﻿1869.] 39 



The larva when younger has the yellow markings less distinot, and in two of 

 the examples found on the Genista, they scarcely appeared even to the last. 



The larva enters the earth, but only just beneath the surface, to undergo its 

 change. 



The pupa is very short and thick, especially about the middle of the abdomen, 

 rounded, and blunt at the anal tip ; the wing-cases nowhere projecting, but smooth 

 and large in proportion, and like the rest of the surface, unpolished ; in colour, it is 

 of a dark, dull, purplish-brown, and it is thick set with short dark brown bristles, 

 excepting only the wing-covers which are blackish-brown and have no bristles. 

 Its appearance would assimilate very well to pellets of earth. — Ws. Bucklek, 

 Bmsworth. 



Irish Lepidoptera in April, 1869. — I spent the latter half of April with some 

 old friends at Castle- Connell, near Limerick, when, although I had many other 

 matters to occupy my time besides Entomology, I managed to spai'e a few days in 

 the pursuit of my hobby. During the greater portion of my stay the weather was 

 fine, but with cold or high winds, and every night, except two, when it rained 

 heavily, the brilliancy of the moonlight precluded even the hope of successful 

 sugaring, so that I did not even attempt this method of collecting. Larva hunting, 

 too, was almost a total failure, and after the first two or three unsuccessful attempts 

 at beating, I gave up the search in utter disgust. The 25th and 26th I devoted to 

 the exploration of Cratloe Woods, net and beating stick in hand. These woods are 

 about 400 acres or more in extent, lying nearly parallel to the Limerick and Bnnis 

 Eailway, and are 10 miles by line from the former town, although not more than 

 five as the crow flies. They are on the side and foot of a moderately steep and 

 high hill, one of the lower range of the Clare mountains. The lower part, which is 

 on the flat, is mostly Scotch fir and larch with a thick undergrowth of bramble, 

 holly, hawthorn, &c. ; higher up the hill side the fir gives place to oak, beech, 

 birch, sallow, hornbeam, spruce, fir, &c, all becoming very stunted towards the top; 

 the highest point being again larch. Above the wood for miles stretches the heath- 

 clad mountain side, the highest points running into huge mounds of loose shingle 

 and moss. All through the wood the whortleberry was in profuse blossom, and this 

 and holly were the most noticeable features of the undergrowth, which, however, 

 comprises a great number of other plants. It was terrible windy each day I went, 

 to which, partially at least, may be ascribed my want of greater success, for looking 

 at the great variety of vegetation, I cannot but think these woods only require 

 systematic " working," to yield a much richer insect-fauna than the few common 

 species named below would indicate. 



On "taking stock" on my return to Limerick, I found I had captured or seen 

 four species, viz. — P. napi, A, cardamines — common ; V. urticce, V. Io. — both very 

 abundant in all stages of disrepair ; 8. JEgeria — common ; 8. Mcegera — only just com- 

 ing out ; P. Argiolus, during the two days I saw between 30 and 40, which, looking 

 at the immense quantity of holly, I thought few, but doubtless many escaped my 

 notice, owing to the height of the bushes, and density of the wood. 



F. atomaria — on the heath the commonest species seen, except A. cardamines 

 a few days later at Glenenomeragh ; P. petraria — 3, one being crippled and turned 



