Insects. 1571 



the humidity of the atmosphere, which, in its extreme state, is well 

 known to be as unfavourable to the reproduction of the strictly terres- 

 trial insects as it is favourable to those which are aquatics, it is im- 

 possible to say ; but, certain it is that this unequal distribution does 

 exist, and moreover that the ratio of the existing numbers obtaining 

 between that country and our own, is so extraordinary, that I am con- 

 vinced that St. Patrick, when, in the sublime words of the Poet, 



He drove the frogs into the bogs 

 And smother'd up all the varmin, 



must have included under the latter head, not only its strict and legi- 

 timate members, but a large variety of creatures, which to admit with- 

 in its precincts, verily Entomologists would be indignant ! 



My first centre of action was Killarney. Here, as well as in the 

 other neighbourhoods, the water-insects stood pre-eminent. The 

 Lakes themselves harboured next to nothing, — but every river running 

 into them, (especially the beautiful Flesk, of which 1 cannot speak 

 in too high terms whether as regards its entomological productions 

 or its scenery), every mountain tarn and every little stream in the 

 whole vicinity where positively choked with Coleoptera, albeit the 

 species were but few. From those captured in the river Flesk, which 

 is a fair average example of the other streams, I would select the fol- 

 lowing, which inhabit it in profusion : 



Haliplus fulvus Laccophilus minutus 



ruficollis Gyrinus natator 



lineatus (Aube.) substriatus 



Hygrotus collaris ■ lineatus 



reticulatus Parnus prolifericornis 



inaequalis Elmis Volkmari 



scitulus parallelopipedus 



pictus Helophorus granulans 



Hydroporus depressus Enicocerus tristis 



l*2-punctatus Octhebius pygmaeus 



alpinus Hydraena riparia 



tristis? Limnebius ater 



rufifrons Laccobius minutus 



ovalis ochraceus 



-nigrita globosus 



•palustris Philhydrus melanocephalus 



crythrocephalus 



