DO THK entomologist's RECORD. 



features resembles some of the Asiatic ones, both in the summer 

 major, Grand, and in the spring croatica, Grund ; I have figured and 

 discussed at length these interesting forms in Rhopal. Palaearctica (pp. 

 202 and B43) and described an intermediate race from the south of 

 Russia under the name of niajorides (p, 344). Series from various 

 localities in Austria, sent by C. Hofer, are striking by the shape of 

 their wings, when compared with the more western races, and evidently 

 point to the very acuminated and even slightly falcate croatica, because 

 the difference in length between the radial and the anal nervures is 

 greater and the term en is less convex. This Austrian race is well 

 worth distinguishing by the name of acuta. Apart from these, all the 

 European races of the species are characterised, to my knowledge, from 

 Scandinavia and England to Sicily and Andalusia, simply by their 

 size or by grades in the extent of the dark pattern along one single line 

 of variation. 1^'eatures identical with the geographical ones also 

 produce seasonal polymorphism. This is all exactly as in Rnmicia 

 pklaeas, L. (see Knt. Uec, xxxii., p. 5), and the same law is followed 

 by the two species in that they return to a form common to all regions 

 in the first generation, whilst the local racial characteristic is usually 

 and principally exhibited by the second generation. Various grades in 

 the extent of the dark pattern have been described and fixed bynames. 

 I will first mention them and I will then endeavour to summarise 

 briefly what I know of their distribution, as a first attempt to define 

 the seasonal and racial variation of sinapin, so widespread and abun- 

 dant and yet so neglected by entomologists and so vaguely known. 

 Beginning by the lesser extent of dark pattern, we have : — 



Grade I. : deserticola, Vrty., Rhopal. Pal.,^. 202 (November, 1908) ; 

 small size, frail build, wings rather narrower than in most sinapis and 

 with no other dark markings on either surface but a very reduced apical 

 spot above, placed quite at a distance from the margins, dark grey rather 

 than black, as a rule, and always shading into the white ground-colour 

 all round. This form constitutes the race of Beyrouth in Syria, 

 whence came my " type," entirely. It is however found also in the 

 extreme south of Europe, evidently in the most hot and dry localities, 

 as shown by the two specimens in my possession collected by C. Ribbe 

 in the Sierra de Alfacar in Andalusia ; the one I have figured in Rhop. 

 Pal., pi. xxxix., fig. 36, is absolutely identical with my Syrian " type." 

 Whether deserticola may in some European localities constitute a race, 

 as in Syria, I do not know ; from Italy I have never seen a well 

 characterised specimen. The third generation is the only one likely 

 to produce it. 



Grade II. : cliniensis, Boisd. ; usually a little larger and more robust 

 than the preceding ; there always is a light grey shading at the base of 

 forewing on the underside, but none above; the apical spot is con- 

 siderably darker and larger than in deserticola, but its outline shades 

 into the white and it just falls short of reaching the margin, all round ; 

 it is usually more or less round in shape. I have observed a form, 

 which one can consider collateral to this grade, because it has, like it, 

 only one black spot at apex above, but here the spot 's considerably 

 more extensive and distinctly quadrangular in shape, ri\aching both 

 margins ; my " types " of the second generation (June), from the Pian 

 di Mugnone, m. 200, near Florence, are also notably larger (mm. 37 

 to 40 in male and to 42 in female, between the ends of the fifth 



