THE 



ENTOMOLOGIST'S 

 MONTHLY MAGAZINE: 



SECOND SERIES-VOL. XI. 



[VOLUME XXXVI.] 



QEEAT FLIGHT OF COLIAS EDUSA IN THE WEST OF IRELAND. 

 BY THE EEV. C. T. CEUTTWELL, M.A. 



While enjoying an August holiday this year in Ireland at Eenvyle, 

 on the beautiful coast of Galway, just opposite the rocky Isle of Achill, 

 I was greatly surprised to observe a large flight of Colias Ediisa, con- 

 sisting of several hundred specimens, which had established their 

 head-quarters along a narrow strip of flowery meadow land extending 

 about half a mile in length, between the sandhills and the boggy land 

 within. I counted over two hundred in one day (August 5th), every 

 one of which was a male, and nearly all were in good condition. 

 During the next ten or twelve days I revif<ited the spot several times, 

 as well as suitable flowery places further south for three or four miles, 

 at several of which I came across single specimens, but never any 

 numbers. I can speak positively to the fact that not a single female 

 was to be seen. 



My three boys, who were keen buttei'fly catchers, took several 

 JEdusa in their daily rambles, and, following my instructions, kept a 

 sharp look out for a female specimen, but never saw one. I feel quite 

 sure that if that sex had occurred it must have fallen to the net of 

 one of our party. The occurrence seems to me so remarkable, that I 

 venture to send this notice of it to your Magazine, in the hope that 

 it may draw forth some record of a similar experience from other 

 observers. Where the insects came from is a mystery to me, as the 

 corner of Connemara where we were settled down, is a far cry from 

 any of the usual haunts of the species. 



Kibworth Rectory, Leicester : 

 Decemher Ith, 1899. 



Tanuary, 1900. 



