THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XLL] AUGUST, 1908. [No. 543 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW FORM OF ZYG^NA 

 FROM ALGERIA. 



By the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Ph.D. 



ZygcBna lavandulae nisseni, subspec. nov. 



I HAVE much pleasure in naming this new form after the 

 genial Danish Consul in Algiers, Dr. Nissen, who first suggested 

 our visit to Hammam R'Irha. 



Differs from Z. lavandulce lavanduloi at first sight by the much 

 broader and rounder fore wing, and by the total absence of any red 

 on the upper side of the hind wing. The metallic gloss of the fore 

 wing above in the male has much less blue, and in the female appears 

 more silky. Z. I. nisseni also diifers strongly from Z. I. lavandulcz 

 in the spots on the upper side of the fore wing. The two basal 

 spots are much larger, the discal spot nearest the costa is as large or 

 larger, while the lower discal spot is reduced to a black dot with a 

 tiny red centre in most specimens, but entii'ely black in some. The 

 apical spot is enlarged to quite double the size of that in the nymo- 

 typical form, and is concave on its inner side. On the under side the 

 fore wings have the base largely red, but the lower discal spot is 

 entirely absent ; the hind wings in most cases have a basal red streak 

 along the costa, and a minute red dot towards the apex, though in 

 one male the red is absent below as well as above. 



Hah. Hammam RTrha, North Algeria. 



This fine new form was discovered by Dr. Karl Jordan on 

 May 26th of this year, numerous specimens sitting on thistle- 

 blooms along the edge of a wood. 



ENTOM. AUGUST, 1908. 



