368 The Irish Naturalist. December, 



Lycopodium alpinum in Co. Dublin. 



Hitherto there has existed 110 well authenticated record for the occur- 

 rence of this plant in Co. Dublin. It is true it is mentioned in the Cybele 

 Hibcmica as having been found 011 Feather-bed Mountain by Mr. D. Orr. 

 But in the absence of other evidence, and on account of the extreme 

 rarity of its occurrence towards the eastern parts of this island, as well 

 as on other grounds, doubts had been entertained as to its title to a 

 place in the county flora, so that in later floras it had been omitted 

 from the Dublin list. In April last I had the good fortune to find the 

 plant on or near the summit of Cruagh (1,714 feet). It was by the 

 merest accident, and under circumstances that prevented a proper exa- 

 mination of the spot in respect of the extent of its distribution — not 

 only was I running homewards before driving rain, but I was at the 

 time unacquainted with the species. Having identified it as Lycopodium 

 alpinum, I took occasion on a visit to the National Herbarium to mention 

 the circumstances to Miss M'Ardle, Miss Knowles' assistant there, who 

 quickly drew my attention to its critical place in the flora. Both Miss 

 Knowles and Mr. Colgan have since identified the plant as Lycopodium 

 alpinum, though, as the latter remarks, "a somewhat straggling form." 

 Growing, as on this occasion it was found, among short heather, it is 

 exceedingly difficult to distinguish, and much patient search may be 

 required, but it remains for some one to locate it again in this station, 

 and to work out its distribution. 



W..B. Bruce. 



Dublin. 



Entomological Notes from Co. Mayo. 



I spent five weeks this summer in the wild west, chiefly in Co. Mayo, 

 from 13th July to 20th August. The wet and cold weather experienced 

 during the greater part of my stay was unfavourable for collecting insects, 

 but nevertheless I managed to take a fair number, including several 

 species of interest. I made Westport my centre, but visited other parts 

 of Co. Mayo, notably Pontoon (22nd to 29th July) and Achill Island (5th 

 to 16th August). A tour was made in the far-famed Connemara dis- 

 trict, but was much curtailed on account of the wet weather. 



I am greatly indebted to Messrs. W. F. Johnson and J. N. Halbert for 

 kindly identifying many of my captures. I append a list of the more 

 interesting species ; those marked with an asterisk are new to Maj-o. 



LHPIDOPTERA.— Vanessa io. I found three full-fed caterpillars, August 

 18th, on nettles growing on the embankment near Westport railway 

 station. — Epinephele janira, I took three interesting varieties of this com- 

 mon butterfly at the foot of Nephin 1 one, a fresh male, had the right 



