286 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



spots of superior wings is uniform over the whole area of spots, 

 whilst in the Braemar specimens these spots are never uniform 

 in colour, but have a deeper centre spot surrounded by an 

 ochreous tone on the outside of all the spots. But the most 

 striking feature is that the males in the Oberalp specimens 

 always show the pale collar, not so strongly as the females, but it 

 always does show as a spot on each shoulder, at times only 

 faintly, but still apparent ; and the legs, too, in the males are 

 whitish or yellowish, less so than in the females, but still pale, 

 whilst in the Braemar specimens the legs are always black or nearly 

 so on the top, paler beneath. I have never seen the slightest sign 

 of a white or pale spot on the shoulder of a Braemar male, 

 whilst the Oberalp specimens always show some white or yellow, 

 so that in the most worn specimens you pick them out from 

 Scotch by the Oberalp males having pale spots on the collar and 

 legs paler than the Scotch males. 



" I am certain that there is a great difference, readily 

 recognisable by any one not prejudiced. Not one of the 120 odd 

 specimens you kindly brought me would mislead me ; not one 

 could I pass as Scotch, unless so denuded of scales as not to be 

 recognisable at all." 



T. A. Chapman, Firbank, Hereford. 



ON THE PKOFUSION OF KHOPALOCERA IN THE ALPS 

 AND THE EELATIVE PEOPOETIONS OF SPECIMENS 

 TO SPECIES. 



By W. Harcourt-Bath. 



In a former paper (ante, 247) I referred to the abundance of 

 species of Ehopalocera which occurred in the Alps, in com- 

 parison with the number existing in most of the other portions 

 of the Palsearctic area, even situated considerably further to the 

 south. This has been brought about by reason of the central 

 geographical position occupied by the region in question, com- 

 bined with the considerable extent of surfaces existing at succes- 

 sive elevations above the sea level, which furnish a series of 

 climatal conditions favourable to the growth of a great variety of 

 vegetation suited to the different vertical or ascending zones. In 

 sheltei-ed valleys on the southern slopes of the Pennine and 

 Lepontine chains we perceive the vegetation of Piedmont and 

 Lombardy sufficiently austral in its general aspect, with its 

 attendant olives, oranges, and evergreen shrubs, truly typical of 

 the warm temperate region. At the northern base of the Alpine 

 range, commencing also in equivalent zones upon the southern 

 side, we pass successively in ascending climatal belts wherein 



