xlviii 



Exhibitions. 



Zygaenas of the transalpina group. — Lord Rothschild 

 ■exhibited a long series of Zygaenas of the transalpina group 

 together with a series of Z. ephialtes showing parallel variation, 

 and Mr. Bethune-Baker in illustration exhibited with the 

 epidiascope a number of slides showing the differences in the 

 genital armature of the various species. 



The exhibitors contributed the following " Preliminary 

 notes towards a revision of the transalpina group of the 

 genus Zygaena." 



In February last the junior author [Lord Rothschild] under- 

 took to exhibit a series of forms of Z. transalpina, Esp.,and a 

 series of Z.ej9Aia?tes,L., to illustrate the curious .parallel variation. 

 However, on going into the question it was found that there 

 were several species mixed up under the name of transalpina. 

 We therefore thought it advisable, at the same time as the 

 exhibit was made, to give a preliminary account of the several 

 species, and at least -point out their specific distinctions. 

 The various species, races and aberrations hitherto referred 

 to transalpina, Esp., have been reviewed most exhaustively 

 by Monsieur Oberthiir, Count Turati, Dr. Verity, Herr 

 Dziurzynski and Signor Rocci, but we have failed to find 

 anything upon the genital armature. We therefore thought 

 it advisable to show on the screen a series of slides of the 

 genitalia of the various insects hitherto united under trans- 

 alpina, and also a few other species for comparison. 



As Esper described his transalpina from Italy it is advisable 

 to take the Italian forms first. Contrary to the opinion of 

 Count Turati and Dr. Verity, the genital armature shows that 

 we have two distinct species, confused under transalpina, 

 inhabiting Italy. The one is a larger, more robust species, 

 while the other is more slender and smaller ; in many parts 

 of Italy these occur together. 



Esper described his transalpina from Verona, and of the 

 series exhibited the four from Florence agree most closely 

 with his description and figure. The larger, more robust 

 species raised some difficult questions as to nomenclature. 

 The two oldest names given to a form of this species are 



