S2 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



tensive collection of Mr. Gregson. He called my attention to a difference in 

 the antennse of the two insects, and contended that those of Meliloti were 

 shorter and blunter than in Trifolii, When I subsequently compared my 

 own examples of Meliloti with the smaller specimens of Trifolii named above, 

 I must confess they seem shorter in proportion, and perhaps more obtuse also. 

 The question is, if this be so, is it sufficient to warrant us in believing them 

 to be distinct ? I scarcely think so, but I am content to suspend my judg- 

 ment for the present, leaving the specimens in my cabinet as Meliloti sepa- 

 rate from the others, as they will deserve a variety name in any case. — John 

 E. Eobson, Hartlepool, 1st March. 



THE NEW FOREST ZYG^ENA MELILOTI. 



I had thought that the question of the specific identity of these insects 

 with Z. trifolii was at rest, but as my friend Mr. Tugwell still seems to cling 

 to the old idea; it would be as well to state the facts to which he alludes, 

 somewhat more at length than he does. 



In the "Entomological Monthly Magazine," Yol. X., p. 116, my brother 

 — Mr. T, H. Briggs — alludes to an unsuccessful attempt to breed from eggs 

 laid in 1872, and also mentions eggs given to him by Mr. W. A. Lewis, in 

 1873 — these hatched, but the larvae all eventually died. In July, 1874, 

 however, he succeeded in taking four pairs of typical New Forest Meliloti in 

 copula, in good condition, and from these he got eggs, which in 1875 pro- 

 duced eight equally typical and unmistakeable Trifolii. One larva also that 

 hybernated for a second time produced in 1876 Trifolii. This last specimen, 

 as well as all the parents and six out of the eight specimens bred in 1875, 

 my brother has still in his cabinet, the remaining two being in the respective 

 cabinets of Mr. H. Yaughan and myself. No specimen in the slightest 

 degree resembling Meliloti was bred. 



A full account of these bred specimens will be found in the "Entomologist," 

 Yol. 8., p. 211, and in the "Proceedings of the Entomological Society of 

 London" for 1875. Until Mr. Tugwell, or some other reliable entomologist, 

 from eggs laid by New Forest Meliloti, breeds Meliloti — if this be possible, 

 I think that it must be taken as settled, that New Forest Meliloti are but a 

 degenerate local form of Trifolii. Whether they are identical with Meliloti, 

 Esper, I am inclinded to doubt, but if they are not, I quite agree with Mr. 

 Tugwell, that this form should have a name, and with my brother's consent 

 have provisionally named it Z. trifolii var. Ytenensis, from Ytene the ancient 

 name of the district in which the New Forest is situated. 



