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X. Notes on Lepidoptera from the region of the Straits of 

 Gibraltar. By James J. Walker, E.N., F.L.S. 



[Read March 5th, 1890.] 



The following remarks on the Lepidoptera observed by 

 me on both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar must not be 

 regarded as at all exhaustive of the subject, but rather 

 as indicating merely a fragment of the entomological 

 riches of a region which, though of limited extent, com- 

 prises portions of the continents of Europe and Africa, 

 and moreover presents some interesting features in the 

 relative distribution of the insects and other living 

 things on each side of the narrow channel which sepa- 

 rates these two great masses of land. It is in the hope 

 of adding a little to the knowledge of the Natural History 

 of one of our most interesting and valued British pos- 

 sessions, and of the country in its immediate vicinity, 

 as well as of their affording some little assistance to any 

 entomologist who, like myself, may have the good 

 fortune to be located for a time at Gibraltar, that I offer 

 these field-notes, with a brief description of my principal 

 hunting-grounds in the region. 



From October, 1886, to April, 1889, I was attached to 

 H.M.S. ' Grappler,' stationed at Gibraltar, and naturally 

 my chief collecting-ground was on "the Eock " itself, 

 and the adjoining Spanish territory within easy walking 

 distance. I was mainly occupied in making as complete 

 a collection as possible of the Coleoptera of the district, 

 and as several other orders of insects, as well as the 

 land-mollusca, claimed a share of my attention, the 

 Lepidoptera cannot be considered as at all thoroughly 

 worked out. The necessary military restrictions of so 

 important a fortress prevent any collecting at night, 

 except almost in the town itself, and as all communi- 

 cation with Spain is cut off half-an-hour after sunset 

 every evening by the closing of the barrier-gates, no 

 entomological work is practicable outside after that time. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1890. PART II. (jUNE.) 2 B 



