269 



A CATALOGUE OF THE LEPIDOPTERA OF IRELAND. 



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



(Continued from p. 244.) 



HESPEBIIDzE. 



NisoNiADES TAGES, L. — 'Very local, and not known to be 

 widely distributed in Ireland. Galway seems to be its head- 

 quarters, specimens from which are characterised generally by 

 very distinct grey markings on the fore wing. The Enniskillen 

 form, similarly. Near Galway, abundant (A.), Ardrahan (Miss N.), 

 and Castle Taylor ; Co. Clare, Cratloe {N.), and Ennis. Ennis- 

 killen locally somewhat abundant {S.). 



Hesperia traumas, Hiifn. — " Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow, and 

 near Cork " (B.). 



Hesperia sylvanus, Esp. — " The Morrough of Wicklow" (B.) ; 

 not uncommon in a meadow in Lord Kenmare's demesne, Kil- 

 larney (IF.). 



HETEROCERA. 



SPHINGES. 



SPHINGID^. 



AcHERONTiA ATROPOS, L. — Generally distributed ; sporadic in 

 its occurrence, only single specimens being taken for the most 

 part. There is no doubt that the climate usually does not favour 

 its propagation, and that it occasionally is an immigrant. In the 

 'Entomologist,' vol. x. p. 300, the following account is given : — 

 " On October 8th, an engineer of one of the Dublin Steam Packet 

 Co.'s steamers brought me a live Acherontia atropos, which had 

 lighted on a crate of cabbages on deck, when twenty-five miles 

 from the Irish coast ; and on October 6th, 1876, a Sphinx convol- 

 vuli alighted on the same steamer." I have also a note of this 

 species being taken at the Tuscar Rock Lighthouse, six miles 

 from the S.E. point of Ireland. Its migrating powers explain 

 the fact that it is almost as often taken in Ulster and the less 

 genial climate of the north-west as in the south. (In 1865, 

 A . atropos, S. convolvuli, and V. cardui were noted to be abundant 

 at Dingwall in the Orkneys. — Ent. vol. iii.) Co. Donegal, 

 Greencastle {W. E. H.) ; Derry (C) ; Co. Antrim, Ballycastle, 

 1 by Mr. Milne (C.) ; Lisburn, S. Stears (IF.) ; Co. Tyrone, Caledon 

 (J.) and Kilskeery (Br.) ; twice taken near Sligo ; Co. Dublin, 

 occasional specimens ; Howth, 1 (S. R. F.) ; Co. Wicklow, Kilcool, 

 Wooden Bridge {M. F.) ; near Bray, plentiful in 1885 or 1886 ; 

 Co. Waterford, Cappagh (t/.); Co. Cork, Bandon (L.) ; near 

 Ballinasloe (i?.^\D.). 



