ANDREWS— NOTES ON IRISH LEPIDOPTERA. 21 



years very rare. Thus he (Mr. Andrews) found Cynthia cardui at one 

 season in myriads at the Magherees, Kerry, and other years not to he 

 seen. Seasons affect many of our Lepidoptera, and cause their non- 

 appearance even in sheltered localities. Colonel the Hon. D. B. 

 De Moleyns, who has taken great interest in Natural History pursuits, 

 had informed Mr. Andrews that Colias edusa was taken "both by him 

 and by Major Crosbie, at Ballyheigue, near Kerry Head, late in Septem- 

 ber last. Colonel De Moleyns also saw in the same locality several 

 specimens of the Humming Bird Hawk Moth, and also a smaller insect 

 of very similar habits and appearance, but evidently of a different spe- 

 cies. The Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui) was very common in Kerry 

 last season; and he saw it last year, 1000 feet above the sea, on Mount 

 Eagle. Early in October last he noticed the Brimstone Butterfly (Gonep- 

 teryx) in the county of Kilkenny. 



Some years since, when botanizing in the county of Kerry, at the 

 south-eastern extremity of Castlemaine Harbour, and while collecting 

 Bartsia viscosa, where extensive marshes stretch towards Milltown, Mr. 

 Andrews noticed a swift-flying insect, which he had attempted to cap- 

 tore. Erom its size and brilliancy of colour, he was satisfied that it could 

 be no other bat the large Copper Butterfly (Chrysophanus, or Lycena 

 dispar.) Having no net, and the drains being wide, it escaped. 

 Although at one time this insect was plentiful in the fenny districts of 

 England, yet drainage has so altered the features of the country, that 

 it had disappeared from those localities that were accessible to collec- 

 tors. There is no reason to suppose, where such favourable dis- 

 tricts present themselves as the south-western parts of this country, 

 that that insect, as well as others equally rare, ' may not be met. 

 Already many rare instances of zoology have been recorded from those 

 localities, and therefore the inference is strong that equally striking 

 facts of interest may yet be noticed. 



It is now twenty years since, when rambling through the wood of 

 Tarbert Demesne, in Kerry, that Mr. Andrews had met with the speci- 

 men of Limenitis sibylla. In a sheltered glade, bounded by oak and 

 hazel, the insect was captured. The day was sunny ; but the wind, 

 being strong, prevented a high flight, which it several times attempted. 

 The different species of " Eritillary," with the " Eed Admiral," and the 

 " Peacock," were in swarms. On mentioning this occurrence of Lime- 

 nitis to the late Dr. Ball, he said it had been noticed near Youghal, 

 near the locality where he had discovered Trichomanes. When soli- 

 tary cases are only brought forward, there are always doubts of further 

 captures. Mr. Edwin Burchall, whose entomological researches are well 

 known to us, wrote to him in March last : — " I was [he writes] at Kil- 

 larney for a week last August (1864), and had the pleasure of confirm- 

 ing observations of yours that had remained so long unconfirmed that 

 I had heard them doubted. Newman mentions in the ' Entomologist' 

 the occurrence of Gonepteryx rhamni in Ireland as doubtful ; but I saw 

 it at the foot of Mangerton, August 10, and sent a note to that effect." 

 "TheLepidopterous Eauna of Ireland," Mr. Burchall says, " only wants 



