14 2 The Scottish Naturalist. 



in the descriptions ; and this work must be regarded as an important 

 advance on what was previously known regarding themetamorphoses of 

 British Lepidoptera. A feature of considerable interest is a list by 

 Mr. G. C. Bignell, of the parasites bred from each species of the 

 Lepidoptera included in each volume. 



In Vol. I. are figured the larvae and pupae of the British Butterflies, 

 so far as Mr. Buckler could procure them. Of the sixty-four species 

 that may be regarded as native to Britain one, the Large Copper, Chryso- 

 phanus dispar, has become apparently extinct of late years, and of five 

 other species, Colias Hyale, Argynnis Lathonia, Polyommatus Acis* 

 P. Avion, and Pamphila Comma, Mr. Buckler did not succeed in 

 procuring specimens, and of three others (Pieris Dapiidice, Vanessa 

 Antiopa, and Steropes Paniscus) he had to procure continental speci. 

 mens. But all the others are figured from British examples, an 

 approach to completeness that is very noteworthy when we remember 

 how seldom the larvae of any save a few species are to be seen at all. 

 The larvae of Aporia Crataegi, Metitcea Cinxia, Thecla Pruni, and T. 

 W-atbum are not described, though figured. It may be said, however, 

 that the immature conditions of every Scotch butterfly are figured and 

 described. 



In Vol. II. are included the Zygcmida (except Nacha ancilla), the 

 Sphingina or Hawkmoths (except Charocampa Nerii), the Sesuda?, the 

 AL^eriidos or Clearwings (except Irochilium vespiforjne, and T.allanti- 

 forme) and, among Bombycina, the families Hepialida; or Swifts, Zenzeridtx 

 and NotpdontidcB complete. In this volume, Mr. Hellins has written 

 a large part of the letter press, the appendix by him forming nearly 

 half the text, and notes by him being inserted elsewhere to supplement 

 Mr. Buckler's descriptions where incomplete, with the initials J.H. to 

 dibtinguish them. It is needless to repeat how much Mr. Hellin's 

 assistance has increased the value of the book. 



We grieve to say that Mr. Hellin's death this year, in the 58th year 

 of his age, has brought to a close investigations in which he had made 

 himself an adept, and which rendered his aid so valuable in the pub- 

 lication of Mr. Buckler's work. We trust that his MS. may be in- 

 corporated in the book in future as it has been in the volumes already 

 published. We understand that Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher is to take up 

 the work where Mr. Hellin's death interrupted it. 



In conclusion, we commendthebookto our readers as one thatcontains 

 much information not elsewhere obtainable, and as including the larviv 

 of all the Scotch Lepidoptera of the groups yet treated of. 



