128 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



altitudes that melanism becomes the rule rather than the ex- 

 ception ; many of the topomorphic varieties are melanic, and 

 many of the Alpine species are very dark ; Pieris napi var. 

 hryonice may be given as an example of the former, and the 

 males of Melitcea cijnthia of the latter. This uncertain condition 

 of the weather is characteristic of the climate of the British Isles. 

 The result is that our indigenous Lepidoptera are, as a rule, 

 darker in colour than the continental, and the tendency to 

 melanism increases northwards, till it may be said to culminate 

 in the Shetlands." 



I cannot see the force of objections based on the existence of 

 such " zanthochroic" forms as P. ajwllo, P. delius, &c., at high 

 levels in the Alps and Pyrenees. One law is not necessarily 

 universal for all species, especially when they belong to different 

 groups. 



Mr. Harcourt-Bath has no doubt pointed out a vera causa in 

 the preponderance of organic over physical environments, but 

 his theory must not be pushed too far. He cannot disregard 

 physical environment as a factor in the origin of melanism in 

 the light of the increased melanic tendencies in insects inhabiting 

 districts neighbouring on our manufacturing towns, and the 

 views expressed upon this tendency. The melanism controversy 

 of 1893 is conveniently summarized in * The British Naturalist ' 

 for 1893, pp. 61-71. 



College, Winchester, April, 1897. 



A CATALOGUE OF THE LEPIDOPTEEA OF IRELAND. 

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



(Continued frona p. 107.) 



Tephrosia punctularia, HI). — Nowhere at all plentiful. 

 Wicklow (Tinahely, Bw.) and Kerry (B.) ; Mucross and the 

 Upper Lake of Killarney ; Clonbrock, Co. Galway, scarce. 

 Some specimens from this locality have the spots very large 

 on a clear whitish ground, so that they have a superficial 

 resemblance to Cleora glahraria. 



Gnophos obscuraria, HI). — Widely spread along the Irish 

 coast, and often very abundant ; but scarce inland at the few 

 localities it has been reported from, namely Mallow, Co. Cork 

 (Stawell) ; Clonbrock [R. E. D.) and Eecess, Co. Galway. I have 

 seen no black forms, nor any of the pale chalk varieties. Those 

 at Howth are as light as any Irish examples I have met with. 

 At Minehead, Co. Waterford ; Clogher Head, Louth ; and New- 

 castle, Co. Down, they are somewhat darker in tone. 



[Dasyclia ohfuscaria, Hb. — Erroneously listed by Birchall as 



