408 British lepidoptera. 



females 20-21 mm. ; the antennae of the females are more slender, 

 and the abdomen much stouter, than those of the males. 



Variation. — In both sexes there is a distinct dimorphism in colour, 

 some males and females being of a golden-bronze (type form), others of 

 a bright green ( = ab. viridis, n. ab.), this colour dimorphism being noted 

 by Sfcaudinger, alio, in var. notata. This is independent of the change 

 in tint observed when the specimens are looked at sideways, under 

 which conditions they become a much deeper, and somewhat bluish, 

 green. Hubner evidently knew both forms. His colour description ' ' gelb- 

 griin," and his fig. 3, ? , lead us to suggest the more golden-green as the 

 type form, although his fig. 2 $ is the ab. viridis. We once met, at 

 Le Lautaret, 7,500' elevation, with a race having delicate blue fore- 

 wings in both sexes, with typical antennae and hind-wings, and slender 

 abdomen ; the males 34 mm. and the females 18 mm. in expanse. This 

 we would call var. caeridea, n. var. The following doubtful vars. of 

 this species may also be noticed : 



a. ? var. notata, Zell. — Alis anterioribus viridi-coeruleis, subobtusis, postice dila- 

 tatis, fern, breviusculis ; posterioribus fumatis, plica longitudinali coeruleo-squamata, 

 antennis acutis, maris brevius biseriato-pectinatis, fern, longioribus filiformibus 

 apice attenuates. Sicily: Syracuse. April 21st-May 6th (Zeller, Isis, 1847, p. 294). 



Staudinger notes (Stett. Ent. Zeit., xxiii., p. 351) that he has three of 

 Zeller's original specimens from Syracuse, which agree with 8 Anda- 

 lusian examples (from Ronda, Granada, Chiclana and Malaga) , 9 from 

 northern Greece, and 3 from France (2 ? from Paris, and 1 from Saone- 

 et-Loire). This form has a decidedly finer antennal shaft, shorter pecti- 

 nations, which also lie close to one another. The fore-wings are more 

 distinctly shining, most specimens with a decided golden tint, other 

 specimens, however, are almost entirely without it. He further ex- 

 presses (Horae Soc. Ent. Ross., 1870, p. 171), when discussing Greek speci- 

 mens taken nr. Karpinisi in middle June, great doubt as to whether notata 

 should be considered a distinct species or a variety of R. globulariae, which 

 undoubtedly varies much. He says : " According to the finer antennal 

 pectinations, it should be considered specifically distinct, but it is now 

 doubtful to me whether these., in all cases, give a specific character." 

 In the Cat., p. 44, Staudinger writes of it : " Antennis $ brevius pecti- 

 natis, perhaps a distinct species ; from Spain, Italy, Greece, South and 

 Central France," and gives soror, Rambur, from Granada, and cognata, 

 Luc, from Algeria, as synonyms. Specimens bearing this latter name 

 in Constant's collection looked much like pale it. globutariae. Kirby 

 treats notata as a distinct species. If this be simply a local blue-green 

 race of R. globulariae, it can only occur as a very rare aberration in this 

 country. Staudinger's extension of the var. to include cognata, Luc, 

 appears to go beyond Zeller's diagnosis. 



j3. ? var. cognata, Lucas, " Explor. Sci. Algeria," iii., p. 373, pi. iii., fig. 2 

 (1849). — Long. 30 a 33 mm. Procris alis anticis, capite, thorace abdomineque 

 viridi auratis, primis infra secundisque cinerescentibus atque cinerescente 

 fimbriatis; antennis elongatis, exilibus, viridi durato subcyaneo tinctis dentibusque 

 fuscis, pedibus elongatis, femoribus viridi atratis, tibiis tarsisque cinerescentibus. 



The figure is pale, bright green, with pale grey hind-wings, pectin- 

 ated antennae with pointed apices ; it is brighter and paler than 

 British globulariae. Lucas says that it is larger than A. statices which 

 it much resembles ; the anterior wings, thorax and abdomen, golden- 

 green, brighter than A. statices ; the posterior wings of a paler ashy 

 colour ; the fringes very pale ashy colour (not golden-green, as in A. 

 statices). The antennae elongated, much thinner than the French 



