Kane — On the Entomology of certain Districts in Ulster. 787 



To this, though, a promising locality, I was unable to devote much 

 time ; for, owing to the unsettled state of the country, I found my 

 nocturnal rambles there were generally superintended by two stalwart 

 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary. 



Enthusiasm in so peaceful a pursuit as mine is somewhat chilled 

 by such ominous concomitants. 



Thrice in the year I spent a week or a fortnight in that neighbour- 

 hood, proceeding from thence to Lough Oughter, where, by the kind 

 permission of Lord Earnham, I was lodged in a "cottage ornee " on 

 the promontory of Killykeen (beautiful wood), an appellation it well 

 merits. The shores and islands of this lake are still partly clothed 

 with remnants of the ancient woods which have given them in many 

 cases their names. 



The same descriptions of timber are found here as at Eavour Eoyal, 

 while the underwood is a dense thicket of hazle. Not only were the 

 shores of Lough Oughter anciently wooded, but the west bank of the 

 river Erne, down to its junction with the upper lake of that name, is 

 marked in the old maps as having been a forest. 



In this district I was fortunate enough to secure a large variety of 

 species in the early season, some in great numbers, and others of much 

 rarity. The later season I devoted to the examination of the neigh- 

 bouring demesne of Earnham, which, from its extent and the magni- 

 jB.cence of its timber, promised remarkable results. 



But from the reasons above alluded to, aided by inclement weather, 

 I took very few species of any kind there, even Scopelosomia satellitia 

 being conspicuous by its absence, and only a single specimen of Agrio- 

 pis aprilina occurred, in a demesne full of magnificent oak ! 



Erom both localities, however, I have hopes of future additional 

 results from my visits, as I have furnished apparatus to very intelligent 

 persons, who are instructed in their use. 



The manor of " Earnane," as it is designated in the Down Survey, 

 i.e. " the place of alders," was acquired by an ancestor of the present 

 earl some 230 years ago, when the extensive beech woods, now of 

 colossal size, were most likely planted, and are said to have been the 

 first introduced into Ireland. It is probable that some of the great 

 oaks may date beyond that period, and be survivals of ancient woods 

 which formerly clothed part of that country. 



These two localities are very similar in their geological and bota- 

 nical features, but differ somewhat in elevation, the Eavour Royal 

 district averaging about 300 ft., while L. Oughter is 160 ft. above 

 the sea level at low-water. The former is situated at the tongue of 

 the Tyrone coal measures, just at the junction of the Carboniferous 

 and Old Sandstone series ; while the latter, Earnham, forms part of the 

 central Limestone plain of Ireland. Though separated by about twenty- 

 five miles of country, very bare of trees, the accordance of their en- 

 tomological fauna is remarkable, as a glance at the list will show, and 

 this would, doubtless, be more evidenced by further careful research, 

 and would seem to indicate a formerly widespread distribution, several 



