Irish Records for Death's-Head Hawk-Moth, 1940Author(s): K. M. Dunlop, Fergus O'Rourke and J. A. Sidney StendallSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Mar., 1942), p. 9Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25533096 .

Accessed: 15/06/2014 09:22

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 195.34.79.54 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 09:22:18 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

March, 1942.] The Irish Naturalists' Journal. 9

BLACK REDSTARTS IN LIMERICK.

In your issue of March, 1940 (vol. VII, no. 9), a note of mine was

published concerning appearances of the Black Redstart, Phoenicurus

ochrurus gibraltariensis (Gm.J, in the grounds of St. Mary's Cathedral.

Since the winter of 1938-39 birds of the above species have been

seen there each succeeding winter, for the most part singly and either

females or immature males.

Single birds have been noted also in March, presumably on the

return journey, but remaining then for a much shorter time.

On 15th November, 1941, I was very delighted to observe, for the

first time, a male bird in full adult plumage, complete with coal-black

throat and breast. On 28th November a female or immature bird made its appearance.

Subsequent appearances were as follows: ?Adult malen-22nd

November, 7th, 13th and 25th December. Female or immature?5th and

17th December. No birds of the species have been seen since. From observations made over a period of four years it would seem

that the grounds of St. Mary's Cathedral are a regular halting-place for the Black Redstart on its migrations.

50 O'Connell Street, Limerick. 30-1-42. M. H. FRANKLIN.

IRISH RECORDS FOR DEATHS-HEAD HAWK-MOTH, 1940.

A fine specimen of the Death's-head, Acherontia atropos L.f was

brought to me here which had been taken by a Bank porter in his

cottage on the evening of 11th May, 1940. He said it was flying around the ceiling, "with another big moth in its mouth 1"

It is a female, and measures just 5} inches across the wings as

set on the tboard. I have never before seen this species here, though I have had the larva, which I failed to rear.

Athy Rectory, Co. Kildare. (Rev.) K. M. DUNLOP.

It may be of interest to record the capture in St, Kevin's Park,

Dartry Road, Dublin, of a Death's-head Hawk-moth on 29th April,

1940. The insect was in perfect condition and apparently had flown

far. It squeaked audibly when handled and when I gave it to a

lepidopterist at a D.N.F.C. excursion on the following Saturday it

was still able to make itself heard, although it had had no food for at

least six days.

Rockmount, Howth, Co. Dublin. FERGUS O'ROURKE.

A female Death's-head Hawk-moth was taken alive on 15th June,

1940, outside the Vicarage, Ca&tlerock, Co. Londonderry. Another female was captured alive in Stranmillis Park, Belfast,

by Miss M'Connell, on 1st July, 1940. Both specimens were forwarded

to me for identification.

Belfast. J. A. SIDNEY STENDALL.

A female Death's-head Hawk-moth was taken by Mrs. Irene

Briscoe, at Riverdale, near Raharney, Co. We&tmeath, on 4th July,

1940, and sent to the National Museum, Dublin.

THE 1941 CLOUDED YELLOW IMMIGRATION.

I noticed three Clouded Yellow butterflies, Colias croceus

(Fourcroy) in the field near my house at Shore Road, Sutton, Co.

Dublin, on Sunday, 7th September, and I continued to observe them

in varying numbers (up to 12 on one occasion) about the garden and

fields, and along the cliff path between Sutton and the Bailey, until

Sunday, 12th October, when I saw a solitary specimen in my garden.

This content downloaded from 195.34.79.54 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 09:22:18 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions