"W. F. DE V. Kane — Researches at EiUarneij. 591 



few times in tlie iN'orth of England. According to Staudiuger it is a 

 boreomorpliic form, being an aberration in Lapland and a permanent 

 variety in Finland. Several localities in Sweden, Norway, and Fin- 

 land are given in the Catalogue of Scandinavian Macroleindoptera by 

 Sven Lampa. The weather became very wet from about the 20th to 

 the 25th of April, so that little could be done after the first week of 

 my stay. 



The 8th of June found me again at Killarney in quest of Ophiodes 

 lunaris and Notodonta bicoloria. The weather was all that could be 

 desired in the daytime ; but, at sundown, the l!{. E. wind, which 

 constantly prevailed, had a most prejudicial effect, the thermometer 

 falling suddenly several degrees ; so that during the whole of June 

 and part of July no Noctuse would fly. In vain the various methods 

 of attraction were tried : on a few nights only, in the warmer and 

 sheltered portions of the forest, a few moths came to sugar ; and a 

 powerful fen-lamp attracted a few Arctia menthrasti and one or two 

 common species. During my stay, therefore, in June, my collection 

 was almost wholly made up of such species as were to be taken in the 

 daytime, and I had thus to forego the greater portion of my available 

 resources for capture. 



This phenomenon was widespread. A collector at Markree, Co. 

 Sligo, was for weeks entirely unsuccessful in taking a single specimen 

 of various species which abound in that locality ; and similar expe- 

 riences were recorded from various parts of England, 



The absence from my list of captures of many Macrolepidoptera, 

 which are common in the district at that time of year, is not there- 

 fore to be taken as evidencing either want of assiduity on my part, or 

 even temporary dearth of those species ; because numerous imagos 

 emerged from pupae in my possession ; and there was no reason to 

 think that Noctuse, though retarded a fortnight, were not in their 

 usual numbers. 



In Mr. Herbert's demesne several varieties were found. Charles 

 Donovan, Esq., f.e.s., who joined me for a week, was fortunate 

 enough to beat a specimen of Eurymene dolobraria out of an oak ; 

 and very kindly handed it me for the National Museum. There is but 

 one previous undoubted instance of its capture in Ireland, namely, a 

 specimen taken by Dr, Cosgrave at Swords several years ago. Three 

 specimens of Tephrosia punctularia also fell to my net. This is a very 

 local species ; and Mr, Birchall gives Co. "Wicklow and Killarney as 

 its habitats. I have to record the capture of Lobophora sexalisata, 

 and Eupithecia fraxinata, which are new to the Irish list. Panagra 

 petraria is a very local insect, but occurs in some abundance in the 

 forest near Tore Waterfall, and near Tower Lodge. Mr. Bristow has 

 taken it in the Co. Wicklow. One specimen each of Acidalia inornata, 

 Ligdia adustata, and Perostoma palpina (Mucross) — the two latter 

 noted as occurring in Co. Wicklow by Birchall — were interesting 

 additions. One Cymatophora fluctuosa was taken at dusk on the 



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