106 



localities, instead of the sixth spot becoming small by degrees and 

 beautifully less, until it forms an almost obsolete quantity, the fifth 

 and sixth spots are well developed and joined into a large blotch. 

 In such localities, where the six spots are large, and this tendency of 

 the outer pair to approach more nearly together, or to become con- 

 fluent is exhibited, the race is known by the name of hippocrepidis, 

 a. name first given to this form by Hiibner, and diagnosed by 

 Staudinger as : — "Alis anterioribus, subtus fere totis rubris ; maculis 

 5 et 6 saepius confluentibus ; maculis et alis posterioribus cinna- 

 berinis." 



In looking through the material in the collection at the British 

 Museum, I found that there has been an attempt to separate these 

 forms, but as a result no real differentiation has been made, nor, 

 perhaps, is an exact one possible, for, as will be observed, my speci- 

 mens, which were taken in the neighbourhood of Courmayeur, 

 exhibit every variation, from that in which two large outer spots (5 

 and 6) are almost united, to that in which 6 is almost obsolete. 



I have before made some comparison between Z. traiisalpina and 

 Z. filipendulce, and have pointed out that the two species, though 

 somewhat alike, are to a specialist very different. But the most 

 marvellous difference between these species is on their under-sides. 

 In tratisalpina the small crimson spots of the upper-sides become 

 changed into longitudinal red streaks, which in some specimens 

 spread over the whole of the fore-wings, making their under-sides 

 entirely red. This tendency to become red on the under-sides is 

 the more interesting because it is not produced by the union of the 

 spots, as are the blotches on the upper-side of such a species as Z. 

 pilosellce, but by the ground colour in the centre of the wing 

 throughout its length becoming crimson, the bright colour spreading 

 out from this central area and enveloping the spots as it spreads. 



Staudinger gives as the range of the type, the " Southern Alpine 

 valleys (Styria, Carniola, Helvetia, Piedmont and Gallia); and 

 Etruria (on Speyer's authority)." The range of hippocrepidis is given 

 as, " Central and South-west Germany, Central and Southern Gaul, 

 Belgium, (?) Piedmont, South Sweden doubtful (on the authority of 

 Wallengren)." It is very evident from my captures that the form 

 hippocrepidis occurs in Piedmont. It is also certain that in the Pied- 

 montese valleys it occurs freely with the type, so that though it may 

 exist separately as a variety (or local race) in some localities, yet var. 

 hippocrepidis occurs with and as an aberration of Z. transalpina in 

 Piedmont at Courmayeur, Chevanis and Lauzon. I also exhibit, 

 besides my own captures, specimens of hippocrepidis, taken near 

 Geneva, and given to me by Professor Blachier, as well as Helvetian 

 specimens both of tratisalpina and hippocrepidis. 



You will observe in my box, specimens captured near Courmayeur, 

 in which the crimson colour has been replaced by a more pinkish 

 hue, inclining to orange. It may be well, for reference, to call this 

 aberration pallida. It is not an uncommon form of variation in 



