A CATALOGUE OF THE LEPIDOPTERA OF IRELAND. 19 



examples bred by Mr. Blandford, kindly shown me by Mr. Barrett. 

 Mr. Russ sent me one from Sligo which was an undoubted. 

 D. capsophila, but bleached to a brownish hue. The Irish 

 examples therefore of this species are very distinct, and though 

 variable, from a cold grey ground (which I have taken in August, 

 but never bred an example), and black somewhat shot with 

 violet, to dull black with only vestiges of the stigmata and ante- 

 marginal line observable. These latter (a very melanic form) 

 came from the Blasket Islands (see arite, D. cucuhali). The lines 

 and markings, except when obliterated, are always whitish grey, 

 without the ochreous tone observable in carpophaga. On the 

 Continent some examples have a slightly warmer ground colour, 

 with white pencillings, of which I possess two. There is but a 

 shade of difference between them and the majority of Irish ones. 

 Berce describes those from Doubs and Digne, in the Basses-Alpes, 

 as blackish grey, often slightly tinted with a yellowish brown, 

 with white lines and markings. The dark form tallies with 

 Guenee's var. a {suffusa, Tutt), and to this almost all our Irish 

 examples are referable. Occasional trivial aberrations occur, 

 with whitish median and submedian nervures. The Manx and 

 Irish capsophila are identical. It is noticeable, in connection 

 with the specific controversy, that in France D. carpophaga is 

 more or less abundantly found throughout the low-lying provinces ; 

 but D. capsophila is always pretty rare, and only occurs in 

 mountainous districts. The same appears to obtain elsewhere in 

 Europe, unless indeed it is found in Sardinia and Corsica on the 

 coast, and not on the mountains. If then a variety of carpophaga, 

 it must be recognised as a mountain form ; and we have numerous 

 cases, especially in botanical distribution, in which mountain and 

 sea-coast produce a parallel fauna. So far the evidence in favour 

 of merging the two species seems essentially weak. Localities (I 

 follow the coast-line, and omit counties, for brevity) : — Howth, 

 Ireland's Eye, Lambay L, Killiney, Bray Head, Kilcool, Wicklow 

 Head, Bosslare, the Saltee and Keragh Is., Dunmore, Tramore, 

 Mine Head, Ballycottin, Roches Point, Old Head of Kinsale, 

 Galley Head, Glandore, dark forms (D.) ; Castlehaven, Crook- 

 haven, shores of Bantry Bay, Darsey I., Dingle Bay, the Blaskets 

 (melanic form) ; Liscannor, Inishmor I., Ballyvaughan, Salthill, 

 (Curz.) ; Inishboffin L, Renvyle and dump I., Killary Bay, 

 Lissadel, Knocknarea {Russ.) ; Mount Charles, and near Belle 

 Isle; Sheephaveu, Shores of L. Swilly, Inishowen Head, Bally- 

 castle [Curz.); Rathlin I., Copeland I., Clogher Head. 



(To be continued.) 



