214 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Plusia FESTuciE, L. — Found in most localities, but seldom 

 abundantly. The ground colour is sometimes a very deep brown, 

 wholly obscuring the neuration in the central wing-area. The 

 two metallic central patches are most variable in size and 

 shape, sometimes very widely divided, and sometimes only by 

 a line. I have taken it in the extreme north, as well as in 

 Co. Cork, and it is widely spread throughout Central Ireland. 

 A second flight has been often observed in September by myself 

 and others. 



Plusia iota, L. — Local, and by no means usually common. 

 Mr. Maurice Fitzgibbon took a very pretty salmon-tinted speci- 

 men at Howth (?var. ancora^ Frr). The gamma-mark is some- 

 times very minute in var. percontatioyiis, Tr., but I have never 

 seen a specimen in which it was obsolete. Found widely in 

 Cos. Dublin and Wicklow; Castle Bellingham, very numerous 

 (Thornhill) ; Armagh (J.) ; near Derry (C.) ; scarce at Clonbrock, 

 Co. Galway (R. E. D.) ; Sligo, and Drumreaske, Co. Monaghan ; 

 not rare in Co. Westmeath. 



Plusia pulchrina, Hmv. — The commonest species except P. 

 gamma. The ground colour varies from a rich yellowish brown 

 to a fine purple, variable in strength of tone. Below the oval 

 metallic spot is another of deep orange colour in most examples. 



Plusia gamma, L. — Extremely common everywhere. Earely 

 fresh specimens occur with pale ground colour like that of 

 hybernated examples. Some years ago I noticed this moth in 

 swarms on the bare shaven sward of Dursey Island, off the Kerry 

 coast, flying to the thrift flowers ; and, as the locality is a very 

 unlikely one for this species to breed in abundance, it would 

 suggest a migration. 



Plusia interrogationis, L. — Common on many heathery 

 moors and hillsides in Ireland. Our specimens seem to be 

 somewhat brighter in ground colour than Scottish, which are 

 blacker. When freshly emerged the violet-purple tint is very 

 handsome. One specimen I took at Mote Park, Koscommon, is 

 very pale in ground colour, with the transverse lines and mark- 

 ings very striking and broad, as well as the interrogation 

 marking, which is extraordinarily large and massive. In some 

 specimens, however, it becomes almost obsolete. The larvae are 

 conspicuous and easily found both by lamplight and in sunshine, 

 but are very subject to ichneumons. Localities : — Altadiawan, 

 Co. Tyrone, not rare ; Tempo Manor, Enniskillen (Langham), do. ; 

 Cromlyn {Mrs. B.) and Killynon {Miss E.), Co. Westmeath, do,; 

 Ballinasloe, very common {Hon. Emily Laivless), and Mote Park, 

 Roscommon ; Hollybrook {Miss ff.}, Markree Castle, andL. Gill, 

 abundant, Co. Sligo ; Kilderry, near Derry, not rare (C) 



(To be continued.) 



