26 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 
In the following synopsis the principal characteristics of the varia- 
tion of each race are indicated, and for each characteristic the num- 
ber of specimens found in each of the four localities above mentioned 
is marked. For the locality of Villalatina I have divided the data into 
three columns according to the colours, red, yellow, or rose, of each 
specimen. (See table I.) - 
The numbers in large letters of table I. are the ordinal numbers of 
the forms, and refer to the following list, in which are mentioned the 
names which have been ascribed to some of the different individual 
forms. 
Besides the 58 different forms to which I have alluded in the table, 
Z. transalpina produces also other. accidental forms the following of 
which deserve to be noted :— 
The abdomen, generally of dark blue colour, may be adorned by a 
red circle (annulata, Trti). Of this aberration I have found four 
specimens amongst about 4000 examined at Formia, and one amongst 
500 individuals examined at Florence. [The existence of this form is 
to my mind important, because it seems to shew that the Asiatic Z. 
dorycnti, O. is but a sub-species of 7. loti, just as transalpina is 
another. It will be noticed that, but for the abdominal belt, doryenwt 
is identical with some forms of transalpina, including position of red 
spots on forewing.—R. Veriry.| 
Upon the dorsal margin of the hindwings and on the external 
angle of the same, there may be a shading more or less intense of 
~ golden scales (adflata, Trti). I have found twelve specimens with this 
characteristie well-marked amongst the Z. transalpina of Formia, and 
one amongst about 400 specimens examined at Polleca, on the Monti 
Auruncl. 
The upper basal spot may extend along the costa until it joins the 
median upper spot (anticeconjuncta, Vrty.). One specimen out of more 
than 300 examined at Bolognola, on the Monti Sibillini. 
Whether in the plain or on the hills 7. transalpina has only one 
and continuous period on the wing, and then disappears. On the 
high mountains, on the contrary, it flies in July, ceases to fly in 
August, and then re-appears in September. The September specimens 
are generally smaller and more faintly coloured than those of July. I 
think I can explain this phenomenon excluding the hypothesis of a 
second generation. In the higher parts of the Apennines the grass is 
cut in the middle of July; the less grown larve of Z. transalpina are 
thus deprived of food and must travel about to find it. In this way 
their development is retarded, and the chrysalid is overtaken by the 
period of intense heat and absolute drought, during which nearly all 
the species of Lepidoptera cease to fly. After the rains the surviving 
chrysalidscomplete their development, but having suffered the difficulties 
of life, are of reduced dimensions and poor in scales. Similar speci- 
mens have often been produced amongst those which I had neglected 
in the breeding cages. 
The appearonce of not a few specimens of Z. transalpina, which 
happens in January and February at Formia, as well as their normal 
period of flying in March, is most extraordinary, and all the more 
notable when you consider that in northern Africa the Zygaenae fly in 
May and June. 
