yl. co. of ” oi o 
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ENTOMOLOGY OF CERTAIN DISTRICTS IN ULSTER. 125 
might have added Sligo, where our correspondent Mr. Percy 
Russ has unobtrusively worked for the past few seasons, and 
from which he has sent many curious and interesting forms of 
insects, generally common to our islands. The author of the 
paper then proceeds to say very truly that ‘the long reaches of 
sandhills and rocky shores around our coasts, luxuriant with 
every sort of maritime plant, and exposed to various aspects and 
climatic conditions, have for the most part yet to be explored. 
Our vast bogs and numerous lake and river margins have, strange 
to say, contributed a more meagre list than any one of the 
English fen districts.” No doubt the writer is correct in his 
statement as to the paucity of species as yet recorded from 
Treland. This may be attributed to two causes—first, that the 
country has been very inefficiently worked; and secondly, on 
account of the geographical position of the island in regard 
to the European continent. Lying as it does to the extreme 
west of the main continent, separated by the broad channel, 
having a humid and somewhat sunless climate, with prevalence of 
westerly winds blowing from the ocean, it is quite to be expected 
that there would exist a marked difference between the fauna of 
the main land of the continent, or even the adjoining islands of 
Great Britain. Little assistance could be expected from the 
blow-over theory, as such winds as could carry lepidopterous 
insects from the main land to Ireland would be chiefly from the 
east, and when strong enough would be unfavourable to the rapid 
flight of insects on account of the generally low temperature 
prevailing when these winds are prevalent. 
We should not look so much to the number of species of 
Lepidoptera which occur in Ireland, as to the variation in colour 
or habits which may be observed in those taken on account of 
their insular habitat, and the climatic influences surrounding the 
locality. From a scientific point of view it is of very much more 
value to observe the variation of different specimens which may 
lead to the key to the origin of species, and no better opportunity 
occurs for investigation of the subject than to the workers in 
Entomology in Ireland. It would be most advisable to have a 
series for comparison of even the commonest species taken in 
various parts of the island, especially from the boggy portions of 
the centre, and the mountainous districts of the west and north- 
west. The great low-lying tract of land known as the Bog of 
