LEPIDOPTERA 



TAKEN IN THE BELFAST DISTRICT. 

 By Charles W. Watts, F.I.C. 



INTRODUCTION. 

 [Read 20th February, i8g4^\ 



The entomologist living in Belfast has within his reach many 

 places where he can capture his game. For short excursions, 

 the range of hills from the Knockagh to the White Mountain 

 is probably the best ground, including, as it does, wooded glens 

 such as Collin Glen, the chalky slopes of the eastern faces, and 

 the moorland and bogs of the higher parts of the hills. Each 

 of these has its characteristic flora, and, feeding on the plants, 

 we may expect an insect-fauna to correspond. 



Nearer home than the hills are productive spots like the 

 marshes by the Lagan, and the Bog Meadows, and the lanes and 

 hedgerows produce plenty of common insects, besides some 

 better species among the Micro-lepidoptera. 



Further afield, but still within a day's excursion, are Island- 

 magee and the coast just north of Larne, and on the Co. Down 

 side, the shore and the numerous plantations, especially the 

 woods about Helen's Tower. 



Inland in both counties we cannot expect great results. The 

 country is more or less cultivated, and on such ground only the 

 commonest species occur, but these sometimes swarm in par- 

 ticular places. 



Of the more distant localities within the district the Mourne 

 Mountains are undoubtedly the best, and after them, the Glens 

 of Antrim, particularly Glenarm, and the sandhills of Portrush, 



