UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM N-Q

            QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
                         MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

                 Investment Company Act file number  811-05620

                       The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                               900 Third Avenue
                              New York, NY 10022
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              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

             Kevin J. Carr, Esq.
    Chief Legal Officer and Secretary for            John H. Beers, Esq.
                 Registrant                      Vice President and Secretary
       Phoenix Life Insurance Company           Phoenix Life Insurance Company
              One American Row                         One American Row
           Hartford, CT 06103-2899                 Hartford, CT 06103-2899
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 800-272-2700

                     Date of fiscal year end: December 31

                   Date of reporting period: March 31, 2006

Form N-Q is to be used by management investment companies, other than small
business investment companies registered on Form N-5 (Sections 239.24 and 274.5
of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than 60 days
after the close of the first and third fiscal quarters, pursuant to rule 30b1-5
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30b1-5). The Commission
may use the information provided on Form N-Q in its regulatory, disclosure
review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-Q, and
the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required
to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-Q unless the
Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control
number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information
collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to the
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC
20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance
requirements of 44 U.S.C. Section 3507.



Item 1. Schedule of Investments.

The Schedule of Investments is attached herewith.




                       THE ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

               SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AND SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

                                March 31, 2006
                                  (Unaudited)



                                                              Par
                                                            (000's)      Value
                                                           ---------  ------------
                                                             
  INVESTMENTS
  U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES                      52.71%
  U.S. TREASURY BONDS -- 27.73%
     U.S. Treasury Bond 6.125%, 11/15/27/(d)(e)/.......    $ 17,500   $ 19,922,665
     U.S. Treasury Bond 6.375%, 8/15/27/(e)/...........      11,500     13,446,019
     U.S. Treasury Bond 7.50%, 11/15/16................      20,000     24,167,180
     U.S. Treasury Bond 8.75%, 5/15/17.................      22,000     29,034,852
     U.S. Treasury Bond 8.875%, 2/19/19................      15,000     20,419,920
     U.S. Treasury Bond 9.25%, 2/15/16/(e)/............      20,000     26,712,500
                                                                      ------------
                                                                       133,703,136
                                                                      ------------
  U.S. TREASURY NOTES -- 24.98%
     U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Note 1.625%,
       1/15/15/(h)/....................................      27,000     26,455,069
     U.S. Treasury Note 3.50%, 11/15/06/(e)/...........      40,000     39,662,480
     U.S. Treasury Note 3%, 2/15/08/(e)/...............      38,000     36,757,590
     U.S. Treasury Note 4%, 11/15/12/(e)/..............      18,500     17,608,245
                                                                      ------------
                                                                       120,483,384
                                                                      ------------
         Total U.S. Government Securities (Identified Cost
           $260,476,772)......................................         254,186,520
                                                                      ------------
  AGENCY NON-MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES           5.30 %
     FNMA 3.15%, 5/28/08 (Identified Cost $26,627,186).      26,570     25,544,106
                                                                      ------------

                                                           Number of
                                                            Shares
                                                           ---------
  DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS                          30.45%
  CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY -- 3.48%
     Abercrombie & Fitch Co............................      44,000      2,565,200
     CBS Corp. Class B.................................     120,000      2,877,600
     Nike, Inc. Class B................................      30,000      2,553,000
     Gap, Inc. (The)...................................     140,000      2,615,200
     McDonald's Corp...................................      92,000      3,161,120
     Newell Rubbermaid, Inc............................      78,000      1,964,820
     Viacom, Inc. Class B..............................      27,000      1,047,600
                                                                      ------------
                                                                        16,784,540
                                                                      ------------


        See notes to schedule of investments and securities sold short

                                      1






                                                     Number of
                                                      Shares      Value
                                                     --------- -----------
                                                         
     CONSUMER STAPLES -- 3.18%
        Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.................     74,000  $ 2,490,100
        Costco Wholesale Corp.....................     57,000    3,087,120
        Kimberly-Clark Corp.......................     64,000    3,699,200
        PepsiCo, Inc./(d)/........................     57,000    3,294,030
        Procter & Gamble Co.......................     48,000    2,765,760
                                                               -----------
                                                                15,336,210
                                                               -----------
     ENERGY -- 2.18%
        ConocoPhillips............................     49,000    3,094,350
        Halliburton Co............................     32,000    2,336,640
        Occidental Petroleum Corp.................     30,000    2,779,500
        Valero Energy Corp........................     38,000    2,271,640
                                                               -----------
                                                                10,482,130
                                                               -----------
     FINANCIALS -- 8.02%
        Allstate Corp.............................     62,000    3,230,820
        Bank of America Corp./(d)/................    100,000    4,554,000
        Goldman Sachs Group, Inc..................     17,000    2,668,320
        Huntington Bancshares, Inc................    186,000    4,488,180
        JPMorgan Chase & Co.......................     86,000    3,581,040
        Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc..................     32,000    2,520,320
        Morgan Stanley............................     49,000    3,078,180
        New York Community Bancorp, Inc./(e)/.....    209,000    3,661,680
        PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.........     48,000    3,230,880
        Wachovia Corp.............................     80,000    4,484,000
        Wells Fargo & Co..........................     50,000    3,193,500
                                                               -----------
                                                                38,690,920
                                                               -----------
     HEALTH CARE -- 3.97%
        Amgen, Inc./(b)/..........................     34,000    2,473,500
        Bristol-Myers Squibb Co...................    192,000    4,725,120
        Gilead Sciences, Inc./(b)/................     40,000    2,488,800
        Merck & Co., Inc..........................    103,000    3,628,690
        Pfizer, Inc...............................    135,000    3,364,200
        UnitedHealth Group, Inc...................     44,000    2,457,840
                                                               -----------
                                                                19,138,150
                                                               -----------
     INDUSTRIALS -- 3.30%
        AMR Corp./(b)(e)/.........................     93,000    2,515,650
        Boeing Co. (The)..........................     41,000    3,195,130
        Continental Airlines, Inc. Class B/(b)(e)/     86,000    2,313,400
        General Electric Co./(d)/.................     90,000    3,130,200
        L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc./(d)/....     21,000    1,801,590
        Norfolk Southern Corp.....................     55,000    2,973,850
                                                               -----------
                                                                15,929,820
                                                               -----------


        See notes to schedule of investments and securities sold short

                                      2






                                                           Number of
                                                            Shares       Value
                                                           ---------  ------------
                                                             
   INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY -- 4.73%
      Cisco Systems, Inc./(b)/.........................     118,000   $  2,557,060
      Dell, Inc./(b)/..................................      73,000      2,172,480
      EMC Corp./(b)/...................................     190,000      2,589,700
      Hewlett-Packard Co...............................      82,000      2,697,800
      Intel Corp.......................................      82,000      1,586,700
      International Business Machines Corp.............      32,000      2,639,040
      Microsoft Corp...................................     108,000      2,938,680
      QUALCOMM, Inc....................................      58,000      2,935,380
      Verisign, Inc./(b)/..............................     111,000      2,662,890
                                                                      ------------
                                                                        22,779,730
                                                                      ------------
   MATERIALS -- 1.59%
      Dow Chemical Co./(d)/............................      96,000      3,897,600
      Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold, Inc. Class B
        (Indonesia)....................................      63,000      3,765,510
                                                                      ------------
                                                                         7,663,110
                                                                      ------------
          Total Domestic Common Stocks (Identified Cost
            $125,564,608).....................................         146,804,610
                                                                      ------------
   FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS/(c)/                      4.07%
   CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY -- 1.06%
      Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ADR (Japan)/(d)/...........      80,000      2,476,800
      Sony Corp. ADR (Japan)...........................      57,000      2,625,990
                                                                      ------------
                                                                         5,102,790
                                                                      ------------
   FINANCIALS -- 0.73%
      Deutsche Bank AG (Germany).......................      31,000      3,541,440
   HEALTH CARE -- 0.63%
      Sanofi-Aventis Sponsored ADR (France)............      64,000      3,036,800
   INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY -- 1.65%
      Amdocs Ltd. (United States)/(b)/.................      57,000      2,055,420
      Nokia Oyj ADR (Finland)..........................     148,000      3,066,560
      Seagate Technology (Singapore)/(b)/..............     109,000      2,869,970
                                                                      ------------
                                                                         7,991,950
                                                                      ------------
          Total Foreign Common Stocks (Identified Cost
            $15,088,508)......................................          19,672,980
                                                                      ------------


        See notes to schedule of investments and securities sold short

                                      3






                                                          Number of
                                                           Shares           Value
                                                         -----------  ------------
                                                             
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS                            1.32%
   iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund/(e)/................        101,000  $  1,454,400
   NASDAQ-100 Shares/(e)/............................        117,000     4,906,980
                                                                      ------------
       Total Exchange Traded Funds (Identified Cost $5,634,542)          6,361,380
                                                                      ------------
       Total Long Term Investments -- 93.85% (Identified Cost
         $433,391,616)........................................         452,569,596
                                                                      ------------
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS                          18.55%
MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUNDS -- 13.13%
   State Street Navigator Prime Plus (4.71% seven
     day effective yield)/(f) /(Identified Cost
     $63,315,541)....................................     63,315,541    63,315,541
                                                                      ------------

                                                             Par
                                                           (000's)
                                                         -----------
FEDERAL AGENCY SECURITIES -- 3.10%
   FNMA 4.375%, 10/15/06 (Identified Cost
     $14,951,550)....................................    $    15,000    14,945,565
COMMERCIAL PAPER/(g)/ -- 2.32%
   Goldman Sachs & Co., Inc. 4.87%, 4/3/06...........          2,200     2,199,405
   Rabobank USA 4.83%, 4/3/06........................          9,000     8,997,585
                                                                      ------------
       Total Commercial Paper (Identified Cost $11,196,990)...          11,196,990
                                                                      ------------
       Total Short-Term Investments (Identified Cost
         $89,464,081).........................................          89,458,096
                                                                      ------------
       Total Investments (Identified Cost $522,855,697) --
         112.40%..............................................         542,027,692/(a)/
       Securities Sold Short (Proceeds $8,144,766) -- (2.22)%.         (10,710,480)
       Other Assets Less Liabilities -- (10.18)%..............         (49,080,161)
                                                                      ------------
       Net Assets -- 100.00%..................................        $482,237,051
                                                                      ============


--------
 (a) Federal Tax information: Net unrealized appreciation of investment
     securities is comprised of gross appreciation of $28,680,497 and gross
     depreciation of $13,321,291 for federal income tax purposes. At March 31,
     2006, the aggregate cost of securities for federal income tax purposes was
     $526,668,486.
 (b) Non-income producing.
 (c) Common stock is considered to be foreign if the security is issued in a
     foreign country. The country of risk, noted parenthetically, is determined
     based on criteria in Note 1D "Foreign security country determination" in
     the Notes to Schedule of Investments and Securities Sold Short.
 (d) Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize for
     securities sold short.
 (e) All or a portion of security is on loan.
 (f) Represents security purchased with cash collateral for securities on loan.
 (g) The rate shown is the discount rate.
 (h) Principal amount is adjusted daily pursuant to the change in the Consumer
     Price Index.

        See notes to schedule of investments and securities sold short

                                      4






                                              Number of
                                               Shares        Value
                                              --------- -----------
                                               
        SECURITIES SOLD SHORT
        DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS          1.43%
        CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY -- 1.43%
           American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.     167,000  $ 4,986,620
           Wendy's International, Inc.....      31,000    1,923,860
                                                        -----------
               Total Domestic Common Stocks
                 (Proceeds $5,100,575)..........          6,910,480
                                                        -----------
        EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS           0.79%
           iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund
             (Proceeds $3,044,191)........      50,000    3,800,000
                                                        -----------
               Total Securities Sold Short
                 (Proceeds $8,144,766)..........        $10,710,480/(i)/
                                                        ===========




--------
 (i) Federal Tax information: Net unrealized depreciation of securities sold
     short is comprised of gross appreciation of $0 and gross depreciation of
     $2,565,714 for federal income tax purposes. At March 31, 2006, the
     aggregate proceeds of securities sold short for federal tax purposes was
     ($8,144,766).

        See notes to schedule of investments and securities sold short

                                      5




                       THE ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

          NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AND SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

                                March 31, 2006
                                  (Unaudited)

NOTE 1 -- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

   The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently
followed by the Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") in the preparation
of the Schedule of Investments and Securities Sold Short. The preparation of
the Schedule of Investments and Securities Sold Short in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the Schedule of Investments and Securities Sold
Short. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

  A. Security Valuation

   Equity securities are valued at the official closing price (typically last
sale) on the exchange on which the securities are primarily traded, or if no
closing price is available, at the last bid price.

   Debt securities are valued on the basis of broker quotations or valuations
provided by a pricing service, which in determining value utilizes information
with respect to recent sales, market transactions in comparable securities,
quotations from dealers, and various relationships between securities in
determining value.

   As required, some securities and assets may be valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Directors.

   Certain foreign common stocks may be fair valued in cases where closing
prices are not readily available or are deemed not reflective of readily
available market prices. For example, significant events (such as movement in
the U.S. securities market, or other regional and local developments) may occur
between the time that foreign markets close (where the security is principally
traded) and the time that the Fund calculates its net asset value (generally,
the close of the NYSE) that may impact the value of securities traded in these
foreign markets. In these cases, information from an external vendor may be
utilized to adjust closing market prices of certain foreign common stocks to
reflect their fair value. Because the frequency of significant events is not
predictable, fair valuation of certain foreign common stocks may occur on a
frequent basis.

   Short-term investments having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are
valued at amortized cost, which approximates market.

  B. Security Transactions and Related Income

   Security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is
recorded on the ex-dividend date, or in the case of certain foreign securities,
as soon as the Fund is notified. Interest income is recorded on the accrual
basis. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts using the effective
interest method. Realized gains and losses are determined on the identified
cost basis.

                                      6





  C. Foreign Currency Translation

   Foreign securities and other assets and liabilities are valued using the
foreign currency exchange rate effective at the end of the reporting period.
Cost of investments is translated at the currency exchange rate effective at
the trade date.

  D. Foreign Security Country Determination

   A combination of the following criteria is used to assign the countries of
risk listed in the schedule of investments and securities sold short: country
of incorporation, actual building address, primary exchange on which the
security is traded and country in which the greatest percentage of company
revenue is generated.

  E. Short Sales

   A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not
own in anticipation of a decline in market price. To sell a security short, the
Fund must borrow the security. The Fund's obligation to replace the security
borrowed and sold short will be fully collateralized at all times by the
proceeds from the short sale retained by the broker and by cash and securities
deposited in a segregated account with the Fund's custodian. If the price of
the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the
time the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will realize a loss, and
if the price declines during the period, the Fund will realize a gain. Any
realized gain will be decreased, and any realized loss increased, by the amount
of transaction costs. On ex-dividend date, dividends on short sales are
recorded as an expense to the Fund. At March 31, 2006, the value of securities
sold short amounted to $10,710,480 against which collateral of $25,660,792 was
held. The collateral includes the deposits with the broker for securities held
short and the value of the segregated investments held long, as shown in the
Schedule of Investments and Securities Sold Short. Short selling used in the
management of the Fund may accelerate the velocity of potential losses if the
prices of securities sold short appreciate quickly. Stocks purchased may
decline in value at the same time stocks sold short may appreciate in value,
thereby increasing potential losses.

  F. Security Lending

   The Fund loans securities to qualified brokers through an agreement with
State Street Bank (the "Custodian") and the Fund. Under the terms of the
agreement, the Fund receives collateral with a market value not less than 100%
of the market value of loaned securities. Collateral is adjusted daily in
connection with changes in the market value of securities on loan. Collateral
consists of cash, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
agencies and the sovereign debt of foreign countries. Cash collateral has been
invested in short-term money market funds. Dividends earned on the collateral
and premiums paid by the borrower are recorded as income by the Fund net of
fees and rebates charged by the Custodian for its services in connection with
this securities lending program. Lending portfolio securities involves a risk
of delay in the recovery of the loaned securities or in the foreclosure on
collateral.

NOTE 2 -- CREDIT RISK AND ASSET CONCENTRATIONS

   In countries with limited or developing markets, investments may present
greater risks than in more developed markets and the prices of such investments
may be volatile. The consequences of political, social or economic changes in
these markets may have disruptive effects on the market prices of these
investments and the income they generate, as well as a Fund's ability to
repatriate such amounts.

                                      7





   The Fund may invest a high percentage of its assets in specific sectors of
the market in its pursuit of a greater investment return. Fluctuations in these
sectors of concentration may have a greater impact on a Fund, positive or
negative, than if a Fund did not concentrate its investments in such sectors.

                                      8



Item 2. Controls and Procedures.

   (a) The registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers,
       or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the
       registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule
       30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
       Act") (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days
       of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required
       by this paragraph, based on the evaluation of these controls and
       procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR
       270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

   (b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over
       financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17
       CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant's last fiscal
       quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to
       materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
       reporting.

Item 3. Exhibits.

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.



                                  SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

(Registrant)              The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Daniel T. Geraci
                          ---------------------------------
                          Daniel T. Geraci, President and
                          Chief Executive Officer
                          (principal executive officer)

Date May 25, 2006

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Daniel T. Geraci
                          -------------------------------
                          Daniel T. Geraci, President and
                          Chief Executive Officer
                          (principal executive officer)

Date May 25, 2006

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Nancy G. Curtiss
                          -------------------------------
                          Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer
                          (principal financial officer)

Date May 24, 2006

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.