512 BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



part), the latter diagnosing it as: "Alarum anticarum maculis ant 

 per paria aut omnibus confluentibus," so that he also includes the 

 ab. conjuncta. Staudinger diagnoses it as: "Maculis, in mac. 3 

 magnis confluentibus," and later notes that on the Parnassus and 

 Veluchi specimens occur " not rarely, in whicb, not only the two outer, 

 but also the two central, red spots are united, each pair forming a 

 larger roundish spot, these only differ from ramburii in the different 

 tint of red, which is lighter in the latter." The aberration appears to 

 be generally distributed with the type in Britain and on the Conti- 

 nent, varying in different localities in the proportion it bears to the 

 type, and being more abundant in some years than others. The 

 following continental records have been noted (among many others) : 

 Belgium: nearly as common as the type (Selys). France: Cancale 

 (Oberthur), June 21st, 1898, Le Havre (Dupont), Nohant (Sand), 

 rather common in the Bheims dist., Berru, Sillery (Demaison). 

 Germany : Freiburg, Lahr, Karlsruhe, Weinheim, singly (Beutti). 

 Italy : with the type (Curo). Boumania : Several at Kloster Neamtz, 

 Varatic, Grumazesti, Azuga (Caradja). Bussia : rather common in 

 the Baltic provinces (Nolcken). Scandinavia : rare (Aurivillius). 

 Switzerland : singly at Bellinzona (Meisner), Ziirich (Frey), Gad- 

 menthal, more abundant on the Simplon, and on the turf-moors at 

 Siselen (Batzer). , 



/3. ab. confiuens, Oberth., "Etudes," etc., livr. xx., " Var. chez Lep.," p. 45, 

 pi. viii., fig. 132 (1896). — This example illustrates the form in which confluence of 

 the spots of the fore-wings occurs, 2 + 3 + 4 being united, 1, 5, 6 being separate ; 

 seven analogous examples from England. The confluence of the spots of the 

 anterior wings commences at the base, and not at the extremity, whilst in A. 

 trifolii, on the contrary, the confluence usually appears to commence at the apex 

 rather than at the base. Confluent aberrations are much rarer in this species than 

 in A. trifolii (Oberthur). 



The aberrations with confluent spots are not common in the 

 British Islands, but are taken occasionally with the type. Fletcher 

 bred a long series of confluent forms during 1896 and 1897, from 

 parents captured at Deal, that showed a tendency in this direction. 

 After two years inbreeding, most of the progeny were more or less 

 blotched, 22 examples sent to us from this stock exhibiting the follow- 

 ing forms : ab. cytisi (1 + 2, 3 + 4, 5 + 6), ab. confluent (1,2 + 3 + 4, 

 5, 6 or 1, 2 + 3 + 4, 5 + 6), ab. proconfluens (1, 2 + 3 + 4 + 5, 6), 

 and ab. quinqxiejuncta (1, 2 + 3 +■ 4 +■ 5 + 6), being among the 

 progeny. Webb notes the form (confiuens) as occurring at Dover. South, 

 one approaching this form from Folkestone with a projection from 

 2 towards 3 + 4. No doubt most collectors have occasionally taken 

 this or the allied aberrations. 



7. ab. bipanctata, Selys, " C. E. Soc. Ent. Belg.," p. cxiv (1882).— The basal 

 and median spots united by a band. The two posterior spots well separated, as in 

 the type ; only one example, captured at Longchamps-sur-Geer. 



It occurs occasionally in the British Islands. Briggs records it 

 from Folkestone. 



5. ab. comviunimacula, Selys, " Comptes R Ent. Soc. Belg.," p. cxiv (1882). — 

 The median and posterior spots large, confluent two by two, communicating, more- 

 over, by a band running along the costa, and thus forming a single irregular blotch, 

 but this blotch remains separated from the double basal spot by a very narrow space. 

 This aberration is the opposite to the ab. bipunctata, and nearly represents that 

 which exists in the ab. minoides of A. trifolii. Described from two examples 

 ( <? and $ ) captured this year at Longchamps-sur-Geer, about June 20th (Selys). 



e. ab. conjuncta, n. ab. — The six red spots of the fore-wings united into one 

 large longitudinal blotch. Found rarely with the type. 



