypcrborca ; 

 as it should not be forgotten that an imago of this Scottish 

 species emerged in the breeding^cage at Clonbrock some 

 years since ; presumably taken as a larva from a bog adjacent 

 where the food-plant grows. Also it may well be expected 

 that in mid-June the southern slopes of some of these Mayo 

 mountains may be haunted by Ercbia cpiphron, an alpine 

 butterfly, and discovered on Nephin, in the same county, last 

 June, by myself; first recorded from Croagh Patrick, by 

 Birchall. Lastly, it may be expected that sand-hill AgroiidiC 

 ma}' be plentiful in Achill, and, perhaps, show in the case of 

 A. c2i7'sorca, the interesting variations usual near Sligo. But 

 heather and bog frequenting insects are not likel}^ to be very 

 plentiful, as there are too many half-starved cattle wandering 

 about the lower levels evidently (and literally) on *' short 

 commons," so that the bog plants are very closely cropped. 



W. F. DK V. Kane. 



Drumreaske, Moiiagliail. 



