Death's-Head Hawk-Moth, Acherontia atropos L., in Wexford in Late OctoberAuthor(s): A. W. StelfoxSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jan., 1934), p. 17Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25532271 .

Accessed: 14/06/2014 18:08

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 194.29.185.230 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 18:08:47 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

January, 1934.] The Irish Naturalists' Journal. 17

and only flew away when I approached to within a few yards of them. In the evening they were back again on the same green. I have never seen such essentially rock-loving birds away from ,the shore, and can find; ,,no. reference in any book at my disposal of their feeding inland.

Ballycastle. E, E. CLOWES. \

REVERSED HELICELLA VIRGATA AT BALLINTOY, CO. ANTRIM. While at Ballintoy last September, my wife espied a reversed specimen

of the mollusk Helicella virgata climbing the support for the verandah/of the small tea-rooms on the shore near the harbour. The shell is- full grown and of fairly large size. There were plenty of examples of the normal form on the short vegetation around about. This seems to be the first record for Ireland. There are about 15 records of the sinistral form for England and Wales, according to Professor A. E. Boycott, as follows:?Lancashire, Cleveleys, near Blackpool (R. Drummond, 19CK7) ; Yorkshire, Coatham

(W. C. Hey, 1887), Seamer (W. Gyngell, 1903), Balne Moor (Lister Peace, 1875) ; 'North Wales, Colwyn Bay (J. R. Hardy, 1891), Conway shore,

Llandudno (W. H. Davies, 1918) ; South Wales, Tenby (T. - Rogers) ;

Somerset, Clevedon (A. M. Norman, 1883) ; Devon, Barnstaple (F. J.

Partridge,, 1898); Cornwall, Helzephron (J. W. Horsley, 1900); Oxford, Dorchester (A. H. J. Murray, 1911) ; Sussex, near Stoughton (W. A. Shaw, 1906) Suffolk, Felixstowe (A. Smith) ; Isle of Wight, Yarmouth (C.

Ashford, 1880); Guernsey, near St. Sampsons (E. R. Sykes, 1891). Victoria University, Manchester. J. WILFRID JACKSON..

SOUTHERN NOTES ON LEPIDOPTERA. I have to record the finding in Monkstown, Co. Cork, of a larva, of

the Alder moth, Acronycta alni L. It was picked up by my son on the, road on 4th August last year. There were alder and elm trees bordering on the road. Unfortunately the larva was injured and died.

Tho Clouded Yellow butterfly, Colias croceus (edusa) Fourc., was fairly plentiful on the Cork coast last year and began to appear about the

beginning of Auguist. I took about two dozen,, all males except three, including one perfect var. helice taken on 18th August.

Croceus was also plentiful at Glenasmole, Co. Dublin, about seven miles from the coast. On 26th August I saw about thirty there again, mostly males.

BryophUa muralis Forst. (Marbled Green moth) was plentiful around Cork last year during July and August. On walls numbers could be taken of the numerous forms which seem almost peculiar to Cork. The forms ranged from the type to almost unicolourous specimens, one or two

approaching the impar form taken at Cambridge. Dublin. M. S. D. WESTROPP.

DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK-MOTH, ACHERONTIA ATROPOS L,, IN WEXFORD IN LATE OCTOBER.

I have to thank Senator Miss K. A: Browne for a very perfect male of the above moth which was captured by Master Datrial Hassett, near her

place, Rathronan Castle, Co. Wexford, in the last week of October 1933. It was found during cold weather just inside an open window and died the following day. The moth is in such beautiful condition that one must

suppose it to have been bred in this country and to be the progeny of the

immigration which is known to have taken place earlier in the year. National Museum, Dublin. A. W. STELFOX.

DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK-MOTH IN CO. ANTRIM.

A fine male Death's. Head moth (Acherontia atropos) was captured by Mr. Joseph Craig, Largy, Crumlin, on 22nd September. The insect came

into his farmhouse at night and flew around the living room, in which a

lamp was burning; it was.at first thought to be a bat. . Mr. Craig informs me that he occasionally has seen large caterpillars feeding on potato. leaves

in his fields (presumably of this, moth) but this is the first time he has

observed the perfect insect. The specimen has been presented to the

Belfast Municipal Museum by its captor. Belfast. J. S. SIDNEY STENDALL.

This content downloaded from 194.29.185.230 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 18:08:47 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions