Wood*s Index Efitomologicus, 353 



& 



In our copy, the colouring of the plates is, in general, de- 

 ficient in brilliancy. We do not mean to complain that these 

 artificial tints are unequal to those of nature's pencilling (for 

 that, we are aware, is unavoidable); but merely that the figures 

 are less highly coloured than they might and ought to have 

 been. Pontia card amines, for example, Apatura Tris, Li- 

 menitis Camilla, and one or two of the coppers, all of them 

 brilliant insects in reality, cut in Mr. Wood's plates but a 

 very sorry dingy appearance. In some few instances, too, 

 we are almost inclined to quarrel with the shape or outline of 

 the drawings ; as, for example, those of Leucophasia sinapis, 

 Colias Edusa, and Hyate, which are unnatural. The figure 

 of Vanessa Polychloros, it strikes us, is quite a caricature. 

 W T e particularly admire the figures of most of the fritillaries 

 in pi. i. ; Hipparchia Galathea, in pi. ii. ; and, still more, 

 the under sides in pi. hi., which do the artist great credit. 



Thus much for the plates : we now turn to the letterpress. 



At. p. 2. of the preface, Mr. Wood says, " It must be ob- 

 served, that, where the male and female are both figured, 

 the number is always repeated. Thus, in pi. ii. 48. a + the 

 male; 40. the female." There must surely be some error 

 here: "48. a" represents Hipparchia Hero ; and " 40," the 

 female of a quite distinct insect, Hipparchia Tithonus. We 

 presume that number "48. a," in the page alluded to, is a 

 typographical error for number " 40. a : " an oversight this, 

 in correcting the press, calculated to occasion no little per- 

 plexity in the minds of beginners. 



The fourth column in the catalogue informs us of the place 

 and time at which the insects are to be met with. Papilio 

 Machaow is stated to appear in the end of May. There are, 

 we believe, two broods of the fly during the summer; at all 

 events, we have ourselves captured fresh specimens of it in 

 the month of July. Gonepteryx rhamni is unquestionably 

 among the very earliest butterflies to be seen in the spring, 

 usually making its appearance in April or in March, if the 

 weather be fine, and sometimes in February ; but, according 

 to Mr. W T ood, its season is not till the month of June. The 

 same remark applies also to Vanessa c. album, Polychloros, 

 and urticae, all which come forth in early spring : Mr. Wood 

 notices only their estival flight. Vanessa Atalanta is pecu- 

 liarly an autumnal fly, though it makes its appearance, as 

 stated in the catalogue, in June and July. Thecla rubi we 

 have been accustomed to take in May : June and August are 

 assigned to it as its season by Mr. Wood. W r e believe it 

 usually disappears long before August. These remarks may 

 be deemed trifling; but it should be remembered that a cor- 



Vol. VI. — No. 34. a a 



