On the Clifford index of a general \((e+2)\)-gonal curve (Q1124649)

The authors give an alternative proof of a theorem of Ballico: a general \((e+2)\)-gonal curve of genus \(g\geq 2e+2\) has \(Clifford\quad index\quad e.\) They use a result of \textit{E. Arbarello} and \textit{M. Cornalba} [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér., IV. Sér. 16, 467-488 (1983; Zbl 0553.14009)] to provide a lemma for the theorem. The lemma gives an upper bound on the dimension of the variety of special linear systems on a variable curve. As to the reverse of the theorem see \textit{H. M. Farkas}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 391, 213-220 (1988; Zbl 0651.14018).