Scalariform Helix nemoralis Living at BundoranAuthor(s): Wm. A. GreenSource: The Irish Naturalist, Vol. 9, No. 11 (Nov., 1900), p. 271Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25521868 .

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190.] No/ets. 271

Noteworthy I rish Lepitcoptera.

I have been notified of the occurrence of the Death's-head Moth,

Acherontia ahro/os, either in the iniaginal or larval condition, from various

parts of the countrv this year, both iii the Co. Cork, at Kells in Meath,

and in this county of Monaghan, a full fed Caterpillar having been

brought to me so late as the 22nd September. Also it is interesting to

find that Voanessa io, the beautiful Peacock butterfly, usually very rarely

seen in the northern half of Ireland, has this year appeared in somie

numbers in this demesne; anid also, I find froml a correspondent, at

Newry. I wish also to record the capture by Mr. R. Donovan of Cczillia

absynthii flying to the blossomus of a lime tree this summer, near Timo

league, and fronm the samie neighbourhood Enpitheia pygrneaia, E. conas/tictat/a aild E. togata, all good finds,

WM. F. DE V. KANJ,.

Drumnreaske, Moniaghan.

AZOLL USS.

Scalariform Helix nemoralls living at Bundoran.

A very interesting article, it may be remembered, appeared in the Iish

Naturalist of July, igoo, dealing with the abnormal shells of Helix

nemoralis, by Mr. R. Welch, of Belfast, who for many years has devoted

much titne aid care to the study of that variable shell. The sinistral

and scalariform shells were particularly referred to, also the abundance

with which these occur at Buuidoran in comparison with the rest

of the United Kingdom. Still, although a large number of the shells,

particularly the type form. run into var. conica, it is the exception to find

a true scalariform specimen. Those which have been obtained up to

the present, as Mr. Welch remarks, have usually been found among the

hollows of the great wind-swept sand-dunes, in all cases empty, and

usually with the epedermis weathered off. Last September, however, I

was fortunate enough to find a perfect full-grown specimen living I had

been searching close by the entrance to the dunes, a little beyond the

Fairy Bridges, in a spot where my wife remarked that var. conica seemed

very abundant, when I picked it up feeding on the short scrub which

carpets the turf just below the sand-hills. On the theory that this

monstrosity, being only a still further production of the variety (conica),

would be most likely to occur again where the variety was most plenti

ful, I spent another morning about the same spot, and was rewarded by

finding a second scalariform, this time, however, dead, within about ten

yards of the place where I found the first. Though slightly weathered,

the epidermis was still perfect enough to lead one to conclude that the

animal had been recently living. Both shells were an abnormal

production of the ordinary five-banded type, and I would not be sur

prised if careful searchinlg turned up a few more about the same place.

WM. A. GREZN,

Belfast,

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