104 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



tains of Scotland and the North of England ; and, finally, the 

 cliffs and uncultivated slopes by our sea- shores. The latter 

 frequently form the last resting-place for many species after 

 agriculture has done its best (or worst) to drive them from their 

 native land. 



58, Hatherley Eoad, Walthamstow, March, 1897. 



As a practical observer and collector for many years, I should, 

 if asked the cause of the decadence of British Lepidoptera, 

 unhesitatingly say it arose from cultivation and ra]mcious col- 

 lectors chiefly. When a student at a well-known Agricultural 

 College on the Cotswolds in the sixties, I was acquainted with 

 one or two isolated and small colonies of Lyccena avion ; these 

 have long since disappeared owing to farming operations in the 

 form of mowing and feeding. Any one acquainted with agri- 

 culture must know how closely sheep tread, feed, and crop the 

 herbage ; these must frequently destroy the ova and larvae of 

 butterflies. As regards collectors, one told me some years since 

 that when L. avion was in its glory on the Cotswolds he had 

 taken as many as forty in a morning. 



At the present time I do not know where to find it. Should 

 any collector be fortunate enough to discover any new locality, 

 I sincerely hope he will not record it ; though slight, it will be 

 an assistance towards preservation. Though late, I believe 

 much might be done if collectors would be content with a small 

 series of a species. Personally, I fail to see the utility of a 

 large one, when there is no variation ; and rows crowded 

 together hide the form and outline of an insect, and certainly 

 do not add to the picturesqueness or artistic view of a cabinet. 



As regards Lyccena avion, I believe it to be also one of those 

 delicate and sensitive creatures which are unable to withstand 

 much interference with their surroundings. Cultivation must 

 in the long run destroy many of our Lepidoptera, but that is no 

 reason why we should assist in the work of extermination by 

 over-collecting.— T. B. Jefferys ; 17, New King Street, Bath. 



A CATALOGUE OF THE LEPIDOPTEEA OF IRELAND. 

 By W. F. de Vismes Kane, M.A., M.R.LA., F.E.S. 



(Continued from p. 62.) 



BoARMiA GEMMARiA, Bvahm. — Decidedly local, and not fre- 

 quently met with ; but appears more plentiful in the suburbs of 

 towns than in country districts. Varies widely, as in England, 

 and the var. pcvfumaria occurs with the type at Howth, Clon- 

 brock, and elsewhere. The larv^ are often to be found on ivy 



