A CATALOGUE OF THE LEPIDOPTERA OF IRELAND. 11 



defined by the black bands. Occasional aberrations occur with 

 the type, however, in which the basal halves of the wings are 

 white, ornamented by black spots and irregular streaks in 

 place of the usual black band ; and the black marking on the 

 outer margin much diminished. The small Scottish forms from 

 Sutherland, Isle of Lewes, &c, and also from Yorkshire, in 

 which the white bands are reduced in size and bear a well- 

 marked series of spots (as represented in the second illustration 

 in Newman's 'British Moths'), has not yet been noticed in 

 Ireland. Our small examples tend, like the rest, to an increase 

 of the white pattern. This northern variety appears to be the 

 var. subhastata, Nolck., of Sven Lampa's Cat. Scand. Lep. A 

 variety even more obscured by black than the above was sent me 

 from Scandinavia, in which the basal halves of the wings are 

 black with interrupted white lines, and the white median band as 

 narrow as that of the smaller species, M. tristata, and heavily 

 spotted. In fact, with a larger expanse, its character approxi- 

 mates closely to the latter species, and appears to be a transi- 

 tional form, and may be referable to var. gothicata, Gn. Thus 

 it would appear that a well-marked gradation of characters is 

 developed under the influence of northern climates ; so that this 

 species seems worthy of more attention than it has yet received 

 from students of melanic phenomena. Irish specimens, how- 

 ever, bear a distinctly southern impress. Killarney (Toomies 

 and Cromaglaun), Kenmare, Sneem, and elsewhere in Kerry, 

 fairly plentiful ; Ballyvourney and Macroom, Co. Cork ; Kyle- 

 more {Hon. E. L.), Ballynahinch, Merlin Park, Clonbrock, 

 Ardrahan, &c, Co. Galway ; Sligo (W.) ; common near Tempo 

 Manor, Enniskillen (Langham); Altadiawan, Tyrone; Kilderry 

 (C.) and Buncrana (Milne), near Derry; and I have met with it 

 in great numbers at Pontoon, on the shore of L. Conn, Mayo. 



Melanippe tristata, L. — A very local species, though nume- 

 rous in its haunts. Irish specimens have the black bands of the 

 basal half of the wings pale, and generally much broken up 

 with white ; and the white transverse band broad. A Scandi- 

 navian specimen in my cabinet has the basal half of the wing 

 deep black, traversed by two white striae, and the outer marginal 

 black band very broad and dark, with a few white spots. I have 

 a few similar English examples. A curious aberration from 

 Powerscourt, Wicklow, has all the white ground suffused with 

 rusty yellow, and the black markings very pale and broken up. 

 Tinahely (Bw.), Kippure and Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow ; Claring 

 Bridge (B.), Kylemore {Hon. E. L.), and Ardrahan, Co. Galway; 

 Enniskillen (^4.); mountain above Tollymore Park, Knockagh, 

 near Carrickfergus (W.) ; Cappagh, Co. Waterford. 



Melanippe unangulata, Haw.— Very local and uncommon. 

 Belfast [Bw.) ; Enniskillen, one {Col. Partridge) ; Cappagh, Co. 



