THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



No. 40.] APRIL, MDCCCLXVII. * [Pbice 6ix 



Irish Insect-Hu)iting Grounds. By Edwin Birchall, Esq. 



III. KiLLARNEY. 



It is not possible in a few words to convey a clear idea of 

 the mountains and lakes which are included in the magic 

 word Killarney, but the general form of the country may be 

 described as consisting of two nearly parallel ranges of 

 mountains of the old red standstone formation, between 

 which lie the three principal lakes : these communicate with 

 one another, but are divided into separate basins by the 

 spurs of the surrounding mountains. 



The mountain of Can^antuohill, one of the range known as 

 the Reeks of Macgillicuddy, closes the western end of the 

 valley, rising sheer from the lake to the height of 3414 feet, 

 the loftiest summit of Ireland ; gloomy valleys, surrounded 

 by almost vertical precipices, run deeply into it, sometimes, 

 as in the case of the Gap of Dunloe, cutting completely 

 through ; in others, as the Hags Glen from the north and 

 the Black Valley from the south, almost meeting in the 

 heart of the range, the erosive action having apparently 

 ceased just before a great natural cutting was completed 

 through the mountain. 



These valleys were probably excavated by the currents of 

 the glacial sea during the gradual elevation of its bed; and it 

 has been clearly shown that the Killarney district, during 

 some part of the glacial period, must have been submerged 

 to a depth of about 2500 feet below its present level:* up to 

 this height the sides of the mountains are rounded, whilst 

 above it they are rough and bristling, the probable result of 

 atmospheric action, supposing the tops to have stood out as 

 islands in the glacial sea. 



The great terraces of drift between Tore and Mangerton, 



* See explanations to sheet 181 of the ' Geological Survey of Iceland.' 

 VOL. III. S. 



