Insects. 



6769 



rolls: at that time (1846) Professor Forbes stated, "There was no 

 evidence of any local assemblage of animals corresponding to this 

 Flora." The missing link is now, in part at least, supplied, a number 

 of peculiar shells having been found attached to the district and 

 neighbouring shores; and although with regard to the insect tribes 

 we are still imperfectly informed, evidence is not wanting that a local 

 assemblage of insects also exists. Anthrocera Minos, Notodonta 

 bicolora and Hydrelia Bankiana will fairly represent three of the 

 great divisions of the Lepidoptera, and if the first-named be also a 

 native of Scotland, the west of Ireland is certainly its head-quarters. 

 How strange that these fragile creatures should be preserved through 

 such vast changes to be evidence of the destruction which has over- 

 whelmed the mightier works of God — that they should endure while 

 great continents have sunk beneath the waves. 



In the ' Entomologist's Annual' for 1859 it was intimated that a 

 splendid butterfly, Charaxes Jasius, might not improbably occur at 

 Killarney, being attached to the Arbutus, one of the peculiar plants of 

 the kingdom of Kerry ; we were not fortunate enough to meet with it, 

 although there was a nymphalidous chrysalis found suspended to a 

 rock below an overhanging Arbutus, of which great hopes were enter- 

 tained. Respect for the feelings of my companions induces me to 

 draw a veil over the rest of the story, suffice it to say it did not 

 produce what was expected of it. 



June 25. Out at 5 a. m. and dug up a hamperful of Osmunda regalis 

 as a peace-offering to the ladies at home : a wet morning, heavy 

 thunder-clouds shrouded the mountain and the lake looked dark and 

 stormy. As we drove to the station a brilliant rainbow spanned the 

 valley between Tore and Mangerton, and the whole scene was one of 

 lurid grandeur. 



Edwin Birchall. 



Description of the Larva of Eupiihecia subnotala. — Ground-colour dull yellowish 

 green, pale green or reddish gray, with a chain of dull olive lozenge-shaped dorsal 

 spots, becoming confluent towards the head and tail, and often bordered by an indis- 

 tinct olive line. The spots and lines sometimes very faint. Segmental divisions yel- 

 lowish or reddish. Spiracular line yellowish. The whole body very rough, thickly 

 studded with minute white tubercles and black spots, and sprinkled here and there 

 with short stumpy hairs. Belly pale green, with an interrupted line running the 

 whole length. Feeds on the seeds and flowers of various species of Atriplex and Che- 

 nopodium, in August and September. It seems to prefer the banks of tidal rivers. I 

 have taken it in profusion on the banks of the Orwell and the Stour near, Ipswich, but 

 XVIT. 4 N 



