zygj:.\id.k. ,33 



hybrids pair freely together, or with either parent race, with 

 similar results. From the year 1889 until the present time 

 (1893) Mr. Fletcher has continued the race — or rather 

 several races — from generation to generation ; and even by 

 selection of parents, has brought out a very blue variety with 

 most of the characters of Z. lonicera\ and another, somewhat 

 different, form with most of the characters of Z. trifolii. 

 These experiments render it difficult to believe that what we 

 call by those two names are more than local races of the 

 same species, very rarely found intermingled. 



It may be well here to notice that a similar experiment 

 between Z. lonicercc and Z. filipendulm resulted in the pro- 

 duction of about a dozen of the largest Burnet-moths that 

 Mr. Fletcher has ever bred, having characters intermediate 

 between those of the two parent species ; but that no fertile 

 eggs were obtained from these hybrids, since of those de- 

 posited after two pairings, none hatched. Mr. Fletcher does 

 not yet consider, however, that the experiment is conclusive, 

 and will doubtless try again. He is better satisfied with 

 respect to Z. Meliloti, from which it appears to be impossible 

 to obtain fertile hybridised eggs by crossing with either of 

 the other three. 



6. Z. filipendulae, Z. — Expanse 1 to If inch. 

 Forewings opaque, brilliant dark blue-green or grey-green, 

 with sis red spots ; hind wings red. 



Antennae black, leather stout, long, and very gracefully 

 curved and recurved, tapering to a sharp point. Head and 

 thorax greenish black ; abdomen blue-black or green-black 

 densely clothed with scales. Forewings rather long and 

 narrow, but broader towards the hind margin, with nearly 

 straight costa, rounded apex, and oblique rounded hind 

 margin ; opaque, brilliantly glossy, rich blue-green or grey- 

 green with six bright vermilion spots, five placed as in the 

 previous species, the sixth rounded and placed beyond and 



