128 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



theory," if I may call it so. I have collected a large 

 number of facts relative to Glossophora — more espe- 

 cially Paloearctic land and freshwater species and 

 varieties — which seem to me to be well explained 

 thereby, but it will be better to produce these after 

 I have heard the criticisms of other conchologists. 



As I have mentioned varieties, I may as well add 

 that the occurrence or non-occurrence of certain 

 forms as varieties, has a most important, and I think 

 confirmatory, bearing on the above hypotheses. The 

 colours of shells also help us considerably ; and by 

 comparing a series arranged primarily according to 

 shape (with deductions, of course, for obvious rever- 

 sions) and consisting of various British and foreign 

 Valvatidse and Paludinida:,* I arrive at a sequence of 

 colours, which agrees in a wonderful way with one of 

 the colour sequences noticed in insects, for which see 

 Mr. Tutt's " British Nocture and their Varieties," 

 vol. ii. Introduction, especially p. vi ; also the papers 

 on "Melanism and Melanochroism," (by the same 

 author), afford some interesting parallels (to the 

 genus Melania especially). On the whole, I should 

 think that there are more variations of colour-sequence 

 than he mentions, but the agreement in this particular 

 case is satisfactory. 



E. W. W. Bowell. 



SOME FAMOUS COLLECTING-GROUNDS 

 FOR DRAGON-FLIES. 



By the Author of "An Illustrated Handbook of 

 British Dragon-flies," "A Label List of British 

 Dragon-flies," etc., etc. 



IV. — THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY. 



THE Lakes of Killarney are without doubt the 

 most beautiful and attractive district in the 

 Emerald Isle. Every natural beauty that can please 

 the eye exists here in rich profusion. Nature is 

 everywhere in various garbs of beauty, awfully im- 

 pressive and awe-inspiring ; as, for instance, in the 

 gloomy Black Valley stretching away among the 

 fastnesses of the majestic MacGillicuddy's Reeks, 

 the noisy streams from their rugged sides but inten- 

 sifying the solitude — " A valley secluded as the heart 

 of the sternest recluse could desire, where ever- 

 brooding melancholy reigns ; " or the Gap of Dunloe 

 — that wild, lonely, magnificent defile, lying between 

 the Reeks and the Toomies, four miles long, in 

 which the lofty mountains, apparently rent asunder 

 by some strange convulsions of nature, overhang the 

 pathway, fearfully casting their gloomy shadows on 

 the murmuring stream below ; or the picturesque 

 romantic loneliness of Glena Bay — " the Bay of Good 

 Fortune ;" the shores and the lofty Glena Mountain, 



* Is there any sufficient reason for dividing these two 

 families? I can find nothing very cogent in the anatomy, and 

 think on the whole they should be ranged together. 



which are covered with a luxuriant growth of trees — 

 the oak, ash. pine, hazel, etc. ; with that never- 

 failing accompaniment of Killarney scenery — the 

 arbutus. 



The celebrated lakes are of course the chief centre 

 of attraction to the enthusiastic dragon-fly hunter in 

 this delightful domain, and well indeed will a careful 

 search after these winged treasures repay him for 

 the trouble. Nearly all the kinds of dragon-flies 

 which occur in Ireland may be found here, a 

 complete list of the different species indigenous to 

 the Emerald Isle being as follows : — Platetrum 

 depressum (not uncommon), Lepletrum quadrimacidata 

 (common), Sympetrum vulgatum (ditto), S. Scotiaim 

 (very plentiful), Cordulia cenea (this elegant insect 

 has not for certain been captured in Ireland, but is 

 believed to occur there), Gomphus vulgatissimits 

 (there is some doubt also respecting the occurrence of 

 this pretty species in the Emerald Isle), Condulegaster 

 annidatus (common, particularly among the mountain 

 streams, for which it seems to possess a special 

 predilection), Brachytron pratense (very local, but 

 generally common whenever it occurs), /Eschna 

 juncea (common, particularly in the north of Ireland) 

 sEscyanea (chiefly occurs in the south of the island), 

 SE.grandis (not rare, but local), Calopteryx virgo and 

 C. splendens (very plentiful everywhere), Lestes 

 nympha (rare and very local), L. sponsa (common, 

 but local), L. barbara (no example of this species 

 has ever been known to have been captured in 

 Ireland, but it is included in the British list on the 

 strength of a single specimen in the Dublin Univer- 

 sity Museum. If it occurs in the Emerald Isle at all, 

 the district of Killarney would probably be the most 

 likely place for it). Enallagmacyathigerum (plentiful) 

 Agrion ptdchcllum (local), A. puella (exceedingly 

 abundant everywhere), Ischnura elegans (very com- 

 mon), Pyrrhosoma minium (very plentiful every- 

 where), and Erythromma najas (very local and 

 rare). 



In addition to the district of Killarney there are 

 many other good hunting-grounds for dragon-flies in 

 the Emerald Isle which would well repay a visit; 

 this country, however, has hitherto been so sadly 

 neglected by entomologists, that it is uncertain what 

 " good species" may be made to turn up after a little 

 diligent research and investigation. The district in 

 the extreme south-east of the island ought to be 

 productive of many good species of dragon-flies, 

 from whence indeed, I have received Brachytron 

 pratense, Sympetrum vulgatum, Scoticum, and Lepe- 

 trum quadrimacidata, in addition to many other sorts 

 from correspondents at various times. 



THE " Book-Lovers' Leaflet " is always the firs 

 thing we select for perusal each month. The 

 " Easter Number " is as good as a holiday, and much 

 cheaper. (London : Pickering and Chatto : 66 

 Haymarket). 



