BIRCHALL — CATALOGUE OF IRISH LEPIDOPTKBA. 61 



type of Fauna and Flora is so strikingly developed as in 

 the South-western portion of Ireland. 

 Erebia Blandina. — One species of the " Scottish, or Northern Type." 

 As this insect is widely spread over the northern part of 

 Great Britain, and abounds in Argyleshire, almost within 

 sight of the Irish shores, I confidently anticipate its disco- 

 very in Ireland. I have never collected in Ulster, where it 

 will most likely be found. 



Enjoying, as Ireland does, a milder climate than any other portion 

 of the British Islands, the absence (if it should really prove such) of the 

 foregoing twenty- one Butterflies, of which sixteen are also absent from 

 Scotland, is a remarkable circumstance ; and I know of nothing in 

 the physical condition, or in the Flora of the island, to explain it. 



In the present imperfect state of our knowledge of Irish Lepidop- 

 tera, perhaps it is premature even to hazard a conjecture as to the 

 cause : if, however, we suppose the separation of Ireland from England 

 by the formation of St. George's Channel to have taken place previously 

 to the introduction of the bulk of the present Fauna, and a connexion 

 to have subsisted with Scotland to a later date, it will offer an expla- 

 nation of the northern character of the Irish Fauna, which is very 

 strongly marked, even in the extreme south of the island, at Killarney, 

 amidst conditions of climate and vegetation offering the most complete 

 contrast with Scotland within the limits of the British Islands. 



JNoCTTTRNI. 



Smerinthus ocellatus. — "Widely distributed, but apparently rare. 



,, Populi — common everywhere. 



Acherontia Atropos — generally distributed, but not so abundant as 



might have been expected in the metropolis of the potato plant. 

 Sphinx Convolvuli. — In 1859 very common in Dublin and adjoining 



counties. 

 Ligustri. — Mr. Halliday has found the same, but I am unable to say 



where. 

 Deilephila Galii — "Two specimens said to have been taken on the coast." 

 (Mr. Greene's list). 

 , , Euphorbiae — Inserted in the list by Mr. Green, on Mr. Hely's 

 authority, who observed the larva? at Killiney. The food 

 plant, Euphorbia Paralius, grows abundantly on many 

 parts of the Irish coast. 

 ,, Lineata — Two specimens are in the Collection of Trinity 

 College, captured near Youghal, by the late Dr. Ball; and 

 I possess a pair taken near Killarney in 1864, hovering 

 over a bed of Petunias. 

 Chaerocampa Porcellus. — Widely distributed, and common. 



,, Elpenor. — Do. do. 



Macroglossa Stellatarum. — Very common ; seems to be on the wing 

 day and night for the greater part of the year. It frequently 



