1868. J 249^ 



Auother fact porhaps worth noticing about Rannoch is, that while it seems to 

 appropriate to itself most of the Alpine and boreal insects, yet it possesses but 

 few (and these the commonest) Alpine plants ; while the neighbouring district of 

 Breadalbane, lying immediately to the south, has more Alpine and boreal plants 

 than any other place in Britain, and yet but few Alpine and boreal insects. Bread- 

 albane, however, has higher mountains and less wood, which may perhaps account 

 for the difference. 



The following list only contains species that have come under my own 

 observation at Rannoch, and does not include nearly all the Lepidoptera found at 

 Rannoch, nor even all the species taken there this year. I have, however, men- 

 tioned every species (except among the Micros) that I have seen, as it may be of 

 some interest to note how many common insects are conspicuous by their absence. 

 Pieris hrassiccB, rapi, and nap(B ; Argynnis Aglaia and Selene ; Vanessa tirticce, 

 hybernated specimens of which were abundant in the beginning of July. Of this 

 I think there would be only one brood in the year. Erehia Epvphron (CassiopeJ, 

 near Kinloch Rannoch. I was unfortunate with this species, only discovering it 

 when rather passde, although I had been on the ground very shortly before and 

 seen nothing of it. It appeared this year at the end of July ! The Messrs. Black- 

 burn took it at Grayvel, and also on Ben Lawers in Breadalbane. A friend of 

 mine met with it abundantly near Killin. Chortohius PampMlus. O.Davus, common 

 and variable. Most specimens were the usual pale form, commonest in Scotland. 

 Some of the dark English type also turned up, July 8th and August. C. Typlion 

 ditto, and var. Isis. Thecla ruhi, one specimen in the Black Wood, June 28th. 

 Lycaena Alexis, L. Agestis, var. ? Artaaoerxes, Kinloch, June 27th ; sparingly, and, as 

 usual, associated with Helianthemum vulgare. I am inclined to agree with those 

 who consider this only a climatic variety, and not a distinct species ; yet the 

 difference of the food-plants of the variety and of the type is striking, Helianthemum 

 vulga/re and Erodium cicutarium belonging to widely different orders. The former 

 plant only occurs at Rannoch ; but on Arthur's Seat at Edinburgh, and onKinnoull 

 Hill at Perth, where AHaxerxes is common, both plants are common ; but I never 

 saw the butterfly show any predilection for Erodium. I hope next spring to obtain 

 some larvze, and try the experiments that Professor Zeller suggests. Smerinthus 

 populi, larvaa on sallow in September. Cossus ligniperda, larvae of all ages in 

 birch trees. I know not of this having been met with in the county before, nor do 

 I know where else it occurs in Scotland. Its satellite, the beetle Soronia puncta- 

 Ussima, occurs in the burrows not uncommonly. Mr. T. Blackburn attacked one 

 tree with such Entomological ardour in pursuit of beetles, that I was not greatly 

 surprised one day, when passing, to see that it had fallen ! I endeavoured to 

 obtain for such ejected Cossi as I could find a habitation in a neighbouring tree. 

 Hepialus velleda, June 27th. H. humuli, June 25th. Chelonia plantaginis, July 8th. 

 Arctia fuliginosa, very common in the larva state. Orgyia fasceUna, larvae. Demas 

 coryli, larvae on hazel ; two on sallow. About Perth the larvae affect birch and 

 beech. Pwcilocavipa populi, larvse on alder ; imago appeared October 14th. 

 Bonihyx ruhi, larvte very common. B. callunae, common, June 19th ; larvae in 

 autumn, on heather, sallow, and ,oak. Endromis versicolor, larvse in September, 

 on alder ; I always thought this preferred birch. I could not find any, however, on 



