594 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



^Ir. Birchall has noted Hadena rectilinea and the Alpine vai'. monti- 

 vaga of Acronyctia euphorbise as occurring at Killarney. 



We have therefore evidence of considerable significance derived 

 from three several distinct orders of animals, which attests the sur- 

 vival in Ireland, and especially in Kerry, of Alpine and sub-Arctic 

 forms, And whereas the Fauna of high latitudes, when present in 

 more southern countries, are found to be more or less confined to lofty 

 altitudes, we have here oromorphic and boreomorphic forms inhabiting 

 valleys and plains only slightly elevated above the sea-level, and not 

 only from five to seven degrees of latitude south of their Continental 

 habitats, but in a district which enjoys a milder climate than countries 

 on the same parallel. 



And side by side with these witnesses of a former sub-Arctic 

 climate, to which the geological features of the lakes, and the glacier- 

 worn spurs of the surrounding mountains also testify, we find in the 

 South of Ireland, as I pointed out in a former report, five or six 

 I'istinctly S. European species of Lepidoptera to which, if we accept 

 I^ouchard's testimony, we may add Ophiodes lunaris. In connexion 

 with the above remarks I would call attention to the preface to 

 AVollaston's ''Insecta Maderensia." The learned author points out 

 that as regards the coleopterous fauna of Madeira "there is some 

 slight (though decided) collective assimilation with what we observe 

 ia the South- Western extremity of England and Ireland, nearly all the 

 species which are common to Madeira and the British Isles being 

 jound in those particular regions ; whilst one point of coincidence, at 

 any rate, and of a very remarkable nature, has been fully discussed 

 under Mesites." He proceeds to say: — "Whether or not this partial 

 parallelism may be employed to further Professor E. Forbes' s theory of 

 the quondam approximation by means of a continuous land, of the 

 Kerry and Galician Hills, and of a huge miocene continent extending 

 beyond the Azores, and including all these Atlantic clusters in its 

 embrace, I will not venture to suggest ; nevertheless, it is impossible to 

 deny that, so far as the Madeiras betoken, everything would go to 

 favour this grand and comprehensive idea." The Mesites referred to 

 above is M. maderensis, which although specifically dissimilar from 

 M. tardii of Kerry, approaches it very closely indeed. This curious 

 beetle I found in more than one locality in Killarney, where (in 

 Innisfallen Island) it was first discovered by Mr. Tardy. I also met 

 with its larvae, hitherto undescribed, and sent a number of specimens 

 to the British Museum. I may also note that this beetle comes to 

 sugar after dark, as do many of the Bhyncophora. 



I cannot close my report without acknowledging the kind courtesy 

 of Lord Kenmare in permitting me access with certain restrictions to 

 his forests : and of Mr. Hussey, who gave me similar privileges on Mr. 

 Herbert's property and Mucross Demesne. 



