tgiS. Notes. il 



inform mc that Inishkeel is a new locality for this echinoderm, 

 whose distribution is thus carried further north. In his paper on the 

 Echinodermata in the Clare Island Survey Mr. Nichols mentions three 

 colour varieties, purple, olive green, and reddish. Of these I noticed 

 examples of the first and last. 



W. F. Johnson. 

 Poyntzpass. 



Great Increase of Butterflies and Moths in Ireland. 



The summer just past has from all accounts been a most wonderful 

 one for Butterflies and Moths all over Ireland ; and 1 think those readers 

 who are interested in this subject ought to put on record their experiences 

 so that we might have in Irish Naturalist a history ot this wonderful 

 Butterfly year for future reference. 



It woidd be interesting to know if this great increase was observed all 

 over Ireland : whether these Butterflies were bred in this country or 

 migrated to it. If they were bred here why should this be a specially 

 good year, and where did the stock come from to make it such ? Why 

 should rare species like Peacocks suddenly appear in great numbers 

 round this district ? 



At Rostrevor large numbers were seen on flowering shrubs round the 

 hotel, and at Dunmurry a Privet bush in flower in Mr. Richardson's 

 garden used to be so covered with various species, including Peacocks, 

 that the flowers were hardly visible. Various Hawk-moths were also 

 common, and a friend saw both the Convolvulus and Humming-bird 

 Hawks, both of which I understand are rare in the north-east corner 

 of Ulster. 



Trusting that the above note may interest and induce some of the many 

 entomologists amongst us to relate their experiences for the benefit of 

 those like myself not well versed in this science. I am sure Sir Charles 

 Langham and the Rev. Mr. Foster could give us some interesting 

 information on the subject. 



W. H. Workman. 



Windsor, Belfast. 



Irish Psychid Moths. 



In response to my request for Psychid material from Ireland, Mr. 

 Thomas Greer of Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone, was kind enough to look 

 for cases during the past season, and on July 26th of this year I received 

 from him a few, which he had found in the neighbourhood of Lough 

 Neagh. It was evident that these belonged to the " casta " group, but 

 it was too late in the season to hope for imagines. Knowing the habits 

 of these insects I kept two cases separate and in due course they produced 

 numerous larvae. The time for hybernation is now arrived, and in 



