Convolvulus Hawk-Moth in Co. AntrimAuthor(s): J. A. Sidney StendallSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 8, No. 7 (Mar., 1945), p. 267Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25533330 .

Accessed: 15/06/2014 16:57

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

.

Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The IrishNaturalists' Journal.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 185.44.79.85 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 16:57:20 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

March, 1945.] The Irish Naturalists'Journal. 267

Pochard?a flight, or rush of Snipe on ground-a, walk (D) " dun-birds

" (D) Do. flying?a wisp (D)

Wigeon, Pochard and Teal in Dunlin?a fling of "

ox-birds "

(D) small numbers (36 or 40)?a Ruff?a hill (D) bunch (D) Golden Plover?a wing or congrega

Do. a smaller number (10 ov 20) tion (D) ?a little knot (D) Dotterel?a trip (D)

Duck?a team (flying) (D) Lapwing?a desert (D.R) Do. a paddling (on water) (D) Coot?a covert (D)

Curlew?a herd (D) Quail?a bevy (D)

PINTAIL BREEDING ON MARINE ISLAND: A CORRECTION.

In vol. VII, page 297, of this Journal is a record of Shoveleir, Spatula clypeata (L.), breeding on a marine island in County Down. The

species mentioned should have read Pintail, Anas acuta acuta L. R.A.F., Anglesey. C. DOUGLAS DEANE.

THE OLEANDER HAWK.MOTH IN IRELAND.

A specimen of the Oleander Hawk-moth, Daphnis nerii L., was found on the pavement in Sandymouwt Avenue, Dublin, on about 7th of September, 1944, by Master Cecil Stewart. It was brought to

Mr. F. R. A. M'Gormick, the President of (the Zoological Society, who

gave it to me. The specimen evad<emtly was dead when found, but was still partially relaxed when it came into my possession. It had

apparently been trodden on, as ithe thorax was considerably damaged, but otherwise was in fairly good condition.

The capture of this species is of the greatest interest, as it has not been found^previously in Ireland. It is a native of Africa and the northern coast* of the Mediterranean, bu?t, like many other Hawk

moths, frequently migrates considerable distances. lit is a very rare

species in the British Isles but has been captured a number of times in Great Britain, chiefly along the south coast of England. It does

not breed in the British Islesi, or in Europe north of the Alps, and all the specimens captured in central and northern Europe, including the British Isles, must have flown from southern Europe.

The Oleander Hawk-moth is a handsome insect, the wings and

body being pinkish grey in colour, marbled with various shades of

green and olive brown and with some white markings. It measures more than four inches across the extended wings. The caterpillar

feeds on Oleander {Nerium oleander), and on the Lesser Periwinkle

{Yinca minor), and is sometimes so common in India as to be regarded as a minor garden pest.

Trinity College, Dublin. 2-10-44. BRYAN P. BEIRNE.

CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH IN CO. ANTRIM.

Two Convolvulus Hawk-moths, Sphinx convolvuli L., both females, were sent to me from Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, by Master John Reid Cambridge. One was caught in the porch of a house on 30th

August, 1944, and the second on a verandah on 18th September. Subsequently two more moths of the same species were seen in the

vicinity. Belfast. J. A. SIDNEY STENDALL.

CRAYFISH AT 1,000 FT. ALTITUDE.

I found a crayfish climbing down a waterfall which leads from a lake and runs into another one. I caught it by a worm tied on a

piece of string. These lakes are at Ballinasoorny, in the Dublin

Mountains, and over a thousand feet up. Mr. Stelfox tells me that he has never heard of crayfish above five hundred feet. Several other

people have seen them there and they are a great nuisance to the trout anglers.

CECIL J. B. DORRITY. 4 Seaview Terrace, Ailesbury Road, Dorony brook, Dublin.

This content downloaded from 185.44.79.85 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 16:57:20 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions