io6 



The Irish Naturalist, 



October, 



NOTES, 



ZOOLOGY. 

 Lepidoptera from Co. Mayo. 



The following notes on the lepidoptera of this district may be of interest. 

 The Elephant Hawk-moth {Choerocampa elpenor) was more numerous 

 than usual in June and July, 191 7. Two were taken in this house, and 

 others were seen feeding at dusk at honeysuckle and garden pink (Dianthus) 

 flowers. The larvae here feed on various kinds of bedstraw and willowherb, 

 and also on Bog-bean and Enchanter's Nightshade. One specimen of 

 the Northern Drab Moth [Taeniocampa opinio) was taken on May loth, 

 19 1 6, under a sallow bush in bloom. " Kane states that it is local in 

 Ireland " (South). One specimen of the Grey Shoulder- Knot Moth 

 {Graptolitha ornithopiis) was taken at rest on a rock, on April 22nd, 191 7. 

 " It is found in Scotland, but only rarely, and the same remark applies 

 to Ireland generally, although the species is not uncommon in some parts 

 of Wicklow, Cork, and Kerry " (South). 



I regret that two of my records in the Irish Naturalist of September, 

 1916 (vol. XXV., p. 139) are erroneous. The specimen of the Four-dotted 

 Footman Moth {Cybosia mesomella) was taken in 191 2, not 1910, and 

 was obtained in England. The insect recorded as the Least Minor Moth 

 (Phothedes captiunciila) is too small to be this moth, and is now in such 

 bad condition that it is impossible to identify it, but probably belongs 

 to the " micro-Lepidoptera." 



W. RUTTLEDGE. 



Bloomfield, 



Hollymount, Co. Mayo. 



Migration of Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll and Lapwing. 



With reference to Mr. James P. Burkitt's notes on above in last 

 month's issue, similar observations have been made in this district. As 

 regards the Goldfinch, formerly common, it can now only be considered 

 as an occasional straggler, though I have one note of its nesting here in 

 1905. In winter the Lesser Redpoll is always to be seen in small flocks 

 in the northern low-lying portion of the district, but in spring these birds 

 to a gr«at extent leave this neighbourhood and betake themselves to the 

 higher southern parts of the district where they spread and are common 

 until the following autumn. The same may be said of the Lapwing, 

 which as a rule frequents the low-lying meadows of the Lagan Valley 

 in winter, but mainly breeds on the higher grounds south of the village. 

 The Hillsborough district may be taken as a circular area of about eight 

 miles diameter, having Hillsborough as its centre. The word " migration," 

 perhaps, should not be used in this connexion, local movement being a 

 more correct term. 



NeVIN H. l'\)yTER. 



Hillsborough, Co. Down. 



