7716 insects. 



considirs lliat two species have been con founded under the name of Z. Minos. This is 

 not the case : he lias only seen two individuals which I sent him some years since. 

 In a ktier to me, dated May 25th, 1861, he says: — "I have examined with great 

 attention an Irish Zy^jtrna which you seut me some time ago, and which I regarded 

 as a simple variety of Z. Minos. The two individuals which I received from you are 

 identical with those which I took in 1858, al Bourg d'Oysaurs (Hautes-Alpes), and 

 also with two specimens which I have received from the mountains of the Tyrol. I 

 am now inclined to regard this Zygaena as a separate species, proper to mountainous 

 countries. It differs from the typical Minos in the border of the inferior wings, and 

 especially by their internal angles, which are tipped with dark gray ; by the red spot 

 upon the superior wings, which extends as far as the cellular bifurcation ; and lastly, 

 by the body, which is more hairy, and of dark brownish black instead of blue. This 

 Zygaena flies in the open fields of the mountains, and does not appear to seek shady 

 places as Minos does with us. It is known in Germany by the name of uubigena ; 

 and although this name is bad, I believe we must adopt it, in order that we may not 

 introduce confusion into this genus, already so. ditBcult." I have thought it right to 

 give the remarks of my fiiend in his own words. Whether the Irish ZysiS-na is any- 

 thing more than a local variety of Minos time may perhaps prove. — Henry Double- 

 day ; Eppiny, August 19, I8H1. 



Zygaena Minos in Scotland. — You ask (Zool. 7676) for inrovmation concerning 

 the occurrence of reputed Zygtena Minos in East and West Scotland. A short time 

 after writing my papers ou the geograjdiical distribution of Sphiugina, tinding Messrs. 

 Moro and Slainton both very suspicious of the eastern locality, I wrote to the party 

 who had taken the insect (R. Thomson, Viewhill via Kairii). He informed me that, 

 not having the ' Manual ' when he took the insect, he got a friend to name it, but that 

 it turned out to be only Z. FilipenduliE. About the same time I had two or three 

 letters from Mr. A. Somerville, of 328, Renfrew Street, Glasgow. He had unfortu- 

 nately given ill! his Z. Minos away; but he writes: — " When in Oban, in 1854, 

 though nut a very scientific entomologist at that time, I met with two species of 

 insects which my brother and I assigned as moths, though one looked more like a 

 Hymenopterous than a Lepidopterous insect. These species were Zygasna Minus and 

 Procris Statices. The former was quite distinguishable from Z. Filipendulce, having 

 an elongated blotch instead of several spots. The way in which I afterwards found 

 that it was Z. Minos and nothing else that we had found was from the ' Annual' for 

 1855, which I did not see until some lime after it was published; but in the plate for 

 tliat year I recognize the Oban insect." If you consult the back volumes of the 

 ' Intelligencer' (vol. vi. I think), you will find a note by Prof. Wyville Thomson, of 

 6, University Terrace, Belfast, stating that he also iTiet with Z. Minos in West Scot- 

 land. While on this subject I may mention that I am positive ZygEena exulans will 

 turn up in ^Scotland some day. It occurs from the Pyrenees to Lajdand, and the ele- 

 vali(ni at which it occurs in South Europe is the same as that of Erebia Cassiope, viz., 

 6000 feet. I do not think any of the Lapland mountains at all approach that eleva- 

 tion. — William F. Kirby ; 33, Morninglon Crescent ; July 31, 1861. 



[Believing this to be a fair summary of the existing evidence on the subject, I 

 think every ve;ider will consider it insufficient to establish Z. Minos as a Scotch 

 insect. Z. Filipendulae occurs in all parts of Scotland, often having the elongated red 

 blotch instead of several spots, and still more often denuded of its scales, and having 

 the btmihyaliue appear.tnce of Z. uubigena. — Edivard Newman.'] 



