  Photometry and long-slit spectroscopy are presented for 14 S0 and spiral
galaxies of the Fornax, Eridanus and Pegasus cluster, and NGC 7582 group.
  The structural parameters of the galaxies are derived from the R-band images
by performing a two-dimensional photometric decomposition of the
surface-brightness distribution. This is assumed to be the sum of the
contribution of a bulge and disc component characterized by elliptical and
concentric isophotes with constant (but possibly different) ellipticity and
position angles.
  The rotation curves and velocity dispersion profiles are measured from the
spectra obtained along the major axis of galaxies. The radial profiles of the
Hb, Mg, and Fe line-strength indices are presented too. Correlations between
the central values of Mgd, <Fe>, Hb, and sigma are found.
  The age, metallicity and alpha/Fe enhancement of the stellar population in
the center and at the radius where bulge and disc give the same contribution to
the total surface brightness are obtained using stellar population models with
variable element abundance ratios.
  Three classes of bulges are identified. The youngest bulges (~2 Gyr) with
ongoing star formation, intermediate-age bulges (4-8 Gyr) have solar
metallicity, and old bulges (~10 Gyr) have high metallicity.
  Most of the sample bulges display solar alpha/Fe enhancement, no gradient in
age, and a negative gradient of metallicity. The presence of negative gradient
in the metallicity radial profile favors a scenario with bulge formation via
dissipative collapse. (abridged)

Astrophysics